This week i interviewed Cosmic Sand, a name that has been featured on Metalectro numerous times with his tracks. Cosmic Sand is from Portugal and he recently had his “Back To The Moonlight Sonata” EP released, on the 20th of August by Jet Set Trash. So, I thought it would be a good time to get hold of him for an interview… Let’s find out what he has to say about his EP, influences and plans for the near future…
01. Hi Jose! Would you mind introducing yourself?
Well, my real name is José Pedro Barbosa, an 18 year old guy who lives in Porto (Portugal) and loves producing music! I guess there’s not much to add since the next questions will cover up pretty much everything about me or Cosmic Sand.
02. How long have you been doing Cosmic Sand and how would you describe your music?
I started Cosmic Sand about 1 year and 2 months ago. Cosmic Sand is all about the classical aspects of music put together with the trash electronic sound that can easily be found nowadays. Some people think that it is impossible to combine Electro with Orchestral stuff. Well, I really like all those baroque orchestral stuff as much as I like all this Electro Trash basslines, so I decided to combine everything I love about music and see what it would sound like.
03. Apparently I just found out you are also involved in a side project, Monolift. Would you mind telling us a few things about it and what should the readers who will check it out expect to listen?
Monolift is a side project that me and my brother created and it’s not connected really with Cosmic Sand. Monolift is about experimenting with sounds and effects, some people might find it connected with a recent sub genre called “Witch House, Drag or even Screw Gaze” but we label our music as OKKVLT (occult) because that’s how we feel it sounds like and we don’t like to label it on a certain genre. Monolift is a way for us to express ourselves through sound, a way of feeling completely free to do whatever we want with sounds and not fixing our music to a certain genre. We use creativity as our weapon. If you like some new experimental stuff then you should check out our official Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/MONOLIFT
We are going to release our first EP at the 15th of September and it will be free to download.
04. Besides Cosmic Sand and Monolift, you also express your creativity in other ways. You’ve been doing quite a few designs and cover art, any that the readers might have seen or know of?
Yeah, I’m doing a degree at Communication Design and I’ve already designed Cover art’s and Logos for artists such as Metalectro, F2U Dj’s, Skanek, the Dubstep duo Right Click and of course Cosmic Sand and Monolift. I’ve got loads of requests but time isn’t something that waits and since University is a priority right now, I’m not accepting design requests for the time being. You can check out my design work at http://www.facebook.com/project2992
05. You are a big fan of classical music obviously, judging from your “Back To The Moonlight Sonata” re-creation and by listening to your tracks in general. Who and what would you say are your biggest influences that helped you shape the Cosmic Sand sound and style?
From the classical side, Bach, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven were my biggest influences. From the Electronic scene, Justice, DATA, Sebastian, Dj Mehdi, Busy P, Mr. Oizo and Huoratron are the ones that brought me into this style and inspired me to create this project.
06. What is your biggest music achievement/highlight so far and what would you say is your most embarrassing moment? In regard to music always…
I would have to say that so far my biggest achievement in regard to music was getting my tracks released!
I’ve never had an embarrassing moment really as Cosmic Sand… Probably because it’s a recent project or maybe because Cosmic Sand just can’t get embarrassed… hehehehe.
07. You are working on a few new tracks at the moment, some originals and some remixes as far as I know. Would you mind telling us what they are and when should we expect to listen to them?
Yeah, I’m making a remix for GorFLsh – Grindclub, and I’m also preparing a new EP! Get ready because some massive tunes are on the way!
08. On the new EP you are collaborating with A Girl & A Gun if I’m correct? Would you mind sharing some more info about it with us? What’s the title and how many tracks will be on it?
I spoke with Sophia (A Girl and A Gun) who by the way is just awesome and she loved the idea for the track, so she decided to help me out by adding some vocals! The track is still work in progress and I can’t give away any more details yet…
It will be 1 of the 2 originals on EP, titled “From The Other Side”. The remixers are still to be confirmed so I can’t release much info on this either but you will soon know more about it!
