Fourmï Rouz: The Ransom Note Mix
From time to time something takes you by surprise. In this case it was a coincidental email which landed amidst the chaos at just the right time.
Fourmï Rouz originates from the island of Mauritius, a place which you might not usually associate with electronic music in a stereotypical sense. In some ways you might be accurate in this view, however, that certainly doesn't mean that there aren't artists intertwining local influences and electronic sounds. This mix is a representation of the diversity which exists amongst electronic music culture as Fourmï Rouz blends traditional elements alongside a forward thinking fusion of blends.
We caught up with him to talk roots and more. Listen to the mix and read the interview below:
Please introduce yourself…
Hello, my name is Logeshen Moorgan and I’m from Mauritius. I enjoy cooking, kissing, hanging out in nature and daydreaming.
Who are you, where are you and what are you?
Chilling at my buddies in Réunion island, not far from my homeland in the Indian Ocean. I’m a globe-trotting music enthusiast, cultural antagonist, record collector, label head and Dj.
What does your music sound like?
An intimate journey across the continents.
Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us, an image from the old internet is acceptable?
An illustration by my good friends Kid Kreol & Boogie ( Réunion Island )
Musically speaking your tastes run far and wild, where do you draw most influence from?
I like to think of music as the key to enlightenment, where thoughts can be guided by the flow of rhythms and melodies. My multi-ethnic roots shaped my curiosity for the undiscovered. Books, movies, documentaries, old tapes were the only means before Internet. In 2008, I moved to London and I would be spending the next few years living with music students, taking record trips in different countries. Then, I somehow ended up living in the beautiful city of Vilnius, whose music scene inspired me a lot.
What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?
Kraftwerk – Die Mensch Maschine. I felt space travel for ordinary humans would soon be possible.
Where was the mix recorded?
At my friend’s studio in Mauritius.
What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?
Anywhere you feel good … with the right people or alone under the stars …
What should we be wearing?
Ideally naked, or anything comfortable.
What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location, system, format?
In the High Himalayas, a small table, a laptop, decent pair of travel speakers and unlimited supply of warm beverages.
Which track in the mix is your current favourite?
That’s a hard one … I would go for ‘Pigmalião – À Dois’ from the new Frente Bolivarista compilation.
What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?
Gaslamp Killer – When I Was Twenty One Mixtape
If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?
Mr. Scruff. His sets are a true memorial of our musical heritage.
What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?
A pair of technics and a Numark mixer. I’m currently in the process of setting up a studio space in my house and so far, I’m using a pair of technics, old DJM-400 and a messy record affair.
What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?
I tend to think they are equally important.
What were the first and last records you bought?
I only started collecting records back in 2008, while studying in Hertfordshire, UK. “Horace Silver – A Song For My Father“ and “Ryo Kawasaki – Selected Works 1979 To 1983” – repress.
If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?
The coconut chicken curry my friend is cooking right now.
If it was an animal what would it be?
Chameleon-Lemur
One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?
Can't think of any …
Upcoming in the world of …
2017 looks promising. We’re launching our new ‘Music Kabinet’ website, radioshow goes back on, on the label we’ve got a few Indian Ocean releases in the making, cross-cultural album from Mauritius and Réunion via Colombia, New-York and the UK. More travels, new destinations, meeting inspirational beings.
Follow Fourmi Rouz on facebook HERE.
Photo's courtesy of Brady Goorappa & Enilorac.
