Ben and Austin have known each other since middle school. They formed a friendship that would eventually evolve into the EDM (Electronic Dance Music) super-machine known as AUXO. But before their kismet meeting, Ben was already entangled in music. “I took piano lessons when I was like six and what would happen is –and I still do this, I’ll try to learn a song through sheet music and then I just end up stealing the chords from that song,” he said. “I have more fun just jamming out on the keyboard.”

Ben’s first inspiration was his dad creating songs on GarageBand for him when he was little. When he got his first phone at 13, he took this inspiration and immediately downloaded the app, experimenting with the elementary DAW’s (Digital Audio Workstation) interface.

“Some ideas are just so crazy on there and weird. Because my influences were just nothing really,” he said, “It was just what would be in my head. Oftentimes I’ll go back and grab audio from it and sample it into a new song and its a super fun way to finish an idea and give it new light when it’s just been sitting in the files in the dark for a while.”

Best friends make the best band-mates

Eventually, Ben’s interest in production gained the attention of his friends, who would all meet at Ben’s house to record. “There would be like eight of us in my house, making a song and then laughing about it, uploading it to Soundcloud,” he said, “That was the SoundCloud evil era.”

Friends making music as a joke slowly evolved into just Ben and Austin, who realized that some of what was coming out of their sessions had real prospects. The name AUXO originated from an inside joke among their friend group, which is the name they released their first album under, although it is not available on streaming services. When asked whether or not he still had those files, Ben said, “There’s something so cute about having those files. They’re cherished, they have such mystical energy around them because they’ve had the time for it to marinate in your mind.”

Just a few years later, Ben and Austin released their self-titled EP in collaboration with local artist Landon Boyce. “Auxo,” released in 2021, was the first project on which the duo felt they had found their sound, but not without nostalgia for their roots.

“Production techniques, writing techniques, the world building of songs, all of that grows. It also it loses the rawness, which is sad,” Ben said.

The challenges of EDM

In addition to being one half of AUXO, Ben is a student at the U, majoring in design. Although navigating through the challenges of both academic and pop star life provides its own struggles, there are some benefits as well. Being in design school inspires Ben’s art, whether that’s designing the album covers or merch, or completing an assignment for school. But when the inevitable burnout comes, it’s sitting down in his studio and making music that helps him reset and reconnect with himself.

“It’s a little bit like journaling for me, you write down what’s happening in your life,” he said, “Or if it’s not exactly what’s happening in your life, you’re drawing comparisons.”

While the foundation and staple of EDM is the computer, it seems that with AI, there might one day be a time when the computer replaces people like Ben and Austin. The threat of AI to the musician as an artist, as well as someone who makes a living off of their art, has become increasingly apparent. However, Ben says that he still has some hope for the future of AI and music.

“There will be a day when a good majority of people do just listen to AI music,” he said, “Because there is the listener who seeks out intention and emotion and art, and then there is also the listener who just needs background music. So I don’t think we will ever lose the people who want human intention and art. I don’t think they will ever go away.”

Saturation of the music industry

One example that Ben can recall that exemplifies the tension between the oversaturation of the EDM industry is a TikTok that was posted by his friends who started Drum and Bus in Salt Lake.

“Their first post that really blew up and took them off, the top comment was, ‘Utah doesn’t need more DJs,’ and I literally disagree with that statement so hard,” he said, “I think every single person should be a DJ. It’s the best way to interact with music.”

However, Ben recognizes the assumptions that people tend to make when you tell them you’re a DJ. He feels that some people don’t take him seriously when it comes to his appreciation and knowledge of music. Putting any defensive remarks aside, Ben is adamant that those people just need to experience the community and technique for themselves. “If you really love music, you’re going to want to have another form to interact with it on top of listening, which is combining it with other songs, so I think everybody should be a DJ,” Ben said.

Most of all, Ben’s confident approach to the potential competition comes from the trust he has in himself and his talent. It takes more than just a deck and a dream to become a DJ. For him, you need talent, but you also need personality, which you can’t have without being passionate about the EDM community.

“There are so many DJs, yes, but only a few will really rise above and be the artist. And you’ll come for their curated set, you’ll get to know them watching from the crowd and how they perform,” he said, “I love the way Dumb Boy Sticky does it where he will just wear this cool clown make up and play hard style.”

Most of all, Ben prioritizes chasing the reasons he became a DJ in the first place, instead of getting caught up in the competitive side of the music industry. Playing local venues like International reminds him that the people in the EDM community will always support him. “I’ve seen people pull out Shazam at my shows and the whole time it’s just AUXO and that is a wonderful feeling,” he said.

Community

Within the EDM scene, Ben feels that there is a growing divide between those who consider themselves part of the community and those who choose to be excluded. This leaves too much room for the unrealistic stigmas that have grown around the scene, but Ben promises that it is just that: unrealistic.

“Electronic music is the most wonderful thing to happen to me, and there’s so much you can do with it,” he said, “There are so many emotions that you can make someone feel with a computer.”

Not only does the rave scene provide a fun experience, but you can find yourself in a community that is welcoming and accepting of all, something that is desperately needed in this day and age.

“If you want an amazing group of friends and wonderful music,” Ben said, “I would highly suggest joining in the rave community and feeling the support from all around. There’s so much love from that community.”

Production

For equipment, Ben uses an old Mac 2011 with Logic Pro X as his DAW of choice. The beginning of his production involves using plugins like Serum or Vital to make melodies from synths. Then he will add in the drums and anything else the song requires. Once he is satisfied with the result, he sends the instrumental to the other half of AUXO, his friend Austin. The most unique part about AUXO’s process is that Austin lives in St. George, so very rarely do the two meet up to make music. However, Ben argues that the distance only pushes him to work harder, “I really got to make the best shit ever so that he’ll hop on it, he said.

Once Austin sends his vocal stems back to Ben, he will process it and put them in the song. However, sometimes this process naturally inverts itself, where Austin will send Ben his vocal stems and this will inspire him to make a beat for the vocals to live in.

Whichever path Ben and Austin choose to take to create their art, it’s clearly working. The chemistry between the two is tangible enough in the music that one could never guess that they are making them on opposite sides of the state. The songs on their albums leave their listener wanting more, a desire that can only be satiated by seeing them live.

AUXO just got back from touring with KUMO99 through Vancouver, Seattle and Portland, but their next live show is December 13 at Kilby Court. You can purchase their merch here or at their shows.