Astromagnum: The 'Monday Is Okay' Mix

Music

It would seem that each day a new record label is born, many of them sound the same, the repeated ideology of music as part of a continuous loop. However, it is always refreshing to see a dynamic approach being taken as part of a labour of love. The Astromagnum project isn't focused on branding, trendy subcultures or anything of the likes. It's focus remains on the squeaks, squawks and soundscapes of electronic music and all of it's modular geekiness and glory. Listen and read the interview below:

Please introduce yourself…

I'm Ash Sargant.I live in Kent. I'm a sound designer, voice over artist and music producer.

How did the Astromagnum project come to be?

I'd been buying, selling hardware synthesisers and workstation / groove-boxes since 2009 and rediscovering synthesis, and trying to move away from making music on computers.

I wanted to move away from making random electronic music that jumped from genre to genre. To do this I needed a concept so I could develop and frame a consistent or somewhat recognisable sound.

I’ve always loved Sci Fi and was really affected by movie soundtracks and TV music.

John Carpenter and Alan Howarth's soundtrack for Escape from New York was one of the main influences for the first few Astromagnum tracks (in particular 'Zajac's Theme', from Episode 1, the first EP I released.

This set the general vibe I wanted to create – 80s synth-wave/retro/electro space disco, imaginary soundtracks, ever so slightly tongue in cheek but without it being a parody.

Pretty much everything I've made under Astromagnum was and still is made solely on hardware, using my iMac only to record, edit and master. Occasionally I'll track something in and layer some VSTs but generally I'm all about hardware now.

Influences:

My mum had Stevie Wonder's ‘Journey through the Secret Life of Plants’ playing quite often when I was very young, maybe 3/4 years old. It scared the shit out of me at points, but was also very beautiful at the same time. The soundscapes in it really sparked my imagination. She'd also play Michael Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire and George Benson. So I grew up listening mostly to soul/jazz/disco, and film/TV soundtracks, but

When I was about 8 or 9, my older sister had some great electro on vinyl, Man Parrish, Street Sounds, Cybotron, Warp 9 etc. Talk Talk’s ‘Spirit of Eden’ album also had a profound affect on me as a teen.

As a teen I was mostly into hiphop, Public Enemy, De La Soul, BDK, Masta Ace, Gangstarr etc. I think the relentlessness of a lot of Public Enemy's music was a big influence, namely the perfectly obnoxious loops in Welcome to the Terrordome and Rebel without a Pause. I was also heavily into Jungle and D&B in the 90s and DJ’d and producing started with that under the name of !Plova, which I still use for general electronic music.

Monday Mix

My Monday Mix is mostly made up of my soundscape work. There's some programmed/arranged stuff in there but most of it is generative drones, where I’ve I set up the conditions for my machines to compose the music for me. It’s pretty much devoid of beats with a couple of exceptions.

If it were drawn:

A John Lautner architectural diagram.

If it were food:

Moroccan Spiced Chicken followed by Rhubarb or Pear Crumble, hopefully.

Ideal Setting:

A large auditorium, a valley with no light pollution, an abandoned scientific research center.

What to wear?

A peaceful and friendly expression.

Where was it recorded?

In the Garden of England

Are you on the same wavelength as the boomtown rats or do you actually like Mondays?

I love Mondays, they’re good.

Who got you hooked on electronic music?

My sister, she brought 'Crucial Electro' home when she was about 13 and I was 8

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?

For Astromagnum I'd say definitely Clark, Com Truise, John Carpenter, some Philip Glass. Recognition? Some cash?

What were your original aspirations as musicians and how do you think you're shaping up?

To make good music I enjoyed listening to. Shaping up OK but I'm nowhere near satisfied, which is a good thing

Some self help questions for a Monday:

Am I excited to dive into the challenges that i have lined up for the week?

Yes

Am I looking forward to engaging with the people i am meeting or working with?

Yes

Am I going to my dream job?

Yes

Am I being compensated fairly for the value i bring to my job?

Sometimes

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?

Yes

If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose? How long would it be before you eat them?

My mate Pod, we'd talk shit for quite a while. I wouldn't eat him, I'm too kind.

Your doctor says you need more exercise….what do you take up for exercise?

Ju Jitsu

If you could travel in time…where in time would you go? Why?

Back to secondary school and sort out some unfinished business

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?

Oxygene by Jean- Michel Jarre. Like I was in space probably.

How does your brain work when making music?

Engaged

How does it work when you aren’t?

Slightly disengaged

What were the first and last records you bought?

I think I bought Mad World or Pale Shleter by Tears for Fears, and Michael Jackson's Thriller when I was a bout 7 or 8 – from Our Price with Christmas vouchers. I most recently bought Hymnal by Benoit Pioulard, I wanted it on vinyl