Afternoons In Stereo Q&A

Your name:  

Greg Vickers.

Where are you from?  

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Name of band:

Afternoons In Stereo.

Who else is in your band?

Just me.

How would you describe your music?

Jazz-influenced EDM.

Who are your main influences musically?

Jazz music in general, down-tempo and deep house, fusion, ambient, instrumental soundtrack music.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 

To continue to follow my creative muse as long as she is willing to inspire me.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 

Opening (DJing) for The Budos Band.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 

I could stand to forget a few of the tracks on my first album.. :)

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 

Soul Sugar. All of the signature elements are there - the rhythm, the jazz, the mood and the groove.

Where can we listen to it?

Via my record label's Bandcamp page - timewarpmusic.bandcamp.com/album/retrospective

Where can we find out more about your music?

My website - afternoonsinstereo.com

My record label's website - timewarpmusic.org/ais.html

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?  

The new release 'Retrospective' is a comprehensive look back at the funkier electronic music from my output. It was designed as a bookend to last year's 'A Jazz Odyssey' release, which explored the jazzier and mellower productions from the back catalogue.

TAXXESS Q&A

Your name:

I am Jim Moon.

Where are you from?

Central Texas. Mostly around San Antonio and Austin. I grew up in the country, and moved to the city later.

Name of band:

I perform under the name TAXXESS.

Who else is in your band?

I'm a solo artist.

How would you describe yourself and your music?

I make that could mostly be described as IDM. My more approachable stuff has been described as deep house, or progressive house. Most of my music is a culmination of various auditory hallucinations I was able to pin down.

Who are your main influences musically?

That's a difficult question. I've been pretty influenced by Richard D. James, and other things idm/electronic. A lot of my friends are a pretty big influence on me musically too. My favorite band ever EVER EVER is The Beach Boys, and I will occasionally go through periods where I only listen to pet sounds for months. I'm into a wider variety of music than anyone I know. I can't really name a genre I don't like, but it all ends with The Beach Boys. Mike Patton has been a pretty big musical influence throughout my life too in all of his musical meanderings. 

What do you hope to achieve in music?

I would like to make a living at it. Barring that I would enjoy just playing shows, and having people enjoy what I make. I'm 34 so at this point in my life I try to avoid unrealistic expectations. I think more than anything else at this point I would just be happy that people enjoy it, and it mean something to someone somewhere who isn't me.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

I toured all over the US in my last band (I was the electronics/noise player). I sliced myself up with a knife in NY, Chicago, and Phillidelphia. The highlight musically for me would have probably been Probationer because everything about it was planned and executed right under the wire. It destroyed my computer. Let the magic smoke out of the fucker.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

The time my ego made me walk out of opening for a pretty big band. I never let any kind of ego bullshit hold me back ever again after that learning experience. I had this idea that I was done with some kind of bullshit or another and walked out of an opportunity that I will regret forever. Never close the door yourself, you know?

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

This is the hardest question so far. Probably Follow. It's a decent representation of my more melodic side, and hints at some of my weirder tendencies.

Where can we listen to it?

https://soundcloud.com/taxxess/follow-1

Where can we find out more about your music? 

Fackbook: https://www.facebook.com/masterblaster666
Twitter is @taxxesss
to just listen to stuff theres soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/taxxess
To purchase any of my releases (pay what you want, or nothing) you can do that at bandcamp https://taxxess.bandcamp.com/
Personal webpage here http://jim-moon.appspot.com/
And I'm on tumblr here http://taxxess.tumblr.com/

I'm sure there's probably more out there. 

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?

I'm currently on Reconstructiv records. I'll be releasing another album hopefully before the end of the year. It's finished, and we're working on mastering currently. 

Emaros Q&A

Your name:

Emaros.

Where are you from?

I’m from The Netherlands.

How would you describe yourself and your music?

As a mix between dance/EDM and pop. But I’m not bound to a particular genre, I follow my heart in every song that I create.

Who are your main influences musically?

