Skysia’s Top 10 Tips For Van Or Bus Life As A Producer, DJ, And Overall Artist

Hailing from Denver’s vibrant music scene, Skysia is a visionary artist renowned for his ethereal bass and innovative sound design. Having transitioned from nomadic life to a thriving residential musician, Skysia shared his top 10 tips for bus life as an artist with Magnetic, drawing on personal experiences touring the country. 

With recent releases like his Overture EP and acclaimed 2023 album, Here, accompanied by a feature film, Skysia’s cinematic style captivates audiences, weaving narratives through symphonic textures and deep basslines. Equally thrilling, Skysia is preparing for upcoming performances, including appearances at Texas Eclipse and Red Rocks.

From optimizing living spaces for on-the-road DJing to breaking down essential hacks to grow one’s career as an artist, his insights offer a glimpse into his unique approach to bus life and how it intertwines with making music. 

Check out Skysia’s Top 10 Tips For Van Or Bus Life As A Producer, DJ, And Overall Artist below.

FIGURE OUT WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU

When living in such small spaces, you have got to make sure that everything is in its right place and that you design it in a way where the thing that is most important to you takes priority. For example, the most essential aspect for me was having a music studio and creative space that felt comfortable and inspiring. 

I spent most of my time figuring out how to create my studio and how much off-grid power I needed to run it. Everything on the bus was centered around the studio. Even the kitchen and sink area was more minor. I wanted to make sure that I could make music no matter where I was. I wanted to be comfortable doing it, and most importantly, I wanted to use my studio for a long time without worrying about power. 

Once the studio was set up and running, I felt super content. Knowing that I could create anywhere was such a relief! Once you tackle the most critical aspect of your van or bus, everything else becomes much easier. Your mobile home becomes centered around the aspect you love most, making you feel happier and more excited about your setup!

DESIGN YOUR SPACE

This might sound obvious, yet it is incredibly crucial. Yes, the build and actual placement of everything is important, however I am more talking about decorating your space. Finding the right colors, the right lighting, the right blankets and pillows, the list goes on. 

This aspect is most significant when living in such a small space. Everything is visible at all times. You cannot enter other rooms and enjoy a different scenery or decor. So, in essence, you will be staring at the same things every day. That is why you need to love everything in there! 

When you take the time to design it, you will be much happier and more comfortable daily. I find this also helps with creativity because the small space you live in also inspires you.

PARK IN PLACES THAT INSPIRE YOU

We are a product of our surroundings. Sure, the bus life is a way to save money by not paying rent, but we also do it for the freedom to be anywhere we want. I have seen people parking on random streets or Walmart parking lots and while that can be helpful in a pinch, it is worth it to take the extra time to find a place within your favorite nature spots.

Whether you like the beach, the forest, or the desert, there is always a way to find a location you love. By parking in places that inspire, you will be giving yourself a valuable experience. It leads to more creativity and a better sense of adventure and happiness. You will have to take some time and do research.

My favorite spot was Mt. Shasta in California. They have dispersed camping that is completely free and the area is incredibly lush. Every time I park up there, I get a sudden burst of inspiration. A few of my tracks on my album Here were made while parked in the forest of Mt. Shasta! You can use apps to help you find free or cheap spots to park your rig. I used one called Overlander, but plenty of other useful apps help make this lifestyle easier.

TAKE IT ON TOUR!

Do not be afraid to use this as your tour bus, especially when you do not have the team or funds for a proper big tour. I used this for a tour a couple of years ago, and considering it was my first tour, I did not have much money. This method allows you to save money on hotel rooms, which is an awesome perk.

Just communicate with each venue to ensure they can accommodate a parking space big enough for your rig. Most people do not make money on their first tour. Because I used my own bus, I came home with an extra $2k after all expenses!

Another incredible aspect is that you can take it to festivals that book you; that was always the best feeling! To get booked at a 3-day fest out in nature and show up in my home. Everything you own right there with you. Nothing to pack or accidentally forget at home, your own bed, kitchen, food, clothes, and studio. That was consistently a huge highlight for me!

TRAVEL AND COLLABORATE

One thing that I really loved about the bus was being able to travel to different cities and connect with other producers. You do not impose as much on people’s space when traveling in your home. You are essentially bringing your own room. So I would hit up some producer friends and ask if I could park in their driveway to work on music and hang out. 

I would usually offer some money to help out as well, mainly because they would let me use their shower and bathroom, which was always nice after being on the road for a while. 

