Govinda Interview for Impulse Festival

So this is my last interview for Impulse Music and Arts Festival before it begins and this one is deffinatly one of the most unique. Govinda is something that is new to me and I have not only grown very fond of but it has caught my attention. I was very excited when I got the message back that you was down for this. You play Friday, June 15th on the Iris stage at 6:15! Please introduce yourself to my readers.

Govinda- This is Shane o Madden from Austin TX. I am the producer and violinist with GOVINDA.

Knoxtronica- First off I would like to state that artists are constantly trying to find new and unique ways to perform and set themselves apart from the norm. And you have done just that by creating and playing electronic music that is not only genuine at its roots, but you also incorporate classical violin to that as well. This is very different than most and I love to see when artists do this sort of thing. What got you into violin and when did you decide to make electronic music and fuse the two together?

Govinda- I picked up the violin when I was eight years old after hearing "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", which is fitting for this interview as Impulse approaches. After years of studying classical music through high school and College I decided to travel the world and take a break from what I obsessed on for so many years. As I was introduced to music of the world I began to develop my own expression in my compositions. Everything from found sounds to synth lines mixed with the things I knew well like vocals and strings. My love for the mysterious and sensual also came to the surface. All this melded together into one unique sound called Govinda.

Knoxtronica- I would love to talk about your roots. I hear you was a gypsie or grew up with them, and correct me if I am wrong. It says on your bio that you have had mysterious teachers help you with your violin training. Can you talk about some of this with us? Very curious.

Govinda- I am not really a gypsy as that word only is romanticized only in this country. However my ancestors did caravan through North Africa to Spain. I do find connection to their ways of dance and music. The passion of their music has influenced my sound tremendously. My grandfather also was a violin lover. He would proudly sit in his rocking chair as I played for him. He painted pictures with his words of Hungary and Romania and his extensive adventures around the world.

Knoxtronica- With such an interesting background, what are some of your influences? It can be electronic music or not.

Govinda- Ah yes, Nicolo Paganini, Sarasate, Dead Can Dance, Madredeus, Bassnectar, Thievery Corp, Shakti, Tipper to name a few. As you can see its all over the map.

Knoxtronica- Impulse is right around the corner and it is full of unique and interesting artists that are not only something a lot of the east coast has never seen before but a festival that has so much to offer. Have you played on the east coast before? What are you anticipating for this festival? Anything special? Do you have anything you'd like to point out that you are excited for?

Govinda- Yes, I have played on the East Coast before and I am excited to play for audiences that are hearing new and fresh music. I always get a great response when I bring my music there. I am also incorporating live elements to electronic music which is something people love out that way. I'll have Nancy Kaye (a Georgia resident) singing live on her songs. I will also be working with an amazing modern dancer.

Knoxtronica- I have been loving the new track "Universal On Switch" off of the new album. I hear all the inspiration and love put into it. Can you tell us a little bit about it and talk about what the album is about?

Govinda- The album as a whole is dedicated to my best friend and mother of my daughter, Andrea Burden who left this world 3 years ago. Its really a collection of music style she loved as she made her painting masterpieces. There are also songs with lyrics about lucid dreams I had where she visited me. I am donating 20% of the sales proceeds to a fund to help the children she left behind.

Knoxtronica- There is all kinds of new electronic music coming out everywhere and I have been into a lot of new stuff. I was curious as to what you have been listening to a lot latley.

Govinda- I have been loving Tipper and Love and Light a lot. Still always loving everything from Carmen Rizzo to Radio Head.

Knoxtronica- I been to a lot of shows since I have been doing all of this and seen a lot of amazing and incredible acts over the years. What are some that stand out to you that you have seen? What are some that you would like to see that you havn't?

Govinda- I really like the Flaming Lips show. The Massive Attack show was cool too. I would love to see Royksopp.

Knoxtronica- Festivals are a great way to free yourself from stress and get away for a while. What are some of your favorite things to do at a festival? Impulse has a lot to offer from Motocross stunt shows to art instillations and even saddle span tents with 3D mapping visualizers. I heard you have some visualizers at your show as well as dancers which and a fantastic touch to your sets, so i've heard.

Govinda- Festivals are not my get away. Its my job so it isnt really a time for me to destress or relax and enjoy the features. However, I do end up getting out to see some shows and art. There is so much eye candy at these events. I do like to have a very visual show incorporating projections and dancers. I will most definitely have this at Impulse. 

Knoxtronica- Thank you so much for doing this for myself and Impulse Festival! Everyone is looking forward to a fantastic and perception changing weekend. Any last words for your fans out there?

