Music Interviews

Where are you currently based?

First of all, thanks for interview! My studio is based in Amsterdam, I live in the city center next to the canals and I really like it there. Walking around in this neighborhood in the evening, for me is the perfect setting to get inspiration from.

How did you first start playing music?

I started DJing at local clubs very long ago, learning how to beat match and playing with vinyl. Just at the moment I got that under control, the technology had evolved and the CDJs came with a sync button, which made the art of beatmatching less relevant. To be able to stand out again I thought it was the right time to start making my own music and so bought FL Studio (this was in 2007), which after a while I switched for Logic Pro.  

What’s been happening recently?

I spent a lot of time in my studio developing my own sound, as want to explore the space in-between indie bands and electronic club music. I just released my album called ‘Enroute’.

Your album Enroute which is a collection of single releases dating back to 2017 is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting over this period?

After we parted Volt & State in 2016, I wanted to focus on making music without looking at what label to release on, or what would be right to do career-wise. Also with Volt & State we did lots of shows, what made me adjust all music we made, into playable version for the crowd to enjoy live. The music I make now, still has the progressive house melodies but is not 100% for clubs or festivals, but also very suitable for listening. 

How did you go about writing the music?

When I’m in the studio I always start with writing a melody as a base, and I’m super picky about that. Sometimes I can spend 3 months straight, only writing melodies on a piano preset. If they don’t completely blow me away, I don’t finish them and just continue searching for perfect loop that exactly brings me the emotions I’m looking for. 

Where and when did you record/produce/master?

The melodies of the first records, such as Moving On, Arrive, On Your Mind, Higher and Hold You Now, were made in Paris (France) and in Arnhem (The Netherlands) where I lived during the Volt & State era. The other tracks mostly from Amsterdam as I currently live there.

What programs/equipment did you use?

Logic Pro, Dynaudio bm5a mk2 speakers, Apogee soundcard, Korg MS 10 and a basic keyboard.

Josha Daniel is featuring artist on 4 tracks, how did you come to work together and what do you like most about his voice?

A few years ago, we (Volt & State) were working on a track with Devi from NEW_ID, when he invited us to come along to a live show of the band where his brother was playing in. I really liked that show, and later in the Armada studios we met again and found out we shared the same taste and ideas about music. Josha is also working in that crossover field between dreamy energetic electronic music mixed with indie band influences, which I think is really unique. Also I was blown away by his songwriting and voice. The fact that he can write, sing but also is a super talented producer, having his own style, I think is really special.

What’s your vision for the Quentyn project and your label Enroute Records?
With Quentyn (and my label Enroute Records) I focus on music that makes you feel you’re in a movie, cruising at night or daydreaming at a party. It’s right in that space between indie-bands and electronic club music – often influenced by the 80’s. What I used as inspiration for my album Enroute, soundwise would be if Swedish House Mafia or Avicii would meet Justice, Roosevelt, M83 or Metronomy. Also CHVRCHES, Miike Snow and Eric Prydz have been great influences for me.

With Enroute Records I want to build that bridge between Indie bands and EDM, genre wise it could be described as Synthpop, Indietronica, Electropop, Indie Dance but I’m not sure there really is a name for this genre yet.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Currently to Cobra Man, Metronomy, Roosevelt, Still Corners, Vargas & Lagola, Thomas Azier, Luttrell, Solomon Grey, Apparat, Justice, Klahr, problem solved and M83. Most of the time tho, I’m listening to the ‘work in progress’ Soundcloud playlist of Josha Daniel’s second album, it’s almost finished and the tracks are insane!  

What do you like to do away from music?

I think about music way too much so mostly it would be chilling with friends, while talking about music haha. I love to take my little boat and go on the Amsterdam canals with my friends or chill in the parks. I love walking or running at night to get inspiration. My family lives in Norway and also really love to visit them over there. 

How has your musical style changed since your previous alias Volt & State which you parted ways in 2016?

More freedom, which feels great!

What’s planned for 2021?

First we’re going to release remixes from my album tracks. I’m very excited about this as the remixers will be J.Laser (toured and collaborated with M83), Big Data, Roisto and Anoraak. After this I have some collaborations lines up with Lodola, Pikes, Antoine Larsen, Kashika and Andrew Shier. Some of these tracks will even be more indie band influenced. Also super excited we’re going to release Josha Daniel’s second album on Enroute Records, I think this really outstanding!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Eating pizza near the Amstel during the summer, would be my favorite spot and food combination. Already looking forward to that!

https://instagram.com/quentynmusic

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​https://soundcloud.com/quentynmusic

​https://twitter.com/quentynmusic

www.quentynmusic.com

Where are you currently based?

