INTERVIEW: Octo Octa Talks Red Bull Music Academy, Musical Influences

By Soyoung Kwak in Arts & Entertainment on Mar 1, 2013 8:00PM

Red Bull Music Academy began in 1998 as a meeting ground for highly talented and innovative individuals in the music industry to come together to learn more about their craft and showcase their talent. Around 60 individuals are selected to participate in the Academy every year, and it can be both a nerve-wracking and exciting experience for participants and musical lecturers (yes, lecturers) alike.

One of the 2012 participants, Michael Bouldry-Morrison, also known by his DJ name as Octo Octa, will be performing in Chicago on Sunday, March 10, supporting Manchester-based producer Andy Stott (a mastermind who showcases slower techno/dubstep sounds) and JETS (the complementary electro-funky/beat-heavy duo of Jimmy Edgar and Machinedrum). In anticipation of the upcoming show, we got a chance to grill Octo Octa on his selection to the 2012 Red Bull Music Academy and his musical inspirations throughout the times.

CHICAGOIST: Congratulations on your participation in the 2012 Red Bull Music Academy! What was it like being selected to participate in the Academy?

OCTO OCTA: I didn’t expect at all to be selected for it. I sent everything off and tried not to think about it. When I first got the email I was pretty sure it was a thread letter of “thanks for the interest but…” It took me a minute to figure out that I actually got in. All I could think was “I can’t wait to work on some hardware”!

C: The 2012 Red Bull Music Academy was apparently delayed and now will take place in New York City in late April through the end of May 2013. Are you bummed that you won't get to be posting up in a cool spot abroad?

OCTO OCTA: I was bummed about it at first, but at the same time I love the idea of seeing more of New York and go to events here that I normally wouldn’t know about. Hopefully it’ll lead to knowing more people here in the city. I’ve been a hermit too long.

C: You are currently based in Brooklyn. Are you originally from New York?

OCTO OCTA: I was born in Chicago actually and moved to New Hampshire when I was young. I only moved to Brooklyn a few years ago.

C: How did growing up in your hometown in New Hampshire influence you? Did you have any memorable musical influences growing up?

OCTO OCTA: My hometown didn’t really inspire me too much, actually. I was pretty alone in my love for electronic music. But there were things like B96 (and WNUA 95.5 for that smooth smooth jazz) in Chicago that I loved as a kid and my dad liked some electronic/dance-type stuff I would hear growing up. I really got interested in making music after I saw two friends play a small show with two synths during early high school. I quickly bought a drum machine (a Korg ER-1 I still have) so I could hang out with them and do music. From there I pretty much sank into just listening to electronic music and making it to the best of my ability. Since there weren’t many places to dance, I would try to make stuff or play shows that could incite dancing. The need to dance is probably the biggest motivator and inspiration to be making dance music!

C: Do you think location matters at all when you are making music, in terms of both influence and gaining exposure?

OCTO OCTA: I think emotion is the most important thing to be incorporated into music and location can have a huge effect on how you feel about everything day to day. The city can be oppressive and wonderful. Location can also have an effect on your exposure, but I think online exposure trumps exposure through gigging now. Playing shows and proving yourself as an entertainer is the most important end result of that exposure though. Once you have some people looking at you, then I think being in a place that can support live acts is important.

C: How would you describe your vibe to someone who has had absolutely no exposure to house music or any other kind of electronic music?

OCTO OCTA: I always start by telling people I do dance music, that’s the core of each thing I put out. I find dancing extremely cathartic and so I want to build music that can give that release, but that doesn’t mean it’s all happy and upbeat. One friend was telling me I make pretty sad music and I agree with that. The vibe is emotive dance music.

C: Are you working on new material for a record right now? Will you be releasing your next effort on 100% Silk, and when can we expect a new record from you?

OCTO OCTA: My next release is an album that’s coming out on 100% Silk on April 30th. I’m working on a bunch of new stuff right now as well (plus a couple finished pieces). Not sure where it’ll come out, but I hope to at least get another EP and Single out by the end of the year.

C: That's pretty exciting! What are some of your current obsessions?

OCTO OCTA: I listen to a lot of podcasts and I’d have to say my two obsessive listens are “My Brother, My Brother, And Me’ and my years-long love for “The Best Show on WFMU”.

C: What are you looking forward to the most when you are in Chicago on March 10?

OCTO OCTA: Just being back in the homeland! I used to visit Chicago a couple times a year to see family, but it’s been awhile. Excited to just hangout this time around. I love going around the city.

C: We have one last question before we let you go: Chicago Deep Dish Pizza V. New York Style Pizza - What wins?

OCTO OCTA: Okay, so, deep dish wins because it’s insane and could only survive in the Midwest, but my favorite thing about Chicago pizza is getting proper thin-crust pizza. Nowhere knows how to treat a crispy thin-crust right like Chicago does.

You can check out a sampling of Octo Octa's tunes on Soundcloud.

You can catch Octo Octa with Andy Stott and JETS on Sunday, March 10, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago, IL 60614. Doors at 8 p.m., show is at 9 p.m., $10, 18+