Govinda- We have some surprises in store for you at the Impulse showcase so get your dancing shoes on..or just take your shoes off altogether.

Free Govinda track "universal On Switch" from the new album:
http://soundcloud.com/govindamusic/01-universal-on-switch

Govinda Website:
http://www.govindamusic.com

Govinda Facbook:
http://www.facebook.com/govindamusic

Govinda Soundcloud:
http://soundcloud.com/govindamusic

Impulse Music and Arts Festival Website:
http://impulsefestival.net/

Impulse Music and Arts Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ImpulseMusicFestival

Sugarpill Interview for Impulse Festival

Knoxtronica- I couldn't be more excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with Knoxtronica Presents and to interview Sugarpill as pre-coverage for Impulse Music and Arts Festival, happening this weekend June 15-17 in Union Point, Georgia. Please introduce yourself..

Sugarpill: I make glitchy bass music.

Knoxtronica- Impulse Festival is definitely a trek for you to come from California, L.A. I presume.. When was the last time you were on the East Coast in general, and more specifically the Southeast? Are you staying the whole weekend at the festival and are there any other artists you are particularly excited to see?

Sugarpill- I was in D.C. a few months ago and Baltimore right before that. This will be my first time performing at a proper show in the Southeast since I moved away from there about 3 years ago.

Knoxtronica- On your Facebook profile you have a quote about Sasquatch. Are you aware of/interested in participating in the Amateur Sasquatch Hunt that is being held on the 7,000 acre festival grounds this weekend?

Sugarpill- Hahaha, I saw that was going on. Actually, I think that for sasquatch the rules are always different, so I probably wouldn’t go trying to look for a sasquatch... I’ve always kind of assumed that sasquatch gets found on his own terms.

Knoxtronica- How has being part of Headtron helped to foster your growth and development as an individual artist?

Sugarpill- Being able to work closely with and get to travel and perform with a lot of my favorite artists is pretty ridiculous. Having a crew of people around who kind of get where I’m coming from and where I want to go artistically is really stellar. Getting to to bounce ideas off each other and try new things musically is just pretty amazing because we can be honest with each other and at the end of the day still have that friendship and bond. I think  helps us all to grow.

Knoxtronica- What is the group environment of Headtron like, are the “disciples” all tight and involved in each other’s lives/careers as I like to imagine they are?

Sugarpill- Yes. We roll pretty deep. We all travel a lot, so its nice to have some close homies who can relate to what that’s like and who are out there doing it with you a lot of the time.

Knoxtronica- What did you do before getting fully into the music industry? What enabled/encouraged you to follow a career in music?

Sugarpill- Too many things to really describe them all. I’ve always loved music and followed that love whenever I’ve had even the glimmer of an opportunity.

Knoxtronica- You certainly have some creative, eye-catching track names out there like “Disconnect your Elbows,” “Chewbacca Hat,” and there is rumor of a new track in creation called “Bass Salts.” (lol) Where do you come up with these names?

Sugarpill- A lot of different things happen to cause track naming for me, its almost different every time... Some of them come from just talking nonsense with people, sometimes things are just ridiculous and awesome, sometimes I just mishear things people say and I think what I heard was funny.

Knoxtronica- From living on the East Coast and listening to what you are doing on the other side, I would say that your sound/style of bass music is largely a new frontier, at least over here. When I first heard your music I felt that it was so distinct and attractive, I could tell that this was different than a lot that I had been hearing. How do you feel about developing music which not been fully explored and that so many people have yet to discover? Who would you say has helped lead the way thus far through this new era of future bass along with you?

Sugarpill- I just do what I’m feeling. I’m definitely influenced by a lot of the amazing things happening around me, but some things in music ring true to me and I feel like they can easily be forgotten in electronic dance music. In my music I like to always keep things feeling melodic at the same time they’re heavy and always throw in something playful or experimental in each tune I do to keep it interesting for me.

Knoxtronica- Tell us about your collaborations with other Headtron artists, and specifically ChrisB under the moniker Swordfight. How do these collaborations get initiated and how do each of you affect the other’s expression?

Sugarpill- Swordfight got initiated on the way to a set ChrisB and I were playing at Lighting in a Bottle last year at the Doctor Bronner’s Tub in 2011. We kind of found each other on the way over there and as I walked up to him he’s like “I thought of the perfect name for this... Swordfight, cause we’re going to throw down for a bunch of naked people getting showered in this gigantic tub.” And I think we pretty much didn’t stop laughing and being ridiculous for the next two hours playing our tunes and crunk music to dancing naked people.

