http://www.myspace.com/africaforyou
Egyptrixx’s bio says his music is “a shifting balance between melodic and dissonant, rapturous and antisocial.” Now magazine says it’s “dirty, sleazy bass-heavy club beats.” So I wondered, what the hell does that actually sound like? I checked out his new EP, Battle for North America, and had a quick chat to find out. Along the way, I got a few more questions answered, too.
By Kristin Kent
KK: How’d you come up with Egyptrixx?
Egyptrixx: It’s kind of an inexplicable explanation. I played in a punk band a few years ago called Africa. It was never a real band; it was more of a bedroom/garage type of thing. The name Africa came out of heavy conversations with friends and then Egyptrixx just popped into my head one day, I think after a nap.
KK: Well, sometimes the best ideas come after a good sleep.
Egyptrixx: That’s so true. Plato did all of his thinking in bed.
KK: Are you comparing yourself to Plato?
Egyptrixx: Only in that the idea came to me in bed. Not that it’s a great or earth-shattering idea, but that’s where it came from. So yes, I guess I am comparing myself to Plato.
KK: So how about your EP, Battle for North America? Where does the inspiration come from?
Egyptrixx: I come up with a lot of melodies on the piano. And then it’s about transferring things from there, building a song from what I’ve just played.
KK: What do you think your sound sounds like? Odd question, I know.
Egyptrixx: It’s equally informed by techno music, house, more melodic-type stuff, pop music I suppose, and there’s an experimental component. As to what it really sounds like, I don’t know. Best I can do is tell you what it’s inspired by.
KK: Is there such thing as a Toronto-specific sound?
Egyptrixx: I don’t think so, not at all. And that’s probably why music coming out of Toronto is really interesting. If you go to cities like London, (UK), Paris, San Francisco, L.A., electronic music scenes congregate around certain nights. Toronto really doesn’t have those nights. I feel like everyone is off in their own home studios making whatever pops into their brains. Subsequently, there is no cohesion, there is no characteristic Toronto sound, but I think that’s actually a good thing.
KK: You switched from decks to live performance, why?
Egyptrixx: I’ve always been interested in playing my own music, as opposed to presenting other people’s music. Being a DJ, there’s always a level of expectation and a certain set of responsibilities. I don’t have a cataloguing brain or a massive collection of music. I’m more obsessed with my own stuff.
KK: What’s your ultimate gig?
Egyptrixx: I grew up playing in bands in basements. So I guess it would be a basement in Etobicoke with an 80,000 sound system and 40 of my closest friends.
Tags: Music