Jasper Williamson x Cenk Esen – Medley [Interview]

Describe your sound in 3 words

(J) Our sound in 3 words would be esoteric, playful, and emotive
(C) Experimental – Projectional – Improvisational

Medley feels as an actual medley of numerous songs indeed. What is the story behind it? What is your creative process like?

(J) Medley came to fruition when we had stitched several ideas together from a session we did together in London, at Jomy’s place. We just played together for a few hours with no predetermined direction… just improvising, and we recorded it all. A few weeks later, I started sorting through the session and began picking out the bits that I thought made the best loops, like you would find in a hip-hop sample for instance, and I found about 10. We wanted to share these somehow so we picked the ones that we liked the best and smashed them together, adding a few things on top as well, like the piano solo. So really, Medley is 4 different pieces that we originally had named: Smoke, Jump, Moment 2, and Delicate… in that order.

What first got you into music?

(C) My parents are both serious musicians so that is definitely the main factor… Even when I was a baby and very young, there was always music playing in our house. I would be taken to my father’s concerts and I believe growing up surrounded with all these sounds subconsciously prepared me to get into music.

(J) What first got me into music was listening to cd’s on my walkman as a kid. And playing drums in the elementary school band, where my teacher gifted me a drum kit and I played it with pencils until I got a pair of sticks.

Favourite album of the past year?

(J) Tough question. Two I really love are “Where I’m Meant To Be” by Ezra Collective and “Damage” by Kim Doeon.

(C) There have not been many albums that I was extremely drawn to this year, but I really enjoyed some of the tracks in Domi & JD Beck’s album “Not Tight” (especially the mixing). Have also been checking the band and album Azimuth recently, even though it is a few decades old…

What does hip hop symbolize in your opinion?

(J) To me, hip hop symbolizes self expression and celebration of life. It is also home to a massive range of emotions and perspectives, and it’s an outlet where people can express both of these things.

(C) I feel like hip hop symbolizes the ability the be laid back rhythmically – in a literal and metaphorical sense. The music’s also really open to unique,personal statements that strive for self expression both with lyrics and instruments.

In which state of mind do you imagine people might listen to your music?

(C) I think our music has the vibe to be listened to in any emotional state – whether being upset, excited, joyful, disappointed, melancholic etc… Philosophically speaking, I think the tracks go great with a mind state of contemplation, curiosity about where sounds & art can go as well as being okay with surprises and unexpected turns that the music may take!

(J) I think that people would connect most with our music when they are in a state of mind that is open, self-reflective, and curious.

What is the most useless talent you have?

(C) I am one of the best FIFA (video game) players you can find!! Can also say the same thing about Poker, been very good with the card games since a young age.

(J) I like this question because it makes you realize how many things you can do are actually useful. I am very very good at Mario Kart.. and that’s not super useful.

Thank you!

Follow our Spotify Playlist feat. Jasper Williamson x Cenk Esen

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