I live in Sydney, Australia. I’m from Tasmania originally, and I moved here just over a year ago now.

 How did you first start playing music?

I have always been a singer, but it was when I got my first guitar that I started properly playing music. I taught myself from YouTube, and started turning my poetry into songs.

What’s been happening recently?

I’ve just started rehearsing with my band! It’s really fun and exciting. We will be doing more stripped back versions and we have Harpist too, which will be so amazing to perform with! It sounds very dreamy. All of the band are female too. There will be some epic acapella vocal harmonies happening haha.

Your new single ’10:45′ will be released on Friday April 16th, what influenced the sound and song-writing?

I was listening to a lot of Roy Orbison and Perfume Genius around the time “10:45” was written, and it was during COVID last year too! It’s original title was actually “Sun Dial”, and I wanted the song to sound bright and happy… like the sun! But, then my lyrics took a sad turn haha, and I started singing about how all of these amazing things were “Too Good to be True”, which is the pre-chorus. So “10:45” really took on a life of its own throughout the writing process. I love that though.

 How did you go about writing 10:45?

The process of this song was pretty organic. I co-wrote and co-produced this with my partner Tim McArtney, and we wrote the song on the grand piano, with just vocals, recording sections at a time. Most of the song was written within the first 2 days, by the third day we were deeeep in production land! I don’t like forcing anything whilst writing, so I just let the song take on a life of its own. The chords itself are quite bright and “happy” sounding, but then the vocal melody is super melancholic. I love this contrast.

What does 10:45 mean to you?

The meaning behind “10:45” to me, is recognising when you’re in a really good place in your life with someone, where everything seems to be going smoothly, and you so start to doubt. The chorus repeats “Don’t tell me it’s too good, Don’t tell me it’s too good, to be true”, and I feel like it’s that point in time, where you’re freaking out a bit, cause you’re waiting for something bad to happen?! Yet, when you’re in that good place, you’re wearing rose-tinted glasses, so you don’t really want to know the truth. Then I sing “Tell me, Tell me, Tell me” in the backing vocals, which is my subconscious almost anticipating and waiting for something bad to happen. So there’s this push and pull in “10:45”, of wanting to know the truth but trying to live in the moment.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?

I recorded, co-produce and co-wrote “10:45” with my producer, and partner Tim McArtney. The song writing itself only took a couple of days. We spent a LOT of time together adding a lot of production to this track, particularly lots of vocal harmonies, and even got our friend Dora to come play violin throughout the track! I always get my music mastered with Little Wing Sound, George Georgiadis is fantastic.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

As always, very organically! I love using a lot of midi strings layered with real strings, to create a really lush and buzzy effect. I also love trap drums mixed with layers and layers of vocal harmonies and strings. Tim and I also find ourselves sifting through fun atmospheric soundscapes, or using plug-ins like Crystallizer or Tremolator (Soundtoys), on strings and voice, and speeding up time/momentum of the effect! My favourite plug-in by far is probably Tremolator. I’m obsessed with it. I love putting it on my vocals.

What programs/equipment were used? 

Instruments used in “10:45” were the Yamaha C7 grand piano, Fender 1971 Tele, Moog Sub 37 anddd we even recorded our own snare sample on a Black Beauty snare drum (they sound amazing). Used a bunch of plug-ins, mainly Valhalla reverbs and Kush Audio plug-ins.

How did the concept for the music video come about?

I wanted to create something visually bold, yet beautiful and surreal. I am obsessed with surrealist style movies, with clever use of colour and intense/confusing storylines. I was inspired by my favourite directors David Lynch (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet), Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Mother!) and Stanley Kubrick (The Shining).

Where and when did you film and who did you work with?

We shot the “10:45” film clip in Stanwell Park and Avalon Beach, haha! There were some studio scenes, beach scenes, and underwater swimming scenes. I was swimming in a sea pool in Stanwell Park at 10:45pm ironically hahaha. It was absolutely freezing. For the second part, we had to shoot in Avalon because I borrowed this amazing old vintage Harvester Scout truck. The truck is a heritage listed vehicle, so you could only drive it in a registered area. It was also very old… You probably wouldn’t want to drive it very far, or for very long. Haha.

