Featured Artists, Songs and Posts

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Akkor:
Akkor is experimental/minimal electronica with influences from progressive, ambient and contemporary classical music. My main tools of composition are piano, synthesizers, found noises and field recordings.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Akkor:
I hold a masters degree in Sonic Arts from Istanbul Technical University's Center for Advanced Studies in Music. I was a participant of the Red Bull Music Academy 2018, Berlin. As someone who has roots from being a progressive rock keyboardist, I’ve always been interested in sound design and composition. In around 2018, I got concentrated on surround audio and creating audiovisual performances.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Akkor:
In around 2003, when I learned about how Pink Floyd’s Another Brick in the Wall triggered country-wide protests of racial inequities in South Africa, I realized how big being creative and productive can affect the world and became passionate about it.

Nagamag:
You mentioned audiovisual performances, can you clarify this a bit?

Akkor:
I’m very excited about creating surround audio and composing for lighting systems to create sound and light performances that are in communication. Besides my solo works, I collaborate with artists from various disciplines to design site specific live stages for Akkor. Multi-channel audio surrounds the audience, I focus on this phenomenon and try to enrich it with the visual aspect of my live performances. I also collaborate to create artistic productions such as installations and video artworks.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Akkor:
King Crimson "Starless" (Red album)

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Akkor:
Murcof "Reflejo"

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Anhedral:
Ambient, Soundscape, Cinematic, Instrumental, Drone

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Anhedral:
Change, is constant. Driven by influences as diverse from his past bands' works, to melodic classic instrumentals, Anhedral (Singapore) combines sounds from people's daily, recognizable elements with a tint of unprecedented melodies. Listeners will be confronted with repetitive reconsiderations of their final conclusion about his learned pieces.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Anhedral:
It was the day where my dad gave me an electric guitar on my 17th birthday, just watching him play in front of me and guiding me the basic chords to start off everything, till now.

Nagamag:
Why are there no recorded vocal tracks in your works?

Anhedral:
I believe plain sounds, can really bring out different interpretations of a single track.

Nagamag:
Friends or How I Met Your Mother?

Anhedral:
I'm a crazy HIMYM fan!

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Anhedral:
Elephant Gym "Finger"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Anhedral:
Rest You Sleeping Giant Three Sparrows

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Soto:
Jazz, R&B, Funk, Soul, Neo-Soul, Hip-hop. New to the UK Jazz scene, Soto is a trio born out of Brighton with a foot in the doors of Jazz, R&B, Funk & Soul. Blending intricate rhythms and unique melodies, their feel is both a tribute to the scene, and something new altogether.

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Soto:
Soto aim to make their audiences smile and groove with their work; something which undeniably helps this is the chemistry between the three founding members. Having all met in their first year at medical school, music was initially something of a side-hustle, but as the years passed it became more and more an integral to them as individuals and as a collective. Now, with their time at university drawing to a close, and a debut EP online, there'll be at least a few heads wondering what will be coming next from these guys.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Soto:
The feeling that first connected each of us to music is re-experienced on a regular basis. There is a deeply moving experience that arises when hearing the work of artists that touch us, and this similarly is something that is felt when we connect musically as a collective or as individuals. Music is possibly the most significant bringer of joy in any of our lives, which is why we are so determined - even with careers as doctors ready to begin - to make this a central part of our future. A life without music would always feel empty in a way.

Nagamag:
What do YOU enjoy most about writing and playing your music?

Soto:
We are all genuinely dedicated to the musical journey that we're on together. There's nothing better than when we meet for band practice and one of us says 'I've been working on this recently - what do you think?' and plays something beautiful. Many of our songs have come from one person bringing an idea forward for us to jam with, or quite literally just appearing from jams. This makes the process of writing so fun, and something we always look forward to. Similarly, what could be more fun than bringing music into a live setting? We love to improvise and leave lots of room for our songs to be different each time they are played so we can fully express ourselves musically any time we meet - we think of music as a conversation between the three of us and any listeners that may be present.

Nagamag:
Where do you see yourselves going musically?

Soto:
We hope to continue to challenge ourselves. We are always trying to explore new themes, try new things and push each other more and more musically, and this is something we hope to keep going. What we aim to do is continue writing music and hopefully entertaining people with our work. We would love to carve our a career in music, and we are so driven to this that we hope we're fortunate enough to just get that break that we need to make this viable. Whatever happens though, we want to enjoy every step of the way and be present in this journey, wherever it may go.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Soto:
Celeste "Both Sides of The Moon"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Soto:
Prime Panda "State Your Business"

Photo by Timothée Prézélus

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Hypnotic Peafowl:
Giving a very specific genre to my music is not easy. especially when it comes to my "alternative" productions. I think that my music is situated between Basse music with a jazzy side and synthetic textures like halfred or mindex ... and the ethnic and psychedelic side that we can find with merkaba music. The more time passes, the more my compositions are built around the musical instrument. My next outings will be much more hybrid with a very funk very colorful side. ideal music to listen to at home and play with a group in concert for example. but if I had to give only one name to write my "alternative" music I would say jazzy psybass

