Name: Adam Pecho
Nationality: American
Occupation: Producer, DJ
Current release: Adam Pecho's Babylonia EP is out via 4trk.
Recommendation for Chicago, USA: You gotta check out Gramaphone Records! They always have something amazing to find.

If you enjoyed this Adam Pecho interview and would like to stay up to date with his music and live dates, visit him on Instagram, and Soundcloud. 



Are there examples of minimalism in music – and outside of music – that impressed you early on?

Absolutely, Richie Hawtin's work as Plastikman has been a massive inspiration to me.

His live album EX has played through my speakers more times than I can count.



Do you tend to find that, as many claim, “less is more?” Are the notes you don't play really as important as the ones you do play?

I tend to agree with this.

Sometimes all it takes is one really powerful chord, or the right few notes to emphasize a shift in momentum.

Do you feel as that making music is a process of adding elements until it is done – or one where you chisel away pieces from something that is already there?

This is an interesting question. It's a bit of both, really.

You have to build something from nothing before you begin to chisel away at your creation and craft its final form.

Many artists are becoming more minimalist in their music as the years go on, focusing on the “essence.” How is that for yourself and how would you describe your development in this regard?

Quite the opposite in fact.

My first full length album Extrospection is mostly ambient/drone. However, my more recent works are much more driving and dancefloor focused.



What were some of the starting points for your most recent release?

After making ambient music, I realized the important role it plays in techno.

So for my recent release, some of the tracks began as ambient works and slowly shifted into techno.

Do you like to set yourself limitations? If so, which were some of those limitations for the new pieces?

I have a weird rule that I keep for myself when making music. I try to keep my Ableton mix to 8 tracks or less.

It doesn't always happen, but that goal helps me focus on the sounds I've already used and getting them to their best possible design.

Thanks to sampling and digital synthesis, there are endless possibilities for sculpting the sounds and overall sound design of a piece or album. What are your considerations in this regard?

At this point, I exclusively use Ableton and all that it comes with.

The possibilities truly are endless, and if you learn to take advantage of all of its tools, you can create just about any type of music you can imagine.

Would you say that you approach your creative tools with a minimalist mindset? Or do you need a wide choice of instruments and tools to make music?

Very minimal.

I don't use any other instruments, synths, or even VSTs. All I need is a laptop.

Reducing one's options and techniques often implies a different way of working with the materials. Tell me about yours, please.

For me, having less tools to create music forces me to focus on making the most of what I do have.

Without external gear, I had no choice but to find my way though the software and figure out how to make it sound the way I wanted it to.

With so much incredible music instantly available, are you finding that you want to take it all in – or that you need to be more selective? How do you pick the music you really want to invest in?

You have to be so much more selective these days. There's a ton of music coming out that sounds like it was made from a lesson plan.

I tend to start by looking up artists that I know, then seeing what other artists are releasing on the same labels. This has helped me discover even more labels and artists to keep my eyes on.