I worked with Sam Brumby for this film clip, and it was just the two of us brainstorming ideas, based on the surreal movies and directors that I really love – David Lynch, Darren Aronofsky, Stanley Kubrick. Sam Brumby is a really talented and amazing director, and such a great guy to work with in general.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of the music video?

I really loved absolutely every aspect of it!

The hardest part was definitely trying to swim underwater for long periods of time.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

 Zella Day & Weyes Blood. They just released a song together called ‘Holocene’ . It’s beautiful.

What do you like to do away from music?

Painting and Ice-Skating.

What’s planned for 2021?

To try and release as much music as possible, and finally play gigs! Fingers crossed.

Favourite food and place to hang-out?

I adore this cute café in the middle of Surry Hills called ‘Kawa’. Great coffee, hash browns and vibe.

“10:45” Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoRYhW_Ul20

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bambioharamusic

Spotify: https://linktr.ee/bambiohara

Where are you currently based?

I’m currently based in Melbourne, Victoria – I hover around the Sunshine and Richmond suburbs!

How did you first start playing music?

I was always fascinated with writing absolutely anything, whether it was fictional or based on my personal life. I had no prior knowledge of singing or songwriting until I started writing my own songs in my last year of high school and learnt the rest at university through a songwriting degree!

What’s been happening recently?

Recently, I’ve been honing and tightening up my sound in terms of production on old and new songs and creating demo after demo where possible! Also my alma mater, JMC Academy, nominated my first single ‘Lockdown Lover’ for an award! Super stoked!

Your new single ‘System’ is out on April 30 which is a shift in sound from r&b and pop to something more darker with rock, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

This shift in genre and sound to dark-pop/rock is long overdue. I realised a few years ago that I had suppressed feelings of rage, revenge and rebellion relating to past relationships and situations that would come out in the form of angry songs. I love expressing myself through R&B and pure pop music but it’s so much more fun being bad.

How did you go about writing System?

Daniel Roughley – my bassist, co-writer, partial housemate and music guru – sent over a track he made that sounded nothing like ‘System’ does now. It was more like ‘Green Light’ by Lorde and… I wanted to write something similar to that – the desperate and chaotic need and fight for freedom from someone toxic. I wrote all of ‘System’ to that first track and before we knew it, we went through numerous changes and landed on dark-pop/rock.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

The track was initially recorded at my house during Stage 4 lockdown before deciding to record it elsewhere in a proper studio set-up. However, we decided to go with the initial vocal takes as we felt it suited the song best! It was produced by Daniel and mastered by Nicholas Di Lorenzo of Panorama Mastering.

How did you approach the recording process?

As someone who has only been singing for 4 years, I find my best vocal takes happen when there’s no pressure from anyone else. I tend to overthink when people are in the room and I need to be with someone I’m incredibly comfortable with. Doing it on my own meant that I could take my time, feel the song and not become fixated on or nervous from potential judgement. 

What programs/equipment did you use?

The latest version of Logic Pro X with a Rode NT1-A Condenser Microphone, Audio Technica headphones and Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 as the audio interface.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

I have an obsession with UPSAHL right now! Her writing is insane and her use of chromatics… soooo juicy. I’m also listening to REI AMI and Olivia Rodrigo!

What do you like to do away from music?

I love exploring new places and travelling! I got bit by a travel bug after my Bali trip which was right before the pandemic started. I’m waiting impatiently for international borders to open!

What’s planned for 2021?

A music video for ‘System’ could very well be dropped soon… but otherwise, you’ll definitely hear more singles in the lead-up to a dark-pop E.P! 

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Check out Delhi Streets in the city, superb Indian food! And… my favourite place to hangout isn’t even an actual place! It’s a late night drive carpooling with mates to Maccas/rehearsals or a day drive to somewhere far, far away!

Link to JXCKY’s socials: 

Facebook – https://facebook.com/jxckymusic

Instagram – https://instagram.com/jxckymusic 

Twitter – https://tiktok.com/jxckymusic

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB9KPzeyHmQ0C0j4S95vtxg

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/6BaMvb4XicSCtYWqjXw3hV

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@jxckymusic

Describe the significance of the track to you at the time of writing, and now?

