No this isn’t an interview with an old skool toy. It is in fact, an interview with the guys behind one of my most played albums on my iPod. “An album of original material superbly executed and guaranteed to appeal to both those who appreciate dance music’s heritage and folk who fancy some unpretentious, slightly filthy electronica ***** ” (iDJMagazine). After a storming success with their first album ‘Skechbook’, its about time we found out a bit more from Dom, Andy and Mark, got inside their musical minds and milked their future plans…
ASIP: Hi guys, how is your cold UK winter going!?
Echaskech: Well today it snowed, rained and then ’sunned’…Andy and I have separate studios in our flats…mine has a view of my garden where a resident squirrel had to take shelter under one of my evil, ceramic, machete wielding gnomes. It was a quite a distraction from the task in hand, writing our second album, which is going very well indeed. All three of us (Mach V, our muse and visual magician is always in the loop) seem to be experimenting with new ideas, but somehow we all seem to move in a similar ‘direction’. The new album is going to really blow some minds…we hope.
ASIP: So how did the three of you get together?
Echaskech: Briefly, Andy and I know each other from school. We have always written music, and 3 years ago we decided it was about time that we jammed. Its a technical business jamming with mainly electronic instruments, but thats what makes it unique. We liked the noise, so got ourselves a gig, in Brick Lane (1001). A friend put us in touch with Mark (Mach V) to accompany us with projections…we always planned for it to be AV from the start. We played and the reception was incredible…We got 2 more bookings straight away from that 1st gig!
ASIP: How did your signing to (one of my favourite labels!) Just Music come about?
Echaskech: In our 1st year, 2005, we supported Jon Hopkins at a gig, we both became mutual fans from that day. We hooked up for a Leo Abrahams gig at the Water Rats and he introduced me to the bosses of Just Music. We had a few other labels interested at the time, but Just Music fitted so perfectly. Leo Abrahams and Jon Hopkins both have new albums out next year too, and both are exceptional live.
ASIP: Dare I ask how or where the name Echaskech came from? Are you all expert Echaskecher’s!?
Echaskech: Well Mark’s great-grandfather unofficially invented the first guided pixel writer at the turn of the century, he was never credited for it and died peniless. My mother also invented audio books, but again, missed the boat as far as patents go. Neither facts have anything to do with our band name.
ASIP: You are involved in gigs at London’s Southbank, tell us a bit more about this.
Echaskech: Wow, yes! Concrete at the Hayward Gallery. 3rd Sunday of every month we curate a night that allows us to show off what marvelous taste in music and art we have by inviting top notch electronic acts and visual artists to perform. We had Erin Lang and Roger O’Donnel from the Cure there a couple of months ago! It is free, and the next one is our Xmas special on the 20th December, you can find details on our web site, but I can tell you that we will be playing ourselves, live, followed by a very special act.
ASIP: Your music varies from lush ambient electronica to drum and bass, are there particular influences from each of you. How do you decide a tracks direction?
Echaskech: It is all driven by emotion really. If you experience a broad range of emotions and want to express (or invoke) them then the music is a reflection of that emotion. I think it would be very difficult to emote such a broad spectrum of feelings at one bpm or in one genre. I think we have even strayed into folk at one point. For the new album, expect darkness, warmth, euphoria expressed with, again, 4/4s, ambient, dub and a whole lot of grinding bass.
ASIP: Thats quite a range of sounds, what instruments do you all play?
Echaskech: Andy and I are primarily producers, so its all about sound design, noise and rhythms from machines. However we were both classically trained and both played violin, and piano, poorly. I also play drums and Mark plays guitar.
ASIP: What’s the best venue you have had the pleasure of rocking?!
Echaskech: We played Luminaire with James Holden and Nathan Fake a short while ago. That has a sound system to die for! Apart from that, what really gets us heavy trousered is festival sound stages. Our act is built for big sytems and large projections and lighting.
ASIP: I saw you perform at a nice little intimate gig in Hammersmith, do you enjoy these types of gigs too?
Echaskech: Intimate is fine, but just by the nature of the venues, usually comes with a poor sound system, which is tough to work. However, we aren’t well known enough to fill or get booked for big venues, so its usually what we have to do! Festivals are perfect because its just a question of programming… if you stick us on a big system we will do our level best to rock your legs to jelly.
ASIP: How important do you see the visual aspect of your live shows? Is it going to progress?
Echaskech: Well, like I said, its very important indeed. But having said that, if the music doesn’t stand up on its own then there is no point. Its not so much icing on the cake, but wine with a meal. Its a different animal, but makes the whole thing work on another level.
ASIP: You are often compared with big-guns such as the Chemical Brothers and Orbital. Do you agree with these comparisons?
Echaskech: Why not? We aren’t too precious about being categorised or compared to others. We are influenced by such a massive spectrum of acts musically, many of which don’t play or we have never seen live. However, as a live act we are very much in the same mould as Underworld, Orbital or The Chems, we are passionate about playing live in interesting and engaging ways, without necessarily resorting to bringing in a house band for live ‘appeal’.
ASIP: Your musical influences on your myspace page read like my itunes library! Whats hot on your iPod at the moment?
Echaskech: Mark, Andy and I are always exchanging tips and influences, like: Bad Loop, Radiohead, Planet Boelex, Jon Hopkins, Orbital, Modeselektor, Sunosis, Radioactiveman, Mariel Ito…err… hang on (checks iPod)…Skream, Sigur Ros, Quest, Plastikman, Erin Lang, James Yuill, Tunng, Bon Iver, Cornelius, Fleet Foxes, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Trentemøller, Simian Mobile Disco, Quinoline Yellow and Disrupt. Phew.
ASIP: Whats the best musical experience each of you have ever been to?
Dom – Underworld at Somerset House, so beautiful, hot summer night, totally rocked.
Mark – Too many to choose from! Err, this year’s Highlight was most definitely Mum at The Big Chill Eastnor Castle Festival.
Andy – My Bloody Valentine, Roundhouse.
ASIP: What up and coming bands/artists have got you excited at the moment?
Echaskech: Jon Hopkins (or is he already up and come?), James Yuill, Planet Boelex, Beak, Disrupt.
ASIP: You are producing quite a few remixes at the moment, have you any future plans to collaborate with any other artists?
Echaskech: We are working with James Yuill on some stuff, which will hopefully see the light of day in the new year.
ASIP: So you have a new album in the pipeline and some remix collaborations – busy times ahead! Will you be playing any festivals next year?
Echaskech: Yes, we will. Although we are not allowed to say when or where yet 
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Big thanks to Dom, Andy and Mark for the interview. Now get your ass down to Concrete on the 20th December to see Echaskech live along with very special guests!
http://www.echaskech.co.uk – For Free live performance downloads, gallery and press
http://www.myspace.com/echaskech – Current remixes and exclusives.
If you like what you hear, take a while to explore some of the artists/bands mentioned in this interview for your path to further musical happiness.
Jon Hopkins, Orbital, Leo Abrahams, Bad Loop, Planet Boelex, Modeselektor, Sunosis, Radioactiveman, Mariel Ito, Skream, Sigur Ros, Plastikman, Erin Lang, James Yuill, Tunng, Bon Iver, Cornelius, Fleet Foxes, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Beak.