09. Will there be any remixes on it and if yes, can you tell us by whom?
As I said on the previous question, there are still remixers to be confirmed… 3 of them have already confirmed so far but I can guarantee you’ll know them well! hehehe
10. You have developed a very specific sound and style, in your most recent productions at least. Many string sections and orchestral parts mixed with the electro trash sound. Is the new EP going to be based upon this recipe as well or should we expect any surprises?
One of my originals is like an Orchestral Symphony pushed to the limits, where you feel all those Epic instruments and phat Trash basslines like in no other track I’ve done so far. The one I’m working with A Girl And A Gun has got more of a trash distortion feeling and still gets all the melodic basslines plus vocals from AGAG that will make you guys drop unconscious!
11. Besides A Girl & A Gun, who else would you dream about working with?
Well, I’m going to collaborate with some great artists in the upcoming EP and you will soon get to know who they are.
I’d definitely dream to work with Justice, Danger, Data and much more… but who wouldn’t?
11. Do you prefer working only with computers/sequencers or do you get your hands dirty playing and recording instruments? Do you use samples and what’s your opinion on sampling and copyright?
I actually use a midi keyboard and my productions are almost all made with virtual synths. At the end of this year I’ll be finally getting some new live performance hardware and some massive studio synths.
I’m not much of a sampling/micro sampling producer but I think it’s great to see artists use something that is externally recorded and make something creative with it.
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out this kid rocking the Launchpad! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTx3G6h2xyA
Or Kolt13 dominating micro sampling on his remix of Subdue‘s Horizon! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwvtyU6Focs
12. So, what is music for you and what do you think about the way the music industry is changing?
Music is a way of life. The way people react to different situations is reflected by the music they listen to.
So what I mean is that music gives us motivation and stimulates our brain being almost like a vicious drug that you will never be able to get away from.
About the music industry, I actually haven’t got words to describe it. Music industry only works for major labels that release mainstream music for the masses. This generation is the one that will turn music industry completely upside down, making plastic music sell fast and what is really good getting to fade away in history. People nowadays, mostly teenagers, should be listening to historical composers and real artists/ producers and not all this fake music singers and producers. The music industry is not what it used to be anymore.
13. Any comments about today’s mainstream music? Do you agree with Haezer’s “Commercial Music Is Dead”?
I wish HAEZER was right but there will always be mainstream and there will always be people trying to hear what they think it’s cool to hear and not what they like.
14. Do you believe that an electronic music artist can earn his/her living from music nowadays?
Known artists nowadays can probably live from gigs and touring but unless they are like Justice or Daft Punk they cannot live just from sales (EP’s, Albums, Merch, etc).
15. You did also play in one or two festivals this summer if I’m not mistaken, do you have any shows coming up anytime soon and how can someone book you for one?
Yeah, I will be probably playing this October with WASA3I here in Portugal.
Promoters can use this email “info.umf@gmail.com” (UMF Agency) to book me for Portugal. For Bookings outside Portugal I can be reached at this email: thecosmicsand@gmail.com
16. What are you listening to lately? Any tracks/artists you recommend?
Yeah sure, these are some of the tunes I’ve been listening to lately: X-†!NΛ /// U L0S† MΞ (BLΛCK RΛ!NB0VV VERSION), Russ Chimes – Targa, Justice – Audio, Video, Disco, FOOL – Krieg
17. What do you like doing when not in the studio producing music?
I really like surfing (Body Board) and aggressive inline. In my spare time I also like to think of what I’ll produce next… hehehe
18. What do you think about the Metalectro blog and the music featured on it? Should we expect to listen to any track(s) from you for the competition we launched last week?
Metalectro was the first international blog I started following! Hell yeah, it’s not only a blog that promotes artists by promoting their music but what I really enjoy is the unique description that you give to each track you promote. It’s simply awesome!
If I get enough time I’ll sure give it a try in that competition!
19. Anything else you’d like to mention and we forgot to ask?
Just keep on listening to my music. Some great news are on the way soon and to celebrate my 500 “Likes”, i’ll be upgrading my Soundcloud page so stay tuned!
I also want to thank Metalectro for all the support!