Air Apparent – Chromatic

By starrymag | September 16, 2022

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) Ethereal, dreamy music to get lost in

 

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) A few artists who really inspire my sound are Japanese Breakfast, CHVRCHES, Linkin Park, James Blake and KAYTRANADA

 

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “Leave Me.”

A) I wrote this song as a reflection on relationships that can start off good but end up feeling like they keep both people from being their best selves. This song came together with the production and melody first, and the lyrics emerged pretty quickly – in less than an hour – after the basic beat was laid down.

 

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think the beauty of this song is that it has a lot of pieces that might draw people in. For me, I think the bass line in the chorus really captures my focus and dances between some of the other elements in the spectrum. For some of my close friends, the provocative lines “leave me, baby” really hit!

 

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) I haven’t created a video for this track, but the animations and album art both serve to continue the visual story of a girl who finds something beautiful in a relationship, experiences it falling apart and finds something deeply interesting about herself through the process. The visual is also intended to capture the unfolding of possibility, opening up in a way the song does as you keep listening!

 

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) It’s so different each time! For this one, I started with a chopped vocal sample and an underlying beat. For others, the lyrics come first. But in both cases, I usually have to hum sort of melody to get started.

 

Q) How much of a hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I like to do a little bit of everything — producing most of the elements, songwriting the melody and lyrics and, eventually, a bit more singing. With this track I was lucky to elevate it to the next level by working with some exceptionally talented writers in Megan and the A-Team and producer Pantology Music.

 

Q) What are some themes you’ll be exploring on your upcoming album Chromatic?

A) Chromatic is a colorful expression of what electronic music can be, telling the story of self-exploration through escapist soundscapes! The music touches on what I feel are very relatable human experiences like heartbreak, childlike joy, wonder, intoxication and temptation.

 

Q) “Wonderland” and “Cosmos” might be my favorite songs on the album. What tracks are your personal favorites and what makes them so special to you?

I want to believe this is like asking a parent to pick their favorite children. [laughs] For me, a lot of the emotions I attach to the song end up being around the process of creating it versus the end result! So, I think my favorite is probably 100% because the process of making it was so fun – working with one of my favorite cowriters Teresa Tuan and one of my favorite artists and humans in ÊMIA.

 

Q) The album features some amazing collabs with the likes of Constance, Kcdeeya & GESS. Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) Oof, this is a tough one! Dream collabs include my influences/heroes like Japanese Breakfast, Laxcity, BIBI or Daniel Caesar probably.

 

Q) What are you hoping that listeners will take away from checking out Chromatic?

A) This is my overly lofty hope, but my overall feeling in Chromatic is this: as much as we humans love to search for a label to box people and things into, everything and everyone are far more colorful and interesting than we often give them credit for. The beauty to me is in noticing and letting ourselves get lost in wonder – from our concept of what electronic music is to who we are as people to what a relationship can mean in terms of self-transformation. So, I am hoping that in listening to the song, people feel that sense of wonder. [smiles]

 

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) So far, I’ve just performed in my bedroom for a virtual music festival. But I’m hopeful that I can perform in some of my favorite local SF venues and beyond in the coming year (Rickshaw Stop, Audio SF, Monarch).

 

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) I’m very into the UMI album Forest in the City Her songwriting is impeccable, the production is perfect, and listening to the album immerses me into a different world.

 

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) It’s meaningful to create, but it’s even more meaningful when what I create connects with people. Social media is stressful, but the beautiful thing about it is that it makes it possible to know who my music is connecting with and gives me a way to deepen that connection further and showcase my journey alongside fans!

 

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?

A) Just an overwhelming and enormous amount of thanks. I hold onto every word and piece of feedback and support I get — and it really keeps me going! There aren’t enough words I could say to adequately express how grateful I am for you.