Like a moment on some dream film soundtrack, ‘Words To Say’ is soaked in a warm, resonant vibe. It’s haunting and evocative too… is it 80s in soul? Or a current day reference TO the 80s? It’s easily one of 2014’s best moments so it made a lot of sense to catch up with Brazil’s UrbanDawn and cut to the chase – as it were – about this and ‘Torus’.
I heard ‘Words To Say’ on the radio and was stunned! It’s that simple.
I did ‘Words to Say’ circa 2011. This tune came so naturally that I finished it in two days. I was blown away with the result and I believe is one of the most spiritual tracks I ever did with UrbanDawn.
I heard that you love some forms of music where it weaves together varying ingredients. This implies that you really LISTEN to sound, to think about how they work, clash or compliment each other is that true?
Totally. My journey in music started when I was 10, playing classical music, than Rock/Metal, Jazz, etc, so I’m really eclectic regarding styles and I believe this really helped me to develop my own style.
Do you work with real instruments as such?
Yes. I started playing classical shit on guitar when I was a kid, then moved to electric guitar, bass, drums and other stuff aswell. I love to record my own sounds and organic instruments.
Calibre is another artist who really works with similar instrument & vocal choices, do you admire his work?
Totally, I’m a huge fan of Calibre’s work, I grew up listening to his music.
Torus feels different in flex but both tunes have a delicious ’80s’ vibe in the sound, does that sit with you? Are you a fan of people like Jan Hammer, Herbie Hancock, 80s synths (even ones in metal and radio rock), Georgio Moroder etc?
Yes, Herbie the most. My father used to listen to a lot of 70/80’s disco/funky stuff, so I was directly influenced by those artists. I Always try to put some cheesy 80’s elements on my music!
This 80s vibe causes me to ask: do have a big studio space? I love imagine where great music was made.
I work professionally as an audio engineer, so I’m always around big-ass studios with hardware equipment, but my home studio is all about inbox stuff, but sometimes I use analog stuff from these work studios.
The cover to ‘Torus/Words To Say’, the artwork… it’s stunning! Could you tell us who did it?
The Bad Taste art crew, they are amazing artists!
Following on from from this, what’s music that you’re working on now?
I just finished my album, so I’m working on my other projects right now, mainly hip hop stuff for some great Brazilian MC’s.
What music of any type is getting you right now… old and new, what things are making you smile and drift away?
Well, I’m Always listening to a lot of stuff, but right now I’m really into Black Radio 2 by Robert Glasper and the classic The Way Up by Pat Metheny.
We hope to see you on tour when the album drops… any shouts?
Big ups to you guys, the whole Europe D&B crew, my fellow Brazilian producers and everyone who is supporting my work!