Artistic workflow, artificial intelligence, and classical elitism – all topics we got the chance to sit down and discuss during our recent interview with the eclectic, experimental, and widely-renowned electronic artist Aloboi. With the brand new and infectiously catchy "Just Want to Feel" released this month, we were excited at the chance to feature the artist behind the track and provide an exclusive glimpse into his art and the process behind it.
Written about modern internet culture and the digital era, “Just Want To Feel” boasts a unique and intriguing creation story, from unexpected sampling techniques and significant last-minute changes to the controversial origins of its cover art.
"When I’m writing, it’s like I build a huge slab of marble out of cool ideas, and then I hammer away and get rid of the things I don’t need anymore. In the end, I have a statue freed of all the excess" - Aloboi
Keep reading to enjoy the best bits from our evocative conversation with Aloboi, as well as a never-before-heard version of the track that was scrapped just three days prior to distribution.
Tune Parade: I’ve heard that the Aloboi project took off around the beginning of the pandemic, and that before your journey into the world of electronic music you were a classical pianist. How were you able to translate your classical background as a pianist into a career as an electronic producer?
Aloboi: I loved playing and listening to classical music growing up. Later on, during my studies, I began writing classical music and getting it performed. My issue with that style of writing, however, was that despite the existence of a classical niche in today’s music industry, I didn’t feel like I was part of the modern creative culture. I’ve also had issues with the elitism within that niche given its aging audience. I felt that I needed to break out of it, and electronic music was how I did so. I should also mention that I’ve found the same sort of elitism in the electronic music world, but more so in the rigid styles of seasoned audio engineers or the bickering between digital and analog musicians. Every style of music has an issue that needs to be dealt with, but electronic music seems to have infinite possibilities.
Tune Parade: I’ve been enjoying the unique and experimental flavor contained in your music. What kind of music do you listen to, and how does it influence your style as a creator?
Aloboi: I’m a big fan of European and Australian electronic music. When I first started writing, I was listening to a lot of Flume and Rufus Du Sol, and Moderat. More recently, I’ve been obsessing over “Glue” by Bicep; it’s such an effective song despite being quite simple. Speaking of simplification, I actually ended up heavily simplifying "Just Want to Feel" right before releasing it. I tend to add too many ideas to my songs, and I really enjoy when my music carries a sense of simplicity. I love experimenting and finding new textures, but if it’s not accessible to a listener then I tend to get disappointed. I try to make sure my music appeals to my entire audience. When I’m writing, it’s like I build a huge slab of marble out of cool ideas, and then I hammer away and get rid of the things I don’t need anymore. In the end, I have a statue freed of all the excess.
Comparing the demo and final version of "Just Want to Feel":
As he mentioned, Aloboi made some major changes to "Just Want to Feel" a few days before sending the song off for release. Here is the original demo:
And below is the final version. Funnily enough, one of the most notable changes was the exclusion of a catchy classical piano motive, perhaps symbolic of Aloboi's evolution as a musician.
Clips above capture the first chorus of both versions, audio provided by Aloboi
Tune Parade: What’s your writing process like, and how do you usually begin a song? Do you start with harmony or sampling first?
Aloboi: I’m really obsessed with harmony. When I was studying music, I got into the complex harmonies of 20th century jazz and classical music, an interest that’s carried over to the present. I typically come up with some sort of chord progression, starting with a complicated idea and gradually making it simpler. For “Just Want to Feel”, the vocal part actually isn’t a sample, it’s my own falsetto with some formant shifting. That’s how I got that sort of Anime sound.
Tune Parade: You seem to have a very consistent release schedule; do you ever experience writer’s block?
Aloboi: I wouldn’t say that I’ve experienced writer’s block in the traditional sense, although sometimes there’s just a lot of other work to do so I don’t get around to it. More often, I like to start writing something even if I don’t have an idea already, and without worrying about whether I’m going to finish it or not. Nevertheless, I try to release music every four weeks, because a schedule like that just keeps you going. Sometimes when I try to plan out the details of a song prior to writing it, it becomes a hindrance. It’s good to have an idea of what you want to make, but any further planning can put your creativity into a box. I recently wrote a song that turned into three songs by the time I was done because I didn’t plan it out.
Tune Parade: It sounds like you’ve developed a reliable system for quickly transferring your ideas and creative energy into music, while avoiding anything that might put your work into a box; a free-flowing creative state that inevitably leads to productivity and consistent material.
Aloboi: That ‘free-flowing creative state’ you mentioned is definitely why I compose music. My favorite moments are when I’m sitting at the piano or in front of the computer, completely engrossed in the process. I’ll forget about everything else because I’m in the flow and creating something that I actually enjoy.
Cover art for “Just Want to Feel”. Keep reading to hear more about the process behind its creation.
Tune Parade: I was hoping to hear your thoughts on AI and its presence in the music world. Are you opposed to it, or are you interested in how it could contribute to your art? Do you have any insight on how AI might influence the industry?
Aloboi: This was actually a topic in my discord group, because I started using some AI art for my album covers, as well as in a music video. For me, the “Just Want to Feel” project also signifies the need to do something that is contemporary; something that is now, and to me AI is simply part of our life now. I feel the need to interact with it, whether it’s through cover art or through actual music. I used an AI-generated vintage drum break in one of my tracks, and I found that it had a completely different feel than a normal drum break sample. AI is just a new tool to me. The idea of outsourcing the creative process to AI is obviously a bit scary, but in my eyes the act of using a DAW is already a huge outsourcing of labor. When I was still writing classical compositions and had string players playing my music, there was a lot of labor involved in getting the music on stage. Now it’s just myself and my computer, producing music from start to finish. Our society hates the idea of cutting out jobs, and for good reason. But whenever something is lost, something is also gained.
Tune Parade: What are you most excited about in the months and years to come?
Aloboi: For now, I’m focused on keeping up with my release schedule and continuing to create music in a meaningful way. I would also really like to be able to combine my music with some sort of live element in the future. I am working in my DAW so much that I sometimes miss the raw feeling of playing with other people, unplugged, with actual instruments. I did some live stuff before the pandemic, and my goal is to combine my electronic direction with a sense of community, perhaps through some sort of band or orchestra. On the business side of things, I’m hoping to have a more clearly defined brand for Aloboi. I’m also looking forward to dropping my first line of merchandise with my next EP release. Some of my fans have been asking me to make sheet music albums for some of my songs, so I’ll probably do that as well. I’ve gone through phases of being more focused on either the music creation or the music promotion side of things, but to be successful in this industry there’s a lot of different hats you have to wear.
If you enjoyed this interview, be sure to #staytuned with our blog and Instagram for more interviews, music reviews, and articles!
- Tune Parade
Discover Aloboi
