(This interview was co-conducted with WRR writer Sebastian Aguirre)
Exmag’s performance this past Basslights was a coming out party of sorts for the futuristic funk group. Comprised of Eric Mendelson, Tyler Dondero, and Mike Iannatto, these guys are staking a claim as creators of some of the best soul-groovin’ music put out today.
Completing an end of year run covering Basslights, Decadence, and a NYE show with Minnesota, Exmag is wasting no time getting their name out there and being a force to be reckoned with. The rabid fan bases of both Bassnectar and Pretty Lights were formally introduced to the trio last weekend in Hampton, VA, and we were given the awesome opportunity of sitting down with the crew and picking their brains for a bit. Check it out below and learn a thing or two about one of the fastest risers in electronic music.
We heard you’re all currently roommates, what’s the living situation like?
“We have a little headquarters going on, Exmag and Branx live together. Illumntr lives with us too. We have the same bank account.” – Tyler
How exactly did the band get started? How much did Gramatik have to do with the early going compared to now?
“When it first started, Eric, Mike, and I were making beats and we’d put it in a folder called Extraordinary Magnitude. Denis asked to be a part of it, we lived with him too at the time. We were learning how to use Ableton and helping on his album learning along the way and Denis really blew up. He got his own spot, we don’t really see him too much anymore. Right now Dave (Branx) just helps us out a lot and it’s just us doing our thing in Brooklyn. 2-3 years ago was when the initial process started, and now we’re on our own path, doing our thing.” – Tyler
We caught your set at Hudson when GRiZ and Gibbz came out, you’ve also collaborated with Gramatik on his most recent album. Is there a “funk fam” mentality within the scene?
“A lot of us play instruments and have a common ground over that. We learned to play computer music after we learned to play instruments. We just got whatever style we were trying to learn at the time and we all, ya know squeeze it in there…we can’t help but relate with these people, you know they’re put in a position where they’re just trying to make a living by making music. – Tyler
Your live shows have a lot going on in them…Eric on the guitar, Mike on the MPC, Tyler on the Keyboard. How does the producing process go down?
“We’re on a deep musical journey, trying to learn all the instruments deeply. Trying as a band, all 4 of us, 5 of us, whoever, able to switch instruments live. After-parties, they have the baddest muscians playing tunes all night. Having guys with instruments taking over dance music. As we grow as people and get older were trying to do all sorts of music.” –Eric
“At home we all produce, we all play instruments. Mike’s a badass guitar player, bass player, drummer, Eric makes beats. Mike probably makes the sickest beats” – Tyler
Anything stand out from 2014 for you all?
“Hudson Project definitely. The whole thing was wild, the situation was crazy. The set was so much fun, but then the whole situation afterwords with the storm was nuts. I had to push my car out of the knee deep mud with Gibbz then we partied with Griz. Eric, Tyler, and Dave were all held up in our RV for hours stuck in knee deep mud. Three busses were throwing down in the RV section during the storm, it was a mob scene. People on top of busses. Shit was crazy.” –Mike
What’s 2015 got in store for you guys?
“We got an EP with Branx coming out. Were definitely doing that, it’s called Plants and Animals. Bringing it back to Earth. We got another album in the works. Like we said we got a lot of beats in the works, we get to about 50% and they pile up. Then we get to them and organize them and finish them off. That’s where we’re at right now. A sound has developed and we’re just trying to figure it out.” –Tyler
“Were just making beats, Daves fucking with them and we’ll throw ’em around to eachother. We have a bunch of those were finishing up and we’ll release soon.” –Mike
How does it feel to be here right now playing Basslights?
“Its awesome man, its insane. We feel good. Were just trying to make sure all of us individually are getting exactly what we want out of their reality and we’re trying not to be selfish in any way. If we make any kind of money were trying to split it. For the record, Exmag is Mike, Tyler, and Eric. Dave is the fucking man. Illumntr is the overlord of everything. Shoutout Gibbz and Denis.” – Eric
Lowtemp is not going to be all of what you see of Exmag in the future. Were going to do some insane powerful shit.
A big thanks to Exmag and the crew! Stay on the lookout for big things from these guys as we head into 2015, and if you find them in your area, it’s your duty to get the funk down with them live. Check out their latest mix here.
Connect with Exmag:
https://www.facebook.com/EXM4G
https://soundcloud.com/exm4g
https://twitter.com/EXM4G