My Lifelong Rhythm: From Robotic Beeps to Melodic Beats
Hey folks!
I’m taking the plunge — this is my first Medium post, and honestly, I’m so stoked to connect with you all. There’s something about music that’s just so human, that it’s hard not to feel a little vulnerable sharing this journey with you.
I’ve always been drawn to epic beats. As a kid, Skrillex and Knife Party filled my ears and ignited my imagination. It wasn’t just music; it was an experience, a journey. Yet, for a long time, I didn’t see myself as a creator, but rather as just an admirer.
When I received my first Launchpad, it came with Ableton Lite, and though the software was a lighter version of the real deal, it was more than enough for my dabbling. I would spend hours—days even—putting together covers, sampling the sounds of the songs that moved me, and creating lightshows to add to the performance. All through middle and high school, I had this secret hobby—a place where I could escape and just immerse myself in rhythm.
Parallel to this musical exploration, I found myself entrenched in the world of FIRST robotics. I was the driver and the lead engineer captain for my school’s robotics teams, FRC 1023 and FTC 8579. Programming, CAD design—all of it intrigued me. It was like a puzzle—a challenge that required both logical thinking and creative problem-solving. I didn’t realize it back then, but this world of precision and creativity was shaping my approach to music.
Post-high school, I found myself at a crossroads. I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue my passion for music. I discovered that Splice offers a rent-to-own system for Serum, the music production plugin that I’d been eyeing for a while. For just $10 a month, I could finally experiment with sounds the way I’d been dreaming of.
Serum is a game-changer. This plug-in blows my mind. It’s like stepping into a world where the boundaries of sound are suddenly blurred and where you can precisely craft and form noise into something meaningful. My background in robotics, the understanding of systems and structures, suddenly took on a new dimension as I began to see music as yet another complex, beautiful system.
I still carry the spirit of FIRST with me and haven’t left it behind. Along with my dad, who has transitioned from being a mentor to the team coach, I continue to mentor FTC 8579. And it doesn’t end there. In addition to mentoring, I also volunteer at the events. It’s a wonderful opportunity to give back to the community that gave me so much.
It’s been a ride so far. I’ve found myself translating my experiences—my ups and downs—into music. From car accidents and personal losses to the severing of old friendships and a daily battle with anxiety and depression, my path has had its share of trials and tribulations.
One such personal creation is my track, “Joyful Sorrow”. It mirrors the complexities of life—the paradoxical blend of joy and sorrow that makes our experiences so uniquely human. You can listen to it here.
To add a visual dimension to this auditory journey, I created a psychedelic music video. It’s put together using AI visuals from a Stable Diffusion server with an Automatic 1111 (webui) and the Deforum extension, which all came together to create this trippy, flowing visual experience.
Before I wrap up, I’d like to take a moment to invite you to join me on my musical journey on Spotify. As I continue to evolve and experiment with sound, I’ll be releasing more tracks that blend emotions, experiences, and the artistry of electronic music. Check out my Spotify Artist Profile and if you like what you hear, please follow for updates on new releases. Let’s continue this journey together through the language of rhythm and melody. Your support means the world to me and keeps the music alive!
Thanks for tuning in!
