Slowcore Uncovered: A Deep Dive with Mid-Air!

Chris Harbach (aka Chinese Cigarettes / Mid-Air! / Lo-Tek Larry) is known for his high output and consistency as an engineer and producer. Releasing over a hundred full-length albums, EPs, and beat tapes over the past decade, he’s constantly reimagining and refining himself as an artist and musician. In this interview, Harbach delves into his creative process, the unique approach he took to crafting sounds for his Slowcore sample pack, his favorite studio gear, and why he believes playing the long game is key for aspiring producers.

Q: How would you describe your sound?

A: My sound has always had a distinct sense of melody. I also always aim to create an emotional contrast within a song; beautiful yet haunting, or blissful and playful but drenched in layers of reverb and fuzz.

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

A: I approached the creation of this pack almost like I would approach songwriting and recording. For this type of music (slowcore/shoegaze/grunge/rock) I always start with riffs I’ve been developing and messing with while casually playing guitar at home. When I feel like a riff could be getting into song territory or I’m hyped on the sound of the tones I’m dialing in, I usually set up a couple inputs on the cassette machine or even straight into Pro Tools. So, I did the same for Slowcore — developed a palette of riffs and melodies, bass lines, drum grooves, etc… I record a bunch of the ideas, then build on the parts or modify them as I get deeper into the recording and production process.

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

A: I wanted to make this pack useful to producers outside of alternative and rock music as well. As a producer, I’m also actively making electronic music, hip-hop, and even full blown experimental. Even though it’s presented as Slowcore, I encourage producers to drag and drop these guitar parts into their Dance Music tracks or Lo-Fi Beats. Additionally, since Slowcore as a genre isn’t necessarily created from samples, much of what you’ll hear in this pack is meant to evoke inspiration, it’s meant to set a pace, and it’s meant to give producers a goldmine of uncharted sonic textures.

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

A: For Slowcore, I set out to retain as much of the DIY aesthetic that defines the genre as possible. So, in addition to all of the standard and classic mic pre’s and other hardware that fills the racks of Sound Factory Studio A, I brought in some more genre-specific pieces such as my trusty Ross 4x4 Series 2 (4-track cassette recorder), a Yamaha REX50 and Alesis QuadraVerb (multi-effects processors), some lesser-known comp/limiters that I won’t name here, and a few different hand-wired transformer boxes to color and saturate things before and after recording.

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

A: I’d say playing the long game in music is the way to go. Don’t rush to develop your style — slow and steady wins the race. I’m still learning every day and that’s what keeps it fun and fresh!

Thoughtful, atmospheric, and deeply emotive — this is the essence of Slowcore. Chris's dedication to crafting raw, evocative textures makes his work an invaluable resource for producers looking to experiment beyond genre boundaries. Whether you’re diving into Slowcore, shoegaze, or even electronic and hip-hop production, the sonic elements in his latest sample pack, preface to Goodbye... Slowcore Impressions, offer a rich palette of inspiration. Use the button below to hear more and be sure to check out more amazing sample packs by Splice's newest label, Noise Honey.