Knoxtronica- Looking back--ten years ago, where were you, what did you see for your future, what is the biggest difference in your life now? What are you most surprised by? Looking forward--where do you see yourself in five years? What are some of your long-term career goals?

Sugarpill- Man, I have no idea. My life is super crazy.

Knoxtronica- With so many people pursuing a career in music, and with more and more technology available making producing music easier but also harder to get your work noticed amid the competition, what advice would you give to young people aspiring to make it to where you are today?

Sugarpill- I try to take every opportunity I have to learn new things about anything, and relentlessly love every minute of it that I can.

Check out Sugarpill on Saturday, June 16th at Impulse on the Area 51 Stage

Interview by: Katie New

Sugarpill Facebook Link:

http://facebook.com/sugarpillmusic

Sugarpill Website:

http://sugarpillmusic.com/

Sugarpill Twitter:

http://twitter.com/sugarpill

Sugarpill Soundcloud:

http://soundcloud.com/sugarpill

Impulse Music and Arts Festival:

http://impulsefestival.net/

Impulse Festival Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/ImpulseMusicFestival

NastyNasty Interview for Impulse Festival

Knoxtronica Presents (JT Smith)- I am very proud and honored to be doing interviews for Impulse Music & Arts Festival with some of the most talented and unique artists that will be taking the stage the weekend of June 15^th – June 17^th. This edition I have Nasty Nasty, and I have got to say when it comes down to west side artists or some unique bass sounds, you have got to be my favorite. Please introduce yourself and tell us where you are from.

NastyNasty- Hello out there internet, I'm NastyNasty. I live in San Jose California, go Sharks.

Knoxtronica- I am really excited to introduce west side bass and electronic music to the east coast. I wanted to ask how you come about creating your sound and what programs you use. When it comes down to listening to music from the west side, I have always looked to you for the freshest sounds.

NastyNasty- Thank you! I write all my music on this really old Windows XP tower in a program called Nuendo, other than the basic spread of plugins, I also use a few hardware synthesizers and effects processors. I also use the internet a lot, whether its mining for samples or watching movies for inspiration I'd say the internet is kind of like a tool for making music.

Knoxtronica- A lot of my readers who are not only musicians themselves, but avid music listeners, would love to know the influence and drive that pushes the sound that is so definitive to NastyNasty. I don't only want to know what influences you to make it but what gets you in the mood to do it as well.

NastyNasty- Musically I listen to a lot of different stuff, right now, I've been on a big nostalgia kick with my listening after seeing The Refused at Coachella this year.... listening to a lot of old Misfits and some some old hardcore. I like a lot of modern rap production right now, both mainstream and underground, artists like; Bangladesh, Just Blaze, 40, C-loz, Clams Casino, Tree, Beautiful Lou. As far as what gets me in the mood to write music, I try to start from a point that is not musical in nature, either watch a movie or read a book until I have some sort of emotional response and go from there.

Knoxtronica- I have been a big follower of west side music and love your project with So What called “Quitter”. It reminds me a lot of what Starkey does over on the east side side, which he likes to call Street Bass. Street Bass, to me, reminds me of a mixture of Grime and some of the newest Electronic music that the U.S. has to offer. I'd love to know your plans with “Quitter” are in the future? Any shows or releases coming up that our readers should check out and watch out for?

Nasty Nasty- So What is one of the only people I can consistently make quality collaborations with, quitter actually predates NastyNasty by a couple of years. Planning is not really one of our strong points... we just like to make tunes because we like to have tunes to play live.

Knoxtronica- With a lot of new music pushing out of not only both sides of the U.S. but all over the world, what have you been into lately? I have been into a lot of this new style of trap music that has been coming out of the wood works everywhere.

NastyNasty- I wouldn't say Trap is a new style at all... even T.I. had an album called Trap Music in like 2003, I will say though I am quite happy about modern electronic producers taking the style to new levels, folks like S-X, Rustie, Lunice, Hudson Mohawke, and Krampfhaft overseas as well as American producers like Distal, Baauer, RL Grime, LDFD as well as the Frite Nite homies Salva and Eprom. I also like a lot of newer, off genre, stuff like Holy Other, Actress, Lorn, Evian Christ, D33J, Matthew David and Dolorr.

Knoxtronica- You have been in the music scene for a hot minute and played a lot of shows and festivals around the states and from my knowledge Impulse Festival is the first festival you have played on the east side. Do you see a difference from the east coast to the west coast?