When writing Nunchucks in 2019, I immediately knew it was special because I hadn’t written a song like this before.  I was used to writing wistful pop songs that had a number of revisions and drafts, however writing Nunchucks was easy because I was really driven by the percussive beat provided by the composer David Shivaji, so the lyrics just flowed out, without too much thought.  As this was my first delve into pure, fun pop, plus still being one of the most popular songs in my set when I perform live, Nunchucks holds a special place in my heart.

How would you describe the scene you’re currently creating music in – how inspired are you by your peers and the energy in your community when it comes to new music?

I am super inspired by what is coming out of the Australian pop music market at the moment, despite Covid-19 doing its best to thwart creativity and performance.  Perhaps it is because my peers now have the time and energy to create new music, maybe even change direction, and to perhaps re-think what they are doing, that we are already hearing a rejuvenation of sound and performance.

It has been a very difficult time for so many because of lockdowns, venue closures and restrictions, however, Aussie music has still thrived and I am constantly inspired by the energy that artists are putting in, making phat beats and tracks to ensure their listeners don’t miss out on music because it is what we all need.  It’s given me the boost to continue to push through and release more music!

Did you have any stand out influences when putting this track together?

Yes I did! When Shivaji and I first got in contact about writing together he asked me to send him a playlist with songs that I was vibing with at the time, just to get inspiration.  From that playlist, he created a beat mostly inspired by Kimbra’s Top Of The World.

Once we got into the studio to flesh it out together, I started using Billie Eilish’s Bellyache chorus, with that driving bass line, as the main inspiration for the chorus of Nunchucks.

How would you describe your ambition and approach to making music in general now, compared to when you first started? What is your driving intent as an artist?

The funny thing is, I still feel like I’m just starting as my own artist, even though I’ve actually been in the music industry for years.  I guess, when I was first coming out of Uni, making music and songwriting was only a hobby for me – I really wanted to focus on an acting career first – so I thought I had all the time in the world to leisurely pursue music.

As years went on and life happened, my desire for music became stronger so it was only a couple of years ago that I really knuckled down and pursued my music career with a vengeance!  I made the decision to never take my voice and my music for granted again and I have been non-stop since.  I am extremely passionate about this ever-changing music industry and my place in it, especially because indie artists have more control over their own career than ever before.  This industry, as much as it is about the music, it is first and foremost a business.  It is a very different world now and these days artists do everything themselves, plus have to find time to earn a living AND create music.  But my ambition and hunger is even stronger, and I’m growing and learning more about my own artistry and the music biz.  It’s challenging but I thrive in a challenge.

If people are coming to your music for the first time with this song, what’s the impression you hope to leave on them?

I want a first-time listener to be left wanting more! Nunchucks is a short, straight-to-the-point pop song that reflects my fun and sassy personality a lot so I want a potential follower to see and listen to Nunchucks and want to be my friend, soppy as that is… because I certainly want to be theirs!

What are you looking forward to the most in 2021?

Releasing a lot more music!  It’s embarrassing to say that I only released one track early last year, a song called Dreams, and then my poor followers were left in the dark for too long… you know, COVID n’ all.  I mean, sure, I updated my followers constantly through my mailing list and social media, plus I was live streaming weekly for quite a few months, then performing sold out live shows once restrictions began easing, but my online song catalogue was looking pretty bare for 2020.

In saying that, 2020 was a big year for writing and spending time in the studio, and now I have a bunch of songs ready to go that will be released in 2021!  I’ve also just recently signed with online distributor, Believe Music, which has given me the kick-up-the-butt I’ve needed to finally get more music out to my listeners.  So watch this space!

Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Triple J Unearthed

Where are you currently based?

Nashville.

How did you first start playing music?

As a Filipina Canadian growing up in Vancouver, I was so lucky to have my loving, large extended family singing and dancing, at every turn.  My Lola (grandma) played and taught piano and encouraged me to take lessons..and to practice!

What’s been happening recently?

Like so many artist’s when we talk about our current releases that are out, our head is deep in the new songs we are writing.  Isn’t that the way with everybody?

You have a new EP on the way, what’s the title?

“Feelin New” It reflects a feeling we all seem to want to feel, after all of the isolation and sadness of our pandemic 2020 year.

What influenced the sound and songwriting?

