It’s time to kick back, relax, and focus on the music within the new XSPANCE album ‘Melodyheart’. This is background music that demands your full attention. Xspance’s journey-esque structures and evolving arrangements lend a very visual, filmic element to his music as each track becomes a scene in a play, slowly revealing a bigger picture. From the opening shimmering beauty of ‘Sunlight Song’, to the slo-mo synth euphoria of ‘Forever’, this is an engaging aural experience of subtle shades and tones. This isn’t a short trip, this is an expansive adventure – one that can be revisited time and time again and never sounds the same. Just close your eyes and dream…
Interview by Dan Prince
Myles a huge welcome to DMCWORLD. Where in the world are you today?
Hi there, it’s a huge pleasure to be interviewed by DMCWORLD. Where I am today and have been all my life is a town about 25 miles North of London called Hemel Hempstead in the county of Hertfordshire. Not too far from the beautiful countryside and away from the hustle a bustle of London life!
The first piece of music you heard this morning after crawling out of bed?
I usually wait until I leave the house to embark on my commute into London for work before I plug in. I’ve bought some stunning albums recently which I’m constantly toggling between – Ulrich Scnhauss – ‘No Furthur Ahead Than Today’ / Dave DK – ‘Val Maira’ / Max Cooper – ‘Emergence’ / Olafur Arnold – ‘Island Songs’. All four are stunning works of art and definitely the right morning medicine for the day ahead.
You are a graphic designer by day and you taught yourself music production. What love came first, music or design?
I started work as a graphic designer pretty much straight from college just over 20 years ago, but 10 years later I felt my life was missing something, something else on a creative and challenging level. My music tastes were changing too. At that time there was so much brilliant electronic music coming on the scene and that really inspired me to start learning the art of music production. I took to it like a duck to water! As my love for electronic music grew so did my production skills. I remember the overwhelming feeling when I first posted my very first track on Soundcloud and when all the positive comments started to roll in, I knew I had loads to learn but this is what kept me going and kept me wanting to continue to create music.
Well young man, such an exciting time for you right now with the release of your mesmerizing new album ‘Melodyheart’ this week. 12 tracks of absolute musical soundtrack perfection, please tell us about your new musical baby…
Thanks for your kind words about the album… I’m really pleased you liked it, Dan. Although the album came together relatively quickly it’s been waiting in the wings for a while, so of course, I’m very excited to finally get ‘Melodyheart’ out there, and to have it signed and released on Nick Brennan’s (aka Tripswitch) excellent Section Records label was just fantastic, especially as I have been a big fan of Nick’s music since his track ‘Roll Your Own’ appeared on Nick Warren’s ‘GU Paris’ compilation in 2003. The main inspiration behind the album came from my journeys to and from work watching the beautiful morning sunrise visions and the feeling from the distant warmth of the glowing evening sun, the way the sky constantly changes colour and shimmers on the horizon. Those calming, beautiful visions inspired me to create the first track ‘Sunlight Song’, having this overall theme helped to shape all the other tracks from there on in, I wanted to create each piece with melodies that really told a story to warm the heart and touch the soul, hence the title ‘Melodyheart’, but would also work perfectly together creating a beautiful evolving cinematic journey and I’m delighted with the results.
Public Soundcloud Previews: https://soundcloud.com/sectionrecords/sets/xspance-melodyheart-previews
“The best thing I have listened to in a while.” That’s a quote from Barry Jamieson who is of course Sasha’s studio don. It’s quotes like that which make all those long hours worth it right?
To be honest it’s really nice to get any form of feedback from anyone, good or bad, anything negative, you can take it on board, move forward and improve, but it’s a great feeling when I get positive feedback when I have made someone feel something through my music because that is always my intention. I really didn’t expect the amount of superb feedback I received with ‘Melodyheart’, which of course took me by surprise, but I’m not going to lie, getting awesome feedback from these musical mavericks such as Barry Jamieson and D-Nox makes you realise you must be doing something right and all the hard work doesn’t matter one bit!
You have always been a fan of all forms of chilled music, especially orchestral arrangements. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Yes, indeed, I love any kind of music of a downtempo nature which I can really relax to. There are so many forms of chillout music and I’m open to all of them, whether it’s a soundtrack to a film, classical, ambient, electronic, music of a melodic and uplifting form, which can trigger the imagination and emotions… I like music which tells a story, which takes you on a journey, I suppose I draw all my inspiration from a quiet place no matter where… a field, the sky, the stars and the sea…
I understand you want to take up the electric guitar? How do you see this sound fitting into your productions?
Yes, a guitar is indeed the next piece of kit I’m adding to the studio. I used to play folk guitar in my teens and I loved it. Once my teacher had taught me everything she knew, I did the odd show at retirement homes around Hertfordshire entertaining the older folks singing and playing tracks by the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond and many, many more. Sadly, when I went to college the interest seemed to fade away, so I definitely plan to regain those skills, this time however I will be learning classical… I’m not quite sure how I will incorporate the guitar into my future productions, but the aim is to add a new dimension to it. I’m sure it will be a highly creative time for me and I can’t wait!
A famous quote from you. “Producers, if you have the will, your time will come.” Discuss…
Well, possibly a bold statement, but this is how I would explain it. From the moment I knew I wanted to produce my own music, I set myself a goal, and that was to one day release my very own album through a label. I have certainly put in the studio time over the years and got to know the right people but, when you really love what your doing you will naturally be committed to perfecting and shaping your sound. Of course, hard work, believing in yourself, and patience, will help you reach your goals, and one day your time will come.
What is coming out next from you studio wise…?
I plan to release a collaboration album where I worked together with fellow Section Records producer and friend Roberto Sodano aka Audioglider, which we are both super-excited about. I’m also thrilled to be releasing another album on John Johnson’s label NYLO over in NYC, as well as completing the sequel to ‘Melodyheart’. There will also be some remixes and singles emerging throughout the year too, so stay tuned big time.
Before I moved to Ibiza I lived in Little Gaddesden, as a native to the area…is The Alford Arms still amazing????
Ah, great! I’ve been there for a drink several times and yes, it’s one of my favourite country pubs nearbye. I haven’t eaten in there but I’ve heard the food is bloody fantastic! Tell you what Dan, if you’re ever over from Ibiza, let’s go and check it out and I might tell you about ‘Melodyheart No.2’ which is glowing brightly on the horizon.
Deal! And finally, gotta ask… When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked, it must be marvelously low!!
Lol….yeah, I guess I’m as chilled a personality as I am my music! When the pressure is on at work and I have tight deadlines to meet, I’m always one the calm ones in the team, no point stressing it makes those situations far worse! However, the last couple of times I had my blood pressure done it was surprisingly high, I hate hospitals so I tend to get anxious in those places! When I’m in the studio at the weekends, well that’s a totally different story.
Xspance – Melodyheart LP (Section Records) SCTN0026
Out Now: https://www.beatport.com/label/section-records/17851
Xspance Info:
https://soundcloud.com/musicmilo
https://twitter.com/Xspance_music
https://www.facebook.com/musicmilo
Label Info:
https://twitter.com/sectionrecords
