We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Avid Beats a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Avid, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Each of my projects hold a certain meaning to me, and they each tell a specific story. I love to work on a lot of collaborations, and these bring great life and eclecticism to my music. Something I find when looking back on past projects is the way a piece of work can make me feel the same profound way I did back when I made/wrote it.
I would say that my song and music video “Colour The Dark Days” (released 15th November, 2024) is the most meaningful of all, in the way it ties an emotional rollercoaster of my past few years together. I started writing and producing it in early 2024, and it just came so quickly and naturally, like a part of me needed to be expressed.
In lockdown, I went through a mental health crisis. While this period of depression and anxiety was incredibly painful, it was the time I found my voice, and started writing my own lyrics (prior to this period, I had done collaborations with other songwriters). Writing and putting my emotions into music is a very cathartic process, yet an energising experience too. Throughout lockdown, I told a story through my music, from my first EP “Getting Through” (2020) with Wavii written about early lockdown in the UK, to “A Year On” (2021) with Jah-Productions written looking back at the first year of lockdown, to my EP “A Whole Chapter” (2021) with Jah-Productions written reflecting on the immediate past, and my first solo EP “Revisiting My Past” (2022) written a year later as a further reflection.
“Colour The Dark Days” is like putting a seal on this mental health crisis, after overcoming it, and spending time reflecting on my past. I detail the feeling of emerging from this period, and regaining confidence, yet not wanting to rush back into things, taking the time to “Colour The Dark Days”. The thrilling energy and dynamics of my electronic-focussed d&b production is elegantly coupled with deep, resonant singing. Together, this reflects the rollercoaster of a journey that healing can be. My corresponding second music video represents these feelings: the haunting black and white sections portraying the sadness; and the experimentation with vivid, bold colours and special effects illustrating what it feels like to overcome such a time.
I chose this song to celebrate 5000 subscribers on YouTube because it also represents the journey I have come with my fans. A lot of my followers have been on this journey with me, and for that I am forever grateful.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
“I am ‘Avid’ about my craft.”
My name’s Sam, known professionally as Avid Beats. I am a producer, singer/songwriter, mixing and mastering engineer, guitarist, video editor and graphic designer from London, UK.
I got into making music in the summer of 2017, after being fascinated by 2010s EDM and trap music, and wondering how it was made. I recall searching “best music making website”, and Soundtrap appeared first. That was that – I was addicted to the way music allowed me to express myself. In early 2020, I got more serious about my craft, knowing that this is what I wanted to do for a living, and so I purchased Logic Pro X. Since 2020, my music has been constantly evolving, developing an extensive and unique catalogue containing a diverse range of genres – from meditative folk songs to hard hitting EDM bangers, I have pretty much something for everyone. I have built up a following on YouTube for my instrumentals/’type beats’, songs, sample packs and tutorials, and have collaborated with many artists from all over the world. This has led me to offer my services and musical talent to clients:
– Production: Versatility is an “avid” passion of mine. The reason I love music so much is the freedom it gives me to compose and produce in any style. I collaborate with my clients to find the sound they are looking for. I am experienced in both full song production and beatmaking. “His way of thinking can take your song to a whole new place you never thought about” – Yves Dreifuss (Manager of Roni Bar Hadas).
– Mixing, mastering and tuning: my mixing and mastering brings my client’s songs to life, whatever the style. I am also experienced in naturally tuning vocals. “Impeccable job. I’ve never been this satisfied with a mix before, it was great on the first go” – Diana June
– Editing: I edit both visual and audio content, from music videos, to podcasts/interviews. I tell stories. “I was very happy with the work he did on my podcast and the turnaround was very quick” – Laura Kerbey
– Singing and songwriting: Discussing topics such as mental health, Buddhist values and beliefs, the environment/nature, and veganism, my lyrics are 100% real and speak for themselves. I write them all in nature, which is my biggest inspiration. I also love to link my emotions and feelings to things that I see on my walks in nature: for example in my song “World Behind the Clouds”, I compare the clouds blocking the sun to emotions fighting for space in my mind. “Sam pays attention to details and puts his heart into every project” – Cameron DeVries
– Multi-instrumentalist: I play piano, classical acoustic guitar, electric guitar and cajón. I can improvise and create new melodies with ease to fit my client’s projects. “…Extremely talented!!! Both in instrumentation, and vocals” – Cece Alaniz
In short, I bring my passion and vibrancy, an eclectic musical taste and knowledge, wide-ranging collaboration experiences, and my receptiveness to new styles of music, combined with a close attention to the artist’s vision.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The way I can connect with so many like minded people, and create something truly unique together. Collaboration is always thrilling and exciting, and it produces some of the most beautiful, unexpected outcomes. I am truly appreciative of everyone I have had the opportunity to work with.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I learn in a different way to how society expects me to – I love to self direct my learning, and this is mainly how I have learnt music production: by researching on the web and watching YouTube videos. I didn’t suit school, and throughout most of my teenage years I have been homeschooled. Throughout my time of being homeschooled, the amount I have learnt about both music production and myself, and the resourcefulness I have developed is unbelievable. I would never have been able to make the amount of progress I have done if I went to ‘normal’ school. I am now more in tune with myself, and feel happier than ever. I think that people need to understand that everyone learns differently, and that everyone has certain needs, which means that you should not judge others. I have noticed personally that creatives tend to have more varied needs than others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.avidbeats.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avidbeats
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/AvidBeats
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/1avidbeats
- Other: “Colour The Dark Days” Links: https://youtu.be/-H5AehCyNCU & https://share.amuse.io/track/avid-beats-colour-the-dark-days-5k-special [Note – this song will be released 15th November 2024]
SoundBetter (Work for Hire): https://soundbetter.com/profiles/609509-avid-beats
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7l0hdGnWLiYaomWmrFS8cZ?si=gg1yxrABQTmU6NGf9-FG3A
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/avid-beats/1070702578
