Ultra_eko returns with his latest album Off The Grid! In his words,
Technology is often an antagonist to the protagonists of these album tracks — the cheating husband whose wife uses technology to expose his infidelities in “WIFI Wifey“; the employee in “Boy Done Good” who finds himself in a soulless job, typing numbers into a computer, the meaning of which he has no idea; the isolated dealer from ‘Alexandre Cazes’ who lives in the shadows through the dark net. The album focuses on the fact that people aren’t connecting properly – communication is misfiring.
This isn’t his first time gracing these pages. Find our previous feature here (opens in new tab).
In this interview spotlight, I catch up with Ultra_eko to discuss the new project, challenges, technology and more.
Full Q&A along with links and music below.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I suppose that up until this point my sound would be described as hip-hop, and certainly that is my starting point. Yet, I would describe my sound more as ‘alternative indie’. Whilst this debut album, ‘Off the Grid’ uses mostly hip-hop beats, people will see that as my body of work continues to grow I will encompass a more and more diverse library of sounds. Hip-hop was my first love, musically, as a child, but my influences and love of different types of music stretches far and wide, and I hope to use many different forms and styles of music to creatively express myself. Indeed, I am writing this after a six hour recording session at the studio where I have not used a single hip hop beat; I imagine that my next album will have a much lower quota of traditional hip hop beats. I suppose I would like to see myself as a ‘Beck’ type artist; I don’t have his musical gifts; but I believe I would like to turn my writing and production and ideas to a similar sort of diversity as is employed by Beck. Trying to keep things interesting and challenging is what keeps the writing fresh in my opinion.
What led you down this path of music and what motivates you to keep going?
I have always had a deep love of music, and I have found in it a perfect marriage for my writing. My involvement in it has all happened quite accidentally, but it has given me a sense of creative rebirth. Being in that creative zone when writing is what makes me feel alive, is what makes me truly feel myself at a deep and meaningful level; it is where I truly feel joy and that powerful sense of spirit that comes from the creative process. Being able to keep tapping into that, to keep returning to that place is what motivates me to keep going. Music is like a gateway to reaching that creative space; and my motivation comes from a desire to keep returning to that place, and trying to realise my own personal vision of what I want the music to sound like. I want to create something spectacular and original, something that touches and inspires others; the possibility of doing this is what keeps me going.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
Every release, I hope, is different from the last. My EP, ‘Kitchen Sink Dramas’, released in the early part of the year, was more literary in approach, much more focused on the content and the writing. This release, I have tried to pay more attention to the music and the sound, and as such, I believe it is much more mainstream in its approach. I know that some found ‘Kitchen Sink’, quiet a difficult listen; it was intense and unrelenting, and very dark. I am still very happy with it aa a piece of art, and I hope the rewards are there for those that listen; but this latest release I think is a more enjoyable and fun listen in places, and as such it will have a broader appeal. I am still very much a beginner in this, and my goals are merely to build a group of listeners; people interested in my work. That actually means more to me than anything else; to feel noticed, to feel heard, and to have your creative endeavours acknowledged and even appreciated, that is really all any artist can ask. To be able to reach out and speak to people from that deep place from where you created this work, is an amazing feeling; it feels as though your true self is being seen, is communicating with someone else.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this over saturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
Technology has been amazing in opening up this whole musical sphere to people like me; I can now create a fully realised mixed and mastered track from top to bottom and release it to the world. Thanks to the ease of use of DAW’s, of being able to connect with audio engineers, of being able to upload and release online and through digital, non physical means. But of course, this also means that everyone else has those same privileges, and so there are thousands upon thousands of talented individuals all creating amazing works of art and trying to get heard by the world. I guess amongst all this wealth of material, you can only be yourself, try to carve your own small niche out and find an audience to connect with. If you can do this, even on a small scale, then I would consider that a success. I think people need to be realistic in their goals. If you can make music, are able to keep creating and express yourself to an audience, then this is fantastic, and the goal is simply to keep doing that, and keep nourishing the spirit and the soul. Find your meaning in the process of creating, not in some perceived end goal; it’s all about the journey.
What was the last song you listened to?
As I type this I’m listening to ‘Telegraph Road’ by Dire Straits; over 14 minutes long!
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
It would have to be the digital format; I have my whole music library in the palm of my hand; amazing!
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I really appreciate Apple, because they pay such great royalties in comparison to the others. I have even been considering releasing my next album only on Apple, as they seem to treat artists with much more generosity. Also, I am a big Apple fan, typing this on a Macbook, always have had an iphone, subscribe to Apple music; so of course it has to be Apple!
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
I would suggest connecting via my Instagram page; there is also a link on my bio there to a linktree page that has all my outlets; apple, youtube, spotify etc.
Anything else before we sign off?
Just to say thank you for your time, and I appreciate anyone who has the time to listen to the music. There is a second album on the way later this year, that I hope will be bigger and better, so please stay in touch.
