The following is an awesome… erm, “guest interview”? Yeah, we’ll go with that. The following is an awesome guest interview by my man Chase Sewell, who got a chance to interview Beats Antique and was kind enough to pass the final result over to Sophistefunk to publish (seriously man, you rock!)
Chase doesn’t have a site yet, but check back for more from him soon, he’s a fantastic writer and I hope to see more interviews from him in the future.
For now, enjoy this awesome first time guest contribution to Sophistefunk and show Beats Antique a little love!
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Shortly after their performance at CounterPoint Festival outside of Atlanta, I was able to glean some insight into the rhythmic wizardry that is Beats Antique.
Hardly needing any introduction, these folks have been touring heavily and usually play to a packed out audience. Word about their highly unique blend of peregrine world music and dance-infused electronica is being passed around in music circles like some transformational currency.
As others will confirm, the music is almost co-created with their fans; crowds show up to their live performances toting their own energy – infusing the air with anticipation, exuberance, and those antsy, antsy feet.
True to form, the answers given in this interview were fairly playful, preserving their elusive mystique
Being that Beats Antique is an eclectic bricolage of many different styles, how would you describe your influences or precursors?
It’s interesting that the title “world fusion” is sometimes applied, despite the very modern integration with EDM and Ableton controlling.
We like the term “electro-acoustic”.
We feel that our integration of acoustic instruments and modern electronics is what defines our sound.
We have a heavy influence from folk music coming from almost all parts of the globe and we also have a huge EDM influence.
Put those two in a blender and you get a beats antique track! Its easy!
How would you say your music has evolved over the years and what new direction has Contraption Vol. 2 taken the band since the release of Elekatrafone?
We have felt the need to trace our roots back and respond to ourselves.
Vol 2 follows a similar format to volume 1 with a track with lynx and a brass band remix!
We feel it differs from Elektrafone in that its more acoustic and balanced between our genres.
Can you tell me a little bit about the creative process for you guys?
Which parts are typically written first; how long do you typically spend re-working your songs; does Zoe practice a routine or is there room for improvisation?
Zoe has become more involved as a composer over the years.
It’s always refreshing to have her perspective as a dancer and Choreographer!
We have definitely figured out a unique flow and way to work together over the years.
Similarly, how do you decide on a track to remix?
Two favorites of mine are the Filistine – Colony Collapse Remix and the (older, probably lesser known) Michael Jackson – MLK Mashup. So, what is it in a song that reaches out to you?
Sometimes it just jumps out at us other times we respond to events.
The MJ/MLK mash up was a response to MJ’s tragic death.
We also like to use remixes as opportunities to work with our vast community of friends/producers that we are part of.
Do you guys find it difficult to make music while on the road? How does it differ from making music at home or in a studio?
We’ll use our iPhone apps, iPads and field recorders to create the bed of a track which then we bring back to our studio for full integration…
…we find ourselves having more time on this tour since we have an axing crew that sets up our stage, giving us the freedom to be creative…
Electronic dance events, in many ways, resemble “antique” forms of ecstatic dance: rites of passage, shamanic rituals, and so on.
What Terence McKenna calls the “Archaic Revival” can also be seen, for example, in anything from the tribal fashion styles within modern sub-cultures to the use of entheogens at concerts.
Would you say the exotic rhythms of Beats Antique catalyze some kind of energetic awareness? In this regard, what kinds of feedback have fans given you regarding any spiritual undertones?
Yes, spirits evoke circuit-bending filter sweeps in an animalistic ritual of the fourth kind…
Do you have any predictions on the future trends of EDM? (E.g. what is on the horizon—or is there anything new under the sun?)
I feel the heaviness factor will need to give way to the dynamics of live musical interpretation bringing the revolution of the bass driven bloopy blips to a more organic synapse.
Are there any shows that you’ve performed which stick out as favorites, in terms of crowd response and the whole vibe?
Also Red Rocks, Fillmore Denver…this far on this tour, our show in Columbus, Ohio had the most raucous crowd on the tour, and that was, surprisingly the 1st time we had set foot in the exciting city!!
Lastly, while we’re discussing shows, can you tell us a little bit about The Great Convergence concert on December 21 in Giza, Egypt? How’d this idea get started, and what can we expect to go down?
They were instructed to organize an intergalactic celebration for the UFOs return.
We have been invited to perform during this great convergence of interstellar beings and are honored to be a member of the future galactic federation!
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Thanks for stopping by, be sure to do me one small favor: if you enjoyed this interview and want to see more, share this post! It gives me an idea of what’s good to follow up on. (Thanks again Chase for making this happen)
