Hell-o all and despite being a bit of a hard week for us in terms of blogging due to some technical difficulties (for which we blame Justin Bieber – only kidding obviously) we’re back and about to wrap up the week up with an interview and some of this week’s special guest artist favorite tracks, which he picked to be featured here for you to check. As for this week’s special guest artist, he’s one that has been featured here many times since the very early days of this blog and one whose loud bass has been making us bang and bounce for about 3 years now. With a new EP out a couple of weeks ago on SectionZ Records and plenty of things to talk about, here is KATFYR, so read on to find out what makes this bass machine tick!
01. Hi Jay! Would you mind introducing Katfyr?
Hello, there! KATFYR — which is pronounced “cat fire” for those who might be wondering — is a project which began in the summer of 2008 and has since become my full-time job. It basically covers any possible genre as long as what I end up making meets the project’s defining characteristics — punchy beats, aggressive bass-lines and melodic hooks. Also cat stuff.
02. You grabbed our attention a very long time ago with “Joint”, an older track and personal favorite of mine and then came a few both official and unoffical remixes for Celldweller, Katy Perry a collaboration with Klaypex and more. Which would you say was the track that helped you define the Katfyr sound as we know it today?
KATFYR – Joint
My remix of Katy Perry’s ‘E.T.’, which was my first true venture into dubstep, was definitely a turning point for the project and set the foundation for what KATFYR is today.
Katy Perry – E.T. (KATFYR Dubstep Remix)
03. What are your main influences/music background and what or who might have played a role in shaping your sound?
I don’t really have any direct influences — as in certain artists that I try to emulate on purpose — but there are a lot of projects, from a very wide stylistic spectrum, that have inspired me over the years. The Prodigy is definitely up there on the list and is, perhaps, the one more closely related to KATFYR.
My favorite producer of all-time is Yasutaka Nakata, best known for being the man behind Perfume, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu and Capsule. I’ve included a few tributes to his work on a couple of my songs but am yet to find someone who has noticed them. They are supposed to be subtle, so I’m not surprised.
I’m also a huge fan of a Japanese band called Boom Boom Satellites, have a sweet spot for baroque composers — Vivaldi and Bach in particular —, listen to a lot of classic rock — Toto, Chicago — jazz-fusion — Casiopea, T-Square —, always keep Deftones, Tool and Korn on my iPhone and am a die-hard video-game soundtrack admirer — Kohta Takahashi (Namco), Masato Nakamura and Yuzo Koshiro (Sega), just to name a few.
04. You have been doing quite a few remixes, official and free, with Owl Vision’s “Moloch” being one of my favorites, as well as original tracks. Do you prefer writing originals or remixing and why?
Owl Vision – Moloch (KATFYR Remix)
I enjoy doing both but definitely prefer making original music. Remixing is interesting in a sense that you can take someone else’s concept, reinvent it and end up with — at least in my case — a practically brand new track in the end. But nothing beats starting from scratch and telling your own story. It’s also interesting to have other people remixing your songs. Same as I’ve already mention before, but in reverse.
05. There has been a noticeable difference in your sound between the earlier KATFYR tracks, like “Nonversation” or “Joint” and your latest work. Should we expect from Kartfyr to returning to the old sound again at any point?
KATFYR – Nonversation
I am definitely planning on bringing back my signature distorted guitar bass sound, as well as some of my other sounds that were used through most of those older productions. Those will, however, be adapted to my current style, so it will be somewhat different but still totally kick ass (I hope).
06. Are you involved in any other projects or do you produce music only as KATFYR?
At the moment, I’m juggling four projects. KATFYR — I guess you already know that one) —, a new project with one of my best friends which will debut later this year — very EDM oriented —, Axion — a K-Pop production unit with two other producers — and a personal side project focused on very relaxing music — which will also be debuting soon. I also produce scores for commercials and TV every now and then.
07. What would you say is your biggest music achievement/highlight so far and what your most embrassing/worst musical moment?
Best moment: my first show in Japan, opening for Crystal Castles back in 2011. It was a dream come true just to be in Japan, so you can imagine that actually performing there alongside a big name like Crystal Castles definitely felt out of this world. There were some other great moments; like having Armin van Buuren play one of my tracks — from my old trance project — on his A State of Trance radio show, and also the torrent of feedback I’ve gotten after my remix of ‘E.T.’ went ‘viral’.
Worst moment: my first concert at age 15. I was a drummer in a band called Furball (the cat love is strong with this one) and in our first ever gig my kick drum pedal broke after the first song. I was already nervous but had to stand up and pause the concert. Cured me of stage fright forever, tho. Guess it wasn’t that bad.
08. Did you ever play in a rock/metal/punk band and which is your favorite rock/metal/punk album?
I used to play drums in a band called Furball. We were kind of hard-rock/nu-metal, which was the sound of the time. My favorite albums are Deftones’ ‘White Pony’, Tool’s ‘Ænima’ and Korn’s ‘Life is Peachy’.
