EME

My Lightyear CD Release Washington D.C. Saturday July 19th.
Lineup Includes Telemetrik, Hyx, Houston, Inflictz & Suntee.

Geisha Lounge is located @
727 15th St NW Washington DC ( Hidden between H ST & NY Ave )

Telemetrik featured in the latest Mix Mag.

Tagged Interview Transcript.

Were you ever taught music when you were younger?

My mom tried. She put me into piano lessons when I was 7 or 8, but it was a disaster. My sister picked it up fine, but sitting still on a bench didn’t really fit in with my ADD lifestyle. I’d kill to go back and shake my little self into focusing for the good of the team.

What was the first drum & bass record you ever heard?

I snuck out of the house to go into D.C, and the one club that let me in hosted an event called Deep. Thats where I heard Brown Paper Bag for the first time.

What did you think? Did it change your life in some way?

It really did. I would beat box and do the kick and snare pattern at my desk in class just to keep it going.

When did you start making music?

My dad had an old classical guitar in the closet. There was a book in the case with pictures of chords and numbers that told you where to put your fingers. I paid more attention to that book than I think anything else up to that point and after I’d memorized it, I started writing my first hits.

How did you get for first break?

You mean nervous breakdown?

Was there a moment where it all made sense? A moment where you suddenly realized things were really happening for you…

I go through phases where everything is pretty clear and I feel like things are really moving forward but there’s just so many variables and so much to learn I just prefer not to think about it.

Which artists/music would you say have influenced your sound the most? Why? What have you gained from them?

Hyx, Houston, BSE, Impulse, Evancipation, and Duy Tran, were a huge influence. Each one helped me shape the look and sound of the record. All of them encouraged me to push forward, helped me get thru blocks, listened to my rants, and made the album better.

How long has the album taken to make?

6,000,000,000,000 miles

What was the most difficult thing about it?

For every track on the album there were multiple mixes, arrangements, recording methods, and even studios. Keeping myself from losing perspective was probably the hardest thing.

Is there a part you are most proud of?

Im actually really proud of BSE for giving me the space.

Does it have a particular theme?

Definatley. The art work, the music, all of it tells my story.

Do you DJ much?

Yes, I’ve had the chance to make friends and share stories in all parts of the world DJing. Its one of the things that helped bring me back to reality whenever I would lose my way in the studio. Those moments when your in a club full of people and everyone is on the same exact page and your at the controls setting the course. That’s what fuels this whole thing I think.

How can drum & bass improve?

There’s a whole generation of kids growing up who have never known a world without personal computers, the internet, musical software, mp3’s, etc. They’ll decide what happens to drum & bass.

How can YOU improve?

I just need to relax sometimes, I tend to swing back and forth between being thankful for what I have and being overwhelmed by it.

What have you got lined up for 2008? Gigs, tours, remixes, new music etc…

I did a crucial tour earlier this year with BSE to promote the ablums sampler release. Other than that im taking on some pretty lofty things with a few new projects. Fingers Crossed.

What do you do when you’re not making music? Tell me about your passions…

Currently…graphic designing, filming, & social experiments.

If you weren’t a musician, what do you think you’d be doing?

Rotting in the ground.

One last thing…Just a quick top three about something you are passionate or opinionated about.

Here are three dystopias you weren’t forced to read in school:

We - Yevgeny Zamyatin 1924

One State is the setting for Zamyatin’s mathematic future in which everyone’s named after numbers and working on a ship to leave Earth.

The Wanting Seed - Anthony Burgess 1962

Overpopulation turns society inside out to the point wars are staged and its casualties are sold to feed people.

Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep? - Philip K. Dick 1968

In a post nuclear San Francisco machines have become indistinguishable from man, leaving special police to find and “retire” them.

Questions: Peter Rogers

Photo: Duy Tran