Toronoto, Can, Pure Phunk Recordings

Breakbeat.ca Northern Coverage:

Myagi

Record Label Affiliations: Pure Phunk, Splank!, Money Shot, West, 2Wars, Howlin, WOMP!

Myagi Interview March 2005
Interviewed by Somsay.

Myagi Profile
Age: 25
Height: 6'1
Weight: 178
Average heart beat per minute: 7
Bed time: 11 pm the next day
Colour of ear hair: same as nose hair
Nose Hair length: connected to ear hair

Favourite Pop Chune: Anything by Simon Paul
Favourite soap brand to clean your dirty socks: Socks?
Records: Anything by Trouble Funk.
Band: Umm...Trouble Funk?
Models: Trains or Airplanes.
Synths: Old Roland SH line....5/7/9 etc
VST or AU FX Plugin: Pentagon


The Interview

Tell us about Mygai and your other side of you Sole Claw? Whats going on with your duality? What did your doctor say about this?
Myagi was the name of an old punk band I was in when I was growing up in Stratford...I really liked the name and held on to it. Sole Claw was born out of the fact that, while I really like writing all styles of music, a lot of the heads can't grasp that one artist can put out records of multiple styles. It was essentially just to make it easier to release multiple tracks without flooding the market, while at the same time giving purists of each sub genre names of their own to listen for. The duality is self imposed, and purely for the sake of clairty, as I just mentioned...really its all part and parcel of one overall sound of mine. My doctor is yet to be reached for comment.

What do your folks think about breaks? Do they come out to dance at your gigs?
My folks arn't really dancers, at least not to breaks. Im not insulted though...my parents have always been very supportive. I think they sometimes worry that I'd make a conscious choice to be in an industry thats notorious for being tough to crack, but over the last couple years I've been able to show them the tangible things that people who arn't part of a scene need in order to make them understand that you're doing well in it. I think the first time I had my picture in a mag that my parents could grab at 7/11, they began to see that I wasn't totally wasting my time.

Can you please tell us the Direction of your sound? Where do you plan go with it? Sticking to Breaks or what?
Well, my sound has always been multilateral...I've never been simply into dark techy stuff or into organic funk or anything like that, I'm more into the fusion. I guess since the scene is warming back up to proper funk I'll probably start pulling out the stops and writing more full on funky tracks. In the meantime, I'm happy writing tracks that make people who are otherwise purists open up a bit. Breaks in general have always seemed natural to me, so much more interesting than other genres, but so open to interpretation, and so adaptable. I'm sure you'll hear more stuff from me that breaks purists will think is breaks, but which house guys will play, techno guys will play, etc etc.

How is the underground scene in the Toronto in your opinion?
Dunno really! Seems good to me, but I just do my own thing really. I write a lot, and I concern myself with label matters and boosting my name both domestically and internationally. I play out when asked and I'm more than happy to do so, but thats only a few times a month, and a lot of nights I'd rather write a track that will get my name that much further internationally than go out and play. I think opinions on "scenes" are best left to those who are out at every gig in the crowd, and those who become involved in the politics. Im happy doing my own thing :P All that said, it's been a really really fun year for gigs, and next year is going to be insane.

Where have has Mygai travelled to so far? And where was your favourte gig and why?
Not that much actually! All over Ontario, but this is the year that it really begins for me...Im in the UK in June, out east, out west, the states, and debating Australia at some point. My fave gigs are always in Guelph...that place is nuts, and I always have an incredibly fun time...very debaucherous.

Do you have a normal job on the side of breaks?
Yup! Up until this year I was a student at Trent, now I'm doing kitchen work for a bit, which is damn fun. I was always a waiter so this is a plesant change!

Anyone at work know about your alter egos?
Most do actually - I play there some nights, and the ones who are part of the "scene" know me through that as well. I don't think I've done anything in particular to be embarassed about though.... :P

Are you using anyform of external sampler, or have you gotton used to the ease of software samplers like Kontakt or the Esx24? Do you hear the difference between digtal and analogue or it just really doesnt matter anymore for you?and which one do you use?
Well, I use Kontakt constantly...I can hear the difference between digital and analogue, but I really don't much care anymore. That debate is best left up to armchair musicians...you use whatever works for you and your sound, and thats it. I will say, however, that software is not nearly as user friendly as hardware, IMO. If i hadn't grown up on outboard gear I wouldn't be able to understand or use the software in the way that I do now. I use %99 software at this point, but thats only because of space constrictions...although now that I'm used to working in a VST environment, I probably won't go back.

