Making Music Can Actually Be Fun / 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.