NastyNasty- Well this is my first festival in the southeast so i can't really speak on southeast vs west coast festivals, What I can say with some certainty is that the BBQ is better in the south and the tacos are better in cali. ;)

Knoxtronica- Every musician starts somewhere and has something that got them started into making music and I am very curious as to what started it for you. Was it a definitive event in your life that got you into creating music or maybe even another artist that moved you?

NastyNasty- According to my parents, when I was 3 I used to take all the pots and pans out of all the cupboards I could reach and build drum sets out of kitchenware. I'd sing all the time when I was a kid and started playing saxophone when I was in 4th grade. Music had always been with me but I guess I didn't really get serious about it until I was 25, I had a really rough year and lost my girl, my job and my best friend in the matter of a couple months... Losing all that music was kind of all I had left keeping me sane so I kind of had to either devote myself to it completely or abandon it for something else.

Knoxtronica- What are some plans for NastyNasty in the future? Are you experimenting with any new genres or projects you would like to fill us in on? I like to hear about artists pushing their boundaries and keeping the listeners on their toes.

NastyNasty- Salva and I did a collab with Foreign Beggars that's coming out soon. My sound has been changing pretty rapidly lately, that Lazerbrain mix I just released is only the tip of the iceberg... The only plans I really have for music is to keep experimenting, keep searching for new sounds and keep trying to impress myself.

Nasty Nasty Lazerbrain Mix:http://soundcloud.com/jaspey/lazerbrain

Knoxtronica- If you could narrow it down to your top three artists that you would like to collaborate with or play on the same stage with who would they be?

NastyNasty- I get to play and collaborate with most of the people i want to but if i could just sit in the back and watch some people work I'd choose: Timbaland, Aphex Twin and Richard Devine

Knoxtronica- Lastly, sense this interview is for Impulse Music and Arts Festival, do you have anything special in store for this festival performance? Or do you have anything you would like to tell your fans over here on the east coast?

NastyNasty- The thing about my live sets is I have some personal ground rules and number 1 on that list is never play the same set twice. I'm always making new music and testing it out live so at any given show it's likely that the crowd will be the first to hear the newest material and will most definitely share a unique experience. Also in festival settings I like to get weird...With a lot of people on drugs wandering around I find it a great opportunity to really play with peoples brains/perception...let's get weird in the paint!

Make sure to catch NastyNasty on Sunday, June 17th at Impulse Music and Arts Festival.

NastyNasty Facebook Link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/NastyNasty/128765516974

NastyNasty Soundcloud Link:

http://soundcloud.com/jaspey

Impulse Music and Arts Festival:

http://impulsefestival.net/ 

Moniker Mix for Knoxtronica Presents

I am always busy searching through the Knoxville music scene looking for new talent and great music and lately I have found two very determined and talented producers in the heart of Knoxville that are constantly pushing their boundaries on not only their mixing but their producing as well. Jacob Tullos and Brandon Reid make up Moniker. From hosting and performing events from Partners In Grime to headlining the Ciderhouse (Friday June, 8th) these two are always looking for the next way to reach out with their music.

Both have been producing for a hot minute now and was doing it separately under solo names but as friends they came together and found out quickly that they have become yin to the others yang when it comes to making music. Not only are they a beast at production but the two have been getting popular as a tag team performance in Knoxville. Playing anything from the filthiest bass to glitch hop bangers, Moniker, is a set that is and will be something just about any electronic lover can appreciate. I am very excited to present this mix to you in anticipation for their debut EP that will drop soon, and in my opinion is a new sound coming out of Knoxville. So check this mix out and support some great local artists that push out nothing but bass and love.

Knoxtronica Presents Moniker Mix:
http://soundcloud.com/knoxtronicapresents/knoxtronica-presents-moniker

Moniker at the Ciderhouse June 8th Event Link:
http://www.facebook.com/events/233870970059289/

Moniker Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/monikerdub?ref=ts

Moniker Souncloud:
http://soundcloud.com/mnkr

Interview with ill-esha for Impulse Festival

Knoxtronica Presents (Christopher Ryan)- First off I want to say a big thank you for giving Knoxtronica Presents the opportunity to hold an interview with an artist of your caliber. For our fans that do not know who you are, do you mind introducing yourself and giving a little back info?

ill esha- My name is ill-esha and I'm an audiophile of many stripes.. I love making noise with my mouth, various instruments, computers and random found objects. Electronic, acoustic, scoring film or games, you name it.

