Music maker

Music man Hector Urtubia of local avant-pop band Schizopolitans and solo project Next Door Ninja immerses himself in the entire process of creating music—right down to creating the equipment he uses to make it, from old school analog synthesizers to apps on smartphones and tablets. Check out Next Door Ninja at www.nextdoorninjamusic.com.

In layman’s terms, tell me about the synthesizer you’re building.

A synth is one of the most primitive parts of electronic music. When electronic music started, it was all synthesizers. Now we have computers and everything. I think there’s this wave of going back to analog synthesizers where you can see all of the components. When you open it, instead of chips, you see actual parts. So I’ve been making music with computers for a while and wanted to get back to the basics. … It’s taken me like a month to build it, and I’m still not done. It’s kind of scary because you do all of this stuff and you’re not sure if it’s going to work or not.

Is this something that you plan to use for the music you make? What are the differences between the two projects you’re involved in?

Yes, definitely. They bands have different sounds. I started my solo project a while ago. I was playing music in another band, Drinking with Clowns. After a while I couldn’t keep up with their schedule so I had to leave. So I started doing music by myself, and I put some videos of what I was doing on YouTube and that’s how my other band found me [Schizopolitans], and it was like a perfect match. It fits me really well. It’s kind of strange and dark and very experimental. … We all feed off of each other. I really like it. I really enjoy playing with these guys.

What is your background? Did you study engineering or music?

I’m a software engineer by day. … And a parent and a crazy scientist by night, and a musician.

You also made some apps too, for the iPad and iPhone, right?

Yes. I made a few music apps. They do OK. I don’t do it to make any money from them. We use them sometimes for Schizopolitans. It’s really rewarding. … The apps are easier than the synths since software engineering is what I do. … One is called Synth Pad. Another is called SoundCells and I just released one for the iPad called Beat Shuffler. If you have an iPhone, search for “Big Robot Studios” in the app store.

Between playing music, building apps and synths, and working, how do you make time for it all?

I don’t know. Very late at night. And slowly, just taking my time. You have to be patient. I have a lot of ideas, but I know that if I don’t stick to just one thing I won’t get anything done. I usually know that a project is going to take a while. … My priority is always my daughter Junot. She’s 21 months old.

Do you plan to teach her how to build things or make music?

Oh, absolutely. She already has a piano. We try to encourage that as much as we can.

What’s a project you’re planning for 2012?

I want to build a modular synthesizer because the one I’m building now is a tiny one. I am hoping to build a major synthesizer, but I know that’s like a year long project. I also have sketches for more apps I’d like to do. And I’d like to do another CD this year for my solo project. And we’re working on a CD for the band. … Wow, that’s a lot.

You have a busy year ahead of you.

Yes. But when I look back, I don’t think of how busy I am.

Right. You do it because you love it.

Yes.