Elevated Focusion’s newest LP, House Dance, is an entire leap into one other sonic galaxy. After two deeply private, shadow-tinged releases, the digital artist recharged his artistic circuits and got down to construct one thing brighter, stranger and much more playful. The result’s an album that fuses high-energy get together pulses with emotional crescendos, shifting from dancefloor euphoria to abyssal introspection with out ever shedding its sense of goal. On this dialog, he displays on the evolution of his sound, the enjoyment of artistic freedom, and the collaborative sparks that turned tracks like Haunting Feeling into hovering highlights. He additionally hints at what’s subsequent: a extra expansive, formidable physique of labor and a fifth album already brewing with experimental intent.
Elevated Focusion, welcome again to A&R Manufacturing facility! We’re stoked to debate your newest LP, House Dance. What impressed the shift in type and tone for this cosmic digital pop album?
I often begin a venture simply kinda enjoying round on my keyboard. Finally, as soon as have 2-3 concepts I’ll have an general theme that I resolve to construct on.
‘I Dream of Eden’ was an concept that I began after I first received my new gear in 2022. So I had that mendacity round. I had began the preliminary thought for ‘Raving on That Galactic Excessive’ and ‘House Dance’ across the similar time.
So these three tracks had been kinda how this idea initially began. They had been all kinda spacey and nearly leaning in direction of bubblegum initially.
I really feel like my first album was extra summary and private. I went into the studio simply desirous to make an summary story of my life instrumentally with a 5 monitor EP. I wasn’t planning on doing a full venture with ‘Darkish Nights’.
‘House Dance’ was the one venture the place I went into the studio with the intent of constructing a full album. I really feel like with ‘House Dance’ I actually discovered myself manufacturing sensible. General, I wished to problem myself by shifting as far-off from the summary private and darkish vitality that was distinguished on my first two tasks. I wished this to only be enjoyable and it some elements simply wacky…lol. A superb time with one thing for everyone.
Would you describe it as an idea album?
I might say the general sound and theme is an idea album. However the lyrics of the songs should not a part of a better story. I discover it simpler to create when I’ve an general theme. It provides all the things goal.
For this venture sonically it begins excessive vitality and get together vibes with House Station Bugout . Step by step the sound and lyrics shift till Haunting Feeling the place you might be actually are left misplaced within the abyss. So it’s extra of a musical journey.
What frame of mind do you hope listeners slip into as they play the album?
I really feel like that is positively (manufacturing sensible) rather more of a cohesive sound all through than any of my different tasks. So I really feel like you may simply pay attention straight by and end up immediately on the finish. I supposed folks to pay attention straight by with none one music being the focal point. I simply need folks to have the ability to get misplaced in it.
I really need individuals who grew up in that point to really feel younger once more. To really feel like they’re a part of one thing contemporary, nearly like rediscovering all of this once more for the primary time.
There are particular some funky get together vibes that I hope folks can simply dance to with out actually pondering to a lot. The final 3 songs, I positively need folks to really feel the feelings extra.
Your type is eternally fluid, however if you happen to may identify one factor that is still a relentless by your creative endeavours, what wouldn’t it be?
Since I began making music in 2001, I’ve all the time performed no matter I wished to do. I took a break from 2004 till 2022 as a result of I couldn’t do no matter I wished and I simply was beginning to hate it.
So that is still the identical. I simply do no matter I would like creatively. I really like what I do and doing every other means would make it not value doing.
The standout single, Haunting Feeling, bowled us over with the sheer vocal energy; the place have you ever been hiding that timbre?
I got here to the singer a few yr in the past with the instrumental and the lyrics. Proper off the bat, he simply belted out the refrain proper on spot. It simply occurred like that. Finally, the verses got here collectively. However that refrain was an instantaneous factor. We simply simply wanted to convey all of it collectively within the combine.
Actually, that has been the very best a part of doing the music and clothes. Bringing my concepts to all of those extremely proficient folks, and seeing them join with it. The singers I work with or Chris Conway (who does the blending) are so enthusiastic about what they do. So to listen to them really feel a real connection after I give them a music is simply priceless.
Was it straightforward to convey depth to Haunting Feeling?
The synth that begins the music was simply an experimentation. It was simply roughly discovering the appropriate sound. As I developed the instrumental extra, I simply felt a haunting feeling from that sound.
The refrain I made was alot much less passionate and extra spacey and open. The vocals actually took cost there and took that feeling and introduced the depth.
This was positively a gaggle effort. It had all the weather of an amazing music, nevertheless it wanted work manufacturing sensible. I fully modified up the drums and we reduce out alot of pointless issues within the combine. So the ultimate product was actually carved out of wooden.
Will you be exploring extra of the digital cosmos in your future releases or do you may have a special avenue to discover?
I’ve one other venture that’s accomplished that I’m slowly chipping away the combination. This venture is certainly not spacey. I positively really feel like it’s a private greatest by far. I actually went all out with this and took issues additional than I ever have earlier than.
As an artist, I’m all the time striving for that private greatest with every launch. I positively really feel like my subsequent venture is simply that. I don’t need to say an excessive amount of, however I actually explored each attainable avenue I may consider. And there are 15 full tracks so it covers alot of floor.
I’m additionally planning one thing fairly cool after that for my fifth album the place I’m actually making an attempt get experimental and loopy with composing and manufacturing. The main target is much less on the vocals
If you happen to may share one creative epiphany you’ve had since we final spoke, what wouldn’t it be?
I might say studying to make use of expertise. Even with House Dance, I nonetheless used roughly my previous means of doing issues. I’m studying quite a bit about plugins and unlocking all of those artistic doorways.
All of my Jonny Rythmns music was simply made on a Yamaha Motif Basic. All of my Elevated Focusion music as much as and together with House Dance was made utilizing primary Logic Professional.
So now I’ve entry to all of those synthesizers, efx, and drum packages. It simply takes the artistic course of to a completely new dimension. I’m kinda like a musical caveman that’s slowly discovering fashionable expertise.
Uncover extra about Elevated Focusion on his official web site.
Interview by Amelia Vandergast
