Ninja Tune’s latest signing Emika warms our hearts with her silky voice and crunchy melodies polished with Paul ‘Scube’ Rose’s dubstep rhymes.

“Drop The Other” is the first single of the new Ninja Tune artist Emika. Already a Berliner and close friend to Ninja tune veteran Fink andA us Music crew MyMy, 2010 seems to be her year because she will release a debut from Ninja Tune and we are going to hear from her very much.

She is doing a kind of pop blended with electronic slices, the kind of a music we  really were seeking for a long time. And now we have Emika.

Could you please talk about your musical background and explain how you progressed into electronic music production?
I have an obsession with wanting to make, design and create. I like to persue the challenge of making my imagination real and tangible for other people. I remember the first moment as a child when I realised music came out of speakers and didn’t just exist in the air by itself.

This realisation was so captivating, I wanted to know how to make this happen. I began playing the piano age 11 or so, but this didn’t answer my questions. I had about how to make beats for example. I ignorantly invested in a mac and Logic and started putting ideas together using GM sounds 10 years ago. I decided to study Creative Music Technology at university so that I could spend 3 self-indulgent years devoted to finding answers to my questions. I wanted to develop the attitude needed to be a successful music producer.

You never concluded your vocalist caption and try it to blend it through your music. Is it a part of Emika's musical vision?
Yes totally. “Drop The Other” is a musing on all those moments when you realise you should have been more careful in making decisions and not made them based on momentary lust. I didn’t waste time trying to work out how to represent this with one word, I was too engrossed in making the groove so that I could record the next part and keep the vibe rolling.

There is also a pop influence too. What labels, producers and bands inspired you and which labels, producers do you like these days?
Danjahandz, Ben Klock, Mala, Modeselektor, Pinch, Milton Bradley, all inspire me very much. They all have signature production sounds and consistently make sophisticated unique music.

Where do you see or locate yourself in and around the music scene? Let's say can you define the music you do?
I choose not to define the music I make with words. I will talk about production techniques if the time is right.   make connections with other people connected to music that inspires me. These are the people I choose to work with and share my passions with.

What other stuff do you listen to other than electronic music?
The fat lady walking around in the apartment above me every morning, the crowd noise in a packed club over the music being played, the hidden meanings in conversations, the sound in my ears when I swallow. Right in this moment whilst typing this answer, I happen to be at my parents house and my dad is deleting images on his camera which has the most offensive beep sound I’ve heard in a long time. There’s loads of stuff to listen to other than electronic music, and lots of different ways of hearing.

How does a routine day of yours occur?
Caffine, vegetables, running, thinking, techno, software, planning, creating, smoking, working for Native Instruments some days. Making lists of things to do, attempting to learn 5 new German words each day.

You released a very good EP with MyMy on Aus Music. Could you please tell us how you got in touch with the Simple/Aus crew?
Fink from Ninja is a close friend of mine, post writing together he introduced me to MyMy who are friends of his. Lee and Nick (MyMy) are my direct music family in Berlin, they're super talented and very supportive.

What other/forthcoming projects will we hear from you?
My next ep titled 'Double Edge'.

How does usually an Emika track takes shape? Do you have a systematic way of working? Because I know you play piano too, so you should be good at chords and partitions...
It get struck with some form of inspiration, a hook, a riff, a word, a feeling, an idea I had from dancing in a club, a production technique I want to explore, and I go on a creative bender from there. I work obsesively until I feel satisfied. I go a bit coffee mad, and everything else gets put on hold. I don’t want to disclose my ways of working, but I can tell you that I never sit in front of my computer without an idea and manage to make anything decent. My time spent in the studio is the last step in realising my ideas.

How did the signing to Ninja Tune happen?
I sent them a track and they offered me a contract. I don’t think either of us thought it would come this far, it takes a lot of faith and focus to drive the project forward. I need to keep them inspired with new music and they need to invest a lot of time in my development. It was an ambition of mine to work with Ninja Tune as they have such a rich history in marketing unique music.

Are you happy with your first EP and album, Scuba's remix is really excellent and giving it for free is a bonus!
Sure, I only release what I like. There is a lot of unfinished rubbish on my HD's and thats where it will stay. Scuba is incredibly talented, I have Scuba days when all I listen to is his music, and I try and work out how its made. Luckily my analytical brain gets distracted by his vibe, it’s impossible to resist, and then all I can do is zone out.

Do you play live and what do you know about istanbul, would you like to perform here?
I love to play live and make loud sound. Playing a PA is the ultimate instrument for me currently. I use Maschine for playing beats, I sing and control real-time effects which abstract my voice. I have been following the music culture in Istanbul quite closely over the past 8 months as it seems to people like me, outside of the culture, that there is a lot of interesting developments particularly in the clubs. I would love to perform in Istanbul so that I could spend some time there experiencing the underground music culture.

Thank you very much!
Thank you for supporting my music!


Interview: Christopher Çolak
21 December 2009