Using drum machines to create bass and melody parts is a classic case of creative gear misuse. Through tuning and creative processing, it’s possible to push the harmonically rich kicks, toms and percussion from machines like Roland’s 808s and 909s to create patterns that tick the box of being both percussive and melodic. It’s a technique that’s a key element for British-born, Berlin-based producer Anil Chawla, aka Amotik. Since moving to Germany in 2014, he’s built a reputation for creating hard-hitting but evocative techno. Aside from his creative drum machine work – making use of a modern TR-09, as opposed to an original 909 – his tracks are characterised by a bold sense of minimalism and subtlety. Rather than lean into the epic builds and synth drops of big room techno, Chawla’s tracks tend to make use of just a small handful of elements with only minor changes used to keep the listener hooked.
“When I was trying to find my feet to produce on my own, I was listening to a lot of DVS1’s music,” he explains. “That was massively influential. There’s one track I always reference back to, which has just a kick drum, a very wonky riff, and a
