Breaking the Rules of Sound with Nate Hopwood

"My head has turned to noise" was created by Los Angeles producer, engineer, and musician Nate Hopwood. Starting his career off playing guitar with local bands in Nashville, he soon moved on to producing and engineering artists and bands as well as creating sample packs after shortly moving to Los Angeles. His approach to sound design is rooted in experimentation, layering, and a love for vintage and unconventional gear. From using old Alesis effects and VCRs to add texture and depth to his sounds, to embracing the unpredictability of creative exploration, Nate’s process is a testament to the power of innovation. In this interview, he shares insights into his creative workflow, his philosophy on sound design, and how he hopes his sample pack inspires other producers.

Our Conversation with Nate Hopwood

Q: How would you describe your sound?

NH: I think my sound would best be described as ethereal and abstracted while still retaining a cohesive sense of melody and harmony.

Q: Can you give a brief look into how you create your sounds?

NH: Baby steps! I like to start with simple sounds and add effects, layers, or movement one by one until it sounds interesting but authentic. Being decisive is important for me; otherwise, I work in circles, so I bounce things down pretty often to give myself a clean slate and keep working on them.

Q: How do you hope producers use the sounds in your pack?

NH: I hope producers use these sounds in any way they want. I love hearing samples repurposed for entirely different genres than what they were intended for. I think that kind of innovation is how new musical movements are started. I tried to keep that in mind when making this pack.

Q: What are some of your pieces of studio gear and why?

NH: I used a lot of cheap, dated, and rudimentary gear for this pack. I love old Alesis effects and used the Quadraverb, Midiverb II, and Ineko quite a bit. For drums, I used an old graphic EQ to add character and a DBX 119 to add much-needed punch and transients to drums. If I found some loops felt too digital or stale, I recorded them to an old VCR I have and back to the computer. Playing with the tracking added more warble and drift that I think really adds to the shoegaze sound. We also rented a vintage Super Fuzz and a 12-string acoustic, which was very integral to making the pack.

Q: What piece of advice would you give to your younger self starting in music?

NH: If you feel like you don’t always know what you’re doing, embrace that and the rules you break along the way. That’s an important thing that people don’t talk about and a valuable thing that’s hard to get back down the road. There really are no rules, so do what feels right, but healthy critique is also always invaluable in order to keep improving.

From his unconventional use of gear to his thoughtful approach to sound design, Nate Hopwood continues to push sonic boundaries. His ability to transform noise into music speaks to his passion for innovation and creativity. Whether you're looking for unique textures, ethereal melodies, or punchy drums, the "My Head Has Turned to Noise" sample pack by Noise Honey offers an inspiring collection of sounds ready to spark new ideas. Use the button below to check it out and be sure to explore more amazing sample packs from Splice's newest label Noise Honey