INTERVIEW: APASHE
Meet John, aka, Apashe (pronounced ‘A-pa-she’). A Montreal-based producer and DJ, who just recently released his second album ‘Renaissance’ with Kannibalen Records. Everyone kept asking, ‘how did you get those amazing orchestra sounds!?"‘
Well, turns out the guy quite literally recorded with a real-life orchestra. The album is a combination of bass-heavy music and classical, in a unique fusion that is the sound he’s becoming known for. He’s a pretty rad guy, so we borrowed him for a few words.
Last movie you watched?
Austin Powers Gold Member. This quarantine got me watching some old weird stuff...
Honestly I forgot how much I love the aesthetics of the UK in the 60's and they really represented it well in the movie.
Favourite memory of making the album?
Brainstorming with our production assistant in Moscow for the shooting of 'Uebok'. It was a total joke, we had no idea what to do but we wanted to do the most silly things possible. Everything we asked was easily done. For example: Can we shoot on a tank? Is it possible to bring a bear in an office building and hug him? We were also missing some extras so Instasamka (the rapper) and I just asked our instagram followers to join us dressed in black and about 200 people showed up. Everything about that music video was absurd and it's by far one of my craziest memories of all time.
Least favourite memory or making the album?
When G-Unit's lawyers took down the release of 'Work' with Young Buck. They claimed he wasn't allowed to release any music with other labels while he has other new releases available... We tried to talk to them and bring it back but considering that Young Buck was in prison at the time, he couldn't help and those lawyers have some serious beef with Young buck, so we decided to let it go.
How are you finding quarantine? more time to work on music / connect with fans on line, or can't wait to get back into touring and travelling?
It's a bit bitter sweet. I truly enjoy being at home as I haven't spent much time here in the last couples of years. It's nice to have a structured life without airports, flights and sleep deprivation. I'm quite productive, I cook a lot and feel weirdly more connected to my friends than before simply because I have a bit more time and I'm in the same time zone.
However, it's strange to not have any shows. Especially after releasing an album, I had so many cool things lined up that just all got cancelled or postponed to no one knows when. It's a bit strange but I don't look at it too negatively as the issues we are facing are much bigger than my touring lol.
Worst advice you've received?
I don't remember anything specific, however I often receive advice from people asking me to make this or that kind of genre of music to get more popular or be seen by more people. I hate the idea of creating for the sake of getting bigger. I create because I want to say something or I have an emotion to share. I don't make anything 'to get more exposure'.
What would be written on your tombstone?
Probably just my Tiramisu recipe.
How does it feel to finally have your album released? (It looked like there were some issues with clearing some songs etc!)
Yeh releasing it was definitely a bit of a pain, some people really tried to sabotage it. Like I mentioned above with Young Buck's beef etc... I didn't know it was that easy to take down something on YouTube and so difficult to bring it back even when it's your own work... I'm glad it's all over now and people can finally enjoy it! It's going extremely well, couldn't be happier!
Would you rather have a pet elephant or pet giraffe? (and why)
I don't think I would have any of them. It's already so much effort to take care of myself I wouldn't be able to take care of any sort of pet. If I really have to chose I would take the giraffe, I have seen less animal cruelty with giraffes. Also I think it's easier to feed.
Would you rather have a 1-minute conversation with your past self, or your future self?
That's a really tricky one and it depends on what theory you believe in. If you affect the past, does it change the future or is everything an eternal loop? I don't have any memory of a sort of self trying to get in contact with me in the past so I assume it failed. Considering that I would go with my future self hoping that's not going to fail. Also since my conscience right now is in the present, I could use some advice from a wiser self.
You can check out this short documentary he made about his latest album below:
CREDITS:
FACEBOOK: @apasheofficial
INSTAGRAM: @apashe
TWITTER: @apashe_music
SOUNDCLOUD: @lindien
SPOTIFY: @apashe
