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CDN BEATS: TNG – PHANTASMA

June 16, 2012

On the 18th edition of BEATS: The Next Generation, I’m proud to re-introduce Phantasma (formerly Elliot Mars) of Edmonton, Alta. His young skills are getting recognized by the likes of Future Roots so watch out! As always, if you or someone you know should be featured on BEATS, please holla at kpelletier@djmag.ca!

Name: Alex Jensen

Age: 21

Current City: Edmonton, Alta.

Style: 808, glitch-hop, dubstep, trap

Hi, my name is Phantasma and I’m addicted to music.

When did you get in the scene?

I started DJing when I turned 18 in 2008, so I’ve been playing for almost four years now. I never really got into the bass music scene until about three years ago when I got a good grasp on sound design and synthesis. Before that I was making house music and playing in house-friendly venues here in Edmonton.

What can people look most forward to when you spin?

A diversity of deep and heavy sounding bass music. Before I was producing a lot of heavy dubstep under the alias ‘Elliot Mars’ but I’ve currently started a new project called ‘Phantasma’. I’ve been drawn to the whole mid-tempo do-whatever-you-want kind of dance music and I’ll be preparing a live set once I have enough tracks to play.

What the first track that got your heart pumping?

A tune called Kaori by Spor. The intro to the song has always given me shivers, it’s probably one of the most epic neurofunk tunes of all time!

How have you grown the most since you first started out?

In a technical sense, you could say I’ve propelled myself to creating any kind of sound I have in my head and properly laying it down with the expectation of what it will sound like. This has helped me so much with music because it gives me a faster workflow, the musical composition is a lot easier to do than the technicality of the sound design. The interaction of sound is extremely important and I’m glad I’ve gotten to the state where I don’t have to constantly struggle because I don’t know how to use a program or something.

What is your favourite part of the industry?

My favourite part about the industry is how random it is. Opportunities arise from hard work, however there are those special moments of networking with new people that you meet that you can mutually feed off of and benefit from. It’s nice meeting people who are into different things such as producing, promoting, throwing shows or simply DJing. I feel that it’s important to do things collectively rather than selfishly, presenting yourself with an emission of egocentrism. Meeting producers online is also another great thing because of how well you can get along with certain people that are into what you’re into. A good example would be the relationship I have with Mike Myers from Captain Panic. We met because of music and have been talking for a couple of years now … we’ve taught each other a lot of things and now we can produce on the same mindset … so it’s pretty entertaining, and the people love it.

What’s the biggest challenge for you when it comes to making it as a DJ/Producer?

The biggest challenge for me is getting over a writer’s block. Everyone experiences a block whether it be from no inspiration, some issues you need to resolve in your life, or a lack of creativity … I feel like the experiences you go through can effect (at least for me) the way you create a piece of art. I usually go to a show here and there if I’m not feeling my music so I can have some kind of big influence topped off with a good night with a bunch of friends. That’s probably my biggest motivator when it comes down to writing tracks.

Describe your first experience with electronic music?

I was 11 years old at my friend Ivan’s place downloading random music from his computer on Kazaa or something and we would come across a bunch of old school trance tunes, mainly ATB and Tiesto. My friend pretty much asked me if I ever heard of ‘rave music’ and I had no idea what it was … it definitely sounded a lot cooler than your average hard rock radio station (probably because I thought the sounds of synths were more intriguing than electric guitars). I’ve been listening to dance music ever since and I’ve had a bunch of genre phases.

What or who was the inspiration behind your career choice?

I stumbled upon this guy on MySpace around 2005 or 2006 named Karius Vega and he made a bunch of crazy IDM sounding music. There were a ton of albums and each song on each album almost painted itself in your mind as you heard it. He was probably one of the most diverse producers I’ve ever heard because of how much he covered on the emotional spectrum, as well as his sound design. Every album had a certain concept and it was a very philosophically enlightening time that I was going through as I heard his music, so it enthused me a lot.

Who gave you your first gig?

