EIC's 10Q's w/ Rone

"..a glorious-epic blazing trail of 5th dimensional Space traveling sounds.."

 

Rone

Sanguine Transfixture Voyage

Rone Bio:

Behind Rone there is Erwan Castex, French producer of Electronic music.  Working originally as a filmmaker, he composes his first music creations between two shoots. His works, going from Experimental Techno to melodic Ambient, soon grab the attention of the the most receptive ears: Massive Attack, Ellen Allien, Laurent Garnier, Pantha du Prince, dj Hell, James Holden, and furthermore Agoria, who brings him to light in the cult compilation "At the controls". The compositions draw the interest of Parisian label InFiné.

Hello, how are you?

Fine! I’m obviously really excited! After a long stretch of sitting alone in the studio, releasing the album is a very intense moment. I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation. And I’ll also get to play my new tracks live, which is always magical, because they take on another dimension when played live. I can re-invent them endlessly.

What are you currently listening to?

Various remixes from tracks of my new album which I'm gradually getting in : Dominik Eulberg's, then another one by Blind Citizen Digital... it's always funny to listen to my own music reworked by somebody else.

Care to tell us a little bit about your latest album? What is the overall theme, likes & dislikes?

I called this album Tohu Bohu* because I have the feeling it’s the result of a a big chaos that’s been tamed. A lot of ideas sprung up when I left Paris for Berlin, changing cities and life style must have triggered something very creative in me, which I had to deal with. I produced lots of tracks, good ones and less good ones, it went in all directions. The difficulty was to organize this little mess.  * ‘Commotion’ in French

I especially LOVE the track you did with Gaspar Claus, how did this song/collaboration come about?

Gaspar is an old friend. He's a unique cello player, very open minded; he likes to experiment with new things. We often played together, but always in an improvised way... For example, he once invited me to join him in a little club in Brooklyn to play with his friends Sufjan Stevens or the guys from The National. We've been planning to record something together for a long time, and I thought that track was the right one for the occasion.

Any plans to tour for said release?

Yes, I'm going to tour around Europe, and then I hope also to also tour Asia and the US.

Got any other projects we should know about?

I'll work on the soundtrack of a film directed by my friend Vladimir Mavounia-Kouka, who's responsible for the artwork of my new album. With Studio Fünf (who directed the video for "So So So") we also work on the visual side of my live shows, with videos and lights. I'll also do some remixes and of course, produce new tracks.

Speaking of soundtracks.. What movie would work best on mute while listening to you music?

It would probably have to be an intergalactic road-movie, in which the hero would complete a journey of self-discovery ending up in a beautiful love story. But I haven't found that movie yet... any suggestions?

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?

Today I would say 'The Well Tempered Clavier', by Glenn Gould.... but if you ask me the same question tomorrow I would probably pick a totally different kind of album.

Are you living your dream?

If I was living the life I dream of, I would dream of my life... Fortunately I have many other dreams! ;)

Thanx Matthew and Erwan!

Rone is currently touring Europe, with any luck (hopefully) the US will follow shortly after...

EIC's 10Q's w/ Porcelain Raft

"..more than just "prolific Indie (Bedroom) Pop" ..an any insanely talented human being with an ear for finely tuned audial balladry.."


Porcelain Raft
Adept Chamber Virtuoso

Porcelain Raft Bio:
'Strange Weekend' is Porcelain Raft's debut record, yet in many ways it's his 156th.

Somewhere in New York, Rome, or maybe London, there is a suitcase full of tapes, minidiscs and CDs — days and days worth of music, all of it the result of Mauro Remiddi's 27 years of travels across Europe — from his native Italy to London; of caravaning with the Berlin Youth Circus playing traditional gypsy Klezmer music; of reinterpreting traditional music in North Korea; and of a stint playing piano for an Off Broadway tap dance show. At this point, Remiddi has lived three musicians' lifetimes.


Hello, how are you?
Fine thanks

What are you currently listening to?
These days I'm listening to Robert Ashley, 'Private Parts' and 'Celestial Excursions'.

Is there a story behind the band name?
I just liked the two words together. When I told my best friend about it he said 'how can a raft made of porcelain float?...'. That moment I realized that was the name I was looking for. If not water ,where is the raft made of porcelain floating on? If you are not cynical and have imagination at that question your brain will start wondering.

Care to shed some light on your debut full length..theme/recording process/etc.?
I composed and recorded all the songs in two months in a basement in Brooklyn. 'Backwords' was the only song which I composed before the session started. It's a snapshot of me in a precise moment, I had just moved to NY and I could feel a big adventure started. I guess the title 'Strange Weekend' reflect the fact that this is nothing about 'forever' or 'infinite'. It's a short time frame where lots of emotions passed by.

Who were/are your biggest influences when it came to sculpting your sound?
Hard to tell really, I think the real influences are elements which belong to you naturally , which you don't decide on a table 'oh let's sound like this'. Of course I have influences but they are there despite my will. I'm interested in expressing my emotions, I don't care if it sounds like Muddy Water. I'm not interested in creating something new either. All I care is where it comes from.

Do you have a favorite song on your debut?
It changes every week, right now is 'The Way In'.

If you could collaborate with any artist of your choosing, whom would it be with and why?
I would say unless I don't meet the person and we both decide it could be fun to collaborate, I wouldn't do it. Music is such a personal thing. In general I don't like to jam, I don't like to get together and experiment. Actually I never really experimented, I just trying to describe a painting which is already in front of me.

Any side projects/collabs we should know about?
If I will ever create a side project it will be so secret than nobody will ever know that is me. It could happen...

You can only keep/listen to ONE album for the rest of your life ..which album would it be?
I would like to listen to Bach. Something recorded by Glen Gould.

Are you living your dream?
I started living my dream when I was 10! Staying in my room, playing piano, recording fake radio programs with my portable cassette recorder...lots of things happened since then but It feels I never really stopped.

Thanx Mauro and Judy!

Porcelain Raft is currently touring Europe (with M83!) followed by a US tour shortly after, check those dates HERE...