Chris Avantgarde Masterclass ahead of Hyperreal Release – Plugin Boutique x IO Event

The LA event bonanza continues; this time in the form of a masterclass with none other than Chris Avantgarde. This rising star has been making waves for some time now, with more and more accolades accumulating on his belt. The next of which is set to be his debut album, Hyperreal (expected to be released in June). Chris took the stage at this masterclass, shedding light on his creative process and sharing his innermost production secrets to success.

This event took place following a successful and sold-out event on April 24th at LA sound, where Chris blended layered, intense, and atmospheric soundscapes in his signature melodic techno/progressive house style. Considering all of this, we were proud to welcome Chris to this one-off opportunity in collaboration with IO Music Academy.

Event Themes & Structure

To set the stage, Adam, from IO, was invited up alongside Chris. Adam was sharp with his interviewing of the special guest, which would later unravel into a full-blown masterclass track breakdown and workshop with Chris taking the lead.

The dominant theme at this event centred on how to use in-the-box tools together for optimal inspiration and workflow efficiency, as well as delving deeper into the special guest’s personal advice in many creative domains. For instance, Chris gave insights into any specific pain points he typically encounters when creating, as well as solutions and workarounds. He also covered significant creative and career breakthroughs, with advice for the audience.

The track breakdown (masterclass) itself was deeply useful to all attendees, who got a comprehensive VIP sneak peek into a successful musician’s mind and creative process, with Chris offering myriad fruitful tips and tricks for the listeners to digest—and hopefully apply in their own workflows.

We cannot stress how valuable it is to have an expert give sophisticated answers on the fly, relating to their area of expertise. It exemplifies true alignment with their speciality, and gives fellow learners of all levels a chance to further expand their own knowledge base.

The Interview

The interview with Adam was the taste-tester, allowing Chris to spill the beans on how his creative mind works and showcase just how attentively he approaches his musical work, like a true maestro.

The interview covered things like Chris’ main inspirations in music, his typical plugins and software, how he starts each track, what he does when he runs into creative block, general advice he might have, and more. Getting a chance to explore what his personal studio environment looks like, and what key moments were pivotal in his career, surely gave the audience plentiful insights into what attaining success in this industry truly entails.

The Track Breakdown (Masterclass)

The main meat and potatoes of this event was the track breakdown. Here, we were privileged to see a meticulous dismantling of one of Chris’ revered tracks, with insights into his utmost methodical thought processes. He dissected the track from beginning to end with precise detailing of each decision made and why he made them.

For the audience, such a breakdown can be invaluable. It’s often a case of overlooked subtleties that make the difference between a successful artist and an amateur one. To see in the flesh and pick apart the brain of a man who’s undoubtedly climbed a long haul up the ladder of success is always bound to afflict and inspire new curiosities.

Not to mention, masterclass sessions like these grant opportunities for artists to share their individualities and peculiarities—things which make them and their art unique. This is another core component of what makes or breaks an artist: the ability to imprint their own personal flair onto a genre of music that inspires them deeply.

Wrapping Things Up

As with most of our events of this nature, we didn’t want to end things without a final wind-down; this time, in the form of some rapid-fire questions from Adam, as well as a follow-up Q\&A from the audience.

Adam fired away inquiries about what favoured plugins Chris uses in certain circumstances. He was also asked what his go-to song would be if handed the aux at a party, and other comical questions only audio/music lovers are likely to appreciate! The audience also tested Chris’ firm stature with their own inquisitions, showing a genuine engagement with the workshop and an insatiable hunger for more wisdom. Chris, of course, answered honestly and effortlessly.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it: another successful event done and dusted—this time in collaboration with IO Music Academy, with whom we were delighted to co-host. Remember, these events are held regularly, and similar events across the music industry always offer priceless insights you’re unlikely to find elsewhere.

In the age of internet parasocial relationships, we encourage our fellow musicians—whether beginners or seasoned veterans—to get out and about, active in the real world at such conferences and workshops. Let’s work to keep the traditional infrastructure of mingling in-person alive, as well as assisting each other in our journeys–both as professionals and students of the industry!

If you’ve enjoyed this article and are interested in reading a bit more about similar events, why not check out our article covering our In The Modern Mix, Band Month event, in collaboration with Roland and DW Drums? We hope to see you at the next one!