From pop to trance, but also other genres. I love music with passion in it. Whether the song is about partying, love, sadness or joy, it has to touch your heart. As a young kid I grew up with pop artists and bands like Michael Jackson, U2, Prince, Duran Duran, and so on. The Eighties' music influenced me greatly. I think you can still hear those influences in some way in my music. But, of course, modern dance music plays a very important role, which you can clearly hear.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

I just want to pour out my heart into the music. I like to see people go out of their minds: out of their old narrow mindsets, into a life of bliss, love and pleasure. Music can really help to achieve that.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

I think there are a lot of highlights. Every time I see someone who is lost in my music is truly a highlight. Why? Because good music conveys passion. It’s like energy that flows from the artist and his music to the listener. The more energy, the more satisfaction and pleasure, the greater the highlight. For both the artist and listener.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Too many moments to mention, ha ha! But to be serious, I don’t know.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

‘Sail Away’. It’s a timeless song to me. This song says more about life, love, peace, pain, sadness and bliss than I can explain in words.

Where can we listen to it?

https://soundcloud.com/emarosmusic/sail-away

Where can we find out more about your music? 

Some of the best places on the internet to go right now:

Artist website: http://www.emarosmusic.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emarosmusic

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/emarosmusic

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/emarosmusic

Anything else you’d like to say about your music that I forgot to ask?

Just enjoy it! Let’s have some fun in this crazy world.

Dirty Minutes Q&A

Your name:

Hey! My name is Sam Gerendasy.

Where are you from?

I'm from Portland, Oregon.

Name of band: 
Dirty Minutes.

Who else is in your band?For the most part I do the whole composing, arranging, and producing alone, but work with the talented Madi Arnot for live performances.

How would you describe yourselves and your music?

My music is bi-product of accessible recording equipment coupled with an ongoing existential crisis. I'm never satisfied even from some of my favorite tunes. I eventually grow sick of a genre's format so my goal is to see if I can make music that is less predictable, more engaging, and still enjoyable. 

Who are your main influences musically?Philip K Dick. He defined science fiction as being a genre of novels where the protagonist is an idea. That really stuck with me. I try to write each of my songs as if they were a collection of characters playing out a scenario in a hypothetical world. 

I don't have many direct influences from other artists, but some of my favorite to listen to are Pretty Lights, Foals, Opeth, Flume, The Roots, Blackalicious, Mr. Bill, Phantogram, Marian Hill, Netsky, Herbie Hancock, Purity Ring, Santana, Justice, Guidance Counselor, Helio Sequence, and the Gorillaz. Definitely a lot of the Gorillaz. 

What do you hope to achieve in music?I have all these ideas for a song but have limited knowledge on how to get them recorded. Hopefully that'll stop being an obstacle at some point, but I feel like it's an obtainable goal ya know? One of the more difficult ways to grow as a musician would be creatively. There's always room to grow.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

Just starting this project has been uplifting for me! I've been a drummer in bands for the last eight years. Now writing my own music without rules or a format feels natural. If I'm lucky there will actually be a noteworthy highlight.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

I have a folder on my external drive called "old projects". It's full of everything I want to forget.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?Upcoming track off my debut called "Chew Z". 
I'm not even done with the mix at this point, so I'm going to link you to the 2nd best choice: Fireworks & American Noise. Yeah, this song may have been technically difficult for me to produce, but it was the easiest to write because the character of the song was so clear to me that it just kinda evolved on it's own. It only gets 2nd choice because it is so far from being an accessible song, it takes a second to really hear what it's saying.

Where can we listen to it? 

https://soundcloud.com/dirtyminutes/fireworks-and-american-noise

Where can we find out more about your music? 

I hate Twitter but I'm fairly active on it. If you don't mind an occasional 140 character rant or seeing me pick fights with celebrities, follow me at:
https://twitter.com/DirtyMinutes
Otherwise I have a tame-ass Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/dirtyminutesmusic
And of course, soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/dirtyminutes

Elisa Duwez Q&A

Your name:

Elisa Duwez.

Where are you from?

France.

Name of band: 

Some of my tracks are released with the name Babette Duwez.

Who else is in your band? 

I work in collaboration with DJs from all over the world, mostly Italy, Spain, Mexico, France and Argentina (the last ones are with E Duque (Mexico), Brian Varak ( Argentina), Joel Reichert (Argentina), Mario Piu (Italy), Peter Kharma (Italy), Fidel DJ (Spain) and Alex Andre (Spain). 

How would you describe yourself?

I am a free spirit:) music is a part of my life:) and writing too:) I try to express myself with the lyrics :) and I try to put in motto the carpe diem teory:)

Who are your main influences musically?

