DMCWORLD checks in with the Brazilian don as he returns with his brand new album ‘Calibrate’. Packed full of twisting, pummelling, sci-fi tinged dancefloor slayers that touch on subtle komische passages conjuring Jan Schulte, Visible Cloaks and Elysia Crampton as well as Alva Noto, Lorenzo Senni and The Haxan Cloak. We dive in…
Ricardo, a huge welcome to DMCWORLD. Where in the world are you today?
Thank you. I am in an Air France lounge leaving Boston headed to Holland for a second week of tour. I’ve had a few prosecco’s and my alprazolam should be kicking in shortly for the flight so I will try and keep this as coherent as I can.
What is the best piece of new music you have heard this week?
“A List Of Indignities” by Young Hunting – a re-issue technically but new to me.
The upcoming album of yours ‘Calibrate’ seems to take a slightly different approach stylistically than usual, could you talk us through this creative direction and a bit about how the album came about?
I had the worse case of writers block I’ve ever had, it was terrifying. I hadn’t completed any music in about 9 months. “Calibrate” has more of a metal edge I think, purposely. There was a lot of frustration at the time and it came out in the music. I also wanted to explore what an electronic Djent record would look like, so some of the tracks have this really proggy feel.
Your music often has a strong sense of drama and certain cinematic qualities that make for quite emotional listening at times, is this always something you set out to do or is it something you think comes naturally?
Both. It comes very naturally and I set out to exploit it considerably.
Tell us about your year so far, could you talk us through your top 5 highlights?
In no particular order:
1. Touring Russia with Bohren & der Club of Gore
2. Late night karaoke adventures (Moscow & Berlin especially)
3. Delivering an electronic composition workshop at Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain for students in the masters program
4. Release of my ‘pop’ record where i wrote all music & lyrics – ’Human Resources’ by RDTK
5. JetBlue Mosaic status!!
To follow on from that, is there anything in the pipeline that you’re excited about?
There is so much on the list, some of it dating a decade, but they slowly but surely get crossed off the list – here is a taste:
A record of Jobim covers
First Embouchure LP (project utilizing only Middle Eastern scales and tunings)
A symphony
A prog/rock/metal record
The last Scuba Death record
What was the last tune you heard and thought ‘shit, I wish I’d have made that!’?
Queen – Bicycle Race
Do you have any tips on new artists we should be keeping an eye on for next year?
Pierce Warnecke is a great video designer but is an accomplished musician as well – he has some stuff coming out on Raster shortly.
What is a great piece of advice you can give to young producers just starting out?
Take chances, fail repeatedly and find your own voice.
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
Re-Calibrate LP, Summer 2019. Boom.
‘Calibrate’ is out on November 30
www.facebook.com/ricardodonosomusic