09. 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 love hardware and fiddling with old synths, but when it comes to actual production I only need my computer, DAW and plug-ins. No cables, no fuss. Only magic. Sampling is okay in my book if credit is given where credit is due and if the song doesn’t live off sampling alone. I do cringe when I listen to releases that blatantly use construction kits or pre-made MIDI melodies (I’m looking at you, EDM producers). If you’re not even making an effort to create your own songs, why bother being a producer to begin with?
As for copyrights — again — if credit is given where credit is due I believe it’s all fair game. The interests of artists should always be upheld, but music is an art form — for the most part — so I feel it shouldn’t be treated as a static, patented formula.
10. If your studio was on fire what would be the first thing to save?
My cats.
11. What is music for you and what do you think about the way the music industry is changing?
Music is the one true universal language. Everyone understands music, no matter where you’re from or what the way you’ve been brought up. I believe that the electronic music industry is changing and becoming more aware of the uncontrollable flood of mediocrity that has been prevalent since the massification of music distribution. The result is a fork in the road where those who sound exactly like everyone else and are in it for the instant gratification go one way and have their own target demographic, and the others who strive to keep reinventing and develop genres and themselves go a separate way and have their own fans to tend to. It’s all fair game, tho. I have nothing against anyone as long as I can keep doing my thing and eating copious amounts of donuts.
12. How hard is it for an electronic music artist to earn his/her living from music nowadays?
Very hard. Like in pretty much every art form, you’re either a struggling artist or you’re very, very well off. There rarely is a grey area between those two, and when there is it’s almost always temporary — you’re either on your way up or on your way down your career. Most artists make a living out of their live performances, and that’s okay. You get to travel all over the world, show your music to people who are right there in front of you and then go back home to spend a couple months locked inside your studio geeking out in front of your computer making new songs. It’s not a bad way to surf the wave of life.
13. If you could pick any artist to collaborate and spend some time in the studio with, who would would that be and why?
Yasutaka Nakata, because he’s my favorite producer of all-time and Boom Boom Satellites because they’re my favorite band of all time.
14. You’ve already played alongside names like Skrillex, Crystal Castles, Tiga, Designer Drugs, Mustard Pimp, Major Lazer and more in Tokyo, New York, Paris and Lisbon among other cities. What would you say is your favorite city to play in or is the “no place like home” saying true in your case?
Every city and country I’ve been to has been amazing. People like to party pretty much anywhere in the world. I do have a thing for Tokyo and am planning to move there next year for a while. It’s just a crazy city with a millions things to do and discover. They also invented cat cafés, so… yeah.
As for home, of course Lisbon is and will always be my city. After 27 years, it kinda grows on you. Go, Benfica!
15. Your debut EP “Here We Go” was released on July 15th on SectionZ Records, what should anyone who hasn’t checked it expect to listen on this EP and is there any other KATFYR release planned for 2013?
KATFYR “Here We Go” EP [Teaser]
“Here We Go” is the first of a couple of releases we’ll see in 2013. It features 3 tracks — ‘Here We Go’, featuring Clinton Sly, is a drumstep/drum-n-bass reggae influenced banger; ‘Green Hill’ is a glitch hop stylistic homage to the classic Sonic the Hedgehog soundtracks composed and produced by Masato Nakamura; and ‘Binary’ is a melodic and powerful dubstep rollercoaster.
16. What other plans do you have for the remaining of 2013? Any tours, videos, remixes, upcoming collaborations? Give our readers something to look forward to…
The next EP is already in the making and is should be out later this summer. As for the rest of the year, there will hopefully be some more touring and a lot of news regarding the project as a whole. I’m working double time with my designer Machine56 as we speak reinventing KATFYR to bring it up to a new level. More on that soon…
17. What’s your honest opinion on the new Daft Punk album?
I enjoyed Get Lucky.
18. How does KATFYR like to spend his time when not in the studio producing music? Any hobbies we should know about?
I watch a lot of TV. Anything from The Simpsons, to Family Guy, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, etc.
I’m also a sim racer. Since I can’t afford to be a real-life racing driver (yet), I have a somewhat elaborate set-up in a purpose-built room so I can practice and participate in online competitions (iRacing, if anyone’s curious). A lot of my free time is spent playing Counter Strike: Global Offensive as well. I am also a die-hard redditor.
19. What do you think about the Metalectro blog and the music featured on it?
The Metalectro blog is the leading vehicle to promote kick ass electro and I check it regularly because I love me some filthy bangers.
20. Anything else you’d like to mention and we forgot to ask?
I have a cat named Midi, another one named Rotchini and it was a pleasure talking to you guys!
KATFYR Choices (5 Favorite Tracks)
As for any of you wondering what some of KATFYR‘s favorite track are in particular, the Portguese bass machine was kind enough to provide us some links of tracks that are definitely on the top his favorites list and he would reccomend checking out. So, here they are and you better check them out if you want to know what tunes power up KATFYR! More from us tomorrow!
01. Capsule – Eternity
02. Perfume – Secret Secret
03. Yellow Magic Orchestra – Rydeen
04. Boom Boom Satellites – Morning After
05. Samuel Barber – Adagio for Strings