SoundGym Hero: Nicolae Orengo

A drummer turned music producer with a rich background in rock, blues, and R&B, Nicolae Orengo loves D&D and capoeira. He aims to blend musical skills in new solo projects. Nicolae Orengo is this month's SoundGym Hero!

How did you first find your way into making music?

I am grateful to have grown up in a musical family. I always loved my grandmother’s piano, but my uncle’s drum kit sealed the deal. It was love at first strike! My feet couldn’t even hit the pedals when I first started out.

I was lucky to be surrounded by all sorts of musical tastes. My uncles listened to rock, my grandfather listened to blues, and my mother listened to RnB and Hip Hop. I was always excited as a kid to get into band class, and it remained my favorite part of the week. So, I decided to pursue music in college – playing timpani and marimba in orchestral settings.

Playing in a high school rock band and writing songs on guitar or piano was always a bit more rewarding for me, so I left my classical percussionist studies behind in favour of learning jazz, funk, soul, and blues, from some of incredible musicians teaching in my home city of Halifax, earning a music arts diploma. I also got a music business diploma to ice that cake.

That had me running with some serious bandmates, playing hundreds of gigs, and giving me a handful of opportunities to drum in front of thousands. In fact, one of my longest term projects, Lindsay Misiner & the 7th Mystic, was nominated for an East Coast Music Award this year for our debut album! Check it out if you like soul music with stellar horn sections!

It wasn’t until a few years ago that I got into production and audio to be self-sufficient in my solo project and bring all of my musical talents into the box.

Aside from music, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

D&D. Maybe it’s weird to call it a hobby, because it’s been my main source of income since 2021. I currently run roughly eight games a week! I love gaming in general, but don’t find as much time as I’d like to boot up my playstation these days.

Aside from that, I mostly practice with instruments or voice, and exercise with some capoeira (salve!). I’m always studying production, mixing, marketing, and anything else that might help an independent, self produced artist.

And importantly, I just relax with my partner, eat together, and binge-watch our current fave. Right now, it’s The Wire and I’m stoked to go make some nachos and guacamole with her. She regularly makes me go out in nature, and we love to spend time with friends and family. We also both love to dance!

What’s something you're surprisingly good at that has nothing to do with music?

Is it too late to say DMing D&D? Bruce Lee said, “If I tell you I am good, you’ll think I’m bragging. If I tell you I am bad, you will know I am lying.” Sure, I’m not Matt Mercer with the voices, but I’d say the reviews on my startplaying.games profile have to count for something!

If you could play or create with any artist, who would it be and why?

Great question! Haven’t thought about this much since Prince. He touched a couple of albums I absolutely adore before his passing. I guess now my answer is something of a cop out because Silk Sonic is two artists (Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak (three if you count Bootsie, baby!)), but I would have loved to even be a fly on the wall in that studio while their album came together.

What piece of music gear do you love the most, and what makes it irreplaceable in your creative process?

I love my Sabian Artisan cymbals and hi-hat. That said, as a musician who was always primarily a drummer, yet who also adored the sampled and MPC’d Hip Hop of the 90s, I came to terms with the fact my primary skill set is replaceable.

I wasn’t really concerned, though, because J Dilla and Questlove showed me that this was a constant source of more musical influence and inspiration. That’s why now I don’t rely too heavily on any instrument or tool for my own project. I play, but now I sample and program as well. That goes for drums and several other instruments.

But, as a musician who records in a non-professional home studio, I just came across soothe2 and I think it’s going on every track I record in this room from now on. Does software count? Haha.

What daily or weekly habits do you have in place to keep you creating?

I am a creature of many habits, though they can be rather ‘elastic’. Waking up first thing and rifling through some important ones keeps me focused. Things like exercise, meditation, and plenty of water are things I try to start every day with.

Then I head down into the office/studio and do my ToneGym and SoundGym daily exercises. I do 15 minutes of vocal exercise four days a week, and a half hour the other three days. Followed by at least five minutes of drumming on a practice pad.

Then, I’ll often listen to a few tracks while I make sure my next game is prepared, or if that’s not necessary, I hop right to the next song or project I want to accomplish. Every day is a balance between the most important thing coming up, or trying to keep sharp with the multitude of skills and hats to wear in this business – which is why I appreciate your daily exercises! But vocals, ToneGym, SoundGym, and drum pad, those need to happen every day for me.

I have been slacking with content creation since January. That is something I should be prioritizing with a new solo project. But I’m certain once I get consistent with that, as I have with everything else, I will start to see the positive results I am looking for!

What keeps you motivated to continue making music?

Even though it’s never fully paid my bills, the hours spent practicing and making music are so engaging. I think that’s why we musicians can sit for hours slowly untangling a difficult phrase until it becomes second nature. Writing music is weaving insight into tangible form. I think it’s a level of understanding we can share, going deeper than words alone. Music is a core part of humanity. I love to drum and to sing, to produce and to mix, and find it hard to imagine a life not pursuing these things. Even the martial art I practice is musical!

What song would you choose as the soundtrack of your life?

This might be a little shameless, but I’m going with my own song. It’s called Grateful, and I guess it’s all in the name. (But you can find it wherever you stream music ;D )

What's your favorite feature on SoundGym, and how has it helped you in your musical journey?

I was going to say the Daily Exercises. They keep me coming back every morning, but actually, it’s the Mix Critiques space. Some of the folks there have been very helpful in figuring out new ways for me to look at my productions. It’s so difficult to know if you’re even on the right track when you’re beginning. Having a community that can lend their perspectives has granted me a lot of confidence I wouldn’t have otherwise.

What’s something exciting you're working on or looking forward to?

Well, I just submitted a grant for a song that is going to sound quite different from the rest of the stuff I have out or lined up. With that one I am returning to my heavy rock tastes. I’m honestly really excited about all of the songs I have plans to release between now and the end of the year.

I am trying to channel my various musical stylings and influences into pieces that sound distinct from one another, yet draw from a sound that is new and wholly mine. I’m so stoked every day I have an hour or more to open up Logic Pro, or to sit with an instrument and hone my craft. Other than that, I’ve got some new ideas for making more sound absorption and upgrading my room. Better ears, better playing, better room, and hopefully working towards a better sound!

Keep grinding at what you love, my friends!

You can follow Nicolae on his Website, Instagram and Spotify.