Ainsworth is a Toronto-based music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and social media synth jam maestro. If you’ve spent any time in the synthier corners of Instagram or YouTube, you’ve bobbed your head to the irresistible beats he makes on synths the size of matchboxes.

But Ainsworth also has decades of experience as a gigging musician, composer, and songwriter. And over the past five years, he’s put out a series of albums I can’t get enough of—especially Jazz Blaster, which you can sample in this episode. He blends retro electronic sounds with horn parts, hip-hop vocals, jazz chords, and one of the rarest and most refreshing things in music: a sense of humor.

I caught Ainsworth in a moment of transition: he’s in a new studio, making career moves, and most importantly, he’s just become a father. So how does parenthood change your art? Why are audiences so much bigger for social media jams than full albums? How do you escape the black hole of endless gear acquisition? And does your music get better when you stop trying to be cool? I talked to Ainsworth to find out.

Episode notes

Ainsworth on Instagram

Ainsworth on Youtube

Good Sunset on Instagram

Good Sunset on YouTube

Tracks played (in order):

• "Don't Be Sentimental" - Ainsworth feat. Luc Wiebe
• "Fight for Love" - Ainsworth feat. Lank
• "Tony" - Ainsworth
• "Things change" - Ainsworth
• "Afternoon Adagio" - Ainsworth
• "IKWIWB" - Ainsworth
• "Coffee with Jay" - Ainsworth
• "Infinity Pool" - Ainsworth
• "I'm Just Saying" - Ainsworth feat. Lank
• "Self Care" - Ainsworth feat. Lank
• "Enter Alpha" - Ainsworth

Special thanks to Navin Kala for the Slow Fade cover art.

What’s the secret to building a passionate creative community that doesn’t turn into a circular firing squad? How do you become the kind of grown-up you wish you had around as a kid? How do we tap the wisdom of Aphex Twin?

[NOTE for Apple Podcast subscribers: the correct Slow fade listing is ⁠at this link⁠ -- please click and make sure it's the one you're subscribed to. There is a duplicate listing that I will be removing soon. Thanks.]

I talked to Guillaume Blanjean to find out. He's a French musician based in Copenhagen who makes electronic music as CSTL, as well as playing bass in the progressive metal in the band Only Human.

He’s also founder and curator of one of the most dynamic electronic music communities/labels I know of: Petite Victory Collective, which just celebrated its 5th anniversary.

Guillaume goes deep on his musical origins, how EDM & prog metal feed each other, how synths help reach troubled kids, and much more.

Check out Guillaume's music and everything PVC is up to...playing in this episode is my favorite release of Guillaume's, the album Patterns, released under his former moniker Atlas Castle.

And if you enjoy this conversation, please drop a 5-star rating and tell a friend -- it would mean the world to me.

Thanks for listening. - GS

Musician Navin Kala fled the big city for an isolated farm life of dogs, chickens, mango trees...and synths. What has it taught him about creativity? Why has Instagram become crucial to him? What did he learn from Stranger Things? And what if J.S. Bach had Instagram?

[NOTE for Apple Podcast subscribers: the correct Slow fade listing is at this link -- please click and make sure it's the one you're subscribed to. There is a duplicate listing that I will be removing soon. Thanks.]

On this debut episode of Slow Fade, Navin and I talk about his new album Spinoza, making immersive ambient when you're deaf in one ear, where to find inspiration amid isolation, and how an 18th century philosopher can make you feel less alone in the world.

If you like this conversation, please subscribe and give us a 5-star rating so we can bring you more vital talks about finding your purpose, building community, and making art that matters in a digital age.

Huge thanks to Navin for joining me as my inaugural guest -- and for the cover art for Slow Fade!

Thanks for listening.

- Steve/Good Sunset