The inspiration is usually right in front of me every morning I wake up.  Great artists like Prince, Diana Ross & Michael Jackson inspire me constantly and releases that just dropped by my living idols (Alicia Keys, Bruno Mars & Pink Sweat$) getting me going as well.  We can’t forget to mention brand new beginners who arrive with a hot new sound.  The way I feel about inspiration is that we are all so very lucky to be living in a time with the media hitting us from all sides. It’s everywhere, not just on the radio, newspapers and magazines like old school.

How did you go about writing the music?

Most of my songs start with a progression or groove I have in mind.  On occasion I hit up a fellow keyboard player friend in Vancouver, Jonny Tobin, for a co-write to the changes, but so far the songs come together in my writing studio.  I always have a topic in mind before I start: it can be from feelings I need to air, issues in life I want to resolve or jams we all get ourselves into.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

We record and mix in Nashville, my production partner is Joseph Magee, my mastering engineer is Rob Burrell. And wow, there are so many great players in town, seriously the best in the world.

How did you approach the recording process?

I come in with my song ideas in a fully laid out Pro Tools session.  We then start with working lead vocals right away.  This helps us build the arrangement. Then we make a groove dependent choice; we either go out to a commercial studio for rhythm section basics or bring those players to our own studio.  After basics are done, we refine the arrangement, sometimes over and over.  I end up doing several keyboard over dubs and then we start final vocals/harmonies.  Once we are happy, my partner looks at some final sonic sweetening and we head into the final mix.

I understand you were a touring Polynesian dancer as a kid.  How does this influence your songwriting and production?

I’m a groove machine after all of those years dancing.  The rhythm has got to feel right, no matter how simple the song is.

You come from a Filipino family in Vancouver, please tell us about how that affected your start in music: 

The stereotypical jokes are spot on; lots of karaoke and dancing at home and family gatherings.  There was no shortage of opportunities to get up and perform.  Plus Earth, Wind and Fire, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and every variety of funk played in our house.  Let’s not forget, ballads, ballads and more ballads.

I heard that you have BS degree in Genetics when you were fresh out of high school.  How does your scientific mind impact your production work? 

Hehe, when I have time I learn new software, pretty darn quick. Pro Tools, Final Cut Pro, Photoshop, Lightroom, plugins, etc.

You balance songwriting, playing multiple instruments and producing as well as all of your visual production.  Your music sounds and looks great, in what order and when did you learn to do all of these jobs?

First, I got the encouragement to come to Nashville on my playing and singer/songwriting potential. Once I arrived, I learned producer chops by first contributing to my own songs, then taking on a more responsible role.  Second, I really have to thank some pros in Nashville for encouraging me to express myself, not to hold me to their opinions on how my music should be.  Third, my own recording projects led to invites to work on other artist’s tracks. To sum it up, I just gotta say if you want to learn your craft, it helps to learn from people with years and years of experience.

In terms of the visual part of the job, so many of us have been learning quickly, how to get video and still content out to the world.  With technology so available, hardware and software, it’s a situation of why not?  And if you need to learn a skill let’s say in Lightroom…just go get it on YouTube.  How exciting is that??  I love the visual part, it’s my jam.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars, Silk Sonic.

What do you like to do away from music?

Two things, I design costumes for Halloween and sneak away to teach Zumba classes on occasion.  You can’t take the dancer out of me.

What’s planned for 2021?  

I’m very excited for my EP release on April 23rd!  In addition to the EP,  I’m also releasing a music video for the title track “Feelin’ New” on April 14th. The concept for the “Feelin New” music video, is my dance persona and our recent world-wide, online video community inspired her choices. The result is a high energy, community cast of dancers and people with “good feels,” guaranteed to inspire all of us to sport a new smile and feel the groove; a welcome remedy for all we have lived through this last year.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

Fav food is sushi, fav hangout is a dance floor in an R&B Soul club where everybody moves!

Listen to “Feelin’ New”:  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jerricaalyssa/feelin-new

Website: https://www.jerricaalyssa.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jerricaalyssa/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JerricaAlyssa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jerricaalyssa

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialJerrica/

Spotify Artist: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7svpLgNXYYB60f7zoLkcNb?si=FtZZMnxgSNmJU6El-C-O2Q

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jerricaalyssa

What is your name and role within Hoko?

Nathaniel Hoho – I am the writer and vocalist for the band.

