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HBT Chats With Medusa Lives
When did you first get into music? Was there an aha moment where you knew music is what you want to do for the rest of your life?
I have been painting under the pseudonym Daniel Dust for the past 9 years, but I think of myself as an artist, not a painter. I’ve always liked making things, it’s what I enjoy and it’s what I know. The medium doesn’t matter because all art is connected, the important part is the expression, trying to tap into the human experience.
Painting has been my sole passion for the last decade but I knew I wanted to have a second passion, I just didn’t know what it would be until a few years ago when I went to my first rave and experienced the power of EDM. 
I’ve never been so moved by music. I’ve never felt the freedom of dancing like today might be the last day on earth. After feeling the emotions that EDM stirred in me, I knew I wanted to make it. I have been producing for almost a year now, and it is exhilarating learning a new art form. My singular goal is to always make the best art I possibly can.
In Greek mythology Medusa is a woman with snakes in place of its hair, Your artist name is Medusa lives and your SoundCloud tag line is “From the depths of hades, I return” do you draw inspiration from Greek mythology? And how did you come up with your branding and awesome name?
I love the larger-than-life stories that come from mythology. They add so much color to the world. I have dreadlocks and they have become a sort of signature hairstyle for my painting persona, so I decided to use the dreadlocks for my EDM persona as well, representing the snakes on Medusa’s head. The second part of my name, “Lives”, is part of the narrative I’m constructing. It is the idea that these stories, these mythologies, are as alive as anything else.
Going through your latest tracks we can tell you love to remix popular songs. You even have a remix Wishlist! How do you know when a track is a good candidate for remixing?
First, I love powerful lyrics and beautiful vocals. Secondly, I look for melodies that move me. Melodies are lyrical in their own way, and can move me in the same way vocals do. Artistically I love narratives, and the best vocals and melodies tell a story. I hope that one day I can tell stories with my music in a way that right now I can only dream about.
Your latest remix of “wolves” features some incredible orchestral drums. Care to share how you achieved such real sounding drums? Do you have any special mixing tricks you can share with us?
The style I’m developing will include a lot of cinematic sounds and characteristics. I want to capture the same feeling that movie soundtracks create – the feeling of going on a journey, experiencing something epic and fantastical and surprising. I use the VST Kontakt for the natural instruments in my songs. The drums are a Kontakt patch called “Action Strikes”, I fell in love with them immediately and they will surely make appearances in future songs.
I have a lot to learn about mixing, but I aim for cohesion when I mix, and I use a lot of volume automation to control tension and to smooth transitions.
Any special projects we can get excited about ? ?
One original that I’m almost done with is called “The Robot War” and like my other songs features a cinematic intro followed by an energetic drop. I hired a narrator to read some lines for the intro and outro, it sounds a lot like a movie trailer. It was a fun element to work with, and it’s something I plan on doing in many future songs.
How would you summarize 2017? what do you have in store for 2018?
2017 was a learning experience and I produced my first songs. 2018 will be a lot more learning, and I will produce many more songs including some originals. I am excited to keep pursuing this new passion and to see where it goes.
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