Making Music Fun Again // Aqeel Aadam

Aqeel Aadam is a Philadelphia-based musician, composer, and developer who’s released four albums combining modular synth soundscapes with crunchy beats. He started designing audio software plugins on a whim—and found such a passionate audience for them that it’s become a full-time job.  But how do you live up to a musician grandfather who played with Charlie Parker and John Coltrane? What did Aqeel’s years working at Google teach him as a musician? And how does he make software plugins that feel like bandmates? I talked to Aqeel to find out. This is Slow Fade, conversations about finding creative clarity, building community, and making art that matters in a digital age. If you like this conversation, subscribe and leave us a 5-star review. It goes a long way. Thanks for listening. - Steve / Good Sunset EPISODE NOTES Aqeel on Bandcamp Aqeel Aadam Sound (plugins) Aqeel on YouTube Aqeel on Instagram Good Sunset on Instagram Songs played (in order) ”Transmission” - Aqeel Aadam ”Weighted Blanket” - Aqeel Aadam ”Obsession” - Aqeel Aadam ”Vestigial” - Aqeel Aadam ”Crash Landing” - Aqeel Aadam ”Beneath Cracked Sky” - Aqeel Aadam ”Cosmic Irony” - Aqeel Aadam ”Rang like a Bell” - Aqeel Aadam ”Fault” - Aqeel Aadam ”Nails Grow Back” - Aqeel Aadam Plugins discussed Coastline Outgrowth Weeping Wall Special thanks to Navin Kala for the Slow Fade cover art. Listen to our magical conversation in ep. 1 of Slow Fade.