Knoxtronica- Impulse Music fest is getting closer and closer. You played a wonderful set at Dexfest last year. How did that festival compare to being in your normal environment? And, how does it feel coming back to the east coast for another festival?

ill esha- The energy of a West Coast festival is quite different; proximity to the ocean and surf/skate culture as well as Burning Man really creates a special kind of vibe. I think that having an older history with electronic music makes the authorities and neighbors a little more comfortable as well. Dexfest had some wonderful people involved, but I was saddened to see them seemingly locked in a stranglehold with both the cops and the surrounding population. All things considered, it was amazing that the show went on, and I hope that people will keep throwing more festivals in the area to bring their neighbors up to speed! A festival is such a beautiful way to show people new music!

Knoxtronica- You've become famous for your west coast style and your drum and bass roots. What influenced your transition from Drum & Bass to your more prominent Glitch Hop style you play now?

ill esha- Between 12 years of doing it and not really ever having it go anywhere.. And feeling like the music itself was going nowhere. It was time for a change. I dabbled in the live music scene for a bit and then started working in the film industry until I met Dewey dB.. He showed me a ton of great bass music I had been missing out on and I was hooked. But I object to being pigeonholed as "glitch hop".. I feel like I've always been between genres and it's a conscious choice. I'm also really excited at how much everything is blending together again now that we're running out of ridiculous sub categories; even the scene itself has
retitled everything "bass music" and I couldn't agree more. I love, listen to, and create from a myriad of ingredients including dubstep, juke, trap, R&B, downtempo, future hip hop.. If you had to teach the word to your auto correct I probably love it. :)

Knoxtronica- You play a big role in Glitch Hop Forum, where did the inspiration come from to help create this site and where do you plan on going with it in the future?

ill esha- To be honest I don't really anymore. I used to live with Dewey and we strategized stuff in person, now I'm far away and busy so my role these days is a little more flexible. I love the community we've built, and I love sharing knowledge, so I've been trying to keep our producer Q&A going and also try to help out kids asking their first production questions. I love to help! (although I apologize in advance for not having time to listen to everyone's tunes)

Knoxtronica- I've seen you share the stage with some pretty great artists. Who is some of your favorite artists to play with and why?

I love people who rage and I swear there's something about Colorado vibes that creates a completely un-self conscious desire to do so. Aaron Vibesquad is the epitome of this, his megawatt grin could power a PK sound system; same with Unlimited Aspect, Fresh 2 Death.. I think it's a combination of having a cracking scene with a total lack of hipsters. I also love watching other artists who incorporate live musicianship, like heRobust, Govinda and pretty much the whole Autonomous roster.

(KP) What artists would you like to share the stage with that you have not already?

I want to go on tour with Bjork, Imogen Heap, Emika, Kito and Natasha Kmeto. Damn did I just get all woman power on it? I didn't mean to. That's not a thing I want to emphasize, but the truth is they are all incredibly talented musicians and creative forces I'd love to work with.

(KP) The last year and a half the electronic music scene has exploded across the country. Are you happy with your newfound exposure? 

ill esha- I'm so happy and grateful to be able to meet amazing people and play music for them. I do wish there were a few more ways for artists to pay rent besides touring, because I am always struggling to find enough time to write new music or prepare new performance elements. But the road is the reality, and I'm still infinitely grateful.

Knoxtronica- In your music there are so many styles coming together with so much behind it all, where does this influence come from? And how do you do such a phenomenal job of bringing together so many different types of music?

ill esha- well thank you! :) as I said before I enjoy everything, with the exception of racist death metal and new country... I was brought up with several cultures and parents who enjoy and have exposed me to music from all over the world. I think this has always taught me to be open minded. I never belonged in one ethnic group so why be in one genre? I also hate over repetition.. All my tracks have multiple sections, nothing loops too long, in a variety of tempos and keys. Hearing the same tempo and patterns for an entire set kind of drives me crazy. I guess some people don't understand why I therefore choose dance music, but that's what pulled me into early jungle and hardcore music.. The spastic, changing elements. Also why I don't last long at a minimal techno event, although I very much appreciate the music. I think I've also had undiagnosed ADHD my whole life, so I cope by changing things up all the time. I have to force myself to slow down my mixing during shows so I don't drive everyone crazy!

Knoxtronica-  Recently you have collaborated with Unlimited Gravity called Intelepaths, any news about any new releases from you both?

ill esha- Both of us are just loving this opportunity to work with both electronic and acapella, and the music has just been flowing! Our first ep will be released very soon to support the amazing Critical Beats/Amazon Voice project, which is aiding indigenous tribes in learning media production and building centers to help them communicate with and have a voice in the outside world.

