The Aston Shuffle Dropbox Presents: Cloud Sounds Interview

The Aston Shuffle Dropbox Presents: Cloud Sounds Interview

Technology is redefining the way artists create and collaborate. At this unique event presented by Dropbox, James Lyell and Hugo Gruzman (Flight Facilities), Glenn Richards (Augie March), Mikah Freeman and Vance Musgrove (The Aston Shuffle) and Tim Hardaker (Triple J) discuss the creative process behind some of their biggest hits and explore how technology is helping to bridge distance allowing artists to collaborate around the world to make music together.

 

The talk will explore:

Collaboration and creativity: artists will reveal the process that went into creating some of their biggest hits

How technology has redefined the way musicians create songs

What technologies will be game-changers for musicians, producers and composers

Advice to emerging musicians about using technology to support their career

 

All proceeds will go towards the Himalayan Development Foundation Australia Disaster Relief Fund to help the victims of the Nepal Earthquake.

 

More details here: http://www.vividsydney.com/event/ideas/cloud-sounds-take-tour-behind-creative-process-underpinning-some-biggest-hits-australian

Interview with Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove

The Aston Shuffle is a house music duo from Canberra, Australia. They are made up of Disc jockey and electronic music producers Mikah Freeman and Vance Musgrove. As well as their DJ gigs and recordings career, they also host their own show on the ABC's Triple J on Friday nights called Friday Night Shuffle.

Question: How does it feel to be involved in this event?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: We are incredibly stoked to be involved in such an event. We have been using Dropbox for around 5 years now and feel we have great knowledge and experience on its functions and benefits as we pretty much use it in every single facet of what we do.


Question: How is technology making it easier for you to make music with artists, all over the world?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: The technology right now, Dropbox included, allows us to share ideas and work on projects remotely instead of having to be in the same room to collaborate. We have been living in separate cities for a long time now and without an application like Dropbox we probably wouldn't be able do what do really!


Question: What's your inspiration when creating music?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: As individuals our inspiration comes from very different places. It could be from hearing new music, although we don't just draw inspriation from music. It could be from friends & family, current events, anything from our daily experience really. That's the thing about creativity - you can't force it, ultimately it needs to come from somewhere, and you want to be able to capture it when it strikes so you don't lose that moment.


Question: What music/artists do you listen to when you are not playing your own?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: Our tastes are quite varied really, and there's a fair bit of stuff we're each really into that the other doesn't like at all. But as a brief overview - a lot of r&b and rap music (Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky, Partynextdoor, and Drake are highest on the playlist right now), Tame Impala, Radiohead, Tool.


Question: What's next? Tour/Album/Single?
Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: We have a new single about to drop and a tour in June/July to be announced very soon.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: We love both for different reasons. That said, there is no better feeling than performing your own songs live in front of an up for it crowd.


Question: What/who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: We never really set out to create a career for ourselves in music, it just kinda happened naturally really. But we were both really into music from a very young age, and the dream of doing something you love for a living was definitely there, so I guess that was kind of a subconscious force pushing us to where we are today.


Question: What is the biggest challenge you have faced along the way to your musical success?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: Keeping a level head about the music we're writing and trying to eliminate the crippling overthinking you can fall into sometimes as an artist. I think it's something every artist does but it can turn you into your own worst enemy if you don't keep it in check.


Question: What's a typical day like?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: Breakfast, Coffee, Music, Coffee, Music, Lunch, Music, Dinner, Music, Music, Music... You get the drift!

Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: Being able to create something that is ultimately an extension of yourself, and then putting it out in the world and seeing people connect with it on some kind of a level, is pretty special and certainly not something we take for granted.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Mika Freeman and Vance Musgrove: Drake, Partynextdoor, Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, The Weeknd, Jamie XX, Frank Ocean, Kevin Parker, Thom Yorke, Calvin Harris, Max Martin, we could go on but that's probably a good list!


Interview by Brooke Hunter