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Hypnotic Peafowl:
For me everything went particularly fast.I don't have a past as an instrumentalist, I did some drums lessons at the age of 7 and I stopped there. I discovered the world of the night at a young age (14 years) with the meeting of friends who organized evenings in all the region where I lived. But it never occurred to me to make music. It's only been 4 years since I started composing MAO. I lived in a shared flat where a friend had a very old computer which was not useful to anyone with an old version of ableton (I laugh today because it took at least 20 minutes to turn on the computer haha) for no reason or any ambition i turned on ableton i typed "psytrance ableton" on you tub is since i haven't spent a day without making music. I spent 3 years learning composition, mixing, musical theory, harmonization. advance use of ableton ... for 3 years I didn't go out (it's no joke I had to do 5 evenings with friends) I watched tutorials on you tub every day, I I bought a lot of music books ... then after that I played my first concert in 2018 thanks to an association of the region which is called "Lunarmouth" it is the only association which shows to the general public the psychedelic culture at home. (today I am the president) then everything went very very quickly for my project, I released my first album "enygma" independently a few weeks after this 1st date. after that I got 41 concerts in my 1st year of activity in 2018/2019. I had the pleasure of playing all over France. I also produced 28 music during this period which gave me constant visibility on the net. In 2019 I officially joined the Hadra records label. Hadra obviously offers me great visibility throughout France but also enormous support for my professionalization and allows me today to make music. in February 2020 I published my new EP on Zenon records which is a great joy for me because it is one of the best world label in my eyes. Today I am fortunate to live in France and benefit from a special status unique to France which allows me to live on my music. I have more and more dates, programmed a few times a year in advance and the international market is beginning to open its doors to me. I continue to bring the psychedelic movement to life in my region by organizing evenings every month with my associations and the support of all its members and of course that of the best club in the city in my eyes "the front door". I give MAO lessons in my studio during the week when I am not producing and I go to play on weekends. I have a busy life and it is an immense pleasure to live that.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Hypnotic Peafowl:
I remember my 1st party it was Timegate in Switzerland for New Year it is a huge Psytrance party over several days but it was not a revelation for me. honestly the first time electronic music had a real impact on me it was in 2018 (haha yes it was not long ago) I went to an open air psytrance very far from home (10h of car) and I met Version Bizar. I first listened to his live and then I met the man afterwards. The meeting with him mixed with the Zenonesque style of his music was a revelation for me at that time. We had a very strong connection together and it made me discover so much incredible music. He played a bass music djset later that evening and I heard kinds of music that I wasn’t able to imagine before. So I would say that if I have a memory that marked me the most with music and the most changed is this Leon meeting, he became a real source of inspiration for me and will remain so.

Nagamag:
What is your vision of electronic music ?

Hypnotic Peafowl:
For me music is a language that you have to learn in order to master it and develop it. I think that electronic music responds to the same code as acoustic music when we talk about music theory, harmonization, the placement of its instruments in the stereo field ect ect. My vision of electronic music is what allows me to explore even further the sound systems and the design of my sounds but also the impact on the live spectator, the physical experience it brings. Playing with emotions is achievable with any type of music (jazz, rap, electro ...) but playing on the physical sensations in concert and something specific to electronic music I find. We have certain constraints with our instrument certain limits impossible to exceed. Electronic music allows me to go further. But beware if I have a Rhode, a piano or any other instrument I don't see the point of replacing it for an electronic version. I imagine that like two completely complementary world one will never replace the other but they complement each other perfectly well if the artist makes sense in the use of electronic music.

Nagamag:
What was most important to you in your career and what do you recommend?

Hypnotic Peafowl:
I would say that having a supportive environment is very important. having the presence of mind to analyze our friends and ask the question of their knowledge in the world of music is important. for example when we make listen to our music to our friends most tell you that they are good and do not dare to hurt you (unconsciously for the most part). you have to know create an entourage of people who will hustle you when your productions are not at the top. Its very important.
Have someone who accompanies you on a daily basis and who understands the issues. for my part it is my companion who supports me from the beginning (morally and financially)
knowing my shortcomings and developing personal techniques to stimulate well-being was of great help to me. Meditation for example.
And finally i would say that good management of your project is essential from the start. In our hyper connected era it is important to pay attention to one's artistic image and not to mix private and professional life.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Hypnotic Peafowl:
Aukai "La Joya"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Hypnotic Peafowl:
5am Trio Transmission 1 - Supa > Concentrated

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Daytuner (Moai System):
Ambient, Downtempo, Psydub, Chillout, Cinematics

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Daytuner (Moai System):
As a music producer, from classical background (15 years of violin and music school) to electronic music for more than 30 years, I feel so grateful because that gave me great opportunities to meet, learn and work with amazing artists from all around the world. I recently decided to get FULLY involved in the music industry and my band (Moai System) already released several Eps and singles with different indie labels including Nutek Chill since December 2017. I'm also the manager of a webradio (Pranamusic Radio) specialized in promoting electronic music for 2 years.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Daytuner (Moai System):
I was 6 years old, and I was watching a concert of Yehudi Menuhin playing a concerto of Brahms for violin. The sound mesmerized me totally, and from this moment I knew my fate was emotionnaly linked to music.

Nagamag:
What attracts you in the electronic music production ?

Daytuner (Moai System):
The alchemy of sound and composition. Pushing the frontiers of imagination, while working with evocative sounds and mixing harmonies.

Nagamag:
Philosophical question : According to your experience, what is the "essence" of creativity in music terms ?

Daytuner (Moai System):
Difficult question, but I would say that a music composer and an artist in general has this skill (gift) which makes him/her able to receive (consciously or not) these higher vibes and to interpret or translate them with emotions linked to his/her personal history in that world.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Daytuner (Moai System):
Club Des Belugas "Save A Little Love For Me"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Daytuner (Moai System):
Hinkstep "I Guess My Heart Got Carried Away"