Tryangle Man Q&A
-Hi man, it’s a true pleasure to chat with you! How is it going today?
- Hello! Pleasure is all mine. Today’s going well, just finished the last show of my Europe tour in Berlin. Finally some rest time.
-First of all, congrats on your new single, Lemon Squeeze, which is such a playful, groove-heavy jam. The fact that it’s a perfect loop makes it even more hypnotic. What’s the story behind it? How did the idea of making something “endlessly repeatable” come to you?
- Thank you! It was a last minute decision to make it into a endless loop. Which means there is a long version coming out with the full album. It’s all about recreating what it is to be on stage and jamming. There’s always a scenario I like to imagine where this could be happening. A playground of music and fun. It’s short and sweet to be enjoyed as much as you need.
-You’ve described yourself as a “peace-seeking Space Being” and your music definitely feels like it’s orbiting somewhere between jazz clubs and galaxies. We’re curious to know how do you balance the cosmic side of your sound with the earthy, human funk of something like Lemon Squeeze?
- The balance shifts quite often depending on the mood. Sometimes I start a song with a certain vision to later have a completely different vision. Then I try to meet in between and whatever comes out ends up being the final version. This could take a while though. Over the course of a couple of months up to a year. Sometimes more and sometimes less.
-Rolling it back, your classical studies and jazz chops definitely shine through in your productions, no doubt about that. In what ways do you think those early disciplines sneak into the way you build tracks like Lemon Squeeze, House Of Desired Funk or even earlier works like Night Jazz now?
- This release, like my previous ones (night jazz, HODF), reflects these disciplines and everything I’ve learned along the way. They naturally sneak their way into every track. I usually begin with the piano, since that’s where my hands can take over and I can freely jam for hours. When an interesting progression, melody or idea appears, I capture it, and from there the groove and rhythms follow. Though sometimes it’s the other way around. The most important thing, in my experience, is to always practice and play even if nothing gets recorded. That consistency is everything.
-We can’t help but touch on this: you built a whole persona around your highly distinctive mask, and we know that recently you started to step out from behind it. What drove that shift? And beyond the obvious, how does showing your face alter the dialogue between you and the crowd, or even the one you have with yourself while performing?
- I am slowly becoming human. In Space you have to adapt, and when I landed on Earth, I began to embrace my human side. This new album marks that shift. Now the audience can see me and I can see them. I can speak, interact, and connect in ways that are new to me. It feels great to focus on what truly matters without thinking of appearance. The tour I just did proved that.
-Now we’re even more curious to peek behind the curtain here, every musician has its secrets. What’s the one thing in your studio that you absolutely can’t work without? Could be a piece of gear, sure, but also that quirky, non-negotiable item that really sets the vibe.
- The one piece of gear that’s always with me is the OP1 field. It’s the one thing I take with me when I travel or when I want to record an idea. It features quite often in my finished songs. And it plays a major role in my live sets. As for a quirky thing, there’s this mood lamp that projects space and stars on the walls. Reminds me of my galactic adventures.
-Everyone’s got a ritual, whether it’s coffee, tea, a weird snack, or a certain song, when they’re in the flow. What do you usually eat or drink when you’re knee-deep in a session?
- Coffee and/or tea depending on the time of day. However, when I’m in the flow I tend to forget to eat. I’m realising that humans need to eat often, and that is still new to me.
-You’ve taken your sound to such a wide range of stages, burning deserts, small living rooms, underground clubs, and huge festivals, each with its own energy and chaos. With all that variety, what’s the most surprising or unexpected moment you’ve ever had on stage?
- There are 3 main events that stand out.
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After the 2020 Beirut port explosion, I participated in a fundraising live stream. We recorded the set amongst the destruction and chaos. Unforgettable and emotional moment.
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Rituel Days Festival in Paris where I performed for 3000 people. It was such an amazing experience. Although, near the end of my live set I had technical problems that cut my performance short. Not too short.
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On the Afrikaburn playa in the desert. I had all my gear battery powered and we had a moving stage. That was magical.
-Beyond music, what else keeps your creativity alive? Any hobbies, art forms, or routines that fuel your energy when you step away from the synths and drum machines?
- Drawing, photography, video animation, video editing, 3D printing and whatever I can get my hands on.
Alright, before we let you go, we’ve got our usual Apparel rapid fire questions, that often reveal the most about the people we’re lucky to chat with. Ready?
-If you were a city, which one would you be?
- Cape Town - Been once and fell in love.
-If you were an object, what would you be?
- A camera.
-What’s the first record you ever bought with your own money?
- Hotel by Moby.
-Instinct or structure?
- Both.
-Big thanks man, for hanging out on our Apparel sofa and sharing his world with us. We wish you all the best for Lemon Squeeze, may it keep looping forever on dancefloors and headphones alike. Until next time!
- Thank you for having me and I’m so happy you enjoyed the “Lemon Squeeze”.
