Exposed Vocals sits down to an interview with Aman – Also known as TMT
Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?
Aman: I heard of them on Twitter and after a short conversation on messaging, I was impressed by their professionalism and quick response.
Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Aman: I grew up in San Fernando Valley (Southern California). Reseda is my home base where it all started for me. As far as I can remember, I developed interest in music when I was 10-11 years old. I had a huge cassette collection. I first heard remix music from UK and was totally impressed by some of the DJs and what they had done with dance music. I started experimenting on my own with my tapes.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Aman: My name is Aman and when I first started DJing in late 90s, I was known just as DJ Aman. Then the ‘DJ’
part was dropped as I started making more remixes instead of performing. For past few years, I decided to drop the whole name and come up with an easy to
remember name which is now TMT. TMT is short for Tempo Mach Twenty. I like fast Tempo music, so came the word “Tempo”, speed comes up next so I grabbed “Mach”,
and “Twenty” is the number I don’t share on why it’s there. This is the first time I have ever explained how my name “TMT” was formed.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Aman: I think online music sharing is the best thing that has ever happened to any artist. It opened many doors for a
lot of new artists who do not have the funds to press CDs and such. About 10 years ago, I used to press CDs and sell but that got expensive very quickly.
There are websites that allow artists to sell their music without charging them a sign-up fee. As far as my music, lately, I have given away a lot of music for
free. The reason behind that, I am an International artist, my background is East Indian, I not only make EDM, but I also produce North Indian music as
well. I gave away most of the EDM as I am now trying to expose my sound to the Western world. I don’t see my music being sold yet as I am an unknown artist in
the Western (mainstream) world.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local
bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Aman: Instead of saying, “make your own sound”, I’d say, first make your music sound at least similar to your
favorite artist, if you can’t even do that, I don’t think your own unique sound will be that great to the audience. The world listens to your favorite artist
for a reason. Once you are confident that you can pull that off, start finding your own ways, your own sound. This will not only train your ear, it will shine
up your craft even further. Not saying you should be a copycat, but you should work on becoming that good that no sound should be out of your reach.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Aman: When I performed as a DJ in the past, I messed up like anyone else and it was nerve wrecking. If I accidentally pressed “Stop”, I would play
it off as if I did it on purpose, instead of replaying the same song, I would start up the next song which was supposed to be mixed in. There were times where
I wasn’t ready for even that, so I remember just smiling at the crowd and politely yelling “Sorry”. Luckily, that happened only about twice in the 6
years I DJed at venues.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy
hearing about?
Aman: Because I made myself a full time in-house producer, I haven’t toured in a long time. My last DJ gig was in San Francisco at a club where I
was given a 1 hour slot. Interesting thing that happened I’d say, when it was my turn, a rapper named Bohemia came up on the stage to perform on my sound.
The Western world may not know who this rapper is but it was the time when no one knew who he was. Today, he is a well known rapper and I can say, I met this
man before he hit it big and he rapped on my sound briefly.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual
songwriting process?
Aman: Songwriting inspiration hits me hard when it is time to go to sleep, I can’t empty my head before I fall asleep, I try to remember the ideas and then pour them in the studio when I
wake up. Most of the EDM that made came from that.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Aman: I no longer have a website and this is due to becoming familiar with SoundCloud. I used to be a regular CDBaby
user but after SoundCloud, that is the only site I share my music on now.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3
player?
Aman: I listen to a lot of music, good or bad. Along with artists in USA and UK, I listen to a lot of
International music. Although I don’t consider any music embarrassing as every artist is unique, there are a few that the world actually laughs at. I listen
to all of it for ideas. For example, there is a this singer I found on youtube named Vennu Mallesh. Very weird sound and of course, the man does not have
musical knowledge but it is interesting how confident he is in his work.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you
do? How would you spend it?
Aman: I wouldn’t leave my studio. I’d travel back to India to learn more music as that is my background, due to which
I am able to create any type of sound I like. Learning more would only supplement my sound today.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Aman: I am a PC guy and have been ever since I was introduced to computer music. I believe in doing more with
very little. I spent better part of my money in building an acoustically equipped room so I know what I am hearing but the studio upgrades have been
only as much as I need. I started off with Sonic Foundry Acid back in 90s and from time to time, I go back to version 7 to make quick mixes but PreSonus
Studio 1 and Ableton Live 9 are my main tools now. I use Cubase for Midi and Audio recording. I play a few ethnic instruments for my acoustic sound but
other than that, that’s my gear.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Aman: Well, first off thanks to you guys for asking me for this interview, that’s a good way to promote. Other than
that, I use Facebook. That site is used solely to promote the sound. I use Twitter as well. But because I am a one man show now, there is only so much
time to spend on online media to promote as I want to create better music. So my time gets sucked away coming up with new compositions. I’d say what works
best is spreading my soundcloud page for now.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive)
where and who would it be with? Why?
Aman: I’d love to perform with Paul Van Dyk & Skrillex. There are many artists that try to copy these two so
there is nothing unique about them, the sound that I have, it would give me my own platform playing along with these two different artist. As far as singers
go, I’d love to produce and perform with Idina Menzel. Great voice.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Aman: Currently, I am producing a lot of fusion music. I am mixing Indian vocals with EDM. When I get time, I produce
instrumental EDM such as Big Room, House & trance. Last year, for 2 months, I made loads of EDM music and because Sound Cloud ran out of room, I had to
take much of it down. I am working on uploading it all to YouTube and soon it will be up. I am looking to collaborate with singers. If anyone out there want
to send me their vocals, I’d love to produce them.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Aman: If no music, I’d probably be an athlete as that’s another part of my life that I focus on.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going
through your head?
Aman: I came to United States when I was a teenager, I remember buying DJ Kool’s “Let me clear my throat”. As a
teenager and trying to learn remixing, I sampled the hell out of that tape.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your
music life?
Aman: I sleep less. I work at night so no one bothers me. I catch some sleep during the day. I am not in a musical
race or trying to be a star. What satisfies me is that I was taught music as a kid and I am able to produce whatever sound that comes into my head. I am
thankful that with computers, I don’t struggle to make any type of twisted sound that I would only imagine producing when I was in my early 20s about 15
years ago.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2015?
Aman: A lot of music with vocals in different language fused together with Electronic Music. My own vocals as well as I am a trained vocalist (not in
English).
