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Miami Encode Interview with Addi Stefansson & Electroblaze – lets talk with these artist and find out more about their music, life and more…
How would you present/describe your work to someone who doesn’t know you?
EB: I build from a groove of different instruments and tones with a nice 4 on the Floor Kick and then continue to build on it.
The way depends entirely on my mood and I like to get carried away during the production. I pay less attention to so-called “rules” or usual “structures” and just follow my intuition.
Addi: Funk and jazz inspired House & Deep House.
And your last record? How was it born? And where do you want it to lead?
EB: We have a really good weekly jam session here in Wiesbaden where I am often a guest.
Janet Taylor was on stage asking the audience for tips for the Corona-battered musicians when I happened to have my Tascam recorder at the ready. that was the birth of “Tip Jar”.
I worked on it for some time and then sent it back and forth with my buddy “Addi. ” From him came the deep house influences.
Just the fact of releasing a joint track on my label, as a result of our established friendship, is a huge gain.
Addi: The last record is a collaboration project between myself and Electroblaze. But the concept is basically turning a jam session into a full track and combining our different styles.
What message would you like to convey to the public?
EB: Everyone can make good music these days. Away from big labels and vitamin B. Since you are loyal, since independent and don’t let yourself be bent. Be Real and work hard.
Addi: That collaboration often leads to results that you don’t end up with while creating something on your own. Also that many artists are still struggling due to the pandemic and need support. The vocals featured on the tracks are about that.
How do you make music? What is most important for you?
EB: I make music intuitive. Mostly kick and groove comes first and then I build on it. The way can always be another. I often use my own recordings from the microphone or field recorder for my productions.
A lot of my vocals and also the percussion structure I do myself and you can hear me in some of my tracks. It is always important to contribute my personal style.
Addi: I produce on my laptop. Sometimes completely in the box and sometimes with hardware gear synced to Ableton. That gives you a bit more freedom to tweak stuff around with your hands which is different than just using a computer. A balance between both is good. And I don’t think too much about the end result, just focus on the present moment while creating.
Is there a unifying concept behind your art?
EB: No, not really. I am rather too free spirit and emotional to always follow a certain concept.
Addi: I’ve worked on projects with clear concepts behind them in electronic music that demonstrate a clear context between the motive, method and idea but it doesn’t apply to everything I’ve worked on though.
What makes you unique?
EB: My positive attitude to life.
Addi: I’m a nature child. I grew up in Iceland which has some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet. We have dark winters and bright summers with the midnight sun. I have also lived in the Alps mountains for most of my adult life. The dramatic and spectacular scenery has always been an integral part of my life. A driving force that motivates and inspires my creative spark. I like to think of my music, my creative output as an extension of the force that nature provides me and hope to pass this connection along to people with my music and hopefully they will feel a similar force as I do. Or
they will feel it in their own way which is even better. In the end, each and every one of us has their own perception of our surroundings and that makes all of us unique.
As for your studio, what is it currently composed of?
EB: Having moved dozens of times over the last few years, I have a very small setup consisting of near field monitors, headphones, audio interface, midi controller and a small synth for basslines.
I work a lot with field recordings and record musicians or myself via microphones and use the material in various ways.
Addi: A Macbook Pro with Ableton, Roland TR-8 drum machine, Korg Minilogue, Behringer TD-3,Akai APC 40, M-Audio code 25 MIDI keyboard, a Mackie 1403 VLZ Pro hardware mixer and my Fender Stratocaster. I have a number of guitar pedals and I use a lot of Vst and stock plugins as well.
What is the one instrument you would never get rid of, no matter what?
EB: Definitely my voice. Myself, then, I would claim.
Addi: My electric guitar. Even though I don’t use it in all my productions. That’s where my music journey started so it’s staying.
Do you have hope for the future of music? How would you like the future of the music industry to be?
EB: Of course, without hope we would be lost. I would like to see consumer behavior slow down a bit.
More albums instead of 3-4min tracks and to pay more attention to the music itself instead of online performances and the surrounding. And of course fair payment.
Addi: Yes I do have hope for the future of music. There are so many brilliant musicians and producers out there. I just would like to see people getting the opportunities they deserve and be treated fairly.
Can you reveal some future projects to us?
EB: Anyway, there will be another release of my techno project “CREB ds” this year and by summer next year an “Electroblaze” EP that will go more towards minimal again.
Addi: I’m working on a couple of EP’s I plan to release in 2023
What makes you happy?
EB: Good music and loving people.
Addi: Spending time with my family. The important things in life. Love.
What bothers you?
EB: Arrogance and egoism.
Addi: Dishonesty
