# Null Hax - Generative Music Artist Spotlight

*January 14, 2024*


It's been less than a month since the launch of [Unlooped](https://unlooped.xyz), the generative music platform built on the Base Blockchain. Today, we're excited to spotlight [null_hax](https://https://www.unlooped.xyz/artists/8), an artist whose passion for electronic music stretches back to the days of mixtapes and Sony Acid Pro. Growing up with a diverse musical background, hax's journey into music production began in middle school and evolved through his college years where he became an Ableton expert, even creating the Max for Live device 'Architect.' Despite a detour into the corporate world, hax's creative spark remained undimmed, leading to the birth of his alter ego, null_hax. His approach to music is as varied as his inspirations, ranging from experimental bass to emotional garage wave. With Unlooped, hax embraces the challenge of generative music, pushing the boundaries of creativity. His piece [Phantom Parlor](https://https://www.unlooped.xyz/collections/0x366de4779050168511076a059900808148812b46) exemplifies his unique style, combining traditional structures with randomized elements. As an artist breaking out of his shell, null_hax is not just sharing music but embarking on a journey of interactive, generative artistry, and we are here to follow every step of his path

### Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey in music?

Hello! I am null_hax, a lifelong electronic music fanatic. If there is a spectrum for electronic music appreciation, I’m on the extreme end of it.

I grew up in the 90s listening to mixtapes in the car with my mom. These were literal casette tapes with a mix of world, hip hop and electronic music, and I would always crank the volume during the dance records. My music production journey started in middle school on a laptop with Sony Acid Pro back in the mid-2000s, and I began playing with Photoshop around that time as well. In the early 2010’s I became an Ableton ninja and started a student org in college to teach others how to produce electronic music. Around that time I created the Max for Live device “Architect” for creating complex automation curves in Ableton. After graduating college I retreated into my shell and became a Career Man for many years, but the creative spark was still calling my name. Over the last couple of years I have created the identity of null_hax or hax for short, and I’m super excited to start sharing more of my music and art creations with the world.

### How did you get involved in making music?

I have a deep, deep appreciation for music, electronic music in particular. I remember downloading every “techno remix” I could find off Napster. When I was young, my parents would punish me by taking away music. I was fortunate to be forced into piano lessons at an early age, and that kickstarted my desire to create and not just consume.

### What attracted you to generative music?

I’ve always been attracted to modular synthesis but the barrier to entry is a bit cost-prohibitive to casual hobbyists. I studied computing arts with an emphasis on music at UCSD, and was lucky to study signal processing under Tom Erbe and Miller Puckette. Fast forward a few years to 2020 and I finally started acquiring some analog music gear (Teenage Engineering and Make Noise devices), and that’s what inspired me to grit my teeth and figure out how to harness true modular synthesis once and for all. Downloaded VCV Rack and the rest is history!

### How does creating generative music differ from your previous musical experiences?

I’m very familiar with making music in Ableton, so one of my biggest challenges when making generative music is thinking outside of the constraints of the deterministic, fully arranged and perfectly mixed music that comes out of traditional DAWs. I find it’s best to try to go the opposite direction and make things that would be difficult or impossible to do in a standard DAW, although I do like my pieces to have some semblance of “regular” music. For example, my piece Phantom Parlor uses standard drum patterns and song structure, but many other parameters are randomized based on the mint seed which gives each song a completely unique sound.

### Can you walk us through your process of creating a piece of music generative or not?

Some musicians have a standard process for writing their songs - I do not. Sometimes it starts with laying down drum patterns, sometimes it starts with a melody stuck in my head, sometimes it’s just playing around until I get inspired by a particular sound. I rarely have a complete idea in my head; it’s often a series of happy accidents and explorations that lead to a finished piece.

