The Echio Quiz with GiGi FM

How did you learn music, and did you have mentors?
I learned music through piano and music theory and singing choir when I was young, and afterwards definitely through dancing. As you spend pretty much half of your time counting to know when you have to come on stage and stuff. But then I learned Ableton majorly through to help you and through hyper-specific YouTube tutorials and what I didn't really have like a mentor in the classic sense.

Tell us about a key feedback you received during your career and from whom.
I did meet quite a few people that have definitely helped me in finding my own path, in shaping my sound, and one of these people is definitely an orthodoxy, which I hold very dear to my heart and thank you for always being here for me. I think this one was, Yeah. Do what you love. Stay true to yourself. Don't bother with the noise. Just do you. And that comes from an orthodoxy. And every time I have, like, a silly voice in my head. Like a doubting voice. I mean, I just tried to remember this and align with it.

What is good music feedback in your opinion?
In my opinion, good feedback really depends on what type of music you're making and what you're after. You know, obviously sound design, mixing, arrangement, especially arrangement in club tracks because arrangement has such a crazy impact, in club tracks. But after all of these obvious technical elements, for me one of the best feedbacks is knowing how did my track make someone feel and how did they connect to it? Maybe it sounds cheesy for some people, but to me you can make some of the best technical music in the world if there is no soul behind it and there is no message, then what's the point?

What feedback would you give to your first release (please name the release)?
Okay, so technically my first release was my I'm an album, Kiwi Synthesis Diary. I wouldn't change a thing about it. I love how raw it is and with all the voices from my friends and and stuff. But for my first club EP, Manage It on the label, there's a track that I made with my own band, using movement called Sense to Not. And this one, I would definitely tell myself that demo chords need to come out in the mix. So this is, this is what I would say, but also it's important to learn how to let go. And I love it when I can, like, witness the technical progress of an artist through their releases. So yeah, we live and learn.

If you could spend a day in the studio with one of your heroes, who would it be?
If I could bring someone back from the other side 100%. John Hassell and From This Worlds, I would really adore to have a day in the studio with Björk, I think we would really get along. My spirit and my poetry writings.

What’s the object in your studio (musical or not) you can’t live without?
I make a lot of music on the road, like on the train, on the plane, at the airport and train station and cafes. But I need to be in the right place and I need my poetry writings which are on my phone.

If you were not making music, what would you do?
I mean, I've had a lot of different lives, you know, from dancing through being a nose, making fragrances, working in luxury retail. Somehow I found myself back to music.