electro.pup is one of the nominees under the category for VIMA 2010. This brilliant lad who hails all the way from Ipoh tells us how it feels being nominated with other talented acts in this category & what life is like after being exposed to the club scene, causing him to pursue his passion as an electronic producer .
Colin & his pup.
1. electro.pup has been nominated under the category of Best Dance Act. Congratulations! Tell us how you feel.
Thank you! I feel totally stoked and excited, ever grateful to Voize for giving us local indie artists a platform and opportunity to reach out to the public.
2. As an electronic producer who’s always current and up to date with the club scene, how do you educate those who assume that all kind of dance music is considered as ‘techno music’?
I used to be one of them so I’ll tell them to stop generalizing and actually listen, not all dance music is techno. Just like rock, jazz and hip-hop, there are plenty of sub-genres. The whole European techno (uhn-tss, uhn-tss, uhn-tss…) sound that people associate dance music with was actually pretty big during the 1990s and was played to death thanks to the local VCD sellers blasting remixes of “My Heart Will Go On” from their road side stalls. But electronic music has come a long long way since then and is more refined now especially with the advancement of new technologies and more experienced producers. Just like how the first guitar ever made would’ve probably sounded horrible compared to the perfectly crafted instrument it is today. But that doesn’t mean that style of techno is dead however, some people still love the old-school sound.
3. How do you differ yourself as an electronic producer especially when faced with other DJs/Producers in the Best Dance Act category for VIMA? What are your tactics to get the most votes and win this category for the VIMA 2010?
I try to differ myself mostly by creating a style unique to my identity, electro.pup. I draw influence ranging from heavy metal to progressive trance, blending them together in an electro crock-pot. If you’re a keen guitarist, you could actually jam a heavy metal guitar riff over my track, B.F.G. My ultimate goal is to create tunes that make people subliminally move to the beat. After being nominated, knowing how hard it is to break out on to the local music scene, I intend to just maximize as much exposure as I can – online forums, social networking sites, e-mails, SMSes, word of mouth; I’ll try anything. I’ve even released a free mp3 ringtone, because everybody loves free stuff. You can get a copy of the B.F.G. mp3 ringtone at reverbnation.com/electropup.
4. Tell us about your journey and background of electro.pup & why you’ve chosen the name electro.pup.
I started my musical journey at the tender age of 10 with my mother forcing me to play the piano because she thought it would be good for me. Thanks mom! After that, in my late teens, I picked up the guitar and taught myself how to play with dreams of being a rock star. In college, that dream was somewhat fulfilled when I landed a gig as a replacement guitarist for local underground indie band ‘Stone Angelina’. I played with them for a year, then moved on to graduate from university and joined the working force as a multimedia designer.
At that time, I dropped music completely and tried the more sensible and practical route of working 9-5 jobs for other people. Three years later, I found myself being a very unhappy person – like a boy trapped in a bubble. Desperate for change I re-enrolled myself in university for the second time, focusing more on music production while at the same time working on my own musical identity, resulting in what you see here today. The name electro.pup is derived from my love of electro music and dogs, which I happen to have 9 back home in Ipoh. I’m also born on the Year of the Dog in the Chinese Zodiac.
5. How did you discover about VIMA and what made you participate for the VIMA 2010?
I heard about VIMA when Voize first announced it back in 2008. I submitted entries then but – thankfully – didn’t make the cut. A year later with a more defined identity and better sounding tracks I decided to try again and the result was I did – thankfully – make the cut this time around.
6. List down 5 of your favourite club tracks:
In no particular order:
1. ‘Inappropriate Electro’ – Toby Emerson
2. ‘Radar’ – Britney Spears (Supersede & Nick Morrison Remix)
3. ‘Say It Right 2009′ – Nelly Furtado (v1r00z Remix)
4. ‘Man On The Run’ – Dash Berlin (feat. Cerf. Mitiska & Jaren)
5. ‘Let You Go (Reworked)’ – ATB
7. What are your tips & advice on those who are keen on producing dance music? (From the point of view of choosing software’s or gadgets)
The most important equipment you need are your ears. There are plenty of software and hardware to choose from and my advice for budding producers is to ignore what others say about what to use and focus on building your own unique sound with the software/hardware you’re most comfortable with. I chose to use Propellerhead’s Reason to produce mainly because I didn’t want to compose original music with unoriginal sounds or samples. Most other software allows users to download and install Virtual Studio Technology (VST) plug-ins to instantly add a touch of professionalism to their track, I choose to always start a song from scratch and build the synthesizers manually. In effect, I’m forcing myself to create something new every time.
8. What are your thoughts on the concept of the “Silent Disco”?
When I first heard about Silent Disco, I was blown away by the concept. However, there is a fundamental flaw to it. Music is a full-body experience. When you hear music from a speaker, the sound waves travel through the air and literally touch you, inside and out.
With the Silent Disco, this effect is lost since the music is played directly into your ear canals. However, the idea is brilliant especially for events where you can’t risk blasting loud music in high density residential or commercial areas. It’s also a great social event gimmick.
