A Conversation With 104 BPM

A CONVERSATION WITH 104 BPM

A

Conver sation with 104 BPM

“With social distancing in full effect, we jumped on the Instagram Live bandwagon to host and to extend the conversation, we took a couple of questions from people who tapped in with us.”

Article by RESIDENCY

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Photograph by THABO NGCOBO

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Photograph by @adesmilez

INTERPRETATIONS 3

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Interpretations ARTICLE BY RESIDENCY

A LIVE IG — CONVERSATION WITH 104 BPM, 29 MAY With the anticipation of Interpretations 3 dropping on Friday, 5 June 2020. We sought out DJ and producer 104 BPM to talk about the release being the 100th release on DM Recordings and the inspiration behind the Interpretations series.

As we all know social distancing is in full effect, we had to jump on the Instagram Live bandwagon to host and to extend the conversation we took a couple of questions from people who tapped in with us.

We had never actually done an Instagram live conversation and to our embarrassment, we had a few technical issues setting up but we eventually got it going and we were greeted with the freshly washed face of 104 BPM. The man looks cool as always with a little nature aesthetic going on in the background. With all the pleasantries and out the way, we had to kick it off.

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LIVE This is a transcription from the 39 minute conversation we had on Friday, 29 May 2020 over Instagram live video with 104 BPM.

Words MONGEZI LANGA

RESIDENCY So let’s start with the title Interpretations. Who is doing the interpretation, is 104 BPM the producer or the listener?

104 BPM Initially, the whole interpretations series was meant to be titled 'Untitled Open To Interpretations', but I felt it was too long, although it's my interpretation, it's also open to the listener because we will not hear and feel the same thing so yeah.

RESIDENCY From the first Interpretations to Vol 3, how has the soundscape progressed, has the way you produce and arrange music changed?

104 BPM I’ve definitely been more aware and intentional with the sound. The last EPs were experimental, trying to find my feet. I think I’ve grown from the first EP, I mean the first EP was released in 2017, it’s been three years since then. The songs have matured a lot more.

RESIDENCY Interestingly, you mention working with intention because the next question is about inspiration. Do you wait for it to come to you or you go inside the studio with the sole purpose of leaving with something done?

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104 BPM I don't rush it, but when the inspiration is around, I don't play myself, I go fully in and take advantage of it… it's a process. If I feel like nothing is worthwhile or genuine I don't stress, I chill! I'll play games or keep myself busy until that moment comes around again I don't go inside the studio knowing exactly what I'll make. When inspiration hits me I definitely embrace it and try to be aware and intentional as I can. Sometimes I reflect on my influences or the sound that might be the influence of the time.

RESIDENCY With that said, how long did it take you to finish the project?

104 BPM This particular project was finished in August last year, think it took me about a week.

RESIDENCY DAMN! To do the whole thing?

104 BPM YES! But the story is I couldn't produce before that point, the whole year was underwhelming in terms of production from me.

To be honest, something happened in July that squeezed the creative juices. I don't want to go into great detail about what happened…

In June I bought new studio monitors and testing those out gave me the inspiration and momentum to finish the EP within a week. I got the monitors on a Friday and by the following Friday, I already had three tracks.

RESIDENCY DAMN! Your inspiration comes at a price hey!

104 BPM (Laughs) Nah, bro…

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A CONVERSATION WITH 104 BPM

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104 BPM

Let's talk about the third track on the EP, Mtolo. The song has references that we like and it reminds us of an Afefe Iku track tilted, The Arsonist. The sound and the progression of that song is different from what we've heard from you and the other tracks on the EP.

So while doing our usual Facebook scrolling, we came across a post from D.M Recordings mentioning the fact your EP, Interpretations 3 will be the label’s 100th release. This must be exciting for you man. Tell uS all about that.

The Internet is a beautiful place, it has allowed the music to get out there, you know… A reference point would be Manoo, I didn't even know the guy in-person but associated with him through his music and sound.

Honestly, those are some of the themes behind the Interpretations series. You don't have to know me for the music to move you. If you've noticed, on the first cover my face is blurred and on the second cover, there's only the outline of my face with no facial features and on the third its just picture of my back.

104 BPM Well, that's the one song that’s very personal to me because Mtolo is someone’s surname that’s very close to me.

RESIDENCY What would you say was the initial idea of the track?

