Podcast #133 - Ekin [TUR]

Virtual Underground

Interview : Virtual Underground: How has this all started for you? Ekin: My first experience with music started when I discovered my sister’s old cassette player. She was listening to Limp Bizkit. I remember my first song was to Take a look around. Then I discovered other types of metal and started playing bass guitar. I was never into fancy solos. I always liked the idea of being the supporting pillar of the band and improved myself in every genre in bass. Even admitted to Berklee for a 5 week bass performance program. Before pandemic I was playing regularly with my band in a local metal bar called Dorock. Being the youngest member of the band and my tendency to use distortion earned me my nickname Basstard. Then in Berlin, Berghain to be precise, I was drawn to the vast world of techno and the limitless possibilities of sound design. That's when I started experimenting with my first controller. Virtual Underground: Where do you generally draw your inspiration from? Ekin: Music is how I express myself. I always felt myself full of emotions that I don't know how to let out. I had a turbulent childhood and preferred music over people. I was very good with maths and physics and could see the pattern in a song effortlessly unlike relationships. They were very complicated for me and emotions were like randomized functions that ruined every equation in my head. In my sets and compositions I try to reflect my way of seeing the world and how it's cynical, confusing and dark. Virtual Underground: Could you describe your music selection and mixing process? Ekin: I like the productions from the 2000s and 1990s. I work as an electronics engineer and while working I dive in the vast archives and select the tunes that intrigues me. I list them according to bpm and key. In this set I acted extra ruthless and selected some hard hitting tracks from C mantle, Headless horseman and Martyn Hare and tried to build a dystopian and intimidating atmosphere. Virtual Underground: Which software/hardware did you use for this set? Ekin: I used Traktor Pro 2 software and Traktor S5 controller. Virtual Underground: Could you tell us more about snatchers? Ekin: Snatchers is our İstanbul based imprint/label/collective for electronic music and more sound disciplines. It is a place for young musicians to grow and share their works founded by @omeerata. It is a non-profit organization as we say in snatchers we are in it for the music :) Virtual Underground: Any next plans? Ekin:I started learning Ableton and hopefully I will release my own tracks soon. Also I started digging records from 1990s and my ultimate goal is to expand my musical arsenal :) Follow and support Ekin @ingeniousbasstard