GOLDEN BOY PRESS Interview #128
Electronic artist Micheal Durek has brought a breath of life into the music world. He’s created amazing glitch music, with great composition and passion. We discuss his travels with Pas Musique, his music idols growing up, and his future plans!
Could you introduce yourself?
I produce mostly electronic music, and am based in Jersey City, though I perform in NYC a lot and tour when I can. I have traveled the world, mostly with a group called Pas Musique. I play many instruments, but apparently many locals simply know me as “the theremin guy”, and I make a very authentic Indian Sambhar.
What’s the story behind the name?
“The Use” is ambiguous and seems to suit an open electronic music format. Also, I wanted to have the act be called The Use, and then be able to hand people a debut disc called What’s The Use? Har har har
How has Dr. Dre, Cypress Hill, and Eminem inspired you? Do they still hold the same influence over your work today?
Dre knew how to loop something that was good by itself and not mess it up. Also, he could mix things weird when it was time to do that. Above all - good bass, good vibe, good rhythm. Eminem just made me laugh my ass off when I was a teenager, and was clearly a master of flow and rhymes. I still dig those artists and check the new releases, though I don’t listen to either of them as much. I listened so much that some of those beats and melodic hooks are ingrained in my cranial matter.
What do you think sets you apart? What have you done to achieve that?
I can improvise on the theremin melodically, but also craft effect chains in Ableton Live to get some varied sounds with it. The melodic sensibility I have is informed by years of transcribing upright bass solos, which isn’t all too different from the theremin. I also spent most of my life learning traditional harmony and rock music, and then toured a lot with Pas Musique and learned about texture and soundscapes that have nothing to do with traditional harmony. I try to bring those two worlds together with The Use. Beyond that, I just practice and/or create on a daily basis, and take the time to study songs or artists that I like.
How has your upbringing in classical music changed your musical path? What do you think would happen if you didn’t have that background?
Classical piano, especially Bach, lit my brain up. It seems very pure and mathematical. I sometimes go to a piece by Bach or Chopin as harmonic inspiration for a track. In the marketing world, “Classical” is a genre, but it’s mostly just a period of time - a record of what was cutting edge back in the day. It’s more about knowing where you came from. Most everybody is just ripping off snippets of Beethoven whether they know it or not, and lord knows Beethoven was ripping off other people (and so on).
What advice would you offer to a young musician, something that you wish someone told you at the start?
I would advise them to become familiar with that cynical voice in their head - and to laugh at it and know it’s not substantial. Also I’d tell them to seek out people who will encourage them, and that everything sucks until you practice it enough or finish it, and sometimes it still sucks, and that’s part of the process. When I was younger, I thought there were “good” musicians and “bad” musicians, and it was talent that separated them. Now, I’ve seen enough where I know that’s not true. It has to do with skill, goal-setting, and not being afraid of failing or looking bad. Because if you are, you’ll just be on the side-lines, chipping away at other people but not really contributing much.
Where do you see yourself in the coming years?
I’m just now being represented by Five Roses Press and am looking at a European tour in 2015. I also want to sell a million records and to have a tribe of a million people. It sounds lofty, but hear me out - that’s only like one out of every 7,000 people on the earth. Granted some of them are infants, and some are on their deathbeds, but with the internet, they can buy cds too!
What other goals do you have for your music?
I look forward to including more people in the live show as time goes on. I have really been digging playing live with Christy Edwards on drums, of the bands Christy & Emily and Elusive Civil Hydrator. She’s got such a great vibe on stage. I also look forward to producing more tracks with Rachel Mason of The Little Band of Sailors.
When the mental chatter slows down, spending time with friends and family, and also taking a risk and going for things - Cool events, releasing music, touring, whatever.
Thanks for interviewing me! I’ve been enjoying the Golden Boy Mixtapes, and the general feel of the blog. I’d also like to mention that I’m curating a digital series on the Alrealon Musique label - Mobius is the first curated artist, so watch out for that!
theartofmadeline
romaincrisis
discoholicmusic
origamiaround
germansingergirl
blakekathryn
kaledo-art
areudirty
dededos
gummygunk
