Essentials: Tropics

Chris Ward, otherwise known as Tropics, is a 27-year-old musician based out of the UK. His sound is unique; it takes influence from 70’s music, post-punk, and everything else that he had been familiarized with during his youth. The outcome is a vibrant and radiant sound perfect for cozy sunsets and romantic rendezvous. This week, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist shares with us his lifestyle and music essentials, and provides an in-depth explanation for each item. From a production standpoint, Tropics shows us that top-notch equipment is not necessarily needed to make good music; he uses a relatively inexpensive sE condensor microphone for home recording. For live performances, he carries around a Roland SP-404 Sampler and praises it for its versatility and usefulness. Chris, who seems to be quite the sentimental individual, never goes anywhere without his late grandfather’s signet ring, which serves as a reminder of “family, love, romance, and all things good.” He also brings along old book of toy instruments, which helps him recall the joy of making music during times when he feels less inspired. Check out the rest of the essentials above.