Help Emika Record a Symphony with a 70-Piece Orchestra

emika

The last time the Berlin-based Anglo-Czech producer/composer Emika popped up here, just a couple of weeks ago, she was rhapsodizing about the classic Roland TR-909. But now she’s got her sights set on a very different mode of music-making. After crafting four albums, the ambitious Emika has decided that she wants to dream big. Toward that end, she’s pursuing her muse all the way to Prague, where she plans to record her own symphony with the Prague Metropolitan Orchestra, a 70-piece ensemble.

Naturally, this sort of endeavor doesn’t just happen. In addition to all the artistic and logistic preparations involved, Emika’s musical adventure will wind up being a costly one. So, in the post-compensation era most artists are forced to occupy these days, she had to come up with a way to raise the cash. Crowdfunding seemed to be the most natural option, so Emika has created her How to Make a Symphony campaign. Contributing to the project will give you all sorts of rewards, depending on the amount of your contribution, from one-on-one Skype tutorials to a trip to Prague to see the whole thing go down in person. So check it out and chip in if you can.

You can see her process on a previous project below:

Respect: Producers Pay Homage to Roland’s TR-909

Roland TR-909

Roland’s iconic TR-909 has often imitated but never duplicated. Partially analog, partially sample-based, the 909, which made history as the first MIDI-equipped drum machine, was introduced in 1984. While only 10,000 units were manufactured, this lil’ beige box gave forward-thinking producers in Chicago, New York, Detroit and London the ability to collectively forge the blueprint of hip-hop, house and techno.

All these years later the 909’s influence continues to be heard. We asked producers intimate with the Roland TR-909 to wax poetic about this magical machine that’s been the heartbeat of several generations.

Animated GIF created for Big Shot by Christian Petersen Continue Reading

Emika: Why I Launched My Own Record Label

emika launches emika records

A musician, producer, songwriter and sound designer, one-named British-born/Berlin-based phenom Emika‘s musical dreams know no boundaries. Trained in classical music, she has blazed trails in electronic music in recent years with two acclaimed albums for Ninja Tune and a spate of singles and EPs. Last week the multihyphenate announced the formation of her own imprint, Emika Records, which will serve as an outlet for future work, including a string of club tracks, a symphonic album recorded with a 70-piece orchestra in Prague, piano LP and third album.

With a wealth of life experience under her belt and an insatiable appetite for artistic innovation, Emika spoke with Big Shot about her decision to launch her own label.

“I’ve been told by many industry people over the years that the different sides of me should go elsewhere, should be separated, don’t belong together,” she says. “And one day I just decided: no more divisions!”

Emika plays RBMA Clubnight at Celeste (DJ set + live vocals) in Vienna, Austria, on November 20. Continue Reading