Interview with Sea Mountains
“The DIY community is thriving more than ever these days. Amanda Jump is an up and coming electronic chillwave/seapunk producer from the US. Known for moving from genre to genre. #WEATNU DM was able to bring to light her latest EP “Florescence" and we had the pleasure of hearing about her influences and passion as a musician."
Almark: Hello Amanda, thank you for doing this interview today with #WEATNU DM, how are you?
Amanda: I’m doing well! Thank you for this opportunity.
Almark: So you’ve just joined with #WEATNU, how’s the experience been so far?
Amanda: It’s been great. I love the togetherness of the WEATNU family and I think that the whole initiative is a great opportunity for undiscovered artists.
Almark: Great to hear that! You’re an up in coming artist to the electronic world, coupled with experimental, seapunk and hip-hop influences; how’s the career going?
Amanda: It’s going well. I’ve got a lot of new ideas in the works right now that I’m excited to bring to life.
Almark: What influences you to write the type of electronic you do? Since I hear so many styles, I must say that it sounds like you grew up to various types of music?
Amanda: I pull influences from everywhere. I enjoy all kinds of music, but a lot of my influences come from sounds from nature. I like going into the woods to sit in silence and absorb all the sounds around me. That inspires me the most.
Almark: Like the lush pads and laid back singing on this album. Kind of gives you that ambient-feel. You could make a new EP in the future called ‘Faerie wood’ or something I’m always giving names to albums!
Amanda: I think I started as more of an ambient artist and expanded from there. What I like about ambient music is that you can sit back and truly enjoy it for what it is. It’s the opposite of immediate satisfaction
Haha ‘Faerie wood’ that would definitely be interesting!
Almark: That might be a good concept project to write together on one day.
Amanda: Yeah definitely, collaborating with artists is something I’m always open to. Collaborating frequently is something I’m known for doing.
Almark: And yet this music is more atmospheric, instead of ambient. Ambient these days seems more a play on words.
Amanda: Atmospheric is a perfect term for it.
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Almark: One song in-particular has caught my ear. Plasma Waves ft. Derek Blaskie
Amanda: I feel as though Plasma Waves defines me the most as an artist. I love that song. I wrote it very quickly because it came so naturally. i knew i needed live drums to make it whole and Derek delivered exactly what I had envisioned.
Almark: I hear this liquid ambient sound to your work, reminds me of that early 90s ambient bass stuff on CD my friend use to have, really dug that stuff. It certainly has this urban-like sound to it. Was there an influence toward that old bass music in this EP?
Amanda: I thought that bass had a grungy feel to it which is something I wanted to bring to the song. And it’s so different from the other sounds on Plasma Waves. I like the contrast of it.
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Almark: Do you mix your own music? I also noticed that you work with Shark Anthony, who also works with Ashleigh another fine artist with us.
Amanda: I mix most of my own music but I’m still learning, so occasionally I’ll get help from Shark Anthony or other members of Midwest Collective. Mark mastered my Florescence EP and I thought he did a great job at it. He actually mixed Plasma Waves too.
Almark: Indeed, it’s very clean work, bravo to both of you.
Amanda: Thank you! Much appreciated
Almark: We get better with each mix. Of course. 🙂
Amanda: I agree. I try to make sure every song I put out is better than the last.
Almark: How did you first get into writing Electronic, what sparked the interest?
Amanda: It’s funny because I listen to electronic music the least out of all the other genres. What draws me to it is the immense diversity of sounds that I’m capable of creating.
Almark: Do you have any influences in regard to electronic artists?
Amanda: Grimes is my biggest influence. She’s also a female self-taught electronic artist and we share a lot of similar traits. Besides her, I’m also influenced by Boards of Canada, Daft Punk, and Metronomy.
Almark: Nailed it. I had a feeling you were a fan of Grimes. I am too.
Amanda: I love her. It’s my dream to collaborate with her someday.
Almark: But, I too enjoy those others groups, especially Boards of Canada, whom I’ve only been listening to for a few years. So those are great including Daft Punk.
Amanda: I used to sit and play the baseline to Genesis over and over again in my room!
Almark: [laughs] yeah
Amanda: Yeah i’ve been listening to them for years
Almark: Those past 4AD artists are pretty untouchable!
Amanda: Absolutely
Almark: When you go to write a song, how do you get started? Is there an idea, a tune or do you just dive in?
Amanda: Sometimes I try to sit down and play around with sounds until I create something I like, but a lot of times I create an entire song in my head and i try to replicate it.
Almark: It’s obvious you play by ear, have you also taken music theory? Also you went to Full Sail University, did that contribute to your music knowledge?
Amanda: I’m familiar with music theory, but i don’t even think about it when I write music. I believe music should come from a more emotional place. I don’t care about key signatures, and I don’t care much about what’s right or wrong. I just do what feels right to me. I went to Full Sail for Music Business, so I didn’t get to take any audio classes, but I learned the marketing side of music, which has really given me the upper hand.
Almark: And that is most beneficial to music in general.
Amanda: Music is boring when it’s done the “right" way!
Almark: What a profound statement, but I believe you have a point. Do you play on midi controller?
Amanda: I have a Novation Launchpad Mini, which I use frequently
Almark: Do you play other instruments? And how long have you been a vocalist? – Great voice btw.
Amanda: Thank you. I can play guitar, piano, clarinet, trombone, ukulele, and basic drums. I’ve been writing lyrics since I was 8, but I’ve always been very shy about singing so it’s strange to call myself a vocalist.
