Welcome to Magazine Sixty, Alex and Andrew. Let’s start with the launch of your new label: Perpetual Collective. Can you tell us about the meaning behind the name, its philosophy and why this particular moment feels like a good time to be launching a record label?
Yeah sure, the name came from the back of an idea where a collective had been created individually or from other artist’s that want to be part of this and was building up in many forms and Perpetual meaning always a continual progress.
Your initial release: 001 features two tracks. Can you talk us through how you produced one of them, including any favourite software/ hardware you like to use?
The process with making these tracks are quite straight forward in fact, which is quite nice about our collaborative projects. In terms of how they were made we collected and recorded found sounds, to mostly working in the box. There was a couple of recordings we used for synths and running this through a very old TASCAM mixer but we are quite fortunate to have access to some great software like UAD Plugin’s in particular.
Both tracks feel very contemporary (not nostalgic) and both are rich in emotion. What for you is most important in Dance Music besides being something to dance too? Can dance music/ club culture change society in any meaningful way?
Yeah that’s a fair observation, feel the reason they are rich in emotion is due to both of us having a very mixed variety when it comes to our own experiences within Music. Dance Music / Club Culture for sure can work in a meaningful way than just something to dance too but maybe of late due to so much access with the internet people may find it more difficult to pin point what music they like as it has become so broad. Which in some cases can potentially make it less meaningful?
Alex, you’re a member of the BPS (British Psychological Society). Can you tell us how you feel psychology can benefit people in the modern age – is it how people function in themselves or the way they react to society that causes distress? Can you also tell us about your fascinating series of podcasts, The U-Turn?
Big question, yeah absolutely as time moves and in my opinion understanding human behaviour more so and why we work the way we do, and at least gaining more understanding and knowledge around this is key that’s psychology really in a nutshell, a science of human behaviour. Society plays a fundamental part, but more so it’s about the individual and their choices that causes potentially the most distress.
Thanks, regarding the podcast, it’s something way back when podcasts started I was always keen to do one and through a difficult time in 2018 I jumped straight into it and just pressed record (quite liberally) and talked about these certain subjects. Now into Season 3 I’ve been interviewing people, mainly in relation to Music and experiences around this. I have a lot more ideas on where I’d like to to go now further into my Psychology studies, so let’s see where it takes us!
Andrew, you also produce as Rene Wise. Tell us about what you are currently working on, and what it’s like to collaborate with someone else, how does that work in practical terms? Can you also tell us about your involvement with the 100 years of Colombia project?
That’s correct. My Rene Wise project has been something I’ve worked on for quite a few years now and has been my primary solo alias for a while. I don’t find the aspect of collaborating whilst maintaining a solo project to be that difficult to be honest. Although, sometimes a lot of my time is taken up by Rene Wise activities. The 100 years of Colombia project was actually founded by Icelandic techno legend Exo’s and my agent. Exo’s is a part of my agency, so we are a big team and I was honoured to be a part of the compilation!
Outside of Dance Music who are your most important influences?
My father played a big role in my musical growth. He got me into playing the drums from a very young age, as he was a professional drummer throughout his life. That early experience of learning about rhythm definitely helped form the type of music I make today.
What changes would you like to see in club culture/ music as a result of the effects of Covid-19
The pandemic exposed how fragile club culture and artists lives really are… Everything can be taken away in an instant. I think clubs and organisers have a great opportunity to put more focus on booking local / upcoming talent. Its less risk and less stress to book local at the moment, due to the recurring travel restrictions and I think it’s what the industry needs. However, since clubs and festivals have come back, most of the line ups and booking strategies seem to be nothing new. So, I guess it’s hard to change the way the wheel turns in this machine, even after a global pandemic… But hopefully the future will be brighter!
And finally. What are you most looking forward to in the coming months?
Gigs are slowly starting to come back, which is reassuring and exciting and I’m also enjoying just being in the studio and making music again. I hope everything continues to get better and we can gradually enjoy our lives like before!
Buy https://alexovermusic.bandcamp.com/track/compass
Buy https://alexovermusic.bandcamp.com/track/tides
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