My friend Patryk got me a gig here in Edmonton with my friend David at a place that was once called The Bank Ultra Lounge in the basement. There was probably like 30-40 people downstairs, it was a really strange area and there wasn’t really a dance floor but a lot of my friends jam packed it even when there were bigger things going on upstairs.

Who do you look up to?

My friend Jake (Robertz, formerly from Knight Riderz). He’s consistently making music and it comes out different every time, there isn’t ever a track I hear from the dude that sucks or sounds the same and he can play a killer show too. I guarantee he’ll be someone to look out for later on this year.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself doing draft work for engineers, but I also see myself getting more involved with throwing shows as well as gigging in the states (or internationally) if the opportunities ever arise. My dream has always been (like anyone else) to play gigs and live off my music. I think it would be cool to tell yourself, ‘hey, look at what you’re doing now, you did it’.

Who is the artist you would like to work with most and why?

I feel like Kuedo would be a really fun guy to work with because of his simplicity. His music is harmonically and melodically powerful yet rhythmically simple. He’s really good at emitting emotion and feeling with his music! I saw the dude play in London early this month and he absolutely murdered it.

Who’s your biggest fan?

Mike Myers from Captain Panic obviously.

Where can we see you spin?

I’m with a crew called Future Roots here in Edmonton and we usually play at venues such as Empire (in West Edmonton Mall) or The Pawn Shop (Whyte Ave), or anywhere we book artists really. I’ve been offered a gig here and there in the states but unfortunately they haven’t followed through. I’ve just been offered a gig in San Francisco for July 14 so I’m hoping that’ll go down. Currently agent-less!

What’s your ‘guilty pleasure’ track?

Spheres of Madness by Decapitated. However I don’t feel too guilty about it, but if it ever came down to feeling guilty about a tune, that would be it I guess.

What’s your fav gig thus far?

I opened for Figure and The Killabits when they came here (on May 25) and it was probably one of the best sets I’ve ever played. I had a really fun night and to top it off all of my best friends were there supporting me.

What the first track that got your heart pumping?

A tune called Kaori by Spor. The intro to the song has always given me shivers, it’s probably one of the most epic neurofunk tunes of all time!

When did you start producing tracks? What software do you use to create?

I started producing in like 2004 but never got entirely serious until 2008. I probably have 100 if not over 100 tunes produced up to date and 500+ unfinished projects. I started using Fruityloops, then it evolved into using a Mac and going off with Logic. As far as my synthesis goes, I like using NI Massive/Razor/FM8 as well as FAW Circle.

Any you are most proud of?

Prism is one of the tunes that I like the most, it usually goes off hard when I play it live.

What’s your description of a great producer?

A great producer is a man/woman who isn’t scared to make what they want to make. A great producer is a man/woman who has no thought on their position in the ‘industry’ yet works hard because he/she wants to become better than what they were yesterday. A great producer has no expectation of what he/she will become and allows time to do its thing if something were to ever happen.

What’s your description of a DJ?

Someone who plays tracks that they enjoy and entertains a crowd of people for the sole purpose of showing what they’re into.

How is the scene in your eyes in the moment? Anything you would change?

Overly saturated with DJs possessing gigantic egos with no technical/lack of musical perception of what they are hearing. There’s a lack of appreciation these days. It’s all about extreme bangers and fist pumping with your partner that you go to world health club with every day (you’d know if you were from Edmonton). The music scene in general for the world of bass music is joyous, there are some really young kids out there producing really crazy tracks for their age and I’m really excited for their futures.

What advice would you give to any other up and coming DJs/producers?

Be modest, write music that will hit your soul and work hard. But most importantly have fun with it all!

How do you think you will stand out in the EDM scene?

It’s hard to say, but I have confidence that I can excel and keep up with producing quality tunes for the public to hear, but most importantly recognizing that it’s quality to myself. All in all, I hope I stand out as a unique and exciting producer.

Anything to add?

For the people who knew me as Elliot Mars, I will be writing music under this new Phantasma alias. It’s going to be a brand new lineage of music and I’ll be sure to please your ears. Big influences from thriving 808 music and random mid-tempo bass riddimz! Stay tuned for the forthcoming EPs.

Here’s the MIX: