While you’re going ham on the stream below, make sure to read up on the tune with words from the beautiful mind that is Mar.
Your new single on Insomniac has been a couple of years in the making. What held you back from putting out the tune earlier?
I actually wrote the meat and potatoes of the track a little under two years ago. Then, I took a step back from it for a while, so I could return fresh-eared to tighten up the mix. From there (and after a few failed attempts to work with vocalists), I connected with UNiiQU3, and she delivered exactly what the track needed.
Music is a reflection of its maker. What part of yourself do you think has been poured into the production?
This track is paired with my turn-up vibe. Like, I don’t post up on the wall, and I’m not moshing with trap arms. But I love to party and bop around on the floor—not get too extra, and kinda just lock into my groove. The groove is everything on this track.
UNiiQU3 told Fader you two have a history together. Do you mind expanding on that for us?
I’ve known UNiiQU3 for a few years and always loved her work. Last year, I released her collaboration with Saint, “Yo (I’m Lit),” on my label Main Course. That was the beginning of our camaraderie and working relationship.
With that in mind, how was the collaborative process affected?
It made it painless! While we were in the studio, it was all jokes, and we just had fun. We got maybe 20 minutes of her riffing, and I literally had to keep myself from erupting with laughter and ruining the takes, haha!
When was the last time you stopped and thought to yourself, “I’m really running it right now?”
When I was laying it down at Nocturnal a couple weeks ago—that was a lot of fun!
Speaking of running things, Main Course is killing it right now. The label is known for taking risks on artists and sounds that change the game and often feel ahead of the times. Is there any tune too weird, that you would never think about touching?
I have an affinity for weird, but it also needs to feel smart and deliberate. If it’s weird just to be weird, I can usually detect that and keep scrolling down my inbox.
Your sound design is so fresh, it’s stupid. What sort of noises, samples and sounds would you say you are attracted to most?
Appreciate that! I love non-musical sounds. I generally lean toward things that sound fuzzy or rusty, or deteriorated in some interesting way. Example: sun-bleached wooden wind chimes.
I heard you have a deal in place that allows you to go back and gig in your Alaskan hometown.
Yeah! My best friend Ainslee (now in Seattle) and I have been DJing in Juneau, Alaska, for nearly a decade, and we have started and maintained a few annual holiday parties. The venue we work with flies us in to play the parties. It’s awesome, because I get to see my family a couple times!
Lastly, I have to ask: Are you a huge astronomy nerd?
I’m not, but I love staring at the night sky. There have been a few points in my life where I felt like I was having a profound moment, and I’d always see a shooting star. I wholeheartedly believe this was the universe winking at me.
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