From DJ to producer: Siobhan Bell’s creative journey

Siobhan Bell, a DJ, producer, fashion girl, and entrepreneur from London, has become a global force in music. From her start in the East London scene, she’s built a reputation for crafting memorable sets and has become a regular on major festival lineups. As her career has grown, so has her musical exploration, leading her to transition from simply spinning records to creating her own sounds.

She uses Maschine to help her creative process. Get an inside look at how she crafts her unique sound and learns to produce in the video below, filmed at Ten87 studio.

The journey from Dalston to global stages

Siobhan’s journey began in East London, where she was part of a collective called “Work It.” They threw parties that were a fusion of music and fashion, embodying a 1990s-2000s vibe. The scene was vibrant, with iconic spots like the Alibi and the square where NTS radio was located. This environment was the foundation for her career, as she hosted her own weekly show and became a staple in the local nightlife.

Her exposure to diverse music scenes, especially her time in Jersey, profoundly influenced her production style. She learned to appreciate and manipulate the high-energy Jersey club sound, which features sped-up R&B flips. This is where she got the idea for sampling and creating mashups for her DJ sets, which eventually led her into music production.

A hands-on approach with Maschine

Siobhan highlights the importance of her hardware in her creative process, specifically Maschine from Native Instruments. She explains that it helps her “create an idea as I go along.” The physical interface allows her to manipulate sounds in real-time. Instead of just being on a computer where the idea is there but you can’t hear it yet, the Maschine allows her to hear her ideas instantly. She can slice up beats, rearrange songs using the beat pads, and even create a whole new song from an existing one.

She also emphasizes the value of collaboration. Siobhan believes that combining the “ears” of a DJ who travels and hears different sounds with a straight producer who might spend all their time in the studio can lead to a bigger, more unique sound. Maschine is a key tool in this collaborative and hands-on approach to production, enabling her to bring her unique perspective as a DJ to the world of music creation.

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