Producer and DJ Hedfluxexplores his creativity with ADAM Audio S3V studio monitors
ADAM Users
Producer “Hedflux” recently equipped his studio with ADAM S3V monitors
Steve Young alias “Hedflux“ is an electronic artist, producer and DJ from Scotland currently living on the Big Island, Hawaii, where he recently equipped his studio with ADAM Audio S3V studio monitors.The Hedflux project, his “heart’s expression” as he refers to it, has been his main musical outlet since 2007. Steve Young currently also has a 10-track album in the pipeline under the name “Kin”, a collaboration with Steve’s friend Alex Delfont. He also runs a music producers retreat in Hawaii called the “Audio Alchemy Retreat” where they take a different spin on things by applying the principles of alchemy to the modern creative process.
If it was not for his musical obsession that goes back as long as he remembers, his life might have taken a different turn after completing a master’s degree and PhD in Theoretical Physics in 2004 and working in the financial sector for six years.
“I dropped it all in 2010 to pursue music production and DJing as my full time profession. Needless to say it was the best decision I ever made!”
Hedflux remembers: “I was making mixtapes and compilations for friends from about the age of 8. Then I got into computer-based music making on the Amiga back in 1989 or so, and I started mixing vinyl around age 12. At school I excelled in music, science and maths, and I ultimately decided to pursue physics and math at university. But during that whole time I was DJing frequently, and continuing to teach myself about music production whenever time would permit. After academia I spent 6 years working in the IT/Banking sector and the experience was so miserable as to catalyse a necessary transformation. I dropped it all in 2010 to pursue music production and DJing as my full time profession. Needless to say it was the best decision I ever made!”
A big break came in 2010, right on the same month that Hedflux quit his job he released a track called “Mindcell” that hit a nerve at that time and spent three months atop the beatport breaks charts. This track was also eventually awarded as “Best Track” by the Breakspoll in 2011, kicking off a golden era for “psybreaks”, a style that Hedflux and a modest group of other artists focused on for about 5 years. The “Wanderlust EP” in 2013 already signaled a new direction in his sound and the title track became one of his most popular tunes to date. But his ever-evolving quest for inspiration and new ideas made him look into working at different tempos, with different types of beats and rhythms as well as climaxed in his move from the UK to Hawaii in 2015.
“I like to keep my gear to an absolute minimum – quality over quantity!”
“Taking myself out of the UK and making music outside my comfort zone has been very liberating, and although it felt super vulnerable at the time, it’s been well worth the risk! My new place in Hawaii is surrounded by lush nature and I can turn it up as loud as I want and no neighbors will hear it. After moving so much over the last few years, I wanted to build my studio in a way that could be easily disassembled and transported and installed in another house in a moment’s notice. So I like to keep my gear to an absolute minimum – quality over quantity!”
Hedflux’s mastering engineer Adam Goodlet from Re:creation Studios was the one who first got him onto ADAM Audio. All of his music has been mastered on ADAMs, by Adam. Back when Steve Young was still living in the UK, so the story goes, the two of them had a bit of a session at Adam Goodlet’s house after he first got the ADAM A77Xs. Hedflux went right home, ordered the ADAM A77X the day after and used them for many years.
“The music is both tall and wide, with the crispest highs and a wide-open mid-range owing to that wonderful 4” dome cone hybrid driver. The bass is super solid and goes as low as I need it.”
“Now, in my Hawaiian studio, I recently got the ADAM S3V’s set up. Moving from 2-way near-field to 3-way mid-field speakers was an ear-opener – I don’t think I’ll go back! There is a dimensionality to the sound-field that is so very open – every little adjustment can be heard, and I’ve been making much more layered, textured and subtle sounds than usual. The overall sound quality in here is the best I’ve ever experienced. The music is both tall and wide, with the crispest highs and a wide-open mid-range owing to that wonderful 4” dome cone hybrid driver. The bass is super solid and goes as low as I need it.”
I’m making the best music of my life right now, and super grateful to ADAM for their support and the integral role their products have played in the development my sound. I’m super excited for this next generation of music that is brewing now. Every time I go through the process of making and releasing music, my life seems to upgrade in wonderful and surprising ways.”