Where are you currently based?

NYC has been my home for the longest, but this year I spent most of my time in Australia between Sydney and Fremantle WA. I love Freo and am eager to get back.

How did Hoko form?

HOKO formed while I was living in LA working on projects for some other artists as a songwriter. I was focused on being a writer for nearly two years with no interest at all in doing an artist project but as I started collecting more and more songs of my own I started to become obsessed with the idea. Now I’m obsessed with the idea of playing shows.

Your EP ‘Heathen’ is being released on March 26 what influenced the sound and songwriting?

HEATHEN is the first half of a project we’ve spent almost 2 years conceptualizing.

Our aim was to create a body of work that sounded big, but was also sonically interesting, with songs that are accessible, but also have layers and complexity. All of my favorite albums give me something new every time I hear them, so that’s always something in the back of mind when finishing a song. Visually we wanted to pay homage to the artistic direction of artists like David Bowie & Queen who created beautiful images that stand on their own as art, not only as an accompaniment to the music.  We’ve been influenced by artists like Terry Gilliam, Cary Foji Fukunaga, Alejandro Jodorowsky and Danish designer Henri Vibskov. Currently we are exploring a dark and muted world. Despite some peoples first impressions visually we are not a hard rock or metal band, haha. For HEATHEN I wanted to create something that embodied some of the struggles I endured trying to find my own voice as an artist for HEATHEN. Mentally I was constantly fighting the pressure of wearing a mask, for fear of not fitting in, based on the opinions and judgments of my peers. We come from a very Alt/DIY background, but for HOKO we wanted to focus on writing Pop music for the first time, which can be taboo in the circles we come from. We worked on HEATHEN bouncing between NY and LA, and ultimately landed back in NY at the end of creating it. LA stretched us creatively into new territories of Pop and the energy of NY kept us inspired to hold fast to our desire to separate ourselves creatively.

What’s the meaning and story behind the lead single ‘Big Mistake’?

I’ve heard that every relationship is practice until you meet “the one”? My dating history involves some pretty big red flags that I failed to miss while wearing hormone enduced rose-colored glasses…including an ex going to prison as an accomplice to kidnapping and armed robbery… I feel like most songs come to you and write themselves through you, but I’m pretty sure Big Mistake is song about some of my exes. Sonically, Big Mistake is a Pop song with sitar’s and yoyo’s weaved through it. It’s perfect example of the line we wanted to walk for HOKO. Exploring Pop, but keeping it unique and a little cynical. For the record, I have no hard feelings towards any of my ex’s that may read this. Everyone is someone’s Big Mistake, I know I am!

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who did you work with?

Because the project was created over such a period of time I would work on it in different locations. At home, both in NY, LA, and Australia. In NYC we worked at Shifted Studios in Brooklyn. In LA we worked at several of our friends studios. Michael Freeman is our mix engineer. Producers that we worked with are Mike Irish ( of Shifted Recording ) John Hill ( Santigold, Portugal the Man, Cage the Elephant) and Andrew Wells ( Kaiser Chiefs, Halsey ).

What programs/equipment did you use?

I work mostly on Logic it feels like the most versatile DAW to me. However all the songs were run through so many different DAWs depending on who was doing what. Mike is on Ableton, John Ableton and PT and Wells on PT.

How did you approach the recording process?

Really no rhyme or reason we just worked with what we had around at any given time and did our best to give it a nice vibe. We used starters from fireplaces at times for HiHats that we recorded on our iPhones. At the very end we had our friend Gus Oberg come in who produced a few of The Strokes records to record some live drums, but we only ended up using them for a few tracks.

What did you find most challenging and rewarding during the creation of Heathen?

The most challenging part of creating Heathen was that we wanted to try and create something that sounded unique to HOKO – because this was our first project finding that sound took some time. You start a project with endless possibilities so finding lines and similarities that can run through a collection of songs took us a little bit of time to find. The most rewarding part by far has been releasing the music and hearing from fans who are listening and connecting with the music. We haven’t been able to tour or play a show yet due to Covid but we have been speaking with fans over social media from all over the world. Its an amazing feeling to know that something you put so much of yourself into is connect with someone else. It really brings the whole creative process full circle.

What do you like to do away from music?

