[SF Giveaway + Exclusive Interview] Kodak to Graph @ 1015 Folsom, 4/30

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’Kodak to Graph – Los Angeles’

Kodak to Graph approaches electronic music in a powerful, novel way that combines a diverse set of sounds with a sensibility that spans from EDM trap to ambient and trance. His debut album, Isa, embodies his versatility capturing a broad range of emotions telling an elaborate story along the way.

The LA-based talent will be stopping through 1015 Folsom in San Francisco next Thursday, April 30th, as part of his Break the Ice Tour and we’re giving away a pair of tickets to one lucky winner! With support from Big Wild and OBESØN, the show promises to not only be a night full of dancing but also one that showcases some particularly organic up ‘n coming electronic styles. We also were lucky to ask Kodak to Graph a few questions about his musical background, putting together his debut album and his live performances. Get to know K2G a bit better in our exclusive interview and enter the giveaway by inputting your email below! The winner will be contacted via email on April 28th, a week from today. You can also still purchase tickets for the show here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY TO WIN 2 TICKETS

’Kodak to Graph – Glaciaa’

TMN: Can you tell us a bit about how Kodak to Graph came to be and what your earlier explorations into music involved?

Kodak to Graph: K2G began as an outlet for me to release my sappy loop based ‘post-rock’ music back in high-school.  I use to have this delay/loop pedal that would let you loop for about 6 seconds and I would make little loops of guitar, bells, random TV noises, vocals and pretty much anything else that could make noise and kick beats over them for hours.  From there I started playing little house shows for my friends and that’s pretty much when I came up with the name Kodak to Graph. The name comes from an old slide projector that I used for visuals.  It was called a Kodak Ektographic.  I would hang a sheet in front of me, because I was too terrified to perform in front of people, and project slides of old family photographs on the sheet. Most of the first Kodak to Graph recordings were written on my girlfriend’s computer and recorded with one condenser mic. It was all real instruments, the music was kind of reminiscent of old Efterklang, Helios, Sigur Ros etc. There was very minimal electronic influences in the beginnings.  The first record I released as K2G, which I don’t think exists on the internet anymore, was all very melodic chilled out ‘post rock’ / math’y oriented music.  I started getting into electronic music a few years later through my older brother and that’s really when I started to be like, okay let’s see where this can go.

TMN: Your background clearly spans more than just electronic music. Who are some artists you listened to growing up that have impacted your sound? 

K2G: Totally. In middle school I was a die-hard At the Drive In / Mars Volta fan.  I think that was the first time I really discovered experimental/ psychedelic music and I remember being so f#@€ing excited and nutty about how alien that type of music sounded to me. I still find myself pulling inspiration from their music to this day. From there I grew into more melodic/math’y/ambient instrumental bands like Lymbyc Systym, Toe, American Football, Joan of Arc, Mice Parade, Mum, etc. I was first introduced to electronic music by my older brother through cats like DJ Shadow, Four Tet, Clutchy Hopkins, Bonobo, Caribou, etc; Which I feel that style of electronic music was the gateway into electronic music for a lot of people my age. We kind of came from that era where guys were sampling melodic folk records over old funk breaks.  I still have so much love for that sound.

TMN: Isa, your debut album, has a really fascinating and textured sound. Even with the variation, though, there’s a certain almost theatrical aesthetic that really ties it together. What was the recording process like in creating something that cohesive?

K2G: I wrote the record over a span of 2 years so the recording and writing process on the record was ever changing and evolving.  I’m kind of A.D.D when it comes to writing music, so I’ll start tracks by getting really really messy and just layering anything and everything on top of each other then come back to it later and pull layers back.  I don’t generally consider how I’m going to make something sound cohesive when I’m writing the music. In the case of ISA, I chose 10 songs out of a bunch of 50+ or so tracks and moved them around and stitched them together until it created the story I was trying to tell.

’Kodak to Graph – Desolation Wilderness’

TMN: What’s the most unexpected sound you used in the creation of Isa and on what song?

