Finding the Vibe: James S. on Crafting Sleepy Lo-Fi 2

Lo-fi music has always thrived on imperfection, texture, and vibe—and few understand this better than James S., a sound designer at Black Octopus Sound. With over 15 years of music production experience, James has carved out a space where intentional sound design meets raw inspiration. We sat down with him to talk about his creative process, his approach to building Sleepy Lo-Fi Vol. 2, and why making inspiring sounds is just as important as using them.

Our Interview w/ James S.

Splice: Tell us about yourself – what led you to get into sound design?

James: I’ve been producing music for around 15 years, but my love for electronic music started much earlier when I was about eight years old, listening to trance in my uncle’s car on the way back from my grandma’s. Those sounds really stuck with me and sparked something early on.

In the beginning, I was really particular about every sound I made, always chasing a very specific vibe. That led naturally to making sample packs - just building sounds that I wished I had access to.

Splice: In what way have your previous releases, including the successful ‘Emotional 2-Step’, influenced the creation of Sleepy Lo-Fi 2?

James: Emotional 2-Step was a very different kind of project compared to Sleepy Lo-Fi 2. That pack was focused on energy and precision. It was all about crisp drums, tight swing, and polished melodic ideas. Around that time, I was doing a lot of ghost production for house and techno artists, so my mindset was very much in that high-energy, club-ready space. Honestly, I think Sleepy Lo-Fi Vol. 2 turned out better because I took that detour [back to the LoFi style]. If I had gone straight into it after Volume 1, I probably wouldn’t have been as inspired. But by stepping away and immersing myself in a totally different sound world, I came back to lo-fi with a fresh set of ears and a clearer sense of what I wanted to create. I was really happy with the results, it felt calmer, more confident, and more emotionally grounded.

Splice: What’s your typical setup for doing sound design?

James: My setup is pretty streamlined, but it’s designed to keep creativity flowing and ideas moving quickly. I produce in Logic Pro, and a lot of my core sounds (especially synth-based ones) are built in Serum. For Sleepy Lo-Fi Vol. 2, I relied on a few key plugins that helped shape the overall character. RC-20 is essential for that lo-fi warmth and texture, while Soundtoys—especially Crystallizer—adds a dreamy, slightly off-kilter edge. I love Baby Audio’s Magic Dice for randomised effects that often lead to happy accidents, and Pitch Drift is perfect for subtle movement that makes sounds feel more human. To be honest I own all baby audio plugins - they’re all superb. The Butterfly Effect plugin by Soundbetter was a go-to for many of the piano samples - it has this lush, immersive quality that kept things from sounding too stale.

For sampling and chopping, Serato Sample is a must. It gives loops that crate-digger feel I love. Reverb-wise, I always come back to EOS2 by Audio Damage for those rich, expansive tails. And for bass, RBass is a staple—it delivers that warm, focused low-end that just works every time.
br> Creatively, I tend to work best in short bursts. I’ve tried those full-on 8-hour studio days, and while I can do it for deadlines, it’s not when I do my best work. When I’m building a sample pack, I love being able to dip in and out and step away, reset, and come back with fresh ears. Those constant breaks really help me stay inspired and make better sounds overall. I think lo-fi in particular benefits from that relaxed, intuitive approach.

Splice: How does creating inspiring sounds differ from using inspiring sounds?

James: Creating inspiring sounds is a more intentional and personal process. You’re not just making something for yourself, you’re thinking about how a sound or loop could help someone else start a track, trigger a mood, or spark an idea.  Using inspiring sounds, though, is more instinctive. You hear something that hits right, and ideas start flowing without overthinking it. I actually find I work best that way - when something just clicks and takes me in a direction I didn’t plan. That’s part of why I love making sample packs. I realised I’m often most creative at the loop stage - I’d start loads of ideas and not always finish full tracks, but that initial spark is where my creativity flows best. By making samples, I get to live in that space and pass those sparks on to others without worrying too much about the sometimes rigid parts to electronic music.  So while both are creative in their own way, I love that creating sounds gives me a sense of purpose and freedom, and then seeing other producers take those ideas somewhere completely new is the best part!

Splice: What makes Lo-Fi genre’s sound design so fun?

James: What I love about lo-fi is how much freedom it gives you creatively. You’re not chasing perfection or a certain structure/sound you’re chasing a vibe. Some of my favourite moments in Sleepy Lo-Fi Vol. 2 actually came from field recordings I made on my phone. I’ve got a baby daughter, and during walks with her in the pram, I’d record little bits of ambience - birds, the wind, the sound of a quiet street. Those textures helped give my loops more authenticity. It reminded me that you don’t always have to be in the studio to get ideas, some of the best inspiration hits when you’re out living life.

Lo-Fi thrives on imperfection. Slight detuning, background noise, tape hiss - those so-called “flaws” are what give the sound character. It’s a genre that encourages experimentation and welcomes the raw and unpolished. What makes it even better is how accessible it is as a genre and with the right sounds in your box any inspiring producer can create beats. You don’t need a fancy studio or loads of expensive gear. A laptop, a pair of headphones, and maybe your phone for recording is more than enough.  That simplicity is part of the fun, it’s all about how creative you can be with what you’ve got.

From field recordings on quiet walks to carefully shaped synth textures, James S. reminds us that lo-fi isn’t about polish—it’s about capturing feeling. Sleepy Lo-Fi Vol. 2 bottles up that ethos, delivering warm, emotive sounds designed to spark instant creativity. Whether you’re sketching out late-night beats or chasing that hazy, nostalgic glow, this pack has everything you need to get started. Dive in and explore the world of Sleepy Lo-Fi Vol. 2 today.