BY LIZ TSOURAKIS   |   Hillsborough High

Nate Horvat, a sophomore at Hillsborough High, has a passion for creating electro music. You can hear some of his music at soundcloud.com/natepat or see him live at 7 p.m. Sunday  at the Orpheum in Ybor. Tickets are $9 at the door.

How did you start making music?
I started playing violin when I was 8. I learned a lot about how to make music through that. Then in seventh grade I bought a synthesizer so I could play in a band, but that didn’t end up working out. I learned a lot about making sounds on the synthesizer, then I started using computer programs and learned a lot about producing music between eighth and ninth grades. I made lots of songs for practice, then at the end of ninth grade, I really started trying to focus on making good music.

What’s your songwriting process like?
When I write a song, it normally comes to me randomly. It’s hard for me to just sit down and make something; I normally go through hundreds of ideas before I find something I like and stick with it. Also, sometimes I have good ideas, but I can’t find or make the right sound for it, so I just give up. My friends say I always give up too quickly on good ideas.

Do you want to make a career out of producing music?
I do. It would be really fun! But also, many of the most major electronic musicians tour so much — some have been on the road for almost two years straight. I just don’t know if I’d like to be gone for that long.

Who are your biggest inspirations?
Daft Punk, Justice, Skrillex, Deadmau5, Knife Party and Linkin Park.

What should people expect from you at your upcoming show?
People should expect some new songs, and to see me mix my songs together in a pretty cool way that many kids our age haven’t really seen in person.

Is there anything you’d like to add?
It’s pretty hard and takes a lot of practice. The computer programs take a long time to learn, and I learn new techniques every day.