K2G: Oh man.. There’s so many sounds throughout the record that were very time and place specific that always bring me back to the period of time when I was writing a specific tune.  There is a layer of field recordings in every track on the record.  I always have my iPhone out, recording field noises with voice memo, it gives the tracks a feeling of personality that they wouldn’t have otherwise, – a moment that I can hold on to forever., I’m kind of obsessive over it. In terms of sounds that ended up being completely foreign from their original form, The lead plucky high pitched lead guitar part on ‘desolation wilderness’ was a sample of piano and bass from an old 70’s television excerpt that’s pitched up about 60 semitones and reversed, chopped, stretched, delayed, spread, and filtered. The end product was a pleasant surprise but so different from my original intentions.

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[TMN Premiere] Kodak to Graph – IAMANTHEM (Big Wild Remix) + Exclusive Tour Video

Kodak to Graph
IAMANTHEM (Big Wild Remix)

LA-based, Florida-bred producer Kodak to Graph had a breakout year in 2014, but his debut album, Isa, which dropped last month, truly crescendoed that growth. The project plays from start to finish like an epic novel filled with emotional range, unexpected turns and vivid sonic explorations. Today, we’re excited to be bringing you the premiere of Big Wild‘s fantastic remix of one of Kodak to Graph’s hardest hitting tracks, “IAMANTHEM.” Big Wild, also a ninja favorite, flips the tempo creating an incredibly smooth, layered vibe with an unbelievable percussive arrangement. It’s a fantastic experimental whirlwind of a production that somehow mixes an 808-driven, chill-trap feel with a near-disco aesthetic.

This remix will be featured on the upcoming remix EP for Isa, which is due out in May and will also include re-works from Com Truise and Slow Magic. If you dig what you hear from Big Wild, also keep an eye out for his upcoming single that’s coming out through Odesza‘s Foreign Family Collective label next week.

Kodak to Graph is also currently in the midst of his Break the Ice Tour  along with Big Wild and OBESØN and shared with us some awesome, psychedelic tour footage. Check out the premiere of that video below and find upcoming tour dates here. For all of you in SF, we’ll be giving away tickets to his show on 4/30 at 1015 Folsom–keep an eye out on Monday!

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[Electronic] Slow Magic – Girls (Kodak to Graph Remix)

Slow Magic
Girls (Kodak to Graph Remix)

Watching Slow Magic live is pretty awesome to say the least, but going on tour and performing with him must be even more awesome. Florida-based DJ/producer, Kodak to Graph, has been opening for Slow Magic during his U.S. tour, and decided to remix “Girls”, a Slow Magic classic.

Slow Magic’s songs are so unique that it is difficult to switch them up and give them their own identity, but Kodak to Graph did just that. Sampling the intro of the tune, Kodak threw in a soft yet casual trap beat, creating an interestingly exciting banger. Kodak to Graph, who closed out his set with this unique re-work, sure knows how to get the crowd pumped up with an energetic stage presence and his impressive producer maneuvers. We are very excited to see what he has in store for us in the future. Be sure to check out his SoundCloud page and upcoming tour dates with Slow Magic. We can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

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[Chill Trap] Salt Cathedral – Tease (Kodak to Graph Remix)

Salt Cathedral
Tease (Kodak to Graph Remix)

Digging through SoundCloud has become the norm for us ninjas, and when we find a gem like this we feel an inclination to share it. It’s approaching happy hour, and you probably just want to relax with a cold one. Well, we have the perfect tune to get you settled down! Hailing from Gainesville, Kodak to Graph is an artist that you won’t exactly grow to love. There is no growing to love with him; it’s something like love at first listen. This up-and-coming artist opened up for Odesza in Orlando back in May, and it was an incredibly artistic set, getting the crowd prepped for the act to follow. If you have a chance to make it out to one of the shows on his current tour, we highly recommend doing so!

Getting you ready for that coveted happy hour, this remix of “Tease” is soothing, and will pair greatly with your choice beverage. Salt Cathedral‘s original version was already an all around beautiful song, but Kodak to Graph intensified the beauty with funk stabs, colorful chords, distorted bass, and more. One thing we especially enjoyed was the vocal chops on the second half of this “Tease” remix. 

Equally as artistic as his live performance, Kodak to Graph‘s “Tease” remix will have you swaying your entire body to the groovy melodies. In fact, it may even sway your body down to the beach for a piña colada. Whatever you’re drinking on tonight, this tune will help cool you down!

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