Samonik - Strangest Part (2017). Entrevista a Jason Samonik

Samonik, de gira por España de la mano de Low Festival

Este mes de mayo, Low Festival se va de gira, y con él una de las apuestas internacionales de esta edición. Samonik, la banda de rock electrónico del DJ y productor Jason Samonik, visita España para presentar los temas de su inminente primer EP. Cuatro citas en Madrid, Benidorm, Alicante (acompañados de Vera Green) y Toledo a las que podrán entrar gratuitamente los poseedores de abono Low Festival 2017.

El proyecto del norteamericano Jason Samonik, que ha trabajado con nombres como Hot Chip, Atari Teenage Riots o Solange, lanzará su primer EP precisamente en mayo. De él ya hemos podido conocer el single “Strangest Part”, un tema que le acerca a algunas de sus influencias más orgánicas, como Iggy Pop o Depeche Mode, y está a punto de estrenar su segundo adelanto, “She’s Alone”.

Así, del 10 al 13 de mayo, Samonik visitará cuatro ciudades de la geografía española de la mano de Low Festival. En estas cuatro citas, los poseedores de un abono Low Festival 2017 contarán con acceso gratuito tan solo presentando su abono. El resto de público podrá comprar su entrada en taquilla por tan solo 6€.

Estas son todas las fechas de la gira:

10 de mayo Madrid (Wurlitzer Ballroom)

11 de mayo Benidorm (Rockstar)

12 de mayo Alicante (Sala Stereo) + Vera Green

13 de mayo Toledo (Matadero Lab)

THE INTERVIEW

We like a lot the sound of Jason Samonik in these new songs "Strangest Part" and "She's Alone".  advance from your next album. It sounds to mature electronic, immersive rock and evocative pop sound, and the result is elegant and precious.... How do you think that your music has evolved in these songs?

For most of my life I have done primarily electronic driven music with electronic beats. With this new batch of tunes I decided to incorporate live drums and many musicians for the live shows.  I used to do just one man shows with all synthesizers so the evolution has really been about the live shows and bigger multi musician performance.

What motivated this sound in Jason Samonik? What are or have been your most direct influences when making music?

My first influence is sound. When I write a song I first start with some sort sound or beat. I kinda of write the opposite from most song writers. I start with rhythms and sounds to figure out the tempo and feel with what's going on, and then I listen and I start to hear what the bass and drums could be... and then all the melodic structures start appearing in my mind. I use a lot of analog delays to create complex textures as a bed in order to prove more melodies in my head. The simple answer is sound.

What are your expectations with your next album? What do you expect from this album?

My number one hope is always simple...That people feel my music in some special way and then express that back to feed the creative cycle. This can be expressed simply as a smile from someone in the crowd or everyone dancing. I never have expectations sales wise... just in the way that my music moves people.

What do we will see and enjoy in your live concerts?

Big energy! BIG! I really want every show to be as expressive as possible. I believe my music is powerful on the recordings, and I want the live performances to be as large as the EP!  Big and Emotional!  Sound that makes people feel.

Is this your first time in Spain? What do you think about the Spanish crowd? What do expect from them?

I have toured in Spain before. Spain has a very special place in my heart! i LOVE the people and have dear friends here! Spanish crowds are awesome! Very expressive. I love how people in Spain really go for it at all musical concerts.

What are your plans for this current year 2017 and next 2018? We assume that you will touring around clubs and festivals. Can you advance anything to us? Any important event? When will be available the full Ep to public?

The EP has been finished for a while and we will be releasing it very soon! The plan is to have a full reworked album of some current songs and many new songs. We will be back in Spain to perform the Low Festival in July, (We are VERY excited about that!) and then we'll be back in the fall to do a much longer European tour covering many countries. All i can think about is getting back to Brooklyn and writing new music! I already have about 15 songs for the album but I would like to write another 10 solid songs before I choose what will be on the Album for fall.

Do you think the digital world will end with music as we know it today? What do you think is the future of music?

What makes me sad is how nowadays you purchase a music application and it comes with preassembled sounds, instruments, and beats... It takes SO little effort to make music. This takes away from originality. This is way American EDM music has become so lifeless/soulless. It's just the same exact sounds done in the same exact format. I love to hear new sounds that I have not heard before.  Digital applications care more about sales then creativity these days.  I love analog and digital music because they both are so powerful with what can be done. I mix both mediums when i make music, but I like most of the source music to begin as analog. The Digital world is amazing for editing and a lot of creativity can happen this way too!  So again its the about using the best of both.

What is your best memory about music?

My best influential music memory was seeing Depeche Mode live when I was a child. for the Violator Tour. Nitzer Ebb opened up for them and the power of the unique electronic sound and theatrical moodiness of the music was my heaven! I still remember how i felt that day! Electronic music became my life.

How is a normal day in the life of a member of Jason Samonik?

I live in Brooklyn New York. I usually wake up, work out, get caught up on non music work and then ride my bike over to my recording studio called the Brooklyn Music Kartel and disappear in the studio until very late at night. I still DJ on the weekends but if I don't have a DJ gig I love to go to underground warehouse parties with loud techno/house music. :)

What do you think about the current economic and social situation in Spain, U.S.A., Europe and in the World in general?

That's a very long and complex answer that I am not able to fully answer at this moment.

SAMONIK

Strangest Part (2017)

MISCELLANY 

Could you tell us about...

... A book?: 

"A Impersonal Life" by Joseph Benner

... A movie?: 

"A Waking life"

... A song?: 

"Ceremony" New Order

... An album?: 

"Songs of Faith and Devotion" Depeche Mode

... A group or soloist?: 

Hm...

... A hobby?: 

Riding my fixed gear bicycle (that has no brakes) very fast through heavy Brooklyn traffic. This way I do not miss my motorcycle as much that i have stored in Wisconsin.

Thank you very much. Best wishes from Spain, and congratulations for your music.

THANK YOU!!!!!!