Ainsworth is a Toronto-based music producer, multi-instrumentalist, and social media synth jam maestro. If you’ve spent any time in the synthier corners of Instagram or YouTube, you’ve bobbed your head to the irresistible beats he makes on synths the size of matchboxes.

But Ainsworth also has decades of experience as a gigging musician, composer, and songwriter. And over the past five years, he’s put out a series of albums I can’t get enough of—especially Jazz Blaster, which you can sample in this episode. He blends retro electronic sounds with horn parts, hip-hop vocals, jazz chords, and one of the rarest and most refreshing things in music: a sense of humor.

I caught Ainsworth in a moment of transition: he’s in a new studio, making career moves, and most importantly, he’s just become a father. So how does parenthood change your art? Why are audiences so much bigger for social media jams than full albums? How do you escape the black hole of endless gear acquisition? And does your music get better when you stop trying to be cool? I talked to Ainsworth to find out.

Episode notes

Ainsworth on Instagram

Ainsworth on Youtube

Good Sunset on Instagram

Good Sunset on YouTube

Tracks played (in order):

• "Don't Be Sentimental" - Ainsworth feat. Luc Wiebe
• "Fight for Love" - Ainsworth feat. Lank
• "Tony" - Ainsworth
• "Things change" - Ainsworth
• "Afternoon Adagio" - Ainsworth
• "IKWIWB" - Ainsworth
• "Coffee with Jay" - Ainsworth
• "Infinity Pool" - Ainsworth
• "I'm Just Saying" - Ainsworth feat. Lank
• "Self Care" - Ainsworth feat. Lank
• "Enter Alpha" - Ainsworth

Special thanks to Navin Kala for the Slow Fade cover art.