The Numb Project: “Spending time getting to know myself through this medium is a real privilege, joy, and learning experience”
Chris Calarco (AKA The Numb Project) is a Portland-based producer and genre-blurring artist who recently delivered one of my favourite albums of the year. Titled A Space Between, the twelve-track offering is an absolute sonic treasure trove for lovers of atmospheric lo-fi and highly immersive downtempo music. Described by Chris as "a meditation on the rich soil of being neither here nor there," it's a record I simply can't shake!
Keen to get to know the man behind the music, I was stoked when Chris said he'd have a little chat with us! Speaking about his love for acts like Boards of Canada and DJ Krush, what his general songwriting process looks like, and what he'd love to change about the industry, please give a warm welcome to Chris Calarco of The Numb Project!
Welcome aboard Chris! I'm seriously excited to introduce you to our audience! Let's kick things off with an easy one...Tell us about The Numb Project and when you first discovered your love for music.
The Numb Project is my way of exploring my deep love for downtempo music with an atmospheric/abstract hip-hop bend. It's definitely moody stuff.
I first fell in love with music when I was around 7,8 years old, back when hair metal dominated the airwaves. My first true and deep love, and one that remains today. Poison's Life Loves A Tragedy forever.
Where does your brand new album, A Space Between, fit in the broader story of your artistry? Evolution, departure, or something entirely new?
A Space Between is my third full length album of the past year. It's been a really transitional year in life, in my heart, yet one that has brought me into a deeper, more honest relationship with myself. Producing music has been a huge part of that, and spending time getting to know myself through this medium is a real privilege, joy, and learning experience.
A Space Between, specifically, is about being neither here nor there - in transition, yet really content and open to the grooves that are forming in that joy. While everything is always changing, in life we all go through the big ones - where we move, relationships change, and things turn upside down. While we often paint that type of significant change as frightening because they are uncomfortable, this record has been about mining that space as fertile ground for creativity and seeking what's available to us in the liminal space of moving parts.
What artists and bands have played a major role in influencing your sound, and what’s been soundtracking your days recently?
Artists like Boards of Canada and DJ Krush will always be formative downtempo masters that are living behind everything I do. But people like J Dilla and Pete Rock carry a ton of weight, the rhythmnic grit of boom bap in from Pete and the off-kilter hiccups of Dilla time. Classic Jamaican dub like King Tubby always has a seat at the table, and lots of modern, atmospheric dub and IDM play a role.
Recently, I have been listening to tons of classic and modern jazz, the trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire new record, Honey from a Winter Stone, namely. The new EP, Unrequited, from UK garage/downtempo producer Sorrow is fantastic, and the gorgeous new record from Bon Iver has me reeling.
Please tell us a bit about your songwriting process. Not specifically for any song, but just in general. How do you take an idea and turn it into a piece of music?
Most often, I start with a drum beat. There's something about that anchor that gets my creative mind working, and rhythm tends to be the central element in my songwriting. Next, I'll really enjoy playing baselines in on the Ableton Push, or I might develop a chord progression to add a second strong anchor point for the song. Occasionally some random shit will inspire a song, like a voice memo I recorded out in the wild or chopping up a sample. Melodies tend to come last to me. We'll see how that evolves!
Einstein famously said, “If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician.” If you were not a musician, what would you be?
I'm a musician on the side. I've been a yoga teacher for 15 years, and before that, I was a Child and Family Therapist with high school aged kids. I also own a movement studio and event center where I'm always trying to build community.
What are your thoughts regarding the music industry of today? And, if you could, what changes would you make to it?
I'd make Spotify increase its royalty rate a millionfold and break up its monopoly on streaming.
OK, Chris – desert island time! You’re allowed to grab 3 albums before being stranded on an island. Which do you go with?
So damn hard. I won't think too much about it. But here goes:
Paul Simon - Graceland
Bill Laswell - Panthalassa (Miles Davis Remixes)
Phish - Bakers Dozen Box Set
Thanks again for taking the time to chat with us Chris! It’s been a pleasure getting to know you better! What comes next for you musically?
Actually, my next release will be a couple of remixes that some great Portland artists did of a couple of songs from my album, Transmissions from a Troubled Radio. After that, I've got plenty of music in process. I feel 5-6 tracks are coalescing together for an EP that I'll get out soon, and I can hear the rumblings of the next album. Oh! And a live set. Gotta get my ass in gear and start playing live!
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