Priori Mixx
Next up our Origins Tapes series is musician, producer, DJ and label owner Priori who is best known for their beautiful cross-over tracks and mixes and their label NAFF that they run with fellow artist Ex-Terrestial.
Based and born Quebec and currently based in Montréal , Priori represents the Canadian dance music scene worldwide through both their individual output and their label’s. They have also become known for their technical ability in the studio which has led to them mixing projects for fellow artists such as Roza Terenzi, Ex-terrestrial and Gene Tellem.
Priori’s hypnotic soundscapes have meant that they have the ability to create worlds around their audience with both their live shows, live DJ sets and online mixes and we are excited to be welcoming them for our Origins Tapes series.
Tracklist
NAP - Nebulina
Exploration Silencieuses - Buddleia
Pillow Queen - Tunnel Vision - Forthcoming
Impossible Beings - Special Brew Chick
Yaleesa hall & Malin Genie - Alpha Decay
Solid Gold Playaz - Le Soul Afrique
Beneath - WIP
Memphis - Deep Core
100Hz - Catching Spiders
Thotful Spot - Trans-Sylvania
Gescom - Motar 3
Hybryds - Lust
Human Resources - At Tanagra
Yaleesa hall & Malin Genie - Tournant
Cleveland - Golem - Forthcoming
Bakongo - Thirteen
Nathan Melja - ???
Hi Priori, how are you?
I'm well, thanks!
I would love to ask, growing up in Quebec what were your earliest memories and relationships with music?
My dad always had a guitar around the house. Having grown up in Quebec in the 60s and 70s, he was mostly into prog rock and folk. Pink Floyd, Genesis, Neil Young, etc. And this amazing Canadian band called Harmonium. I still listen to this a lot. My mom would also play disco, which is a huge part of Montreal's music heritage. She loves to dance.
What makes the Montréal music scene unique?
The seasons. And people's eclectic taste in music.
Tell us about your Tapes mix.
I sat down and went through my records recently, revisiting some old favourites. I blended some of these with new bits from people around me, and just had fun with it!
The musicality in your music and mixes is clear to hear, is this something that you have developed naturally or are you an instrumentalist as well?
No, I can't play any instrument properly. I studied sound and a bit of composition though, which gave me a general understanding of the way our ears make sense of the world. Then it's a lot of trial and error, getting incrementally closer to what I want to convey with music every day.
You have said previously that you have a deep love of all things science fiction and fantasy, what are your favourite books or films of this genre?
For books, Hyperion by Dan Simmons, La Nuit des Temps by Barjavel, Solaris by Stanislas Lem, or anything by Ursula K Leguin. Currently watching the new Adam Curtis series, which feels like sci-fi. Reversely, good fiction can extrapolate on reality or create scenarios to comment on real life issues. It's one of the things I like about it. That and the world-building / atmosphere.
Are there any artists that you love that specifically combine the worlds of sci-fi and music together?
Kenji Kawai, Mica Levi, Gerald Donald, Biosphere + soooo many more. I think it goes without saying, but these two things complement each other very well.
I can imagine you would be excellent at soundtracking a visual production. Is this something that you have hopes of doing in the future?
Thank you, yes I would really love to.
Running a label and being an artist simultaneously, do you think the two roles influence each other?
Most definitely yes. The label gives us a lot of freedom to experiment and present the music the way we want to. It is important, if only for the fact that I don't need to tailor what I make. I also learn so much from working with everyone on the label.
How important is it to you to push the diaspora of Canadian dance music?
It's not something I think about. I reckon it just happened this way because I like to have a real life connection with people. We started a label because no one seemed interested in putting out our music and our friends were making things we were excited about. There are a lot of forthcoming NAFF records from people outside of Canada though and we are excited about that.
Do you have anything upcoming in the future that you can tell us about?
Adam Feingold and myself made a record under the name Healion that is coming out now on NAFF. I'm really happy about that one. There will also be a good amount of solo material coming out this year.
Follow Priori —
Interview by @lcy__________
Photo by Ariana Molly