So much fantastic music was birthed out of these adventures. Sure, you can always collaborate from a distance, but being in the studio together is extra special! Plus, you can get a lot more done in a short amount of time. Not only was it productive but it was also so fun to connect with other producers that you respect in the scene. Usually these little visits led to solid friendships that I am incredibly thankful for!

GET A SUBPAC

The one thing that most people do not have enough room (or power) for is a sub. For much of the time I was living in the bus, I was making downtempo music, and subfrequencies did not matter as much. As my sound started to shift into heavier bass music, I needed a way to monitor my low-end. 

My friends all pitched in and got me a SubPac for my birthday. It was a complete game changer! Having access to these frequencies inspired so much new music. Right after getting one of these, I made a ton of new bass tracks. All the tracks on my Overture EP were made after getting a SubPac. It resulted in a whole new sound from me. Making this EP in the bus was an unforgettable experience.

CREATE ENOUGH ROOM TO PRACTICE YOUR LIVE SET 

My live setup is a little different as I perform on Ableton, but this advice applies to anyone using other DJ gear as well. After making the Overture EP, I wanted to craft an entire new live set. This meant lots of practice. I designed my bus so I could move a couple of things around to have my full live setup ready and available.

I had a swivel stand connected to the desk where I could put any gear on it and move it into any position I liked. Furthermore, I had enough counter space for my mini keyboard, drum pad, MIDI Fighter Twister, APC40, and more. I spent months working on this new live set: incorporating songs from the EP, making edits, and working on transitions. 

One thing that I would try to convince people of when considering van or bus life is to get something you can stand in. This made live set practice so much easier and fun for me!

RENEGADE SETS

The beauty of having a rig with its own power source is you can throw renegade sets wherever you are! This could be at festivals, in your favorite nature spot, or a camping trip. Depending on your storage space, you can get two SOUNDBOKS speakers and set them up anywhere outside the bus. You can then open a window of your skoolie [bus converted into a living space] and have that be the DJ booth! 

I personally never had enough space for those two big speakers so I did not take enough advantage of throwing renegade sets, but I wish I did. Another option is getting a silent disco setup. That way, you can throw renegade sets wherever you are and not have to worry about causing problems with sound. They also take up much less space than big speakers. Just a box of headphones and a receiver is all you need. 

I could host a silent disco party using the bus at a friend’s birthday in the desert and it was so much fun! We set up a table just outside the bus and ran extension cords inside. We were able to play music all night long and even set up a little projector for visuals. Options are limitless when you have a setup like this!

VELCRO IS YOUR FRIEND

Another key thing to figure out when designing your studio is how to keep everything in place. The last thing you want to do is have to break down your studio setup every time you drive to a new location. For this, I used Velcro for everything. 

I had a table riser on my desk where my speakers and computer monitor were placed and I used a big piece of Velcro on the bottom of the speakers to keep them from moving or falling over. I used the same technique to keep my table riser in place. It was the same with my computer monitor screen, audio interface, and MIDI keyboard placed underneath the table riser. The only thing I had to remove before driving was my laptop. My studio was also always set up and ready to go.

A MEANS TO AN END

I got the bus initially to go all in on my dreams. I never saw myself doing the whole van life thing, and yet I saw an opportunity… If I could find a way to avoid paying rent, I could make music daily and support myself just enough to get by. That was my initial thought. It started out as a means to an end, quickly becoming a life that fulfilled me in so many ways. 

It was a big risk at the time. I was working a 9 to 5 that I hated even though I was making a solid amount of money. I had a nice car and an apartment on the beach. On paper, I was living the dream but I was deeply unsatisfied. So I made a choice. 

I gave myself three years (I was 27 at the time). I told myself, “I will go all in on music for the next three years and if I am not fully supporting myself by the time I am 30, I will quit and go back to working a normal job.” I got rid of my apartment, sold my car, and used that money to buy the bus.

I spent those three years working my ass off. 

Creating and releasing as much music as I possibly could. I only had to worry about paying for food and gas, so I would do some graphic design work and collect money from streams and small shows. That was just enough to feed myself. After a few years, I started seeing major growth. I was collecting enough income from music that I did not need to live in a bus anymore. 

My recent EP release Overture marks the final piece of work that was made in the bus. I have officially sold it and moved into a house in Denver. I miss that life a ton but I am also excited for this new chapter. 

While the bus started as a means to an end, it has fostered some of the best memories of my entire life. What a journey! I am forever thankful to have had all of those beautiful experiences!

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