Black Octopus is excited to announce its next release on Black Octopus Music, ‘Matthew Helen - ‘If I...’’ This powerhouse pack has every single element you need to make a hit song, which is proven through the adjoining EP, whose songs are exclusively made from this pack! Available on all platforms worldwide, including Spotify, Apple Music, Beatport, Soundcloud, and more. This unique combination of songs and samples gives instant inspiration and an unparalleled look into an artist's production and techniques, entirely royalty-free!

‘If I...’ is derived from the phrase 'If I can do it, anyone can'. It's to serve as a reminder that anyone has the capability to create the life they want, sometimes it'll take some elbow grease and drive, but it's possible and worth it. The EP lives up to its name as it showcases the massive range of possibilities you can create with these samples, from dirty trap to emotive vocal pop songs, it has the range to fit into any genre. Especially as Matthew Helen believes that ‘You’re way is the right way. Music is an art form. A way of expression, how you choose to deliver that is up to you.’

Inside the sample pack are 6 songs worth of elements for creating melancholic melodies, all of which were made from original sounds recorded by Matthew Helen. There’s heavy Bass loops, pounding Sub Bass hits, and multi-instrumental music loops. FX one-shots, cinema-quality impacts, and suspenseful risers. Touching, emotive vocals, with emphasizing adlibs, powerful hooks, animated one-shots, and electro-pitched vocals. Loads of knocking Drums, with crisp claps, resounding cymbals, improvisational fills, bright hats, deep kicks, striking percussion, punchy snares, and Matthew Helen's favorite samples from the pack, the drum loops, which provide a great bed of inspirational grooves to jam over.

This pack aims to showcase the best and highest quality of Matthew Helen’s work as an artist as he seeks fulfillment, however that may look. Let’s chat with Matthew Helen to take a deeper look at the production behind the pack and to dive into the world of ‘If I...’.

I got into music when I was about 12 years old. I remember watching a friend of mine play drums for a band, and I thought it was the coolest thing ever, so naturally went on to learn myself. After a year of playing, I decided to annoy the neighbors further by learning guitar, then Piano the next year. Producing came later on in the game, started when I was 18, and have been professionally working in the field for around 6-7 years. I’m a multi-instrumentalist and performer first. Which allows the music to be played rather than programmed. I’m pretty good at creating different genres of music, and pulling elements from each one helped to create the unique music I have today.

I initially got involved with creating sample packs through a friend who reached out to me to see if I’d be interested in working on a pack for Black Octopus, to which I said OF COURSE. I create a lot of music anyway, rather than making it accessible to a listener, why not make it accessible to other producers who may be inspired by it.

I keep myself in a creative and inspired mindset by manifesting and creating urgency. I think a lot about how my music can impact listeners now and later. It excites me to think that relaying my thoughts and emotions into a song can have that effect. I also listen to a lot of different types of music, if it makes me feel a certain way, I like to try and draw inspiration from that. I’m very much about the song, which is why I’m ok with being multi-genre, if a song heads that way, then that’s the way it goes!

I view writing songs as an opportunity to create stories and dive into new narratives. Sometimes it’s a random concept but I draw inspiration from my own personal experiences. Sometimes a top-line that I voice-note then build around. I also think about what kind of song I want to make, and begin with making an instrumental like that. This is where being a multi-instrumentalist helps. If I’m not feeling the piano, I’ll jump on guitar and vice versa.

My favorite song from the EP is probably ‘Bad’. It’s got so much swag. Love it. I made all of the samples in the pack using the usual equipment such as a midi keyboard and microphones, but everything was done in the box. Although I did process some samples using a WA-76 compressor to give it that ‘analog’ warmth, but not much. I hope whoever listens to the EP or buys the samples gets a bit of inspiration and a little nudge to say, “Hey, go make some great music today!”.

Welcome to Black Octopus Music. For the Artist. By the Artist.

* Matthew Helen requests that you not use their name in the branding of your music, track credits, title or artists names (such as featuring or remixing of)

* All sounds, samples and loops purchased in this pack can be used royalty-free for your own music.