Where are you currently based and what is the music scene like there?
I live in Perth, WA. We have a really healthy creative/arts community here, and the arts is really celebrated and supported. It’s nice to be a part of that.
How did you first start playing music?
I started out playing imaginary ‘air instruments’ as a kid whenever my parents would take me to play sports. I picked up a guitar when I was 13, and I’ve basically been in love with creating music in one form or another ever since then.
What’s been happening recently?
I just released a new single and video for my new track, In Shadow. Last week I did ‘intune’ at a local meditation/mindfulness studio here in Perth, cntre space, and performed a live accompaniment to a guided meditation. It was unreal.
How would you describe your music?
I read a description the other day where someone described my tunes as ‘visceral and emotive electronica,’ which I really liked. That works for me, because above all I want my music to move the listener. Sometimes it’s aggressive and confrontational, other times the sounds are really pretty and chill. It’s whatever I’m feeling at the time.
Your new track ‘In Shadow’ is out now, what influenced the sound and songwriting?
I really got into fingerdrumming and controllerism a while back – everything you’re hearing on ‘In Shadow’ was played in by-hand, so there’s a really natural feel to the groove and the performance. I think it’s really easy to lose that human feel when you’re making music with computers, I like leaving things ‘perfectly imperfect.’ Everything just sounds more like me if I play it in live that way.
How did you go about writing this track?
I was getting up at five thirty every morning and just going as hard as possible in the studio until I had to go to work. I would roll out of bed, start writing, press save, go to work and come back later that night to see if I captured anything interesting. Things started to fall into place when I started to play around with the ethnic instruments over the top of the glitchy, halftime stuff.
Where and when did you record?
I converted a room in my house into a small home studio. I do almost all of my writing in there – I wrote the main arrangements for ‘In Shadow’ about six months ago.
What programs/equipment did you use?
I produce everything in Ableton Live, and write most of my parts on a cool piece of equipment called Push. It’s basically my go-to for writing, production and live performance. There’s a few interesting samples – there’s a one of someone going into cardiac arrest, which is pretty bleak – but it suited the mood of the tune perfectly.
How did you approach the songwriting process?
I just show up and see what happens every time. If I overthink it, the music usually sucks.
How did the film clip come about and what did you most enjoy about the creative process?
I remember I’d come off a ‘Black Mirror’ bender and wanted to create something in that vein. A mutual friend put me in touch with Jackson (Heeley, Director / Boundless Films) – he’d directed some local videos previously that I thought were amazing. We hung out and hit it off right away. Boundless did an incredible job. More than anything, I just love the way Robyn (McCoy, dancer) expressed the physicality of the track – I get chills watching her. Her dance is beautiful and unsettling at the same time, which is exactly what we were going for.
What inspires you to make your unique/experimental electronic music?
Sometimes it’s a book, a film, an experience, a conversation. When I hear a tune I like, I get inspired to make something that’s my own more than I get inspired to make a similar tune. I have a lot of respect for anyone who goes their own way – I care way more about being creatively honest with myself than people thinking my music is cool. I feel like we all usually have too much going on in our heads and our hearts. Making music helps me make sense of that.
I hear you grew up playing hardcore/metal, how and why did you become involved in this new musical style?
Yes! I still love guitar, metal and heavy music so much. It just started to get difficult to keep everyone on the same page – dudes want to travel, settle down and start families, things like that. At the same time I wanted to challenge myself, stretch out and explore some new vibes and moods. It just made sense on a practical and a creative level to do my own thing.
Please tell us about the themes/ideas behind ‘In Shadow’:
‘In Shadow’ is inspired the idea of the shadow self – it’s a concept from Jungian psychology. Basically, we all have a shadow – a dark side to our personality that we try to repress that invariably comes out through our behaviour when something triggers us. The contrasting elements of light and shade throughout the song are a musical exploration of that.
What do you like to do away from music?
I like hanging out with my wife, yoga and running. I’m old.
Who are you listening to at the moment?
The latest albums from The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy both absolutely blew me away. I’m also a massive fan of G Jones and Mad Zach.
What are you plans for the remainder of 2019, any future track releases?
Yes definitely. I’m planning on releasing more tunes in the coming months. My next tune ‘Get Offended’ is on the way.
Any secrets that you care to share?
98% of what happens on social media isn’t real, so stop caring so much.
Favourite food and place to hangout?
Indian food 100%. I like being in nature. It’s hard to find Indian restaurants in national parks here though.
