Epidemika Music Interview

Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself?

• Thanks, Xttrawave! I’m Epidemika (also known as Jesse).  I am a progressive EDM producer living in south Florida.

Any special meaning or significance to your artist name?  

• Back when I was in college, I came across the term ‘epidemika’ in a medical journal. I believe it was a Latin term for a virus strong enough to wipe out all mankind.  I thought it was suitable for an EDM handle seeing as I like my music to be infectious – in a good way.

What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?

• Thankfully, I was raised on a lot of great music – including a lot of soul – which I think helped me appreciate the importance of a strong melody from a young age. By age 13, I was already performing live and promoting concerts.  Looking back, it was crazy that bar owners let a little kid organize and promote rock shows, but that’s when it became evident to me that I’d have a long-term relationship with music, in one form or another.

Tell us about your new single? And what’s the story behind it?

• My latest single ‘Heartbeat’ was written with my friend, Josh Torrance (Torrnado), who I met years ago in Canada while we were guitarists in metal bands. We thought it would be fun, as guys who are more known as metalheads, to write music entirely different from what we were used to.  We wrote some riffs on guitar and then transposed the song onto a variety of other instruments like pianos, synths, etc., to achieve a completely different sound.  The result was a pretty catchy tune that has received a lot of positive feedback and international support.

What makes your music unique?

• I think my background playing various instruments in bands gives me a unique perspective on EDM where producers, especially nowadays, do not need any sort of musical background to get started. When I write music, I still tend to envision how a live band might perform the song, even though I have software handling the entire process.  This translates into my current work by including a lot of traditional instruments and letting the ‘live band’ concept dictate how electronic music can be written.

How would you describe the music that you typically create?

• Rather than focusing on a beat or style that may be popular at any given moment, I tend to focus my creativity on writing catchy melodies, and ideally, a great vocal hook. I love to make music that people enjoy and remember.  However, I am not entirely sure how to categorize my music other than that it tends to occupy a sort of middle-ground between progressive house and trance.

Do you play any instruments? And why do you love it?

• Guitar is my main instrument. However, I tend to view myself more as a songwriter than a performer, so nowadays I mainly use guitar only as a way to express musical ideas that I hear in my head.

How is your creative process when recording music?

• Generally, every song starts with a melody or hook. I build the rest of the song around that with whatever feels natural.  In that regard, the songs write themselves, but usually with the help of some tea.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

• I do not even know where to begin with this question. Way too many to list and I don’t want to leave anybody out.

Any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?

• Chris Martin of Coldplay.

Which is the best moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?

• I am proud of it all, but one moment that sticks out to me is the first time I signed an Epidemika track to a record label. In summer of 2017, my song ‘Here & Now’ was signed to Beatlick Records in Russia, which is run by Vadim Soloviev (Intricate Records / Anjunabeats / Anjunadeep).  That moment was really special for me because it was a specific goal that I reached after many years in the making.

How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends or work?

• For my day job, I am a lawyer and I run my own law firm, which allows me the sort of flexibility I need to travel and ensure that I take care of my obligations in every-day life. I am also general counsel for After Dark Music Management in Miami, which helps keep me up to date with developments in the local music scene.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

• Focus on writing what comes naturally to you. Understand and accept that your preferences will change over time.

If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?

• Stay tuned for a lot more music this year including my Audiology mix series showcasing progressive EDM artists from around the world.

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects or tours?

Mainly sticking to writing songs in my studio, developing my craft, and continuing to build my discography. I plan to eventually play live again, but not in the near future.

Listen on SoundCloud: Epidemika & Torrnado – Heartbeat

Listen on Beatport: Epidemika & Torrnado – Heartbeat

Listen on Apple Music: Epidemika & Torrnado – Heartbeat

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Visit website: Epidemika