Music is the combination of different sounds that create harmonies. There are many different ways in which people enjoy music; they listen to it, play the songs, and make the music itself. Junior Ben Alves has found a way to express his interest by creating electronic music. He has now been making songs for about a year-and-a-half.

“I started because I had no idea how it was possible to write this these types of music, and I wanted to see how it was done. Curiosity led to me doing it myself,” Alves said.

The software cost $100, but the full set is $800. Alves operates the software with help from handy YouTube videos and the assistance of his dad. Alves’s dad helped him on his music learning process. His dad, a music professor at Harvey Mudd College, helped Alves get to know more about the general structure of music and lead him to grow more knowledgable about it.

“What I like most about music is the creative ability and that I can actually making something that can express myself and that someone across the world can enjoy it” Alves said.

He uses the software called Ableton, which helps him in his music production. He learned how to use the software by looking at videos and testing it out himself. Alves also got inspired by one of his favorite artists, Burial. He tends to like the genres Future Garbage, Neurofunk, and Ambient.

“My favorite artist is a huge inspiration for me, because his music is so far above anything I write, so it makes me want to improve,” Alves said. “It’s an influence mostly because I find myself taking ideas and motifs from his work to help me improve my own.
Alves has used the software for over a year and he learned very quickly by practicing out the different methods. Now, he makes music himself and shares it for many people to enjoy. Shipwrecked is the artist name he goes by, and he uploads musics through Soundcloud and puts it out as an Extended Player (EP) on iTunes.

“I have made over 30 songs in total. Some of the names of my songs are, “Nocturnal,” “Streetlights,” and “The Moon Hangs, Unmoving,” Alves said. “I like to listen to these types of music and I get inspired to make songs.”

Alves is still continuing to make more songs and for now sees it just as a hobby. However, if he gains the opportunity to make it as his future career, he is willing to take it. Alves recommends people to challenge themselves into making music as a new experience.