Emil Smith Interview on Nagamag

Nagamag:
What are the genres that describe better your music style?

Emil Smith:
Cinematic, instrumental world (middle eastern).

Nagamag:
Few words about your musical background and career?

Emil Smith:
My background as a music producer, sound engineer and singer/songwriter has shaped my approach to how I currently work with soundtracks and instrumental compositions. I have a deep interest in shaping timbre and working with transforming textures.

Nagamag:
Do you remember your first connection of love to music that was the right impact to be a music artist now?

Emil Smith:
My first head dive into music was when my brother introduced me to grunge rock. I started playing guitar and instantly connected with the genre and subculture.
A few years later I met a guy who did recordings and synth programming. I was intrigued by the creative process behind sound manipulation and using the recording studio as an instrument and a compositional tool.
Since, I've played in many small bands as a songwriter, guitarist, vocalist and drummer and gradually I've been leaning towards creation and less towards live performance.
I love storytelling, and I think music is a great tool to tell a story. I bring my own story and my love of art, fiction, world music and creativity into my music.

Nagamag:
What is the idea behind the Middle Eastern instrumentation used throughout the EP?

Emil Smith:
The EP is a conceptual soundtrack for an animation project called 'Aetherreach' (in development). It's set in a desert wasteland: As the rivers are polluted by toxic waste, the drought-plagued desert tribes rebel against the tyranny of the advanced tech-nation of Aetherreach.
I wanted the soundtrack to sound middle eastern, without pointing towards a specific culture of traditional music, as the story is set in an alternate universe. This is why the instrumentation is so eclectic - I've borrowed a bit here and there: Syrian kamancheh, Armenian duduk, Turkish saz, North African percussion and kalimba - besides neoclassical strings, dark synths and glitch drums presenting the sci-fi elements from Aetherreach.

Nagamag:
Do you have any new projects coming?

Emil Smith:
I'm sketching out my first ideas for a collaborative project with world influences and dark cinematic bowed textures.
Besides that, I'm working on the score of a short documentary. In August I start a Film Scoring master degree on the National Film School of Denmark.

Nagamag:
Most artists have a favorite song from a different music genre than the one they are producing music for... Which is yours?

Emil Smith:
Sudan Archives "Oatmeal"

Nagamag:
Of Course Nagamag would love to listen also which track from a similar artist you admire?

Emil Smith:
Madar Ensemble "Silence"