For the style I am doing now, I have no influence at all. It's an unique and different style with my own ideas and lyrics. I write a song, find a melody and then put the music on with DJs, so it's everything creative and new, and sometimes I take a lyric that is already exciting and make a new version of it,but the artists I like myself are Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, George Michael, Elton John, Ella Fidzgerald, Nina Simone, Bon Jovi, any rebels and wild people like me:)

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Nothing special:) just keeping doing what I'm doing and liking what I am doing :)

Oh yes:) perhaps that my tracks go more on radios :) it's always a real pleasure to listen your music at the radio :)

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

When I heard for the first time one of my track in a club:) and then at the radio :)

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

Everything is part of my journey:) so bad moments are made to make you appreciate the good ones then:)

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Change Your Philosophy, just because people are too complicated:) many time they make a lot of fuss for nothing, they always try to find problems when there is nothing at all, and want to look for fights and problems when they can just forget and forgive when the offence isn't big. People has to change the way of seeing things, and change their negative energies with positive energies... like the 'peace and love' style of the 70s:)

Where can we listen to it? 

http://www.reverbnation.com/elisaduwez 

Free embed music player from ReverbNation.com

Where can we find out more about your music? 

http://www.beatport.com/artist/elisa-duwez/260737

https://itunes.apple.com/fr/artist/elisa-duwez/id521516390 

http://www.facebook.com/elisaduwezweb

http://www.elisaduwez.com

http://www.youtube.com/larubiaibiza2010

http://www.twitter.com/babetteduwez

http://www.myspace.com/elisaduwezweb

Anyway just search on Google Elisa Duwez and Babette Duwez 

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?

Id like to say THANK YOU to all my friends, DJs, and people who are following me and believe in me and what I am doing:) Id like to say thank you to you too :) 

Dysfonic Q&A

Your name:
My music moniker is Dysfonic. My real name is not so important.

Where are you from?
I grew up in small-town Oregon near Portland, and currently live in Santa Barbara, California

Name of band:

Dysfonic.

Who else is in your band?

It's just me. I'm a very DIY oriented person, and I love that with the music I make, I can be in full control of all aspects of the production.

How would you describe yourself?
I make loud, fun, mostly electronic music. While I draw a lot of inspiration in my sound from modern EDM, my first love was rock music and the structure of my songs (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.) comes mostly from that style. I tend to favor quick changes in tone and dynamics, rather than the long drawn out build-up then "the drop" structure of most EDM. Although some of my songs are instrumentals, when I include lyrics I try to make them meaningful, at least to me.
Outside of music, I make my living as a research scientist at a university. With my technical training in the sciences, the signal processing aspects of music production come very naturally for me.

Who are your main influences musically?

I listen to and like lots of music, so my influences come from everywhere. For electronic music I look to the drama of Nero, the energy and intensity of Skrillex, the hard-hitting fun of Dada Life, and the catchy pop melodies of Zedd. The first, most important band influencing me musically are the Smashing Pumpkins: creative and varied sounds ranging from heavy rock to light acoustic. While I don't think my music sounds anything like them, my songwriting thought process and ethos comes from them.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

I mostly just want to get better and better at what I do, and become capable of making music that is competitive (in artistic content and production quality) with the music-makers I admire. I think I'm making progress. Of course, I'd love to get a solid community of fans that really enjoyed my music, but only time will tell if that happens. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

I recently released my first EP on Bandcamp, called Progress (shameless plug), which you can get at crlsscllctive.bandcamp.com/album/progress-ep

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

I haven't been releasing musically publicly for very long, so no bad moments yet. There are some old music recordings I made a long time ago that make me cringe now. Hopefully those never get out.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

My song Freedom. I think it's my most instantly appealing song, and contains all of the pieces I described earlier: EDM sound, rock structure, meaningful lyrics. It's also the first song that I felt totally satisfied with when I finished. There isn't anything I would change about it.

Where can we listen to it?

https://soundcloud.com/dysfonic/freedom

Where can we find out more about your music? 

Here's the full list:
(the nice part of inventing a word for your name is that no one has taken the URL)
https://soundcloud.com/dysfonic
https://www.facebook.com/dysfonic
Twitter: @dysfonic
To download EP: http://crlsscllctive.bandcamp.com/album/progress-ep
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/dysfonic/videos
Soundcloud is the best place to listen to new music as I release it. If you like it enough to download the EP, the best place is the Bandcamp link above. The Bandcamp link has the possibility to donate money for the EP, but much more than money, if you like my music please share it with others!