Almark: Impressive! I hear some hiphop on this album, your fav genre?
Amanda: Hip-hop is definitely one of my favorite genres, although in the future i think i’m going to shy away from it.
Almark: As another artist I met recently has told me, perhaps everyone is ready to work solo and electronic.
Amanda: It seems that way. With technology I think its easier now than ever to be a “one man band"
Almark: #WEATNU is very electronic-centered, so you’ve noticed?
Amanda: Yes, I like that about WEATNU. There aren’t a lot of communities out there for solely electronic artists.
Almark: Thank you, I felt it was best that there be a massively centered movement for electronic artists.
Amanda: I agree.
Almark: Being electronic avant-garde myself, it was about time. It’s 14 years late, but it’s here now, we’re the wave of the future.
Amanda: Better late than never!
Almark: Exactly and because the timing was just right, I believe its helping many artists. While we are on this subject, what do you think about #WEATNU, the help we bring, our label, magazine and radio?
Amanda: I think it’s great. Electronic artists need the support. EDM over-saturates the electronic community and doesn’t leave much spotlight for other artists. WEATNU provides a great platform for artists to get the recognition they deserve.
Almark: You said a mouthful. That’s exactly why it was formed. It gives, first the experimental artist their focus and that’s very important to a growing underground scene. EDM was out of control, it was time to do something about it. Electronic is so much more than commercial pop.
Amanda: Yeah I personally can’t stand commercial EDM.
Almark: The feeling is mutual.
Amanda: There’s no emotion to it.
Almark: #WEATNU is here to battle against the corp-takeover in the music business, but our battle against it has created a vibrant community who simply love electronic. Now, deep house and other dance-related electronic styles are kicking!
Amanda: Absolutely, deep house is great. Same with disco.
Almark: It’s quite interesting to hear our artists in #WEATNU speak about certain subjects. Some that need to be spoken of.
Amanda: There are branches of EDM I like, but I despise what it’s become. And it’s completely destroyed festival culture. You shouldn’t have to be on Molly to enjoy a show.
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Almark: Back to listening to your work: I’m working my way down to NIGHTSOUL – Music Journals Vol. 1, I love the vibe.
Amanda: I felt very sad when I wrote Nightsoul. Or not even sad, it was just a confusing time
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Almark: That is true, our hearts create the music we hear. Now listening to TABULA RASA.
Amanda: Tabula Rasa actually starts with a sample from NASA. It’s the sound of the Earth spinning from space. I thought it was beautiful. I’d love to make more music like that.
Almark: It’s just a matter of doing so, great work. Are you currently touring in your area, or wish to?
Amanda: Not yet. I’m currently working on some new songs that will translate better on stage, so I plan to start playing shows in the next few months. I’m already planning stage plots and props.
Almark: These final songs on your soundcloud, certainly have a different vibe. Are you more interested in being solo?
Amanda: I will always be a solo artist, but I like featuring other artists in my songs. I think that collaborating almost always makes for better music.
Almark: Anything to spice things up.
Amanda: Well I draw inspiration from other artists, and I always learn something from the process. Two heads are better than one.
Almark: Exactly. Since we are talking about your latest EP, what would you like to say about it. What is the listener hearing upon first listen?
Amanda: I put a lot of thought into the track listing. I think it tells a story. Florescence is the process of flowering or blossoming, so this EP was my way of growing into the artist I’ve always wanted to be. It has a very wide range of emotion, from joy to hatred to bliss to anxiety to narcissism. If you listen closely, it shows who I am at my core.
Almark: What DAW are you using? I could guess…
Amanda: I use Ableton for everything except vocals. I record vocals in ProTools, but edit them in Logic and Ableton.
Amanda: I used Logic for my first few songs.
Almark: Sounds like a very pro setup.
Amanda: It’s anything but haha
Almark: Most of us have to download our copies of Live 😉
Amanda: I won’t say how I got mine – haha
Almark: Of course not – laughs.
So you’re working on a new album?
Amanda: Yes. I’m taking my time with it – I don’t think I’ll be done with it for another six months.
Almark: We hope to hear it then.
Amanda: I think it will be legendary.
Almark: Have you had an ear full of music yet from our radio #WEATNU OUR?
Amanda: Yes I have!
Almark: That’s 30+ hours mind you 😉
Amanda: I’ve listened to it for a couple hours. I try to listen a little each day.
Almark:Â Any favourites?
Amanda: Not yet. I’ve been so busy with getting settled in at my new home that I haven’t had much time to listen to music, but all of the artists I’ve heard from WEATNU so far have been great. Ashleigh is great, and so is the latest newcomer PrinceKas. PrinceKas and I are actually talking about collaborating.
Almark: Great to hear, he was just featured in #WEATNU DM. Talk about talented.
Amanda: Very talented.
Almark: #WEATNU is bringing together artists and music lovers alike, we’re indeed making history. Without the need for greed or corporate control. There was a void, we filled it. On a massive scale!
Amanda: Definitely!
Almark: Do you have some plans for the future?
Amanda: I have a music video shoot penciled in for this summer along with a photo shoot. Besides that I’m working on my album and putting together a live show.
Almark: Great, we hope to see another video by you.
Last question: “What do you think about clowns?"
Amanda: I don’t really have much of an opinion on clowns. I’m not scared of them or anything – haha
Almark: [laughs]
Thank you Amanda for doing this interview with #WEATNU DM today. Good luck to you and your future in music.
Amanda: Thanks for having me!
Almark – #WEATNU Digital Magazine
Intro written by Almark