Amazon Voice Link:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1858021468/kantza-deep-in-the-amazon-a-story-is-waiting-to-be-0

Knoxtronica- So you've given some insight into what influences the music that you as Ill-Esha creates. If I was to pick up your iPod, what would I see on your "most played," electronic and non-electronic?

ill esha- I'm kind of obsessed with heRobust and Thriftworks. They are both diverse and incredible artists who release ridiculous quantities of cheap and free amazing music that is clutch on road trips. I also am a sucker for the new generation of emo r&b like The Weeknd and Frank Ocean.

Knoxtronica- New artists are popping up almost every day. Who are you currently listening to that most of us have probably not heard of or that we should keep an eye out for?

ill esha- See the first line of the last question! I've also been fortunate enough to release music I love through the label I do a&r for, Street Ritual. Artists like jOBOT, Miroslav Losonsky and Joe Mousepad are names you should check out for sure. Freddy Todd is always amazing, and the homies  ChrisB, B.Lewis and Insightful are also absolutely killing it.

Knoxtronica- Thank you again for taking time out of your busy schedule to talk to us at Knoxtronica Presents! Any last words for all of the fans out there?

ill esha- Sometimes melting hearts is better than faces.

Knoxtronica- One last question.... Any chance on an exclusive knoxtronica presents track or mix? :D

ill esha- Let me see. Will get back to you.

For more info on ill esha or Impulse Music and Arts Festival...

ill esha Facebook Link:
http://www.facebook.com/ill.esha.music


ill esha Soundcloud Link:
http://soundcloud.com/ill-esha


Impulse Music and Arts Festival Website:
http://impulsefestival.net/


Impulse Festival Facebook Link:
http://www.facebook.com/ImpulseMusicFestival

Interview with HeRobust for OctalSound

Knoxtronica Presents (JT Smith)- So we got this awesome show coming up at The Ciderhouse here in Knoxville on Friday, May 18th, that is stacked with interesting artists like yourself, Cry Wolf, Don Winsley, Fisk, and local Bree Flavoured. How about you introduce yourself to the Knoxville family and beyond that are reading and tell us where you are from.

HeRobust- Im from Atlanta, Georgia. My name is Hayden. I produce everything from wonky beat music to trap-inspired bass music. Definitely psyched for the show.

Knoxtronica- I hear all kinds of variety in your music. I know you are with OctalSound now, who is doing very big things, and couldn't help but notice the "Facebook Lift" track off of the OctalSound's "Make Ends Beat vol.1" album has this Jazz/Hip-Hop feel to it. What are some of your musical backgrounds and influences that help create this style you have refined?

HeRobust- Yeah some of my stuff gets pretty jazzy. Im not sure why, I just like soulful music sometimes. Influences are all over, from Flying Lotus to Koan Sound. Definitely undertones of hip hop throughout. I used to make a lot of downtempo stuff like Facebook Lift, but Ive been getting a bit dancier lately.

Knoxtronica- So how is the scene down in ATL? I been down there some and have a lot of friends that moved down there. You got any local artists you would like to tell us about? I am big on finding out what the local have to say about there cities and the other artists that share it with them.

HeRobust- Atlanta is great. Obviously the mainstream dubstep scene is healthy, but we also have some great developing pockets of underground electronica. That's usually where I am at. Like beats/garage/juke/future trap/boogie n things. All that cutting-edge stuff that doesnt quite reach the masses here. So there's really something for everybody, it's great. Check out Rekchampa, Divine Interface, P Villa, Deku, and Unda.

Knoxtronica- With so many artists comming out of no where and trying to be something, what sets you apart and how do you strive to be original?

HeRobust- Its not hard to strive for originality because its a necessity for success. The music that's popular right now was created a year ago probably. So if your aiming for what's popular you'll always be a step late. Originality is your only chance to introduce something new and really be a part of the next trend. If anything sets me apart its sound design, and a soft spot for 90's rap n r&b.

Knoxtronica- I have a lot of musicians that read my interviews that would love to know how you go about producing your sounds and even how you play a live show. Could you let us in on some of your strategies so to speak?

HeRobust- Well sound design is a big part of my production. I spend more time on making my synths then i do actually making songs with them. I use propellerhead Reason. So for each sound I do it in layers. I start with the high register and work my way down. In the end, im super aware of where every synth is in the mix. So when i choose patches for a song, I can choose a group of sounds that compliment each other. So i do less subtractive eq'ing that way, and I feel like that makes for a fuller sound. borrrrring lol. Here's a video me performing some chill downtempo stuff (Video Below). I run Reason through Ableton, so all my clips and fx are from Ableton, but all the patches are out of reason.

Knoxtronica- I like to sometimes ask what it was that got artists into making music or what got them into electronic music itself. How were you introduced and what got you started into preforming and creating as HeRobust?

