As a lead up to the Universal Religion 2012 Edition, we are going to be releasing exclusive interviews with your favorite artists. Some of them you may have seen before, some you shall have the joy of catching this April in Nepal ! This is simply a space to “Know Your Artist”, the person behind the music and the soul behind the sound.
A premier psychedelic export from India, he’s the one DJ who can make you dance through all hours of day and night with his own original sounds. Welcoming him back for his second edition at Universal Religion, heres celebrating the man behind the mammoth dance floor projects of Kerosene Club, Flipknot, Fibre Stomp, Spiritual Gangsta and Brianoid, we bring you Brian Fernandes ...
Hello Brian, a stalwart in the Psychedelic arena how did it all start?
Greetings and thanks to those who gonna spend the next precious 10 mins (maybe 5 if u are a fast reader) of their life reading this Q&A..back to the Q, it started almost 30 yrs back where my family tree was heavily in music and totally updated with vinyl’s, cassettes of all genres of music being blasted on full volume specially on Saturdays and Sundays. So you can say I have listened to almost everything from 50’s to 2000 (p.s same with comics, novels etc I am a Collector). I had the biggest collection of bootlegged stuff as well releases from all over. So the good tunes were already occupying headspace slowly, then tru school and college where music experimentation lead to the infamous ‘Indian Metal’ era of the early 90’s, when things got heavier and wicked. Amazing underground rock shows and festivals were similar to the parties and fests we have now. Then further musical experimentation lead to the Psychedelic music encounters where else, but the beaches of Goa and metal took a backseat.
What made you take up Djing and producing, did being musical come naturally?
Music is just like one’s mother tongue language which we never learn but we get it just through years of communication and yes I learnt the guitar when in college, but I feel I’m too much of a control freak so never wanted to form a full time band, though I tried but I knew it was not the thing for me..so djing and producing was perfect for me. One man Army.
You have 4 different sides…was Kerosene Club the beginning and can you explain how it is different to show-casing Flipknot?
Make it 5, you forgot ‘Brianoid’. Well, the beginning came through college parties and at socials where I started putting in ‘different’ music from the usual hits on unsuspecting dance victims. Then I started playing full time Psytrance music as dj 26brian for at least 4-5 yrs…then I got bored playing other producer tunes and decided to take matters into my hands.
I helped set up India’s first party promoters and Psy label Paradiso Recs in 2002 and we were one track hort less so I decided let’s try make one, it took 2 months to make it and I think I’m the only artist in the world to release the first track ever produced, so Kerosene club was born then. Kerosene Club is bit on the heavier side of music. I believe music is like food… some like spicy ,some like non spicy etc and I just like to cook different aural dishes, Flipknot is on the more deeper, organic soundscape, more ‘vegetarian’ music as I have nicknamed it.
Can you tell your fans a bit about Temple Twister Records, what’s news and your role in it?
I formed Temple Twister Records in 2005, we just released swiss producer Drumatik’s latest album and now a compilation v.a mystic mutants is almost ready. Temple Twister Recs is the only Indian label consistently churning out releases since then. My role in it is everything from conceptualisation to getting it in stores.
Are you happy with the Psychedelic Trance direction in India & Nepal?
Psychedelic Trance has become a movement in India and Nepal, whatever said it still pulls majority listeners let it be Prog, Full on or Forest/ Hitech Psy’, even though the demonisation of the genre by the media and governing policies. Other genres have been also embracing the Psy genre into their own cause at the end Psytrance music is beyond usual “having a good time “music .
How did your association with Digital Om begin?
Digital Om had booked me for one of the earlier 2009 editions of Universal Religion, but I couldn’t make it for some reason, then I played for some of their gigs in India and we worked together on some tours and last year’s festival edition. Full Respect to them for going strong even when the scene here was taken apart by naive gossip mongrels a.k.a media
Give us your take on Universal Religion, it looks massive this 2012 edition?
Universal religion is one of the few camp-out festivals in Asia which we lack in India. It’s a different feeling to live out in the nature and the whole festival becomes like a small town for few days. Universal Religion is all about the music, I doubt they even rent a mic …so it’s bound to get massive and to pull off a event like that without sponsors, hats off to them.
Does being a Dj/ Producer cum records label head all rolled in to one, giving you joy?
