Influences: Nathan Melja

Music

Based amidst the suburban metropolis of Paris, Nathan Melja has steadily been releasing music across many years, his material has appeared on a wide spectrum of record labels and has found its way into the bags of disc jockeys the world over. His music has featured on the likes of Mister Saturday Night, Technicolour and Opal Tapes and he has most recently announced a new EP on the longstanding French label Antinote. The new release see's him hold no punches as he targets three tracks firmly towards the dancefloor with power and poise.

The label described the release as follows:

"It’s easy to fall for a nostalgic approach to dance music, to cuddle oneself in the warm analogue sounds of late 1980’s dance productions – especially with the heavy ongoing reissue trend going on. However, we have to stay focus: look out for contemporary sounds and means of production. Parisian producer Nathan Melja makes his debut on Antinote with an idiosyncratic three-tracker and our guess is that it sounds contemporary. On the A-side : Deadrums. Both the name and the music speak for themselves. It’s hard, it’s efficient and at the same time. This track is a precise piece of machinery, an atmospheric banger, yes, but with deadly jaws made out of tempered steel to tear a dancefloor apart, piece-by-piece. On the B-side, Angels stands out as a perfect example of Nathan Melja’s singular touch on dance music. Contemplative, melancholic and – let’s say it – sad, its nagging melody can bring a little tear to the eyes of the most sensitive ones. Rounding up the 12” is Candy, a tune under the influence of bad boys like DJ Overdose, or Ghettotech legend DJ Assault – so that you can dry your tears."

It is these influences which he have asked for Nathan to provide insight into, a guide into the music which makes him click as a person and that has led him along an inspired journey of self discovery and musical expression…

See below:

Buy the new EP HERE.

LISTEN

Actress - Splazsh

“This whole album has been a massive influence from the beginning when I started producing. Actress had an huge impact on the people of my age I think and also a lot of people tried to recreate that sound that takes all the elements from Aphex Twin, Autechre and other legends and twists it in a really interesting way, only he has the real secret. It was around 2011 when I got into Actress and it was also when I was discovering the Bass music scene with Hessle Audio but I guess I really focused on him for at least 5 years after that. All my music was inspired by Actress at that time.”

Actress - Splazsh

“This whole album has been a massive influence from the beginning when I started producing. Actress had an huge impact on the people of my age I think and also a lot of people tried to recreate that sound that takes all the elements from Aphex Twin, Autechre and other legends and twists it in a really interesting way, only he has the real secret. It was around 2011 when I got into Actress and it was also when I was discovering the Bass music scene with Hessle Audio but I guess I really focused on him for at least 5 years after that. All my music was inspired by Actress at that time.”
Woo - Into The Heart Of Love

“This is a big inspiration for me as it makes the gap between soft rock, almost pop songs like Durutti Column, Mac Demarco for the actual ones and weird ambient stuff that I like to listen to and play in my shows on Rinse France. This album is really great but the rest is a MUST to check out !
I produced some folk/ soft rock tracks in the past which were good but I don’t think I fit in this genre very much.”
Rhythim Is Rhythim Icon (Montage Mix)

“This is the ultimate level of production for me. It’s simple but also very complex at the same time. Gives a lot of emotions not only within the dreamy pads but I think also it’s the combination of all those tiny weird bleeps the make this track so unique. Massive tune!”
Ability Ii - Pressure Dub

“First time I heard this track in a proper sound system was at Good Room when Maurice Fulton played it 4 years ago, it went OFF !
The bassline is so gangster and profound. I read somewhere that the guy spent so many hours tweaking that bass. It’s the most powerful track I’ve ever played and it’s also a perfect one for soundcheck.
It made me spend so many hours on discogs digging for bleep and bass stuff and that influenced me a lot.”
Harry Fraud - Bird On A Wire

“He’s behind so many hit songs, it’s crazy ! He influenced me a lot because of the way he samples. As I mentioned before with the Actress example, I use to sample so much ! Everyone of my old tracks were 80% samples from so many differents sources. It has changed a lot now, I barely sample anything when I produce.”
Mobb Deep - Cradle To The Grave

“I discovered this when I was maybe 14.. That whole era was so beautiful for me, I was so young ! It never left me, Method Man, DMX… Hip Hop in general never left me and it will never. It’s part of my musical background and I think you can hear the Hip Hop side of my influences in my music, even now.
We used to listen to this album EVERY day with my friends back in the days ! It’s good memories and pure music.”
Bobby Caldwell - My Flame

“When it comes to non-club music, Bobby Caldwell is a regular for me. I know I can listen to him anytime, I will feel happy and that’s life is about, right ? It’s so so well produced, and his voice … It reminds me a lot of the music I was discovering being a child thanks to my father.”
Sw. - Untitled A1 [Reminder Part Two]

“Everything I love is inside his music. It’s worth checking and I’m obsessed with every of his records. It bridges the gap between old 90’s ambient techno stuff from to contemporary bass music in a really singular way. Also the way he mixes his records has a unique touch that nobody else has and it’s definitely an inspiration to me.”