Biographer Richard Shickel wrote of actor Marlon Brando, “the essence of his art has always derived from the tension between his impulse to truth and his instinct to hide.”
This description may not bring any names immediately to mind. You could argue that Bob Dylan, Kurt Cobain, and maybe John Lennon shared this ironic trait. We might identify with complicated brilliance from time to time but conformity is everywhere (and in every thing). In EDM, even self-confessed “no-genre” style producers are risking similarity by claiming difference.
Back on the mothership, there is some clarity and creative energy flowing from another dimension. The story of UFO! is about adaptation and real world situations. Maybe that's why being an alien suits Edwin Garro's mysterious image.
We had a chance to discuss what to expect in 2015, the Animal House Tour he just wrapped up with Bro Safari, and where it all began. Born in the U.S. but forced to move to Costa Rica in his youth, he needed $250 to punch a ticket home and he did – by spinning a set and knocking on a window.
“My dad is from Costa Rica so I spent some years living with him when I was younger. One day, I just decided to walk into a local radio station, told them I was an American DJ and they should put me on. They laughed at me and told me to come back with my turntables.”
Garro came back, spinning NWA and gangster rap on air that was still new to Costa Rican pop culture. His set attracted phone calls, a gig, and eventually a ticket home by the time he left the station.
“That's how it started. I knew the only way I was going to make it back to the U.S. was to make something of myself.”
He returned to his native San Francisco (still home) and it wasn't long before he started touring the world as one of the best drum and bass DJ's (for reference: Maelstrom Mixtape).
Fast forward to 2015. UFO! lurks, one of your favorite producer's favorite producers. You know him most recently for songs like It's A Trap and his work with Bro Safari including 2012 and the “Animal LP” (not to mention the remixes) and other singles (SC link).
Bro Safari, who started with Evol Intent, looked up to and reached out to Garro as a fan during the years when UFO! was shining with his work in drum and bass. They forged a tight knit relationship that may be in its infancy. Today, their mutual respect reaches beyond Ableton. Citing Bach, The Beatles, and Vangelis as some of his influences, melodic or acoustic roots are at the core of UFO! (and Bro Safari) in 2015.
“I'm actually getting ready to release a gang of new material I've been working on over the past few months. My new tunes are a little different than what people are used to hearing from me, they're definitely more on the musical, smooth, minimal side. As for me and Bro, we've got probably around 60 or 70 tunes that need to be finished. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day.”
“I'm actually getting ready to release a gang of new material I've been working on over the past few months. My new tunes are a little different than what people are used to hearing from me, they're definitely more on the musical, smooth, minimal side. As for me and Bro, we've got probably around 60 or 70 tunes that need to be finished. There just never seems to be enough hours in the day.”He played some new tunes on the Animal House Tour.
“The response was insane! I got to test out a lot of my new tunes that I haven't released yet (just) to see how the crowds would react… so that was pretty awesome.”
With this years Animal House Tour selling out and reaching new heights, the audience has grown significantly. But the motto for UFO! is the same.
“The minute I feel something is stagnant, without even knowing it I change it up so I feel like my life is evolving. When situations in my life change, my music changes with it. I guess that's why I can never seem to stick to one style of music. My life is always evolving, I'm constantly evolving as a person and that translates into my music.”
Having seen electronic music evolve since the 90's, genres and tempos have gone in waves.
“I think music is just a reflection of what people are going through at a certain time. Since we are constantly evolving as a species, it's natural to hear that shift in the music.”
UFO!'s Soundcloud account is even “Zion” to your “matrix,” toying and teasing the listener. His link on one particular song that usually might say “FREE DOWNLOAD” is even replaced with “FREE BEER.” He's recently uploaded some experimental tracks which were later taken down.
“I like using my SoundCloud as a tool to test the ground, gauge people's reactions and just see how people respond to different sounds.”
As we see from time to time, sometimes musicians will go to great lengths “searching for sound,” or getting inspiration from a new discovery. UFO! is in touch with his connection to nature.
“Lately I've been listening to birds a lot. Birds are some of the most crafty music makers. You can learn a lot by listening to birds. If you listen carefully you can hear EDM leadline patterns that are being manipulated by LFO's in the sounds they make. It's amazing.”
Which begs the question, where did you park the the flying saucer?
“Aliens are very real. They are your dogs, your cats, any species that are not humans. My home planet's name was not given to me. I guess that's why my name is UFO. I've always been fascinated by the mystical allure of Egyptian society and their appreciation for the arts, life, and the afterlife.”
The truth is out there.
“Believe in yourself, surround yourself with people that believe in you and never fear being yourself. Carve your own way, change the world.”
