Emjae handles ‘Heartache’ in 2008

Emjae handles ‘Heartache’ in 2008

12 January, 2008 | 9.34AM

• Section: Music News
• Written by: kavehsoroush

Brandnewvibe Recordings interview with Boston based producer Emjae about his January 15th release ‘Can You Handle It’ (featuring the Audiojack rmx) and his new labor of love, his Heartache project.

The full length artist album which will be coming out later this year. 

With the new year finally here, and producers and labels beginning another year of defining their sound, one producer is determined to push his artistic boundaries to a whole new level.

Boston’s Emjae, who began his foray into the limelight with the release of his Midnight Express EP [Release Records] in 2005, followed up with productions on some of the world’s most prestigious imprints: Curvve, Alternative Route, Little Mountain, Lost Language, and Hooj Choons, is set to release his first single of the new year of on Washington DC based label Brandnewvibe Recordings. 

With tracks in the arsenal of some of the world’s biggest DJ’s including Sasha, Digweed, Kleinenberg, and long time champions Desyn Masiello, and Steve Porter, the release ‘Can You Handle It’ is set to bring Emjae’s name to a brand new audience.

Featuring remixes from Russian rising star, J-Soul, and the never disappointing UK duo, Audiojack, the release has already garnered the support of James Zabiela, Jody Wisternoff, Paolo Mojo, Miles Dyson, John Gurd, Wally Lopez, Eelke Kleijn, Dave Robertson, Mike Hiratzka, and Jamie McHugh, among others.

We had the great opportunity to sit down with Emjae to learn more about this exciting new venture.

We also got to hear his thoughts on club music, past and present.

BNV: Some people might say there is a ‘sound’ associated with producers from a certain place - do you think there is a sound that is particularly unique to American dance producers?

EMJAE: As we all know, house music originated from the cities of Detroit and Chicago, with producers/DJs like Marshall Jefferson, Larry Levan, Frankie Knuckles, and Farley Jackmaster Funk, taking all the best parts of disco music and blending them into a pumping, synth heavy, vocal chopped, piece of dance-floor heat. I still believe that the mentality of taking the best bits and pieces of various musical styles and genres is what makes American producers special. Is there an American sound?  Well yes…and that is the sound of every record played at every club in the world.  Take a look at Steve Porter, Armand Van Helden, Bad Boy Bill, Danny T, Carl Craig, Claude Von Stroke, DJ Shadow, DJ Icey, Tommie Sunshine...what sound do all these American artists and DJs have in common?  NOTHING—except banging dance music!

BNV: Who are some of your musical influences? And who are some producers whose work you admire at the moment?

EMJAE: LIFELIKE, Kris Menace, Justice, MSTRKRFT, Digitalism, Felix the Housecat, and Chromeo.

BNV: Which producers would you like to collaborate with in the future?

EMJAE: Probably Chromeo...these guys have it all right: fun, funky dance music with a whole lotta soul.

BNV: What are some of the staple hardware/software components in your studio that you rely on?

EMJAE: I use Ableton Live running various soft synths by Arturia, and GMedia, coupled with a Moog Little Phatty, Roland Juno 106, Roland Super Jupiter, and a Korg Poly 61.  I love all the flexibility associated with soft synths, but cherish the warmth and unpredictability of old analog gear.

BNV: As a producer, how do you feel about DJing?

EMJAE: I LOVE it.  What would dance music be without DJs?  DJing is my first love.  There is nothing more satisfying than standing in front of a crowd of anxious people, playing music you love—losing all sense of time and troubles.

BNV: As some people may or may not know, you have an artist album due out in the first half of 2008.  What can listeners expect - perhaps those that are already familiar with your body of work and those who are not?

EMJAE: I have been working on this album on and off for the past year…and it is really coming along nicely.  It is quite a departure from my usual “club” sound and focuses more on sound design, production trickery, and pure filth.  As a result, I will be releasing it under a new alias of mine, HEARTACHE (www.myspace.com/hisheartache).  This new wave of “blog” house has really caught my attention and has inspired me to create this album.  Producers like Soulwax, Justice, Boyz Noize, MSTRKRFT, Digitalism, and Alan Braxe have really played a part to shape this LP. What their music is doing to dance-floors and to the dance community as a whole is simply amazing.  Uniting rock, punk, disco, rap, and soul into one groove is my passion. There will be 2 CD’s – the first will include all originals and the second will be all remixes. On the second CD, expect remixes from Kris Menace, LIFELIKE, Don Diablo, Mashtronic, Nino Anthony, BlendBrank, Island9, Chris Micali, Steve Porter, Eli Wilkie as Agent 001, Bon Johnson, and Emjae.

[BNV] Interview by Kaveh Soroush, Brandnewvibe Recordings, 2008 for Beatportal.

• (0) Comments
• (208) Views
• Check out Emjae on Beatport