Good question. I really work on music nearly everyday in some way and if I don’t I feel a little lost. The last year has been alot of time conceptualizing artwork and music videos for HOKO. Other than that I love to swim, surf, eat, hang with my dog.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

At the moment I’ve been listening to alot of The Strokes, Hot Chip, and Grimes.

What’s planned for 2021?

We have some festivals coming up in US and are planning to be touring the end of the year in the states.  We also will be releasing more music!

Favourite food and place to hangout?

NYC – love to hang at Niagara and eat next door at Miss Lillies.

https://www.facebook.com/HOKO

Where are you currently based?

Hey! I’m originally from a city called Pune in India, but am currently based in Los Angeles.

How did you first start playing music?

The first time I really got into Western music in general was when I was 14 (Having grown up in India, I wasn’t exposed to western music initially). My dad played me Smoke on the water by Deep Purple and I was hooked right from the first time I heard the main riff. From there onwards, I got my parents to buy me a guitar and kept exploring the world of classic rock music, learning songs by Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton and all the other legendary bands and musicians of that era. That’s what help set and build my strong foundation in music. I then started playing in bands locally, writing original music and started experimenting with electronic music production. I found that by applying all the musical concepts I had learnt through classic rock music to my new production skills and writing originals on them, I was really onto finding my sound. I decided to then move to Los Angeles in 2016 to test the waters in the global music scene. Ever since then I’ve been constantly writing, releasing and performing my music and have been growing constantly both as a musician and an artist. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future.

What’s been happening recently and how has your Covid experience been so far?

Initially when Covid hit and the world went into a lockdown, I too panicked like the rest of the world and was uncertain as to how long it would last and how I would cope with everything. However, as time passed, I realized that since I was home all day, I could really focus on creating and finishing my existing songs. It also challenged me and got me to push myself into really getting creative. In order to still stay proactive as a music artist, I had to figure out ways to make quality content (both audio and video) right from my home. This is when I started experimenting with vlogging, making loop music videos from my home, using green screen and animation videos. I learnt a lot in the past year and developed a lot of new skills and 2020 turned out to be one of the more successful years for me as an artist in terms of growing my fan base, social media and streaming numbers. But I really hope the world goes back to normal especially with all the vaccines coming in as I have a lot of new music and videos dropping that I want to test out in live crowds.

Your new single ‘Olivia’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?

Olivia is about a girl (not named Olivia) I met a couple years ago and immediately fell for her. There was just some intense sense of familiarity I felt with her and was absolutely hooked onto her. It was too soon to communicate exactly how I felt about her as we had only just met a week prior so I decided to put all feelings down in a song and the result was the song ‘Olivia’. Me and her only lasted about a month and a half but the song has helped me with courting a lot of other women haha.

How did you go about writing Olivia?

The goal was pretty clear to me. I wanted to pour all my feelings for the girl out in the song but more importantly accurately convey why I felt so strongly about her. I wanted to bring forth the instant sense of familiarity I felt with her. She never felt like a stranger even though we had only recently met which is what made me keep exploring with chords until I came up with the warm and pretty progression that I wrote the song over. Then came the time to write the lyrics down. I wanted to put forth my feelings softly, subtly yet effectively and had to make sure I wasn’t coming on to strong with my words and phrasing choices as I had to create a warm and light vibe rather than a powerful one which took me a while of going back and forth on the lyrics till I had the finals words penned down. I also made sure I sang the song in a soft falsetto once again to make sure the aura I was trying to set and the feelings I was trying to convey were brought out accurately.

Where and when did you record/produce/master and who with?

I write, perform, produce, record, mix and master my songs all by myself. The whole goal I have with my music is for the listeners to hear my songs exactly how I intend them to. I feel in today’s world, renting a professional studio, hiring producers, engineers isn’t necessary. It could be beneficial but isn’t necessary. I make all my songs in my home studio setup and see them all the way through; from the initial idea and inspiration to the final product. I feel the lesser people involved in the process of creating a song the more the song stays true to its creator’s original vision.

How did you approach the recording/production process?

Once I had the song written down and the chords finalized and laid down. I brought the project onto my loop station setup in my home studio and just started experimenting with adding and subtracting elements to and from the song. I started building layers, adding synths, drums and percussion and the song process was pretty straightforward. The coolest part was creating the little catchy hook that really drives the song. I was exploring a lot of vocal formant change effects and came up with a really nice melody to use with the effects and create sort of a mellow, positive drop section and I’m really proud of it haha.

