Afro-Irish artist Breezy iDeyGoke and electronic producer Art of Algebra have released their new four-track EP, A Quantum Trip. We asked Art of Algebra the BIG questions . . .
Raised in Enniscrone on the west coast of Ireland, Art of Algebra is the electronic music project of David Hallinan, an Irish producer whose sound blends a mix of electronica sub-genres including trip-hop, downtempo, ambient and the LA 'Beat-Scene'.
We need your consent to load this Spotify contentWe use Spotify to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Breezy iDeyGoke is an Afro-Irish artist who fuses musical influences of rap, R&B and afrobeat.
Speaking about the new EP, Art of Algebra says, "It’s an unusual mix that probably shouldn’t blend together well, but it does for us.
"I think Breezy does an amazing job of sewing the sounds together and making the whole thing energetic and compelling. His voice and his lyricism match the mood of the production to a T."
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
For me, making music and artistic expression are essential. I can’t imagine a situation where I wouldn’t be doing something like this. I would highly recommend that anyone, no matter who you are, should try their hand at expressing themselves artistically in some shape or form.
While I’m really passionate about making music, family is the most important thing in my life
at the moment. My wife Hinata and I have two boys, a four-year-old and a two-year-old. Hinata is from Tokyo, so we’re a bilingual and bicultural household.
I feel a lot of anxiety about the direction of things culturally and politically in the current moment. I’m sure many people feel the same. The nineties and the noughties seem like they were much more optimistic eras as compared to where we are now.
How would you describe your music?
It’s a bit of a mix. The stuff I’m doing with Breezy is what I would describe as a heavy form of trip-hop. Trip-hop usually involves a lower tempo, distorted sounds and dark ambient synths.
Texture is also really important too. A lot of the most prominent trip-hop artists that people will know, like Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky, mix spoken word and rich female vocals that creates a really nice contrast. When Breezy and I work together, that’s the kind of sound that we tend to land on.
When it comes to my solo stuff, some of it is downtempo ambient electronica that is pretty bright and laid back. Some of it is darker and more avant garde. Honestly, I try not to work towards any styles or genres. Production is a creative process. Whatever comes out the other end, it is what it is. The most important thing for me is to do something distinctive with a sound that hasn’t already been done before. That’s what I’m trying to do.
Who are your musical inspirations?
In terms of electronic producers, I love artists like Rival Consoles, Max Cooper, Boards of Canada, Teebs, Jon Hopkins, Gidge, Four Tet, and Andy Stott. While I mainly draw on these types of electronic producers for inspiration, hip-hop producers are doing something very distinct. I often think that what you hear hip-hop producers doing is so creative and even more mind-blowing. I love how hip-hop producers can work with basic samples and build layers to make something really novel and rich.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
I think the first gig I ever went to was a local battle of the bands event in Ballina. We’re talking when I was in my teens. There was a lot of moshing, crowd-surfing, bad body odours, underage drinking - everything you could want at that age. I ended up eventually playing at those gigs as a bass player in a band together with friends.
What was the first record you ever bought?
It might’ve been HIStory by Michael Jackson, as I’m pretty sure I bought that not long after it came out in 1995.
What’s your favourite song right now?
That’s a tough one. Maybe Punish by Ethel Cain. The production and soundscape on it is really messy and full of texture. Her voice blows me away on that track. I’m not into everything she does, but I love that track.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Probably Pilot by Tyler, The Creator. I just love how he creates a context with his lyricism on that. It’s just a simple metaphor, but he crafts so much around it. There’s a lot of wit and humour, and he manages to be very hostile and funny at the same time. It’s one of my all-time favourite tracks, even if the album as a whole is not as strong as his other stuff. The line that stands out is "I’m in first class but it feels like coach". You just know that Tyler has got the best of everything, but he isn’t happy.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Henryk Górecki’s Symphony No. 3.
Where can people find your music/more information?
Just search for ‘Art of Algebra’ on Bandcamp, YouTube, Spotify, Instagram etc.
Alan Corr
