A few years back a certain conversation with Nuage and friend Gerwin revealed some key things: that something substantial was brewing with the Translation label, and that for the producer ‘Jungle music for me has always reflected the city life’. That latter point is a part of where we pick up the conversation as it all culminates in his new album Prints of You.
I feel Prints of You is a record with a certain mood that’s almost ‘feminine’ and that of course extends to the sleeve: that’s a good thing of course.
I have no luck with a girlfriends, but I do with music! This album is a partly a continuation of the Music Of Branches LP, but it’s also a new story, the story of the evening city: lights, walks around, some cold and some warm.
What inspired the album in general?
I got a lot of inspiration during over two years whilst recording this album, I feel it is a bit more sweeter than Music of Branches which is a bit darker.
I wanted to make an LP that was like a photo album: every song would have a story or conjure past memories. If you were to listen to this music, you would find a favourite track that meant something to you and you would want to play it on repeat.
Who are your guests on this album?
With Prints Of You I worked with more singers and musicians than I thought I would! I collaborated with my old Bordeaux friend, Gerwin, on two tracks: ‘Lifestyle’, a flashback to the D&B tempo with an urban theme and a more slow Deep House style track called ‘Slow Moves’.
I also produced work with a cellist from Montreal called Veronique. For me this was a great collab: I have never met her, but I hope that one day we will play live together!
The tracks we produced together were very interesting and lively.
And there’s other collabs on here, could you detail?
Apart from a Harp player from St. Petersburg, there is also Ellie from Russia: she has a beautiful, strong voice but has never recorded seriously before.
Katee is from Poland. Due to her incredible voice and a variety of effects, the atmosphere that we created was really mysterious and dark.
I’d love to continue to work with vocalists and instrumentalists as I think this is the key to my music, the fusion of live sound and electronic.
I enjoyed ‘Slow Moves’.
This is our last collab with Gerwin, recorded about six months ago. I think the new tracks we are preparing will be in a similar key: Gerwin has also been experimenting with similar beats and tempo, around 125-136bpm. I really enjoyed working with him, all tracks I made with Gerwin are always easy. I’ll begin the track and he continues it, usually turns it into something interesting. The mix of my sound and his style creates something unique… we like to call it Nu-Ger!
How did the linkup with Translation come about? A great label and always unique in the presentation of its releases.
I was looking for a label to release my track ‘Different Places,’ and got some great feedback from Translation, so we started working together and it’s been four years now. I started off with digital releases, then we moved on to vinyl. Initially, Translation was focused on my drum & bass, but to my surprise, they also supported me in my transition to other tempos of music.
Working with Translation has been an example of an artist-label relationship founded on communication, friendship and shared understanding which really helps when it comes to getting your music heard.
What’s the artwork for this release? Looks interesting.
Honestly, the artwork delayed the release for two months. We could’t find the design people for the artwork, everyone was busy or did not understand me, there was a time when we were all angry and thought that we would never find an idea. Then my friend sent me her picture, she was a simply wonderful with a mysterious look, I realized that this is what I want.
As a result, we decided to keep the cover in black and white, to not lost a vintage feel and added color to transparent – smoked blue sea water vinyl. Then you can see this all in the product!
What tune is in your head right now?
Solange ‘Losing You’ (Cyril Hahn rmx)
httpv://youtu.be/bZ4SlQv9BY8
Name three key influences?
The sea, travels and of course the sounds on my laptop.