### What tools and technologies do you use most frequently?

I really like using AI as a tool to enable my creativity. It started with an unhealthy reliance on ChatGPT which lead me to spinning up an uncensored LLM on my local computer. I now use LLMs to assist myself with various things when I’m creating music - ie give me the harmonic minor scale in cents from 0 to 1200 so I can plug that into Unlooped’s Scale module, or convert X bpm to hz so I can plug that into Unlooped’s Clock module. A more complex example is using AI to completely guide me through creating an accurate snare drum sound with several layers (body, snap, sizzle) including all ADSR params, pitch, timing, etc.

### Are there any artists or genres that particularly influence your work?

This list changes at least once a year if not more. Currently, the top names inspiring me are Alix Perez, EPROM, G Jones and Mad Zach on the experimental bass music side, and Sota, Camo & Krooked, Sustance and Simula on the drum and bass angle. Last but certainly not least, Bucky, Vacant, Sublab and Azaleh on the emotional garage wave.

### How do you overcome creative blocks?

It’s easier said than done! I find creating without direction is the best way to push through this. Enjoying the process rather than pining for a specific outcome.

### How has Unlooped impacted your creative process?

Unlooped has opened entirely new avenues for me to creatively ponder while I’m in the process of making a song. I now keep in mind token-based variation from the very beginning, and how to ensure that each mint will sound unique but still sound “good”. Once a piece is published, it’s really fun to listen to each mint as they are all unique.

### What features of our platform do you find most useful or unique?

Token-based randomization within user-defined parameters is so cool. I love that every mint can sound entirely different while being programmed within one single patch.

### How do you see generative music evolving in the music industry?

Not to be too pessimistic, but I personally see generative music as quite a small enthusiast niche within the music industry and I don’t know how big it will grow especially with the proliferation of prompt-based AI tools. I’m extremely saddened to see the value of music plummeting with apps like Spotify and Apple Music taking over. I believe that AI tools like Suno further devalue individual artists by replacing rather than supplementing creativity.

### What role do you think platforms like ours play in the future of music?

For music NFTs and on-chain art in particular, I feel that the Unlooped platform is a sleeping giant. The team has built a super solid product, and there is clearly massive potential from here. Really excited to watch the journey unfold.

### Could you share some of your favorite pieces you’ve created?

My absolute favorite piece I’ve created so far on the Unlooped platform is Phantom Parlor. It started off as a classic drum and bass patch with a simple reese bass and fm sub. Once I figured out how randomization worked on the platform, I was off to the races with adding variety to every element. It ended up with 5 drum patterns, 2 snare patterns, 3 hi-hat patterns, and much more. Each mint will sound completely different in terms of bpm and melody, yet within a similar sonic sphere and song structure.

### What makes these pieces special to you?

Unlooped Studio is a literal pipe dream come true for me. For years I have wanted to create interactive, generative musical pieces that I could share with the rest of the world. I became obsessed with on-chain art after the interactive minting experiences of Avastars and Blitmaps. Bringing those concepts over to the music world is so effing cool, and I’m thrilled that I can start showcasing my modular musical creativity in the on-chain art space.

### How do you engage with your audience?

It’s something I’m working on. I’m extremely introverted and dislike social media in general. Streaming regularly on Twitch and engaging on Discord has been really enjoyable and I’m looking forward to more creative collaboration in 2024.

### What’s next for you in your musical journey?

Release the floodgates. I’ve made so many songs and art pieces over the years that nobody has any clue about. Time to break out of my shell and just have fun making music and art and releasing it to the world.

### What advice would you give to artists starting in generative music?

Ask a lot of questions! Modular synthesis is intimidating even to those familiar with traditional DAWs and electronic music. There are infinite creative possibilities with modular building blocks.

### Where can people find more of your work and follow your journey?

Right now you can primarily find me on X, formerly known as Twitter, and you can find my music on Spotify under the Vnderworld alias. You can also watch me stream on Twitch on Thursday evenings (Pacific time) alongside my creative partner and childhood friend Vnderworld.

[null_hax on X](https://twitter.com/null_hax)

[null_hax on Unlooped](https://www.unlooped.xyz/artists/8)