Seamless blend of sounds
Rmike.alexander@fairfaxmedia.co.nz ELECTRONICA meets modern classical composition on Auckland-based artists Suren Unka and Levi Patel’s debut collaborative EP 5/8.
You both have quite distinct musical backgrounds. How did the collaboration come about?
Suren and Levi: We met many years ago through the Auckland music scene, playing at a lot of the same shows. Our writing styles have always been very different, but over the years we came to share more and more in our listening taste, got excited about similar artists and started talking about working together. We were both between projects at the same time so Suren sent me the idea that became You, the first track on the EP.
What do you most admire about each other?
Suren: Levi’s a perfectionist and that worked really well for this project because I’m not so much. We met in the middle. I also like his soulful piano and his taste in food.
Levi: Aside from Suren’s musical and technical talents, I admire his inspired and thoughtful attitude towards art. I also appreciate how bold he can be, taking me out of my comfort zone at times.
You both have a background in electronica. What about this genre of music appeals to you most?
Suren: I don’t look at electronic music as electronic music, I just see it as music. I like to add any instruments to my music, acoustic or synth. They’re just sounds. For me, it’s about getting stuck in and creating new sounds.
Levi: It’s an extremely broad genre but the kinds of electronica that I have been most interested in are quite free in terms of structure, they allow me to take my time letting ideas develop within a track. I’m often drawn to aspects of minimalism and to keeping the music interesting through subtle shifts rather than more dramatic changes. But, like Suren, I really see all types of music in a similar way.
Is there more life in this collaboration or will you continue as solo artists?
S& L: We will continue as solo artists, but we’ll definitely keep this collaboration going at the same time. We’ve started working on some new music already. It’s been such a natural and enjoyable process that we’re keen to see what else we can come up with.
Is the title of the album 5/8 so named because that’s the release date|?
S& L: The release date was a nice bonus, but the reason was much more silly. 5/8 is how many parts Indian we are when you add us together.
Have either of you been to Venice Beach where the album cover artwork was shot?
S& L: We haven’t, but our good friend, Fergus Waveforms, spent some time travelling the States with his camera.
Who is featured on the album?
Levi: We just have one featured performer on the EP, my sister Giana. She sings some of the more angelic sounding vocals in You. We also sampled her voice to create the ambient vocal sounds on You and Shelter.
How did the connection with Marigold Music come about? It’s a very ambient and chilledout label.
Levi: I signed up with Marigold first as a solo artist after they discovered my work when judging on a Making Tracks panel.
I introduced them to the collaboration, which they loved and wanted to support. It’s been wonderful working with them.