BOOMA
Mark your robo calendars! Tell your immediate and not so immediate social relations! Our annual three day music series TOTAL ECLIPSE (Apr. 12th -14th) is comin’ up fast! Time to get to know some of the artists on the bill with these intimate but not too intimate BUT JUST INTIMATE ENOUGH Q&A’s. Next up is electronic artist, DJ and member of MTL’s international Booma collective, Oren Ratowsky.
What is your name?
>>>>>> Oren Ratowsky.
>>>>>>>> What is the story behind your name?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I tossed around a few "alias" type names when I was younger which
>>>>>> were
>>>>>> all
>>>>>> pretty stupid. Eventually I had to tell promoters my name for shows
>>>>>> and,
>>>>>> for lack of a better name, gave them my real name.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Hometown:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> San Francisco.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Home base:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>> Montreal.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Latest recording/release:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>> "Raccoon". I'm working on another track which will be out soon, it's
>>>>>> pretty ambitious, very intricate and production-heavy. it's not
>>>>>> really
>>>>>> something I've done before stylistically so I'm curious as to how it
>>>>>> will
>>>>>> be received.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Describe the vibe/feel of this album in five words:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>> slow, hip-hop-inspired, synthesizers, pianos.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What have you been listening to lately?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> joel zimmerman's pre-deadmau5 tunes, they're amazing. a guy called
>>>>>> Stimming is making some amazing, melodic, dynamic house music.
>>>>>> Talking
>>>>>> Heads.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What is your craziest/most memorable/favourite tour story?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> probably playing at this warehouse party a couple years ago in St
>>>>>> Henri.
>>>>>> there were all these high energy raver types and the vibes were just
>>>>>> insane and not something I was really used to playing to. I ended up
>>>>>> playing all this super up front, aggressive music and they loved it.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> What's your pre-show routine?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> usually pace around nervously trying to look important.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> ...And post-show?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Go outside the venue, get fresh air, get a drink.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Who would you love to share a bill with?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Who are your dream collaborators (living or dead)?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Bach, Dr. Dre, and David Byrne.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> If you could see your music, what would it look like?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Most crucial equipment for your music making:
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> definitely a computer, aside from that I end up spending a lot of
>>>>>> time
>>>>>> in
>>>>>> front of my Moog and a lot of time messing around on keyboards.
>>>>>> recently
>>>>>> I've been trying to get my eyes off the screen and use more hardware
>>>>>> stuff, pedals and doing more recording.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> When and where are your upcoming shows/performances?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Booma is doing a loft party on the 7th, and we'll also be playing at
>>>>>> Blizzarts. There's another big show were planning the beginning of
>>>>>> May
>>>>>> which we don't have all the details for. We're also probably going to
>>>>>> do a
>>>>>> smaller party at the end of the month as well.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>> Whose songs should be playing on the oldies station 50 years from
>>>>>>>>> now?
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Aphex Twin. Mother Mother. Outkast.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
BOOMA will be performing during Total Eclipse as part of the William Shatner's
Whiskey Tears showcase on Friday, April 13th at Bella Muse. Super secret address announced 48hrs
before the event!