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Honestly, thanks to Spotify, I have been discovering a lot of indie underground artists that I’ve really enjoyed listening to. Most recently, I got exposed to Josh Fudge, Julyan amongst several others. I’ve been straying away from all the popular music and have been really into exploring new artists and finding inspiration in their music and talent. I feel these underground independent artists have more soul and originality in their music that most of the major artists have been lacking.

What do you like to do away from music?

When not making music, I love to read books, I like to drink beer and play pool with my friends, I have really gotten into cooking recently, but most of all I love playing with my dog.

What’s planned for 2021?

I’ve got a bunch of new songs and music videos coming out this year that I’m super stoked for. The next one to watch out for would be my song ‘Lead Me On’ that’s dropping on the 7^th of May. I’m really excited to see what feedback I get on that. Other than releasing music, I plan to play a bunch of live shows and pop up events locally with my band once all the venues start opening up and the live music scene hopefully gets back to how it was before the pandemic hit.

Favourite food and place to hangout?

My favourite food place in Los Angeles has to be Dave’s Hot Chicken. There are so many good food places and restaurants to explore in LA but I freakin love Dave’s and could eat it every day if I wanted haha. Other than that, I love hanging out with my friends at this low-key pub called ‘The Brickyard’. We go there every weekend to kick it with a few beers and play pool.

Instagram – www.instagram.com/flyghtclub_

Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/c/FlyghtClub/

Official Website – www.flyghtclubmusic.com

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/flyghtclubmusic

Twitter – https://twitter.com/flyghtclub_

TikTok – https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJcbyJAC/

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/04sc7vUeHWn4byAA2TqsNX?si=F0SBWA9xR9y6-ffO5RukQg

Apple Music –  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/flyght-club/1547355050

Collaborating on projects like this is relatively new territory for you – is it something you’d like to explore further now?

Yes! Definitely something I’d like to keep doing and get better at. I’ve always been relatively closed off with my song writing, so I’d like to one day make a collaborative project of sorts!

How did you first link with KP Hydes and how do you think his presence on ‘Lush Lyfe’ changed the original idea you had for it (if it did)?

I met KP a while ago at a gig in Canberra. He’s really good friends with one of my good friends/band members, and of course we have a really cool bond. To be honest, the original idea wasn’t really a song at all, just a drum groove that I had on my hard drive for a while. Wasn’t till KP had come for a visit one night we decided just to work on it. Lush Lyfe came about really, really quickly.

Is this the sort of music we’d hear you listening to outside of your own project? What’s the sort of music that’s getting you by these days?

Such a hard question to answer, simply because my tastes change so often. I’ve been listening to hip hop for a while, but also have been getting into more of an electronic vibe these days. It really depends what mood I’m in.

It’s a vibe of a track that spotlights your vocals as it does KP’s – what was the best part of this experience for you as a vocalist and songwriter?

Funnily enough, the vocal hook at the end of the song, was originally part of another song I had written about a year ago, but it just seemed to fit in perfectly. I think the best thing about this collab though was how easy and fun it was just to mix something with KP. We didn’t have to stress or try too hard, just kind of went with it.

It also shows a lot of versatility for you as a performer – how important is it for you to remain pushed and challenged creatively?

This is something that I’ve actually thought about a lot recently. I think it is definitely important to always push yourself, and I try to approach song writing, practise and even just listening to new music in the same vein. I’ve only just noticed that I don’t ever really stop thinking about music.

You’re back on the road, how has it been preparing these shows after not being able to tour for so long?

I guess it’s both weird and not weird at the same time. I love being on the road but also love being at home making music and hanging with friends! I think a good mix at the moment is doing me really well.

Now ‘Lush Lyfe’ is out, what is coming next for Oly Sherman?

I’ve just wrapped up an album, so plenty to come from that!

Saturday 17th April Since I Left You Sydney
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Friday 7th May The Bearded Lady Brisbane
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Thursday 13th May Treehouse on Belongil Byron Bay
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Friday 14th May Flow Cafe Old Bar, NSW
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Saturday 15th May Sol Bar (Loungebar) Maroochydore
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Thursday 20th May The Lansdowne Sydney
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‘Lush Lyfe’ is out now.
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‘Leaps – Miles Apart’ is out now via Leaps and Bounds’