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NEWS, SNOE AFFAIRS
SNOE Affairs Interview // Techno Tupac
Interview alert! We’re happy to welcome Techno Tupac to our SNOE Affairs series following the release of his latest track “Why”! We caught up with him for a chat about the inspiration behind the track, his creative process, his approach to music, and everything that keeps him motivated in the studio.
1) How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard you before?
It’s a little all over the place. I used to call it Goofy Booty Bass Tech House but I don’t even know anymore. It’s definitely an amalgamation of all those things with a west coast perspective but at this point I’m just making music I love. Aggressive kicks, fun vocals, lots of high hats, moog-ish leads, some squanchy sounds & on the other side of that some pretty, uplifting, beautiful, introspective stuff because I can’t talk about the party forever (I could) but the I & the world needs more depth
2) We love your new release. What was your inspiration for the track?
I was inspired by watching all my heroes go on stage & do what they love & getting to be a part of all of it then the juxtaposition of all the upcoming artists that came from this post Covid era that just want to be famous. I wanted to remind them that there’s more to it than that & that this is a real community of people that have been here & keeping this culture alive before it went “mainstream”.
3) What role does digging for music still play for your work as a DJ? Tell us a bit about where and how you’re looking for music that excites you and music that will work in a set?
This may sound somewhat pretentious but I’m not a big fan of playing most records after they’ve been released. As I grow as a DJ I understand how important those songs that everybody knows the words to but since I was a kid I loved showing other people music they hadn’t heard before. Not even as a flex like “you don’t have this” but I’ve been blessed to hear a lot of tracks early & whenever I get a chance to play those for people it’s always a treat for me especially when I can tell they like it. It’s also way more satisfying for me to hear the song from the artist(s) that made the record once it’s out. I’m always searching for new music. I hear a lot of records get tested in the club & I love when I find a song that doesn’t have many plays on SoundCloud. Not because they’re not good but because the artist doesn’t have the audience or platform to get that music to the masses. I’ve been blessed to have a great support system & people that play my music so whenever I can do that for someone else I will. Especially when the song stops me in my tracks & I have no problem reaching out to see if they’re willing to let me download & play it in my sets
4) Favorite release at the moment & of all times?
Favorite release from my discography would be this one. I love this song. I get a little emotional every time I play it. It’s one of the first tracks I knew what I wanted to say & do before I went into the session.
Favorite release of all time is a big question for me. Every song that I love has a moment & has a timestamp of where I was when I heard it. But one that always sticks out in my mind is Nipsey Hu$$le’s The Hu$$le Way. Iamsu’s The Way It Go too.
Music Downloads
5) How did you come up with your artist name?
I can’t take credit for it but sadly enough I can’t find the person that did. Basically I got my name at a festival before I even started making house music. That was also the night I met the people that would push me to make my first house song
6) How has your connection to California’s music scene influenced the way you approach your art, both in the studio and on stage?
I grew up on West Coast Hip-Hop & RnB so it’s a part of me. In the way I walk. The way I talk. How I perceive life & it shapes a lot of my artistry today. As an LA kid we always “knew” we were the coolest. Our style is just different. The palm trees, the beaches, growing up with hella people that went on to be famous or at least get some kind of notoriety solidified that I could be whoever I wanted to be. I see a lot of those parallels in the house scene now. You never know what somebody’s gonna do with there life in a few years or even months. Every time I get on stage I know I’m representing my city & I want to give you a taste of my culture. I make a lot of West Coast edits of songs that are nostalgic to me. Some are very niche so whenever I look out into the crowd & see somebody singing the words I can tell they’re either from my section or have a respect for California culture & that makes me feel better than you knowing all the words to my songs.
7) Most profound insight you had since you started this career?
You can’t please everyone. You’re not supposed to. They people that are on your frequency will tap in & the ones that aren’t can’t. There’s nothing wrong with that. I’d rather have a few trustworthy people with me instead of 1000 yes men guiding me towards my own destruction.
& also….
Drink water. Get rest. Wear earplugs.
8) What is your favourite Norwegian word? 😉
I have no idea but I know Andreas will teach me a bad word that I’ll be able to use for the rest of my life next time I see him. Lmaooooooooooooo
