A Brussels native currently based in Montreal, rising DJ/producer, Apashe, has been taking the dance music scene by storm as of late, bringing a unique sound that pushes the boundaries and blurs the lines between diverse genres. Having worked as a full-time sound designer for Sonart after studying the field at university, Apashe’s proficiency with production and audio engineering is easily discernible within his tracks, setting him apart from many other DJs and producers in the scene today.
Signed to Kannibalen Records, and having been producing since 2005, Apashe has demonstrated adeptness with both remixing, as well as producing original tunes, delivering striking tracks such as “Good Bye“, “The Grave” (a collaborative effort with Black Tiger Sex Machine), as well as his official remix he did with label mate, Dabin, of Iggy Azalea’s anthemic tune, “Fancy”.
WRR had the opportunity to chat with Apashe about his music and production processes, and received some interesting answers. Check out the the interview below:
1. Having studied electroacoustics at university, your aptitude with sound design is clearly evident in your music. What got you interested in sound/bass design in the first place?
Sound design wasn’t my first interest. It was rather music in general. I started producing it without spending too much time on sound design, I would be making cool drum grooves and playing around. At that time dubstep didn’t exist, it was more the era of breakbeat, electro and DnB. I spent my days cutting Amen Breaks (mythical old skool drum samples). It’s only a bit later when I got bored of it and I discovered Neurofunk Drum And Bass with guys like Noisia, Spor and Current Value. That shit was unreal at that time, and it still is. When you listen to their tracks today, ten years later, it still sounds insane and futuristic. Then, the endless hours of sound design synthesis started to emerge during some nights. From there, I became so obsessed that after high school I did not have the choice to do anything else. That was just what I wanted to do, so I started doing more post production ‘Sound design’ in order to get a real job.
2. Your music is often categorized within the genre of Trap music. What keeps you interested and invested in producing tunes of this style?
I feel like other genres are more restricted. Its always one bpm for example dubstep is 140 electro is 130. Trap is elastic; you can do it at pretty much every tempo. However, I don’t really follow the codes of trap music so it’s difficult to say it is trap. But it’s easier to call it that way. I feel like it’s more a hybrid mix of everything from hip hop to neurofunk, dubstep and even classical music.
3. When producing, how do you aim to make your music stand out from the plethora of other tunes released on the daily within the genre?
I don’t know. I don’t think about it really but I used to see that in the opposite way. I take stuff that are just the opposite and then I try to make it sound close enough to something that people can relate to, otherwise it would be too much chaos. It would be unmixable, not DJ friendly and would contain too much unnecessary layers. So I take stuff I dig, like classical music, (which is not a popular thing but it inspires me a lot), and then I just try to find a way to make it work in today’s world of electronic music. I think I never started a track like, “Ok let’s make a trap track now”. It doesn’t work that way for me. I need an idea or inspiration from something else.
4. With your October Tour having come to a close, save for one more show, can you share with us your favourite part about touring?
Generally, my favorite moment about touring is that moment when it’s the silence before the storm. Like before every show there’s a moment when you’re a bit tired but so excited to play. It’s quiet but you now a bit later it’s going to go hard and wild. It is like a mental preparation or focus. Then when you play, you’re fully loaded with that energy and you’re ready to rage!
5. How about the most difficult part about touring?
Trying not to complain because what’s happening is so amazing! But of course there are hard moments like anything else. I would say being often tired, taking early flights, missing my girl, not sleeping much or just waiting at airports and constantly being in transport, etc. But I have a lot of work to do so that keeps me busy. I always remind myself how amazing life is when you work hard at something.
6. You’ve become increasingly prominent in the electronic music scene, with many successful releases on Kannibalen records. Do you have any advice for aspiring producers?
Yes, work the shit out of yourself and never give up. Be close to the ones that work a lot, make a team, a family and be patient. Your moment to destroy the game is coming! 😉
7. Tell us a random fact about you that your fans might not already know?
Mmmh random fact? Sometimes when I’m really tired or exhausted I take a really, really hot bath and crash there for an hour or more while blasting the entire Mozart’s Requiem or Beethoven’s 7th Symphony. I don’t know why but I really dig that.
Connect With Apashe:
Facebook.com/Apashe.Official
Twitter.com/Apashe_Music
Soundcloud.com/lindien
Share On
