What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.
I was inspired to start making music after listening to Depeche Mode’s Speak and Spell album. Kraftwerk’s Trans Europe Express was also a major inspiration for making music.
Provide us with some info about your latest release…
Night Riders is a dark synth-pop song that encapsulates the feeling of going on an adventure that pushes one slightly outside of their own comfort zones. Like traveling abroad alone and learning a new language as you go.
Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?
My main musical influences would be the MTV driven Second British Invasion with bands like Duran Duran, The Eurythmics, Soft Cell and New Order. As for non-musical influences, the fashion of the 80’s, like the Doc Martens shoes, as well as the video games of that decade have really shaped my identity as a person and musician.
In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?
My sound comes from within me as an artist first and foremost. And while I’m heavily influenced by the synth-pop/new wave bands from the late 70’s and early to mid 80’s, I always write from what feels right in my soul; not what the public thinks is hip at the time. My sound is rather disciplined and structured-think Kraftwerk-with an emphasis on the drums, bass and melody. The soundscapes are created to suit the song; nothing more nothing less.
Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…
Albums: Yaz-Upstarts At Eric’s, a-ha-Hunting High and Low and Duran Duran-Rio.
Movies: The Neverending Story, Top Gun, and Back To The Future.
Books: The Düsseldorf School of Electronic Music by Rudy Esch, Mastering The Art of French Cooking by Julia Childs and Easy French Step-by-Step by Myrna Bell Rochester.
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?
I prefer working on the studio because I like to be living the whole process of the recording from start to finish. I do like to perform live too! Who wouldn’t like the excitement of preforming live in front of hundreds of people? But, I prefer the studio environment. There, you can tweak and make as many corrections as you need before the track goes out to the public world. And there are many things you can do in the studio that you can’t do live like layering different instrument parts to create the whole soundscape especially with electronic music.
Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?
Yes, I have a funny story. One time I was performing at an open-mic night at a small bar/club in North Hollywood and I remember it was a track that sounded like a slowed-down drum and bass track. Anyhow, one of the members in the audience seemed to have a hard time dancing to my track . When the song came to an abrupt ending, he tripped and fell and all his friends laughed with him! He was ok though.
Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?
Honestly, I feel this track, Night Riders, is the most unique track I’ve done. First of all, there are no drums in it. I didn’t feel the need for it. There is so much going on with the bass and rhythm parts that I wanted to leave room for the vocals to really shine in an atmospheric way. It’s a dark-ethereal piece of music. The pictures that I’ve seen online of the Black Forest in Germany at night have been a big inspiration for this song.
Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?
My future plans are to keep releasing singles this year so I can make an album for a release next fall!
Free question!!! (Ask yourself a question) you wish to answer and haven’t been given the opportunity…
Why the name Fashion Invasion for the band?
I like the name Fashion Invasion because it symbolizes the Second British Invasion like I had mentioned before and fashion. But, not just in clothes, but in trends like music and pop culture.
Photo credits: Dianna Hartman
Curated by: Christos Doukakis
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