A Quick Chat with Cactus Face
Your first single "Those Hot Summer Nights" was released on April 5th. Could you share the process behind its creation?
The track was formed after delving into some of my early Trip-Hop influences and wanting to create a cinematic kind of theme for NYC. The beat was essentially the first key point to finding the hypnotic rhythm, as well as some beautiful soulful samples and ethereal rain atmosphere - everything fell into place easily.
What inspired the title?
The title is inspired by one of my favorite movies set in NYC, Spike Lee’s ‘Do The Right Thing’ - which takes place during a sweltering heat-wave which brings the city to a standstill. I always felt this event reflected the cities symbiotic nature, a collective experience in which people are forced to resolve their differences and overcome such big challenges together.
You're an Australian living in Dresden, Germany. Any plans to tour home some time soon?
It would be a dream to travel back home soon for a visit and to bring a live Cactus Face show to the stage. I miss Australia a lot too, and my family. I’ve been developing a live performance with accompanying visuals of the whole album which I will start debuting here in Germany soon - and hopefully some more shows in June in Australia.
Who's an Australian artist you're a huge fan of?
At the moment I have many Australian musicians I admire, many who are also friends and even family members - making incredible music which I would also love to see brought out here to Europe. If I would have to choose one who i’m currently listening to it would be my soul brother Deepchild (aka Rick Bull). Rick moved to Berlin around the same time I did back in 2010 and we formed a close friendship and even collaborated together promoting his album ‘Neukölln Burning’ - which still is one of my favourite electronic records of all time and a nostalgic symbol of my time living Berlin through long dark winters.
If you weren't pursuing music, what do you think you'd be doing?
Well, funnily enough - I actually have been pursuing an artistic career in photography and film, as my mainstay over the years has been working as a freelance artist making music videos, documentary films and taking photos. It works quite well and I love my job, plus I am happy to say it has also allowed me to develop some long lasting friendships and collaborations with incredible artists and musicians, including William Barton, Mogli, Clemens Christian Poetzsch, Len Faki - just to name a few… I am also currently developing a very personal short film about music and memory, based on my grandmother’s battle with Alzheimer’s disease - which will be set in the south of France.
What's on the horizon for Cactus Face
I have big plans for the Cactus Face world, it has been such an exciting creative journey to develop this refreshing and highly experimental project over the last year. It combines so much of what I love about music and the spark of inspiration behind creating something totally unexpected from what you thought you could achieve. I have written an album which we will be bringing out later in the year, after a few more tasty singles and EPs, remixes along the way. Plus, creating all of the visual content is a great way to combine both of my creative worlds - and to also collaborate with other artists here and abroad to help bring the Cactus Face Universe to life. I also launched a new indie label called ’Succulent Music’, in which this music and other artists like it can find a home.
Look out for the next single coming in May, along with another remix I made for some friends which was released on the 26th April, titled ‘Remember’by Mondëna Quartet
Darwinism, the next Cactus Face single is out on the 24th May