Did you study music in school? And do you use music theory in anyway for your breaks?
Nope...I'm totally self taught. I don't use music theory per se, but I do encounter a lot of mainstream DJ's or recording artists who enjoy the fact that most of my stuff is structured like actual "songs," rather than patterns and loops. I guess thats a bit of a holdout from the band days though.

How do you use your subs in your productions? Do you layer them under the kick drums or do you just find kick drums with subs already or do you layer them under your basslines?
Both really. I double and triple up kicks, and I run multiple mirrored basslines with subs, if necessary. But thats all classified info!

Do girls call you more frequently since you started playing out? If so do they talk to you or do they just giggle and hang up?
Heh. Its more Simon Paul. He calls me and tries to talk dirty, but I can smell the whiskey on his breath through the phoneline and I usually just hang up. I should really ban his phone number.

What computer platform do you work on? A PC or Mac and why?
PC. Ease of use, and I was on a budget when I bought it. I'll be grabbing a Mac for the impending Myagi Soundsystem live show though...

What sequencer do you use? And why?
Cubase SX.....greatest reward to work ratio (good results for ease of use)

What's your main piece of studio gear and why?
Roland Sh-7...its an ancient, pre midi hog that sounds wonderfully evil and gross.

Do you see breakbeat music moving into a mainstream position soon?
Breaks are already in the mainstream, just not in a meaningful way. I hope that over the next few years we'll see good dance tracks of all genres make mainstream charts, not just be whored out to car companies for ads.

What current projects are you working on and would like to talk about?
Loads of upcoming releases and remixes...a few UK releases that are already getting a load of press, plus outings on all the main domestic breaks labels, which are doing at least as well in terms of big name support, etc. Really, I've got too much going on to list, but the Carole Pope remix I'm doing is a nice highlight...she's a bit of a Canadian icon, so its a privilege to be involved in that project.

Who were your first inspirations that originally got you into Breaks?
Norman cook, meat beat manifesto, freddy fresh, pop will eat itself and bentley rhythm ace.

Is it really about the music in the Toronoto or its really about the drugs?
Its about the booze.

Do the Mafias control the parties?
Nope. Consortiums are another story though...

Can a Canadian vinyl pressing ever be as hotter(loader) than a quality UK pressing?
That's way outside my knowledge, I just write the tracks....as far as I've seen though, not really...the UK holds the trophy for quality.

What is your opinion on these music program suites(Fruity Loops, Reason, etc...), do they output real quality audio that would be efficient for any Lose Your Friends productions?
I have a pretty low opinion of standalone progs...intergrated, yeah, but alone, it just seems unncessarily puritanical.

What movie star do you look like?
Matthew Perry. God damn him.

How long did it take to learn and master all your equipment before you found the sound that you were looking for and you were comfortable enough to produce what you wanted?
You're never done learning. Ever. As soon as you are, leave the studio, go get a 9-5 job and stay there. It took me years to get to the level I'm at now, and I'm always going to be learning, I know that.

Any tips on making fatter basslines?
The groove lies between the drums and the bass...

Can you tell us about the Ravers in the Toronto...any funny stories to share?
None that arn't incriminating!

Tell about how life is being a producer in Toronoto in your opinion? Supportive surrounds? Negative?
Very supportive...I've always been treted pretty well up here. :)

Do you use a lot of sample CDs for sounds?
None.

Do you synthesise allot of your own sounds?
Virtually all.

Have you ever found your music on any mp3 servers such as Kaza? And if so, how does this make you feel and how does this affect you?
Yeah, I dont really mind. Label owners mind, but I'm still flattered in a way. That's not to say I don't prefer it when someone buys the release, but it's still cool to see hits for your names. When its a track thats only on a promo circulation at that point, that's when it becomes offensive and scary...piracy is inevitable right now, but leaks are always bad.

Are there any candy ravers left? And if so... would you touch their pants?
Yes, there are, but they can be scary. And loud. And dirty. SOOoooo dirty. I would never touch their pants.

Links: www.myagimusic.com