HeRobust- Music has always been inevitable for me. Its always been my favorite thing to do. I got into electronica really early, like Squarepusher and Aphex Twin. When I heard prefuse73, it was game over. Thats when I really started trying to improve.

Knoxtronica- I got to say your original productions have a jingle to them and have a lot of smooth Hip Hop fueled beats to them and thats something I have always been a sucker for. When you sit down to create a new track or tracks for a project how do you go about it? Some artists tell me that it is as simple as a cup of coffee and a few hours of non stop music making. Others tell me they will spend all day working on setting up sounds and getting prepared, then work on actually making the music the next day.

HeRobust- I usually hope to get inspired by some other music. I'll dig through soul samples and pick something interesting, and it usually just flies from there. Like i said before, a lot of time is spent on making the patches for each track, but that inspiration is key.

Knoxtronica- I have to ask some of the artists you are big on listening to currently and artists you think our readers should watch out for. Could you please fill us in on some of yours?

HeRobust- TNGHT!!!! Have you heard of Hudson Mohawke? Have you heard of Lunice? Well they are releasing a collab on Warp records soon and its called TNGHT. The genre is called future trap and im LOVING it right now. so fun...

Knoxtronica- What is the some of your favorite artists you have played with and why? I know there is a lot of original and amazing preformers out there I have witnessed myself.

HeRobust- Shigeto puts on a great show. A lot of producers DJ at their shows, which is cool, but I loved Shigeto's show because it was more of a performance then a dj set. He kills it on the drums and mpd at the same time. Lunice is also one of my favorites. He just puts off such a great energy. That and trap music is like the most fun shit to party to in my opinion.

Knoxtronica- I am really excited for the show on friday and can't wait to see what you are bringing to K-town. Any last words you wanna to say to our readers?

HeRobust- Yeah I cant wait either. My show is definitely different from most so i'm always curious to see how new crowds respond. I hope ya'll get down with hip hop!


HeRobust Website:
http://herobust.com/

HeRobust Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/heRobust

HeRobust Soundcloud:
http://soundcloud.com/herobust

OctalSound Website:
http://octalsound.com/

OctalSound Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/octalsound

Cry Wolf, HeRobust, Don Winsley, Fisk, and Bree Flavoured Show (05/18/12) Event Page:
http://www.facebook.com/events/286689678081466/

Ciderhouse
Knoxville, TN
$5 21+/ $8 under 21

Interview with Cherub for Midnight Voyage Show on 05/04/2012

Knoxtronica Presents (JT Smith)- I very excited and honored to have you guys do an interview with me for this upcoming show, May 4th, at the Ciderhouse. Your a huge inspiration to me and many others in Knoxville. How about we start off by asking your names and where you are based.

Cherub-  We are Jordan Kelley and Jason Huber based out of Nashville, TN

Knoxtronica- Where do both of you stand in the band? Who does what?

Jordan: I do studio production on reason 4, vocals, talkbox, and guitar.

Jason: I do some studio post-production in Ableton live, which is the same program I use to run our live show, vocals, and guitar. We use Ableton to bring out our studio tracks as well as produce our vocals and guitars in real time from the stage.

Knoxtronica- I was hoping to find out some stuff behind your first album, "Man of the Hour", such as things that have inspired it or any special meanings behind some of the songs.

Jordan: I used to make beats with an mc for a couple years and basically he had to move out of TN to handle family business which left me with no sort of vocals over my music.  So I just decided I would try to start singing over my own tracks.  Man of The Hour is basically me going crazy in my house for a full year alone trying to figure out how to go from making beats artists rapped over to something I could sing over.  The songs are definitely inspired by loved ones and other music that inspires me.

Jason: When Jordan sent me the first cuts from ‘Man of the Hour’ I flipped out! It took me a week to get in touch with the kid with the way he is about his phone, but once I finally contacted him, he was on his way back to TN from Lincoln, NE, and we immediately got to work crafting our live performance. ‘Dirty Cockroaches’ is a neat track on the album for me… after Jordan and I had started our first tracking sessions for what would become ‘MoM & DaD’, we went back into the studio to remaster ‘Man of the Hour’ for official release, and decided that ‘Dirty Cockroaches’ fit perfectly to round out the first album.

Knoxtronica- Since your first album, "Man of the Hour", do you think your sound has changed much? I know going on tour and getting all this big exposure, especially this fast, can create lots of inspiration in artists.