104 BPM I think it was the first time I had made a broken beat. The first song I made was titled 'Wunga', don't even ask me, bro! (104 BPM loughs, almost embarrassed).

Mtolo is very experimental actually, well it starts as a hip hop beat but soon as the shakers come in, it changes the swing and groove of the whole track.

I was invited to a wedding where these guys were singing this song that sounded interesting to me so I sampled that and used it.

RESIDENCY To us, Mtolo feels like it belongs on a secret project you're working on?

104 BPM That’s interesting, a friend of mine Thabo suggested I do a Dub version of the song, so yeah…

104 BPM Yeah man, it will be the 100th release for the label. (104 BPM always modest, but even he knows the significant magnitude this carries.

RESIDENCY Mfana that's dope! It's more than being local at this point, it cements you as a real player in the game if there was any doubt.

Did you and D. Malice have a conversation about it and what was the conversation like?

104 BPM Yeah, we usually talk on Whatsapp… he’s always proud of my work you know…

RESIDENCY When we listen to your music, we get a sense of a traveller all the time. Do you produce with a particular listener in mind or such concepts don’t cross your mind?

104 BPM I've been a fan of music for a long time so I have a good perspective as just a listener. So at times, I need to find that balance between being a producer and a listener you know?

I have a lot of experience of just being a listener and repeating tracks, being in awe of what I’ve just heard. It’s important to have that journey of discovery.

RESIDENCY Do you listen to your music? For instance when driving home or something like that?

But to truly answer your question, I’m really happy about the release being the 100th on the label. What’s been dope is the feedback I’ve received as well, I mean DJ Kabila has been showing a lot of love you know. He even played some of the music on the Africa Is Not A Jungle live stream. The likes of At One and Manoo also had great things to say about the project, which is crazy because these guys are like idols to me.

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104 BPM Laughs... Yeah, I do play my music.

RESIDENCY So what’s on your playlist?

104 BPM Well, I've been listening to a lot of Stimming, that dude is on another level. I've been also listening to a lot of hip hop; I'm loving the whole Soulection sound you know.

How does it feel to have heavy hitters in the game interacting with your music like this? I mean coming from being a fan to receiving feedback from your musical influences.

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104 BPM

What's your take on blurring the lines a little bit when it comes to production? Since you mentioned Soulection, let's use Sango as an example. Sango can switch from genres without losing his essence. What's your take on that?

Nah, I'll go back to Mtolo once again, that's the direction I'm assuming.

I can already imagine a reprise for it. I've done a reprise version of 'Hello' it's on my Instagram page, you should check it out. So yeah, I never want to box myself in a particular genre you know? Ultimately I want to work on scoring.

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VIEWER QUESTIONS

We definitely see you doing that in the future, especially with the direction you’re on.

Have you ever had incidents of people stealing your work?

104 BPM

104 BPM

Ngyabonga, thank you, bro.

Not really, it’s never the stuff I like anyway so yeah…

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VIEWER QUESTIONS

So are you saying we should anticipate a remix pack coming soon?

Which commercial artist would you like to work with and why?

104 BPM

104 BPM

Laughs… Well let me put it to the universe to decide, I also don’t like announcing things prematurely.

Msaki!

RESIDENCY Would it be a collaboration or just you reimagining your music?

104 BPM Maybe it's an opportunity to get an alter ego. A lot of producers have one, sometimes more than one, Charles Webster comes to mind you know, even Atjazz.

RESIDENCY No doubt, as a creative you have to have aliases or multiple ones, just to explore different pockets and see how far you can take it.

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The saying goes “time flies when you’re having fun”, and if it wasn't for our battery giving upon us we would have continued with our conversation for sure. But all good things must come to end. We'd like to thank 104 BPM for his time and allowing us to pick his brain, we certainly enjoyed it.

To all the people that tuned in we appreciate your support, it's the fuel that keeps us going.

Interpretations 3 drops Friday 5 June 2020 on all digital platforms.

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INTREPRETATIONS 3 ALBUM ART

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CONCEPT ARTIST, ILLUSTRATOR

I felt that the EP was a way for the Artist to share his story through sound.

His heritage is heard in each track which shows how each song tells it's own story but still grounds it in the familiar, keeping it connected. I used Sound as a key motif in the artwork by using sound waves emanating outward to show 104 BPM's way of telling story.

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