EKKAONE ‘Pamplemousse/Tsuna’
Pamplemousse/Tsuna introduces you to the introspective, moody sonic world of Brighton-based artist EKKAONE. Letting the neon-colored intoxicating modern retro soundscapes catch you when your thoughts are drifting away, being somewhere a thousand miles away, watching the tips of your feet as you walk. It’s the kind of vividness, almost exotism in his touch of sound that really brings perspective to the genre of garage and hip hop.
Like a collage of instant photos putting together a somewhat familiar, still yet ever-sprawling motion, Pamplemousse/Tsuna draws you into its sensitive drastic worlds of atmosphere.
“Pamplemousse” envelops you into a state of mood. In the recurring sounds, the thoughts deepen. Reflective, but at the same time illuminating and transparent. Like a mirror of deep water. Through EKKAONE’s music, you’re more than ever becoming aware of your thoughts and understanding their emergence. There’s a kind of spiraling continuation between sessions in “Pamplemousse,” a subconscious level of engagement. Between obscurity and clarity are the lighter fleeing sonics and the swinging vocals. “Pamplemousse” is a mood and a space of mind.
Compare to “Pamplemousse,” “Tsuna” is more sensory and intriguing with all your senses heightened. The track places you in a night you don’t want to forget. Solitude, but not loneliness—an experience you’re fully committed to, and at the same time, know that it will not last forever. It’s the taste, the smell in the air, the light, the state of mind, and the in-between of reality and illusion that is worth capturing. There’s a distance between the physical world, like an out-of-body experience under the gentle shifting of light under the night sky.
Being on the move, in the groove, and in the thoughts. The track captures the motion and the introspection of a night walk. Contemplative and sense-awakening.
Punk Head: I love the diversity of styles in this EP and how effortless and fun it sounds. What was the creative process like?
EKKAONE: Thanks! I listen to a lot of instrumental hip-hop as well as more upbeat stuff. I love them both but I felt that modern 2-step can veer a bit too far from its cheap and cheerful roots sometimes. I thought it would be nice to combine that sound with the horns and vocal cuts of instrumental hip-hop to create something new.
PH: With Pamplemousse / Tsuna being your debut EP, I'm sure you have a lot to say about it. Tell us one thing that you've learned and one thing that surprised you.
EKKAONE: I used to make a lot of music a few years ago but didn’t put much out. I would let my expectations get in the way and worry about whether the sound fit what other people were doing. With this EP, I made a conscious decision not to do that and just let my ideas and inspiration move. I’m really pleased I did as I think I’ve created something much more unique because of it.
PH: Can you tell us a little about the "B-side"?
EKKAONE: The bulk of “Tsuna” was created during a single session late at night, combining 2 disparate sample sources with a melody on keys you only hear half of. I wanted the track to encapsulate a mood and an atmosphere, rather than tell a story like most music. I like music that makes you feel enveloped in your own thoughts and I hope I got somewhere close to doing that.
PH: How is the music scene in Brighton? and What motivates you as an artist?
EKKAONE: I grew up in Brighton and have only just moved back. Back in the day, there was a big underground scene here, but I haven’t had much time to see as much as I would like recently. We have a lot of great record shops here and there is a great community within that scene. In terms of motivation, I remember seeing an interview with DJ Shadow once, where he talked about sampling being a way to breathe new life into music from a forgotten past, it always resonated with me, so when I find a new sample, I get excited to see how I can reimagine it into something new.
PH: What is the one thing that you’d like your fans to know about you?
EKKAONE: There’s more to come so keep an ear out!
