While he has been an OG in the experimental bass music genre for a while, Of The Trees has been picking up a lot of traction over the past year thanks to high quality singles and albums on labels such as Gravitas Recordings, Wakaan, and Mallable Music. Great North Festival, located in Of The Tree’s home state of Maine, also grew much bigger this year, presenting the musician with an even larger platform for his fourth year performing at the festival. We caught up with Of The Trees afterwards to discuss his festival experience, as well as his new found popularity.
This year was your 4th year at Great North Festival, what has it been like watching the festival develop? How do you like the new location?
This festival has been something particularly special to me, based on the fact that I’ve seen it go from an idea fantasized about to being a full-fledged brand and experience that thousands of people look forward to every year. The new location is perfect for the growth of the festival, as much as I do miss the woods-y feel of the last one.
How do you feel about replacing Perkulator Sunday night? How did you structure your two sets differently?
I didn’t exactly replace Perkulat0r, because he replaced Bleep Bloop on saturday night because Bloop wasn’t able to make it. The first night I played heavy because I knew the crowd was going to be rowdy, but sunday night I played a more melodic set. Threw in a lot of the Originalz, Gladkill, Perkulat0r, and a lot of my older tunes I rarely play out anymore.
You released two new tracks recently, one on Gravitas Recordings, and one on Liquid Stranger’s Wakaan. What has it been like doing work with the two labels? How are they different?
They’re both awesome. Gravitas has stood behind me forever, and working with them at this point is like using one of my limbs. Everything is streamlined and they know my abilities so well and are always reaching out to me. Wakaan has really got their footing this year, and it’s awesome to see what it has become in such a short time. They’re both really free form, and neither caters to a strict sound or genre – but in some ways there are a lot of distinctions you hear in their releases that tie the whole movement all together.
Your sound seems to put heavy emphasis on heavy kicks and weird drum patterns…were you a percussionist? What are some of your other influences?
I only really play guitar confidently, with keys being a self-taught growing process over the last 6 years or so. I wish I had the means to acquire and learn to play drums, because I’ve always felt more of a natural affinity for rhythm versus melody. I grew up listening to and playing a lot of metal, and didn’t start listening to hip-hop and electronic until later in high school.
I saw that Bassnectar played your remix of “Mr. Got Game & Watch” at Ezoo, how’s it feel to have that kind of exposure?
Quite surreal to see somebody of his stature play my tunes on a stage like that. It’s really comforting in a way, not that I’m necessarily trying to do the same style of music, but to know that my music is accessible enough to be played in that setting to that crowd. I’ve also got some more unreleased music that fits that style even more, so don’t be surprised if he starts playing some Of The Trees dub plates in the future, ha.
Now that you’re the most popular you’ve ever been, what’s next for you?
To keep that question relevant in every interview I do…I’d like to spend the winter building an ideal studio up, and not leave until I have all of this music completed, plus some – but it’s looking like I’ll be on the road more this winter than in the past. That’s fine by me, but I do enjoy the cold months spent with some quality time really honing in my production, it’s a sacred time for me.
Connect with Of The Trees:
https://www.facebook.com/ofthetrees
https://soundcloud.com/ofthetrees
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