Spotlight: NIS69ANT Grabs Staff Pick in Discord Challenge

Every two weeks, Soundtrap hosts a Sample Pack Challenge on the Soundtrap Discord server. Users get a chance to flip the samples from the latest pack in the Soundtrap Studio. This week, it was the Illegal Rage Trap Pack on deck.

The challenge brought out some incredible talent as always, but one submission stood out to the Soundtrap Staff.

NIS69ANT became this week's staff pick with his incredible submission and creative take on the sample pack. We caught up with NIS69ANT to learn more about his journey, his creative process, and what this win means to him.

Check out his submission below.

Tell us who you are in one sentence! 

I'm NIS69ANT(that's my artist alias), a self-proclaimed musician exploring various sounds and emotions and trying to bridge the gap between the human experience and this little thing I do on my pc as close as possible.

Where are you from and how old are you? 

I am from Delhi NCR, India and I'm 20 years old.

How long have you been making music and what got you started?

I’ve been making music since the end of the pandemic, starting my journey in 2022. My interest was sparked after watching a bunch of loopstation videos, where artists create loops live and structure them into compositions. 

I found that idea fascinating. I searched for something that could give me a similar experience and first tried Magic Music Maker, but it felt too limited. 

Then, after seeing a bunch of [Soundtrap] ads on Spotify (which, to be honest, were kind of annoying at first), I decided to give Soundtrap a shot, and here we are!

What was your initial reaction when you heard the sample pack? Did any particular loop or sound jump out at you?

When I first heard the sample pack, my reaction was, “Wow! They REALLY went hard with this one,” and I loved it. One sound that particularly stood out to me was the ambient sound from the poem sample. There was something perfect about it, despite its eerie texture and unsettling vibe—it just clicked, and I ended up using it in the sample pack challenge.

Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you approach working with the samples?

My creative process is simple. I start by looking for sounds I feel a connection with. Once I’m feeling it, I go with it—if it’s a premium sound, I just screen-record it and import it into the studio. From there, I focus on finding drums and bass that fit, add effects like chopping or reversing, and experiment until I find something solid to build on.

How would you describe your unique sound as an artist? Did this challenge push you to explore new styles?

I’d describe my sound as "Soundscapes"—a blend of atmospheric and rhythmic elements, created with intent and purpose, where each track has its own identity. I’d also say that these challenges over the past few months have really pushed me to explore new styles I wouldn’t have normally tried.

What tools or effects within Soundtrap did you use to transform the samples into something uniquely yours?

As for effects, I love using stereo chorus with the rate and depth knobs set to zero and the mix knob all the way up. I use this for bass to create a stereo mix feel. Another effect I recently picked up is the dynamic compressor (shout-out to Nebvla if you’re reading this). I turn the release knob all the way down to zero, then set the volume knob to the lowest possible level—it acts as a clipper, and I love it!

Who or what inspires you musically? Did any of that inspiration make its way into your submission?

A lot of my music is inspired by video game soundtracks, especially the arrangements and textures. For instance, the soundtracks in games like Zenless Zone Zero—with its EDM influences and nuanced rhythms—often inspire me. When I hear something cool like that, I think, "I want to make something like that," and sometimes the connections happen organically.

If your winning track was the soundtrack to a movie, what kind of scene would it accompany?

If my track were the soundtrack to a movie, it wouldn’t really be a typical movie scene. I sampled an animated short called "Batman I Caught a Little Pokemon," which is fan-made and has this witty, spontaneous feel but is also unsettling and edgy. That kind of vibe is really appealing to modern audiences these days.

What does this win mean to you, and how has it impacted your confidence as a producer?

Winning this challenge has renewed my confidence in staying true to my sound, which resonates with others. Not that I lacked confidence before, but it’s a reminder to trust your vision and stick to it!

Where can people listen to your music and find you online?

You can listen to my music on Spotify, YouTube, SoundCloud, and other streaming platforms under NIS69ANT. If you want to reach out, hit me up on Discord (@maidenless) or Instagram (@nis69ant).

We again wish to congratulate NIS69ANT on becoming this week's staff pick and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Want to check out the Illegal Sample Pack? Access it here!