Activ8te, an electronic music producer for Silicon Valley techies, collaborates with Chicago-based artist and accomplished music-thanatologist, footleg, to create the captivating track “All We Do Is Shine.” This love song showcases a softer, more emotional side of Activ8te, exploring the significance of deep emotional relationships and the powerful bond between two people navigating life’s challenges.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Activ8te about AI’s influence on the music industry, choosing a favorite song of all time, the latest project, and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

AI (aka Artificial Intelligence aka Chat GPT 4.0)… How is it changing the music world? What your thoughts about this new trend?

Generative AI will significantly influence the music industry. This is already happening inareas such as creating new lyrics or even directly generating music with advancements like Google’s MusicML. While it will not supplant the necessity for artistic expression, it will reduce demand for commercial music—such as video background tracks—since AI can produce these more cost-effectively than traditional musicians. There are already companies that sell a large inventory of AI generated background tracks. For myself, I am mostly looking at generative AI as a tool that can make me more efficient. It seems like a more advanced version than using randomness or the I Ching for making decisions about composition or lyrics.

Can you choose a favorite song of all time? Or is this an impossible task? If yes, what’s the song? If no, what’s your current Top 3?

Choosing a single favorite song of all time is hard for me. I listen to a lot of different music and it really depends on the moment. However, I have a few tracks that I continuously find myself drawn to. Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” and Robert Miles’ “Children” are some timeless classics that I enjoy. In the realm of slightly more modern electronic music, Skrillex’s “Promises” never fails to impress me. I also find Zero 7’s “In The Waiting Line” particularly enjoyable.

What about this project makes you most proud? Was there a specific goal you were trying to accomplish with this release?

“All We Do Is Shine” is a departure from my cybersecurity-themed music and allowed me to express a softer, more emotional side of my music that I did not get to fully explore in my previous tracks. It’s not just another indie electronica track; it’s a love song that delves into the significance of deep emotional relationships. It centers around the powerful bond between two people navigating life’s challenges, which ultimately continues to be at the core of most of our human existence.

The song was a new collaboration opportunity for me. Footleg, my collaborator, and I aimed to transcend the boundaries of my cybersecurity themed music and delve into the more emotional and personal aspects of music. Using a traditional arrangement with some electronic elements, we wanted to create a captivating soundscape that not only resonates with listeners but also inspires them to recognize the vibrancy within themselves and the value of their relationships.

What inspires you to create music? What motivates you to keep going?

For me, creating music serves as an essential counterbalance in an often stressful world. It’s not just a creative outlet, but a meditative process that helps me find harmony amidst the demands of everyday life. My work in cybersecurity inspires a unique blend of music; it allows me to bridge the gap between my professional security expertise and the realm of music. I’m driven by the prospect of sparking interest in cybersecurity among my audience while simultaneously providing them with innovative and inspiring music. This fusion of two seemingly disparate fields allows me to keep pushing the boundaries and experimenting with new ways to express myself through my tracks. The inclusion of my track “Teardrop Falling” in the 30th anniversary soundtrack of DEF CON, the famous hacker conference, provides a little bit of validation that my music resonates with a techie crowd that both cares about security but also wants fun music. You will also find that each track sounds quite different from each other while still fitting into the EDM Pop category.

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.

If given the opportunity, collaborating with an artist like Skrillex would be an incredible experience, given his innovative contributions to electronic music. However, for any collaboration to be fruitful and enjoyable for me, it’s essential that my collaborator embodies humility and isn’t driven primarily by ego. I believe that the best music emerges from genuine connections and mutual respect, rather than a singular desire for self-gratification. In addition to Skrillex, I greatly admire Lady Gaga for her versatility and the consistently high production quality of her music. Her ability to continually innovate and reinvent her sound is truly inspiring and something I would love to explore in a collaborative setting.

What was the last song you listened to? Favorite all-time bands/artists?

The last song I listened to was “Electric Sunrise” by Plini, a piece from 2016 with a crazy guitar performance. When it comes to my all-time favorite bands, Queen and The Rolling Stones are at the top of the list. Freddie Mercury’s unparalleled vocal range and Queen’s distinctive style really pushed the boundaries of what was considered conventional music back then. The Rolling Stones don’t need an explanation and I still love listening to their music.

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

My main site is at https://activ8te.io/ where I post all my cybersecurity tracks. Otherwise, it’s either bandcamp (https://activ8te.bandcamp.com/) and soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/activ8te). While I also have other social media presence, I am not particularly fond of Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Their walled gardens are unhealthy for society and for musicians. If you value your mental health, you should stay away from them.

I appreciate Your time. Want to say or plug any other projects before we part ways?

Absolutely, I’d like to highlight my ongoing project of creating cybersecurity-themed music. I believe music is a powerful medium that can be used to bring important issues to the forefront of public consciousness. Through my tracks, I aim to spark interest in the world of cybersecurity, a field that is increasingly critical in our digital age but often overlooked.

My dream is not just to create engaging and inspiring music, but to win a Grammy for it. This isn’t about personal accolades, but about using the platform to raise global awareness about the urgent need for security talent. I hope that my work can inspire more people to consider a career in cybersecurity, contributing to the safety and resilience of our interconnected world.