Wisconsin's electronic wizard, Konextrax, has dropped his latest single, 'What I Want', a meticulously crafted sonic adventure that marks the debut of his self-proclaimed "signature style". From his childhood obsession with EDM to his 2021 professional launch, Konextrax has carved a unique space in the underground scene, collaborating with labels like Neoluminum and Seikatsu Records.

Now, through his own Frozen Fox Records, a sub-label of Electrostep Network, he's pushing boundaries with a sound built on pitch mapping, vocoding without routing, chroma, and spectral fractals, all masterfully interwoven with a retro edge. 'What I Want' is a statement of intent, and the beginning of a new chapter. With that in mind, let's dive into the mind of Konextrax and explore the intricacies of his creative process.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with us about the new single. Let’s take a step back to begin, when did you first start making music? Where did it all begin, and what inspired you?

“I began producing music under the alias K!LLERSOUNDS back in 2017, I was inspired by all the new EDM artists coming out such as Skrillex, Spag Heddy and Zomboy, I watched a bunch of Dubstep Gutter and was entranced by the bass design and heaviness of the songs. Of course I've changed over the years and I discovered my favourite sub-genre of dubstep named Colorbass, it's a middle point between the melodic and lush production of Melodic Dubstep and Future Bass, and the hard-hitting and upbeat Brostep, usually has a very, VERY melodic feel to it, it sounds extremely euphoric while keeping the heaviness of Dubstep and it's influences, and that by far has been my biggest inspiration to date.”

The new single dropped at the end of last month. Can you tell us a bit about the track and what it means to you?

“This project is a debut of my new production style that I'm labelling my ‘signature style’, it's something I can do over and over but also enough room to keep it interesting per-release, something that screams "ME". The distinctive sound is characterised by a combination of pitch mapping, vocoding without routing, chroma, and spectral fractals, all integrated with a retro-inspired mastering technique. Then my vocal processing is actually a little special too, it's characterised by a high-pitched, low-formant vocoded effect, augmented by intense robotic autotune to produce an aquatic resonance.”

Were there any artists, moments, or experiences that influenced you when writing the single, and in finding this style?

“Au5 and Ace Aura are probably my biggest influences when it came to making this project, their masterclasses have taken me out of writer's block constantly.”

What is your songwriting process? How does it all come together?

“I usually compose the chord progression first, figure out which key I'm working in, then I do the melody, then I start experimenting with stuff, resampling other sound designs I've made and using them for completely different purposes than their original, I made a vocal that I sang myself and then I took it and stretched it out a ton and blurred it with a ton of reverb to make an atmosphere, and every time I do something in experimentation, it leads me to finding more inspirations and it helps me with my structure, for the drops, I don't like using too many layers, it's a pretty common practice in the colorbass scene to use like 50 layers of sounds for one single bass, but I like having more control in my sound, so I stick to a max of 10-12, and for this song in particular I only used 7 layers, and I think it screams my style.”

What’s the most important thing when you’re writing a song?

“The most important thing to me is how euphoric can it sound, how addictive can it be (without being an annoying earworm) and how energetic is it? I like the song to punch you in the face in the drop but take you on a journey throughout the whole thing, I want the music to be able to be heard in all emotions, if your happy, the song's a party song, if you're sleeping, the song's euphoric and calming, and if your sad, the song's a help to you in soothing your sorrow, since I can't really sing, I make up for it in my production.”

How would you describe your sound on your latest release? Has there been a change or evolution in style since you first began?

“The sound evolution would be impossible to describe in words, from the defunct EP ‘Myst’ to my latest single, my production quality has grown so well that I was able to get the attention of multiple notable figures, and supported by multiple up-and-coming labels. The sound on my latest release would be a little difficult to describe, but in my best words I'd say it has a very, Cyberpunk-esk sound, kind of VHS, like, 80s sound but a modern take, with Melodic Riddim as the prime focus, with the feeling of mysteriousness and intrigue.”

Is there a central message or theme you were trying to convey in your latest release? Is there a moment in the release that really captures that idea?

“Not necessarily a message rather than euphoria, I wanted to convey the feeling of Symphony and Euphoria while keeping a mysterious take on it.”

What advice would you give to bands and artists who are just starting out and trying to find their own signature sound?:

“Biggest advice I can give, don't expect to be the best at your starting point, making bangers takes time, also take your time on your music, it's not about the amount of music you have, it's about the quality of the music you're putting out.”

What has been your best moment as an artist so far?:

“I've been featured on Jamsphere Magazine, grown my own record label which recently surpassed 1,000 subscribers on YouTube and I recently became managed by Electrostep Network which has been a notable figure in EDM since 2013. I've also been played live by artists such as Kapsyz and Leon Ellus which has been a blast. But, all in all, my favourite part of being a musician, is the friends I've been making, they are the best part, and although there have been some bad eggs along the way, the ones I find that stick around, they are amazing and I couldn't ask for more.”

It's been great chatting with you. Is there anything you would like to say to our audience before you go?

“Check out my new song ’What I Want’, also feel free to check out my label Frozen Fox Records!”

His new signature style is a bold declaration of artistic identity, and the new single is a testament to his technical prowess, a complex tapestry of sounds woven together with a vibrant, danceable energy.

Konextrax's journey is one of continuous evolution and dedication. From his early days as K!LLERSOUNDS to the creation of his new sounds and the growth of Frozen Fox Records, his passion for pushing the boundaries of electronic music shines through. He hopes his music brings euphoria and connection to his listeners and encourages new artists to focus on quality over quantity.

To keep up to date with Konextrax, be sure to follow him today on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.