1.Growing Up
TM: As a young child I always liked adult music and never really liked children’s music. My early favourites were AC/DC, Blondie, The Police, Styx and The Go-Go’s. It was my teenage years that influenced my life’s passion for psychedelic music and harder intense music as well. At the same time I was in a death metal-type band I was also experimenting with psychedelics, listening to all this classic ’60s trip-out music, and that eventually led me to discovering the rave scene.
2.Inspirations
AF: Bob Marley influenced me greatly when I was growing up. I loved the power of his songs to unite people of diverse backgrounds. I also loved musicians like Ravi Shankar, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Mickey Hart, Shpongle, The Orb… so many really! I guess I was always seeking out other artists that were incorporating world music and fusing it into their productions.
3.Your Crew
TM: I started a collective called Moontribe out of Los Angeles in 1993. We started doing free full moon parties in the desert where the focus was on the deeper realms of electronic music. These events are still going strong today although I’ve been focused on Desert Dwellers and am currently living in New Mexico working with Amani Friend on that project as well as my own solo music.
4.The Music You Make And Play
AF: The music of Desert Dwellers crosses many genres, but with an emphasis on bass music, psy-step, down temple, dub and that sort. The new album we are working on, called The Great Mystery, is multi-genre and has a few uptempo tracks on it as well.
5.Music, Right Here, Right Now
AF: The evolution of music these days is truly inspiring, and there are so very many up-and-coming producers with amazing skills. I think one of the biggest obstacles for new artists is just trying to get heard and rise above the noise floor of all the other artists, and to sound unique doing it. But it’s definitely possible, as I keep seeing new artists blow up every year expanding the edge of this global experiment called electronic music.
Catch them at Love Cacao Dance Event withMarc Kundalini, Amar Dhall, Leigh Wood atPaddington Uniting ChurchonSaturday February 7.
