We Will Fail

We will fail (Aleksandra Grünholz) is a producer, graphic designer, co-founder of Refined Productions label

1. Do you remember the moment when you became interested in technology/gear that you work with now? How did you follow that path? Please tell us a little bit about what you do.

When I was at the university I didn’t have money to buy any instruments, but I was very familiar with computer software. The choice was simple – DAW. I’ve been working with Ableton from the very beginning. It’s my main tool, my scratch paper and my playground.

This tool is so comfortable because pretty much all you need is the software and headphones. I made my first record without the audio interface! I figured, if I have some ideas and the urge – what else do I need?

Now I play with more electronic instruments and I’m looking for new ways to play but I still think that gear isn’t the most important thing.

2. On your social media you sometimes show how you work with modular synthesizers – can you tell us a little bit about how you moved from Ableton to experimenting with modulars? Do you agree with the common stereotype that it’s difficult or it just requires patience?

Modular showed up in our studio because of Tomek Mirt and Xaoc Devices. At first I approached it quite nonchalantly “because everything’s on the computer”. And then it turned out I wasn’t right and that plugging cables in and turning knobs is a completely different kind of fun. Is it a difficult instrument? For me yes, but if every module has an instruction manual and tutorials, then it can be learnt.

3. Have you ever had to tackle stereotypes in your head? Women very often say that in the beginning they had to fight with the inner conviction that gear is not for women. How can you deal with such a blockade?

I think I grew up in a quite egalitarian environment because I don’t remember having an inner resistance to gear. Isn’t it what the instructions and tutorials are for? How to tackle stereotypes? Maybe by thinking that you’re a human being in the first place. Or maybe by focusing on what you want from yourself, not what others expect from you.

4. What’s your current obsession, what are focused on during your work?

In my head I’m thinking about the pursuit of beauty. I don’t know what’s going to come out of it, because beauty is a very abstract concept and I tend to think about it in a bizarre way. I’m also learning how to use modular synthesizers but I don’t know what’s going to be the result of it.

5. What was the biggest inspiration for your work in 2018?

Honestly? Last year everything just happened by force of habit.

6. What was the biggest obstacle or lesson in 2018 and how did you handle it?

Overworking. I became indifferent. I had to give it a thought whether I still want to do it. Two weeks of no work helped me a lot.

7. What advice would you give to women who would like to follow a similar professional/artistic path as you? How to get started? Who to talk to? Where to get familiar with the gear?

Listen a lot, watch tutorials, press all buttons possible and don’t be afraid to break something. And read instructions. Make drafts of tracks, upload stuff to sondcloud and torture your friends.

Who to talk to? There’s this Oramics crew that sometimes runs workshops 😉

Interview led by Justyna Banaszczyk in December 2018