A chat with NY DJ/producer, Rupert Wall...

DJ Rupert Wall, hailing from Brooklyn, creates deep, hypnotic soundscapes that defy expectation. A self-taught computer nerd and modular synth enthusiast, he transforms chaotic experimentation into refined grooves. Influenced by underground scenes from Romania, the UK and NYC, his music blends dark, trippy elements with the bouncy swing of classic house. With a 3‑year‑old EP finally finding its release on his own label, Selekt Sounds, Rupert’s work is a testament to his passion for pushing boundaries and his commitment to evolving his distinctive sound. We caught up with him ahead of the release of his new EP, Modular Synthesizers, to learn more…

Modular Synthesizers is finally here, and we’re loving it! How does it feel to have this project out in the world? 

Great! This is actually a 3 year old EP for me that has sat around for a while but I’m happy to finally be releasing it on my own label. 

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the EP and what you wanted to achieve with it?  

Around the time I made this EP I was really thriving and experimenting with so many different techniques and tools. I was in the peak of modular madness buying so many new modules which are like little inspiration generators.

Your music has a deep, rolling, hypnotic quality. How do you go about crafting that signature sound? 

Most of my track ideas come from concepts more than actual musical ideas. For example I’ll have an idea on a modular patch or an idea of what if I chop a sample a certain way. Rarely do I have a melody or bassline in mind. Lots of experimenting and having fun with sound design. 

What drew you to modular synths, and how do they influence your production process? 

Minimal music influenced the sounds that I loved. Weird obscure sounds and effects. As a listener I’m always attracted to songs and sounds that I can’t quite figure out. I love having no idea how something was made and that’s what impresses me. Modular naturally is chaotic and unpredictable and I wanted to create sounds and effects that were complex, yet tasteful (which is a hard balance sometimes in the modular realm).

The EP includes a remix from Guy From Downstairs. What made him the perfect choice to rework ‘Yoda’s In The Park’? 

Been a huge fan of Guy From Downstairs for a while and it was a simple choice as I thought the original had some great stems that would work well with his style and it all worked out from there.

How does your background as a ‘computer nerd’ inform your approach to music production? 

Kind of what I mentioned above. I tend to think of song ideas through concepts more than actual musical terms. I’m not a trained musician which also brought me more towards sequencers and modular synths vs conventional instruments.

You take inspiration from the Romanian, UK, and NYC underground scenes. What aspects of these sounds resonate with you most? 

For me I love the dark, hypnotic, trippy aspect of the Romanian sound. When I first discovered it I couldn’t believe there was this whole sub genre I hadn’t known. It was a whole new world opening for me. In regards to the UK sound I love super swung grooves and skippy hi hats, really bouncy stuff that you can’t help but dance to. NY where I’m from has shaped me since I started going out here. Nothing beats some classic house music with that funky/jazzy NY attitude. I like to think I combine all three of these in my sets and productions 

What’s your typical studio setup, and what are your go-to pieces of gear? 

I actually just bought a house so my studio has been in pieces for quite a few months now but we should be back in action soon. My modular rig is my favorite piece of kit by far, it just screams inspiration. Building a synth from scratch is a very intimate process where you meticulously choose each and every piece you want it to have. Some people tend to rush into it too fast and get discouraged but a slow process and taking time to learn each module is very important. 

A squarp hapax is the brain of my setup which I can control every piece of gear in my studio with. MFB Tanzbar, Korg EMX, AVP SD-6 are my main drum machines. Pulsar 23 and digitakt as well for some accents. I have a Novation Peak and a Korg R3 for my poly synths. Everything is connected to a patchbay with an Apollo 16 interface for multi track recording. Clock comes from Ableton via the ERM Multiclock. 

How has your sound evolved since you first started producing? 

I think every producer's goal is to find their own “sound”. You get into producing music because you love it so much and you want to make stuff just like you hear but that can be a trap. For a while I was creating music I thought was cool but I’d never play in my DJ sets. Nowadays I think I’ve gotten much more polished at the process and much better at creating what I'm feeling and hearing in my head.

You launched Selekt Sounds in 2022—what motivated you to start your own label? 

I had always wanted a label. I was a huge electronic music fan since being a young kid and always loved sharing music with friends and that still continues today. Being able to curate community and share music of like-minded artists is what it’s all about. Share the sound you love and hopefully people enjoy it too. 

Selekt Sounds has featured a diverse range of artists. How do you curate the label’s releases? 

Surprisingly most of the releases are from friends of mine, others just demos I’ve been sent. So thankful to the amazing artists we’ve had on board for trusting me with their music and just wanting to make something together. 

How do you balance running a label with your own music production? 

There are ups and downs on both sides of the coin. While I’ve been in the house searching market, buying a house and now moving, I haven’t had much time to produce music so it was nice to have the label to still feel like I was involved. It’s always an inner battle for me when I’m not creating art to not feel down on myself but having the label to still feel connected to it all has been great.

What do you look for in a track when signing artists to Selekt Sounds? 

Hypnotic, trippy, bouncy, jazzy, all some of my favorite things to find in tracks :) 

What excites you most about the underground house and minimal scene right now? 

People are really good at making music. Finding smaller relatively unknown artists who are making the most unique inspirational stuff is one of my favorite things. Bandcamp really plays a huge part in that, you can find some amazing artists and music there. 

How do you see your music evolving in the coming years? 

My latest stuff is more club-focused. A bit more driving and funky then deep and weird, but I like it all so sounds will always be evolving.  

Are there any dream collaborations or remixes you'd love to see happen? 

Dream collaborations is anybody who likes to jam and get deep into hardware and experiment. I like to get very experimental and technical which isn’t how everybody likes to produce so I don’t have a dream collab as much as just enjoying jamming with people who appreciate synthesizers.

What’s been the most memorable gig or moment in your career so far? 

The most memorable gigs are some of the smaller ones. To me nothing beats a late night crowd of people extremely connected and all vibing together. Hendriks Toth and I played a 4 hour sunrise b2b to around 50 people which was a very special one I enjoyed a lot.

Outside of music, what inspires your creativity?

I love all kinds of art and electronics. I’ve recently got into smart home stuff and it’s kind of like a modular synth where the limits are only what you can think of. Staying healthy, exercising, all basic things are what keep me inspired. My wife helps me stay in check and schedule things to help breed creativity. I work a full time job so staying inspired in a busy world can be tough but you can’t always wait around for inspiration, sometimes the inspiration comes from playing with synths which I think is a big reason I fell in love with hardware synthesizers.

What advice would you give to up-and-coming producers looking to find their own sound? 

Just keep at it. I’ve been producing for almost 10 years now and Im just starting to enjoy my own music. We are always our own worst critics. Trust the process and remember to have fun with it. 

Where can people catch you playing next, and what else do you have coming up for the rest of the year? 

Sadly our dearest TBA Brooklyn is closing in which I hosted a monthly event. As of now nothing is on the books but any updates will be posted on my socials. 

Keep up with Rupert on Instagram and Soundcloud 

Listen to our premiere of ‘Yoda’s In the Park’ below