Meet Kain Butts | Student and Music Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kain Butts and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kain, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I’ve been in love with music for as long as I can remember. Not just listening to it, but breaking it apart – trying to understand what made certain sounds just sound, well, right. I grew up absorbing everything I could – from hip hop producers like J Dilla, Madlib, Three 6 Mafia, Dr. Dre, Kanye, and Pharrell to electronic artists such as Aphex Twin, Daft Punk, Autechre, Boards of Canada, and many more. These guys always stood out to me more than someone with a great voice or a virtuoso on guitar. These guys had a knack for making things just come together like a massive puzzle, and that’s something I’ve learned to appreciate so much more as a musician myself.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve always tried to copy my idols while adding my own touch on it. I can recall discovering FL Studio around 5th grade or so, and spending hours and hours just learning everything I could about music production. Ever since, I’ve had the ability to work closely with my friends and other peers doing soundtrack work, while also working closely with my creative partner on our project, The Impetrium, which has an album in the works.

The ability to create music and work closely with my peers with their creative efforts has allowed me to win several awards for my soundtrack work, and I hope it allows me to continue my artistic journey in the future.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Most of what I’ve done has been independent, but I’ve been serious from the start. After co-founding The Impetrium with my creative partner, we’ve scored multiple award-winning short films. Our sound pulls from a wide range of artists – ranging from Pharrell to Daft Punk – blending hip hop, electronic, and ambient elements into a sound we can call our own. I have no desire in chasing trends, but rather making something that feels honest and can stand the test of time.

It hasn’t been an easy process, but I do consider myself a fast learner. Everything I know regarding FL Studio, mixing, mastering, and general music composition, I had to learn on my own. There’s been plenty of trial and error. But in those moments, you can gather a spark that can lead to something big – and that’s a feeling you chase forever.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I had a friend visit for a week, I’d start off in Atlanta. We’d hit Little Five Points first – dig some records at Criminal, Wax ‘N’ Facts, and Moods Music. From there, a night in Underground Atlanta at one of the many house shows they put on. A lot of the time there doesn’t need an itinerary, you just sort of see what happens. And that’s one thing I love about Atlanta.

I’d also devote some time to my hometown of Carrollton. It’s rather unassuming, but there are many places there that built me up to what I am today as a musician. The Vinyl Frontier has honestly gotten more of my money than any other record stores I can think of, and that’s a place I’d love to take someone who’s not from here. Aside from that, the many breweries and restaurants downtown have a great nighttime atmosphere that feels like a perfect mixture of small town and bustling college city.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my creative partner, Luke Hobbs. Him and I have excellent chemistry when in the studio together, and we’ve worked closely on numerous projects, from soundtracks and other works for our duo, The Impetrium.

Instagram: @kainbutts