A Chat with Doc Rhombus (28.09.2022)
With his second album Retroactions, Doc Rhombus unleashes a contemporary story that we are all able to connect with. Touching on topics of frustration with society, pandemic malaise, journeys to find yourself and a lack of control over things, the tracks weave a versatile and layered tale. Keeping you hooked with grooves that flow through the tracks, each tells a different tale while holding onto the story of the whole. We had the chance to talk to Doc Rhombus about his album, influences, creative processes, the future and much more!
OSR: You are a completely self-taught musician, but what was the first instrument that caught your eye and drew you onto your musical path?
Doc Rhombus: I remember listening to Chaka Khan’s “Through the Fire” repeatedly from a cassette player through my dad’s headphones when I was 4 and struggling to hold back tears because it was so moving! Maybe it was because of this early exposure to and passion for music, but music is constantly on my mind and playing through my head — real songs and songs yet to be recorded.
OSR: Teaching yourself to create music can be a daunting task. What was your process for this?
Doc Rhombus: I learned the basics of mixing from watching YouTube videos, bouncing ideas off of friends and other DIY producers on Twitter, reading interviews of artists like Kevin Parker/Tame Impala who solo-produced and mixed “Currents,” and many hours listening to my mixes and comparing them to artists I want to sound like. I’m always learning!
OSR: The tracks of the album are packed with some very versatile melodics and layered vocals. What was your creative process for joining these lines into a cohesive whole?
Doc Rhombus: When I sit down to create, I rarely have specific musical influences in mind. I’ll grab the guitar and go with a spontaneous flow of chords and vocal melodies until something feels right. Then I record bass and percussion, program drums, etc. Generally, it’s only after this that lyrical inspiration happens. With my first album, that inspiration was societal division. With “Retroactions,” that inspiration is more about personal challenges, guilt, and time.
OSR: While the music is undeniably groovy, there is a heavy dose of dark-pop to the sound. Is this a genre you were looking to tap into or did it happen organically in the creative process?
Doc Rhombus: I listen to virtually all kinds of music. The biggest influences on my music probably are Beck, Radiohead, and indie/bedroom pop bands like MGMT, Mac Demarco, Sleeping Jesus, MorMor. I’m positive that the first music I listened to as a kid — classic rock, Motown, “oldies,” Michael Jackson, 80s R&B — still shapes my sound and approach to groove and melody.
OSR: You did everything on the album yourself from writing to production. What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome with this?
Doc Rhombus: Mixing not only can be a psychologically harrowing experience but also the most rewarding part of the entire creative process. You don’t really hear a song for the first time until you’re mixing — picking apart all of its pieces; thinning, stretching, enhancing them; figuring out how they all fit together in a way that makes sense given the song’s purpose. That’s very exciting and motivating to me.
I don’t do any of my mastering. Greg Reierson (local) mastered my first album and “Retroactions.” Greg also has been extremely helpful with tips about mixing.
OSR: After the release of this album, do you have anything else planned for the coming months?
Doc Rhombus: Promoting the album, which I enjoy, but it detracts from creating. I hope to keep creating/releasing music as Doc Rhombus, a studio-only fully solo project. A big goal is to have my music placed in TV or film. Eventually, I want to produce and write for/with other artists and hopefully form a band to play live shows.
Thanks to Doc Rhombus for chatting with us! You can find more about him on his Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