Anything else you’d like to say that I forgot to ask?

A big part of the little bit of attention I've had on Soundcloud is due to the CRLSS collective that I'm a part of: https://soundcloud.com/carelesswithvinyl. It's a great bunch of really talented indie musicians of disparate styles that release a mix tape every couple of months. If you're reading this blog, then you're probably the type of person that would enjoy their music.

Synapsyche Q&A

Your name:
I am the vocalist and lyricist of Synapsyche: Marco Mantovani, also known as Katatronik.

Where are you from?
We’re from Italy, precisely from Ferrara. We hate our fuckin’ country… but we don’t think the other places are better.

Name of band:
Synapsyche.

Who else is in your band?

We are a duo, the other member is known as Mannequinetik, keyboard/synth player and main composer of Synapsyche.

How would you describe yourselves?

Synapsyche’s sound is a violent aggrotech, powerful and rhythmical, with modern harsh-EBM moments and dark-techno influences, where cybernetic effects alternate with dancing synths, while vocals are saturated with rage and nihilism. Lyrics, however direct and basic, are incisive and original in their celebration of vice, the perfect theme for the world of Synapsyche.

Who are your main influences musically?

We listen to much music, and we played in various other bands since 2002, also rock and metal, so our influences are many as well. Actually our favourite industrial/EBM bands are Grendel, Alien Vampires, Amduscia, VNV Nation and Noisuf-X, but we also love different acts as HIM, Rammstein, Cradle Of Filth, Nightwish and the great Johann Sebastian Bach.

What do you hope to achieve in music?

Our main target is to reach as many listeners as possible, to share our music all over the world because we like what we create. Yes, mine is a banal answer that can be considered as hypocritical, but believe me it’s true, we are not craving fame, glory, groupies or drugs: we want audience and fans because we really believe in our songs as composers and musicians. S-T-O-P. Every extra thing is a pleasant gratification.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?

The highlight has yet to come, because we actually released only a self-produced EP, called “Wait/Hate”, though the responses were great and that’s a good thing for us indeed. Surely a special day was when we shared the stage with [X]-Rx in Milano, last November… really nice and funny guys! I want also to mention a great concert played in Rimini this year in March, ‘cause the audience was totally amazing and we enjoyed to see them losing their fuckin’ minds and becoming crazy!

And what’s the moment you want to forget?

We would want to forget every single moment when people, who don’t know any fuckin’ thing about electronic music, felt bound to judge us as unemployed talents who play fake instruments, with too many effects, with computers and softwares. Wake up fuckers, every shitty popstar and band vocalist you listen to is singing with Melodyne, Autotune, etc, and all instruments are manipulated by softwares or often even not real at all. And, anyway, I dare them to write and compose a good electro track, I’m still waiting… you suckers.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?

Well, it’s difficult because we really love every single song we wrote… Anyway, I’d pick the track “Control-[ex]alt-delete” from our upcoming full-length album “Crashdown Connected”, because it covers many influences, it includes a various range of vocals and the riffs are outstanding. Moreover, the theme isn’t the same old “fuck-drugs-dance-biohazard” clichés that infest so many EBM tracks, but it’s about the mass-media mental manipulation by the same people who are destroying the place where we hardly live… And we still don’t give a shit about them, in fact, we are their accomplices.

Where can we listen to it? 

All our social network pages include that song… this is the Youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGR1owmR3Ro

Where can we find out more about your music?

In our Bandcamp page ( http://synapsyche.bandcamp.com ) you can find our E.P. “Wait/Hate” available for download, and very soon our announced full-length album “Crashdown Connected”!
And this is a list of sites where you can find out more about Synapsyche:http://www.facebook.com/synapsyche
http://twitter.com/Synapsyche
http://www.reverbnation.com/synapsyche
http://www.youtube.com/user/SynapsycheTube

http://www.myspace.com/synapsyche
http://soundcloud.com/synapsyche
http://www.lastfm.it/music/Synapsyche

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?

Don’t forget to check our pages for updates, concerts, pics, videos and news. We’re gonna release new tracks and remixes soon, so stay tuned cyberfuckers! Support us and spread the psyche!