Jordan: I think with Mom and Dad we changed the sound somewhat because when we would play Man of the Hour live we wanted to play all the faster paced songs because people were more responsive.  So it definitely has more pace to it and more thought into how it will interpret live.  I feel like personally I had more control over my voice just through gaining experience vocally through live shows and such.

Jason: I hear two major differences when I listen through both albums back to back…

First and foremost, Jordan has come into his own as a songwriter. In my mind, ‘Man of he Hour’ is an experiment with beats and lyrics that went fantastically right! ‘MoM & DaD’ is a much more mature approach to a pop album, with hooks, ballads, dance breaks, and everything else fun we could squeeze in between. The other major difference is that I can hear my influence on this record. The writing and tracking for ‘Man of the Hour’ was Jordan’s masterpiece, with the exception of ‘Dirty Cockroaches’. I got to lend my hand in the postproduction and mastering process of the album, but until going back into the Stu as a duo to record ‘MoM & DaD’, my main contribution to our sound was our live show.

Knoxtronica- I saw on your new album, "MoM & DaD", you have Dominic Lalli from Big Gigantic on your track "Hold Me". It's awesome to see you guys collaborating with great artists, how was working with him?

Jordan: Big Gigantic have been the coolest people to us from day one and they are some of the most humble people I have met.  Working with Dom was obviously super flattering and his saxophone sounds so pretty on the track!  We wanna make every song with Big G!!!

Jason: After an impromptu early morning performance with Dom and Jeremy at Electric Forest last year, there was no question… HAD TO HAPPEN! Music for music’s sake is a beautiful thing and that’s why we love to work with artists like this. Same goes for Natalie Prass. Her voice makes me melt.

Knoxtronica- What got you into the Electronic scene? Was it a show, artists, or even a song?

Jordan: It was definitely the shows that I would go to and seeing how much energy and hype was behind them.  Also I think that electronic music has expanded so much as far as including all genres so I think it’s a really exciting thing to be a part of.

Jason: Ironic as it may be, the show I consider as my first electronic music show was an Alex B headlined after party for a STS9 show in Nashville. My first interest in the ‘scene’ was actually from completely outside… bands like Annuals and the Flaming Lips got me interested in electronic music. For me it’s less about the scene, and more about the actual sounds. I’m a dork about it. With that said, I heart house music.

Knoxtronica- I like how unique your band is and Knoxville has a very unique act that I find similar. Fine Peduncle, who is also opening for you in Knoxville, is a very interesting individual as well as artist. He incorporates a lot of live instruments and sings during his show while also creating an intimate set. Have you heard Fine Peduncle or listen to any music out of Knoxville?

Jordan: I had heard of Fine Peduncle before the show was booked through a mutual friend, Parker.  I finally got to meet/see him at SXSW and it was amazing.  He is such a talented dude and we are super stoked to be playing a bill with him.

Jason: Cole (sp?) is a little fuckin’ sex driven nut on stage and I love him for it. It take a real man to dry hump on stage like nobody’s business! This show has been a long time coming…

Knoxtronica- Tell us a little about what kind of music you are into. Do you have any artists you have been really into lately?

Jordan:  I’ve been listening to a lot of Lapalux lately.  Schoolboy Q, Kendrick Lamar, A$AP crew.  I love the new Kirko Bangz mixtape that just got put out as well.  Drake always.

Jason: Jordan has got me on a Drake kick recently too… In the EDM world, I’ve been jamming out Rustie, Kastle, T.E.E.D., that new Feed Me record, and as always some classic Basement Jaxx and Orbital. My favorite band ever, Annuals is back in the studio and I can’t wait to get my world rocked by whatever their new album may be!

Knoxtronica- Eric Evasic wants to know what your favorite cartoon character?

Jordan: Calvin and Hobbes all the way.  If I absolutely had to narrow it down it would be Hobbes.

Jason: I was always a Bert n Ernie kid… if puppets count. Ernie’s my dude. I’ve always felt a close affinity with Doug Funnie as well.

Knoxtronica- So glad we can do this. Anything you want to say to your Knoxville fans?

Jordan:  We are super excited to finally get to come to Knoxville and play a show finally and super stoked we were able to do this interview with yall.  You made our hours on the road much less boring with these questions so thank you!  When we see everyone at the show it better be a sweaty ass dance party with a whole bunch of sweaty ass hugs afterwards!

Jason: I dare you to throw your underwear on stage! Keep it clean.

Make sure to go to the show on Friday, 05/04/2012, at the Ciderhouse!!!

Event Page:
http://www.facebook.com/events/230948970335529/

Cherub Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/Cherublamusica

Cherub Website:
http://CHERUBlamusica.com/