The whole thought of creating something which never existed and giving it a direction and an identity gives me immense joy. Also I teach Edm production and promote new talent and also manage few artists under my artist management company-
Melting galaxy I run 5 record labels churning out music in other genres too. Technology has helped me to a great extent in all of these ventures, maybe 20 yrs back I couldnt manage to do all this.
Digital Distortion Records is it going the way you’d like it to, some fantastic artists under the label?
Digital Distortion Recs has always been a platform for artists mostly talented new artists to showcase their exciting creations, some of the big names have released their first ever tracks on these labels. Right now Whiptongue and Human resource from Denmark, Spinal Fusion and of course Fibre Stomp are some smashing artists to look out for .
Parvati Records is massive in the Psychedelic world; a particular sound it represents you can describe?
Parvati Records is the only Psychedelic label to have celebrated 12 yrs of existence and constant quality releases. Most of the labels fizzed out after the internet mp3 wave (pun intented) and exist only as ghost labels without actually releasing anything. Look at the quality of music Parvati Recs have in their discography. Parvati Recs sound is more organic ,groovy and very Psychedelic compared to the usual Psychedelic sound..they in fact developed a new genre in Psychedelic music ‘Forest Music’.
What’s coming up releases and gig wise in 2012?
Releases wise a lot and I mean a lot, Kerosene clubs, Flipknots, Fibre stomps, my chill and DnB project – Spiritual Gangsta album and yes Brianoid (Techno) 2nd ep. The gigs in India and around are always happening. I took a break from international touring from Jan to March just to finish these projects, now they are all almost done, so from May till Sept there is Germany, Spain, Romania, Costa Rica, Brazil, Mexico, Australia etc.
After Universal Religion where do you go?
To my bedroom, I am sure will need a lot of sleep after Universal Religion.
What’s your current favorite tune?
In Psy Atriohm- Dream Converter and one Zen Mechanics tune the name I cannot recollect at the moment, in DnB – Atom Middle and in Chill this tune of Ajja with Cosmosis jam sessions which they haven’t named yet.
What made you start off ‘Spiritual Gangsta’, your down tempo project. Is it something you’ve always wanted to do?
Its not only downtempo project but also Chill DrumnBass, I hadn’t planned to start, a friend from Japan needed an intro to his Cd like an Ambient piece, so started writing it and in the end it turned to be a full complete track which he also released. Then I went on a producing spree and wrote like 8 tunes in 2 months, mostly while touring at airports, hotel rooms right now I am producing more liquid DnB. I played this project for first time in Brazil at Universo Parallelo in Dec which was well received, after that I have been experimenting at local gigs usually opening parties with this project, I am looking forward to Universal Religion and Full Moon Chill out stage in Germany to showcase this stuff.
Who are your favorite artists in the scene?
Favs no one in Psy, but in other forms Naibu, June Miller, Androcell, Peak Collective etc.
Given a choice of how to spend your eve, would you prefer a candle light dinner or playing up a storm behind the console?
First playing up a storm behind the console and then a candle light dinner..hmmm ok forget the candle light dinner, I’ll go back to kick up another monster storm.
Anything you would like to share with your numerous followers, to keep up with you this year?
Just keep your ears and mind open…and be careful of what you wish for you might just get it…
Is it safe to say that you would like this genre to gain more commercial popularity?
Yes, but till listeners don’t experience it they wont know about it..everyone is partly blinded by music being enforced down their throats with well-marketed garbage, so they wont even know what different kind of music and styles exists unless they are showcased.
Can you sum yourself up as an artist in one word?
Storyteller
Your EP released with Digital Om- ‘Fluff Mafia’, as Fibre Stomp.. can u speak something more about this project?
Fibre stomp is more full-on style with melodies, emotions, daytime vibe the feedback has been good, already working on the next one.
You are the most globally known artist from India in the Psychedelic scene, what do you think of the upcoming generation of producers, do you think it is about time India went international in a big way on the artist/dj front?
Some of my students are already on their way there the future is bright for India. I’m also looking forward but how long can’t tell, the level of competition and others factors is just rising. Buck up, homies.
Your favourite party/festival that you have played in the past and why?
Too many, but Boom festival was nice, Sol festival and Universal Religion last year was banging, Japan and Brazil are always wow..so yes my last party is always my favorite till the next one happens.
Check out more on Brian and his projects:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kerosene-Club-Flipknot/159661003551
Check out information on Universal Religion at:
http://www.facebook.com/universal.religion.nepal
Courtesy Priya Sen
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