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Artists who innovate are not majority nowadays, in Del Jardin Latino we are really proud to announce an exclusive interview with Akufen, one of the few rest of these artists, the ones that innovate creating fresh stuff in music and other expressions. Through his music he says a lot of things, but not all of them… here the rest:
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Del Jardín Latino: -We have been immersed in a new revolution for some decades now, the electronic revolution, how do you see it and in which way do you think it affect the art production?
Akufen: -Well, as far as I am concerned, there’s been an electronic revolution going on for quite some times. I’ve been using electronic tools and devices for almost thirty years in my music writing and visual art designing, so the popular techno revolution as we all know it today, has mainly given me the opportunity to come out of my bedroom, diffuse my work and get some recognition. I’m not part of the whole geeky posse though. My background is more traditional. I’ve studied visual arts and music before the PC made its grand appearance in our homes. I appreciate technology for the wonderful and versatile tools it supplies but I could not claim to be a technological artist. I don’t depend on it. If the computer was to vanish tomorrow I’d still be writing music and drawing, only with different tools. The bottom line is, technology is only a mean, not an end.
DJL: -The Mutek platform in Canada has generated an important community of national and international artists that settled there, being a part of that community, what can you tell us about its beginning ten years ago?
AK: -Mutek has been very much helpful in establishing a lot of us indeed, but I believe the artists community have been also very much helpful in establishing Mutek worldwide. The primary idea with Mutek was to be in the game as any other successful communities like Berlin, Detroit, Chicago and London. The festival was put together, in order to create a network of international artists, labels and distributors and start the exchanges. The local community has always been at the center of the festival. After Mutek was launched the very first year, I got my first European record deal, and the rest is history.
I’ve know Mutek’s father Alain Mongeau for fifteen years, we’re close friends, so I’ve taken part in the elaboration of the festival throughout the years from day one. My record label Musique Risquée has also merged with Mutek a year ago. It’s all linked. It’s a family affair! This is what makes Mutek so different. There’s always been a strong community behind the machine. And we’re all very tight and supportive with each other. There has been a lot of struggling, plenty of sweat, tears and moments of discouragement but it was all worth it in the end. We weren’t trying to make a buck, but we were all simply very passionate about what we believed in. We’re all music lovers, that’s all.
DJL: -What kind of software and hardware are you using for your LIVE shows?
AK: -On the road I simply use a computer running Ableton Live. In the studio, it’s a little more elaborate. I play a lot the keyboards, the bass, the guitar and various percussions.
DJL: -You played in our country a couple of years ago, at a Mutek too, what do you remember from that presentation and what are your expectations for your upcoming show in November?
AK: -It was an awesome night! People were so generous and kind with us, it was beautiful. Sadly some of our artists were stuck in Chile due to a flight incident. Blame Air Canada!! It was my first time in Argentina and I was waiting for that moment for so long! Our dear friend PoLee (Mutek responsable) made it happen, thanks to him and his efforts. And so I got the Argentinian fever and I’ve been dreaming of coming back since then.
DJL: -What artists caught your attention recently?
AK: -Hungarian visual artist, Istvan Orosz.
Entrevista Exclusiva con Akufen : Del Jardín Latino | Musica y Cultura Electronica
