photo credits: Nathaniel Young
1. Who are you?
Good question! I ask this of myself all the time.
2. What do you do?
Well, my Resident Advisor profile says I am a singer, multi-instrumentalist, producer and DJ – which sums the majority of it. I just have always liked making interesting sounds in whatever way possible.
3. Where do you often create/produce?
In NYC, about 5 feet from my bed
4. When?
Im a morning person!!! Especially if I am just coming home from a great dance party and have some good inspiration .
5. Why do you play music?
I am miserable when I don’t.
6. When did you start making music?
Since i was 4 or 5, my parents have the stories – i don’t remember, but I do remember my first composition ‘the rainbow’ on the piano – then I officially started violin at age 5, then trumpet and somewhere in there my dad bought a roland drum box and keyboard and i discovered ice rain and echo bell and from then on I was kinda hooked on synth .
7. Which track defines you the most?
If I think we are talking about this EP release, then it would be Neu U — Its got those cute little squeals from my SH101, the hypnotic repeating pattern thing I like and lots of rides and hi-hats, but then I also I decided to include that intro as a musical head nod to my parents, who are both music educators – it sounds a little bit like a clarinet solo or something to me 😀
8. How would you describe your own music?
I never know how to describe my own sound — but I guess dirty acid, techno, electro .
9. Any track of the moment?
Again if we are talking about this release, I am feeling the Young Male remix of Squails.
10.What influences your work?
Sleep. how much i get, and if i had any dreams, i might use it in what I am creating – thats why i like the morning.
11.What’s your academic background? Are you an autodidact?!
I am a medical anthropologist by education, haha. But as far as music goes, I had private instruction in several instruments in primary and high school, but as far as electronic music goes, i have taught myself how to use all these machines and the basic elements of production and recording. I learned by watching other people in the bands I was in before and reading a lot of manuals. Then when i struck out on my own, i did this 100milkteeth project, which was a bootcamp of sorts to kick my ass into learning how to move from start to finish on a track and just get it out there. I recorded and released a song a day for 100 days – it taught me a lot.
12.Favorite book?
Letters to a Young Poet, Rainer Maria Rilke .
13.Favorite classic movie?
Heidi?
14.Your dream collaboration?
Me and Bjork sitting in a tree recording the sounds of us eating apples together. (that is an actual reoccurring dream of mine)
15. Are you analog or digital?
I use hardware synths, beat machines recorded live into ableton, and try to do as little editing as possible in the box – like the live feel, but am not an analog purist by any means.
16.Which soft wares/tools/ instruments do you use/play?!
Ableton for capture, an old red Electribe ESX1 for beats, Octatrack for sequencing/samples, SH101 for acid/bass, and a few other odds and ends – an old korg synth for pads, my trumpet w effects, vocals
17.Describe your creative process?
I like to record as much live in one or two takes as possible and get the song idea out quickly. I like to arrive in the studio with an idea of what I would like to do. I don’t like to spend a lot of time editing a track bc I feel like I start to suck the magic out of it and make it too polished. That being said, I am trying to find better ways sticking through that process so I can make things sonically better and balance the raw/live vibes with good quality recording and mixing. i think there is a sweet spot there and I am looking for it.
18.When are you the most prolific (creatively)?
When I have a deadline.
19. Any favorite record stores? (Real/virtual)
Halycon (NYC)! Audio-In (Berlin)! La Rama (Montreal)!
20.What’s your life philosophy? (Optimistic/pessimistic)
LOL!
21.Do you have a healthy lifestyle?
I own an elliptical machine ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
22.How do you manage your time effectively? (Job/hobby)
Yes, I have both job and hob. New York can be crazy – rent is high and the hustle is real – but i love being here – so many great people and opportunities. So yea job is necessity here, and I work as a fundraiser/grant writer for a community health center for immigrant families. The job is bit stressful sometimes, I have a lot of writing and deadlines, but it puts life into perspective and helps me give back in other ways beyond art and music. So far it works out ok – it would be nice to work a little less and have more time to record and collaborate. One of these days!
23. Any secret skills?
I can read your mind.
24. Any future plans?
Many!! Too many to write here!
25.What’s your life motto?
I am a channel .
26. Any “mot de la fin”?!
Thanks for including me in this – I love what Bizaarbazaar is all about, so thank you for what you do! yay 😀
