Escapist, A Fireside Chat
On his latest EP Delta, Escapist tells the story of grief and recovery, from the pain of loss and separation to the process of self-realization and renewal. It explores lyrics in terms of sound, flow, speed, rhythm, and rhyme, with the words carrying the story of loss, withdrawal, hallucination, denial, dreams, and healing.
With a combination of natural and electronic sounds, the soundscape further immerses the listener. Water is used as a symbol for darkness, grief, loneliness, change, and tranquility; the listener emerges from the forest canopy to see a new path in life, unburdened by the pain and suffering of the past.
Gulie Carrington: Tell me a little bit about you.
Escapist: My background stems from South Indian classical music, played on the keyboard since I was 7 years old. Both of my parents are in the Arts- my mom is a dancer; numerous family members have a deep appreciation and respect for the rich cultural tradition in India. Having that strong background had an impact on my growth and decision to do music.
As I grew older, I realized the annoyance I felt with all of the classes and enriching myself in the music industry, especially getting to the point where I was applying for college; this was the culmination of me confronting my feelings and thinking, “is this the right thing to pursue, is it my passion?” I decided that absolutely, yes it was. That’s when I left to attend Steven’s Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. It was great for learning audio engineering and music technology. I enjoyed the proximity to the richness of culture in New York where I got to perform with a few bands there, my main focus is writing and producing music. Now that I’m here at Cal Arts, I’m completing my MFA program for Performance and Composition.
GC: That is incredible! How would you describe the pieces you create?
ES: I enjoy a lot of different styles of music, and I get my inspiration from things that I hear and see every day. As a composer, my main interest is music in media, film, games, animation- I love when music is paired with something else, because it enhances the experience, such as dance, theater, etc. Working with individuals within those fields is also an aspect I thoroughly enjoy, that’s why it is important to be able to be fluid in my creativity and it also gives me wider opportunities to collaborate with so many varying types of creators. The fun part is that everyone has their own creative voice. As a composer, I’m essentially a music director, so I perform in the style that is called for in order to elevate the project to another level. Having the resources at my disposal is amazing. Producers get to have all of the sounds available which translates directly into having unlimited creativity. For example, more ambient music is subtle, but still so beautiful- you can listen to it intently or play it in the background, and either way it makes an impact whether you realize it or not, which is so powerful. With Jazz, I enjoy writing the pieces because there are so many different possibilities.
As far as recent favorite artists, Escapist references Jacob Collier, an English musician and virtuoso who is known for his use reharmonization. Flying Lotus, a well-known producer who has worked with Anderson .Paak and Kendrick Lamar, is also someone Escapist looks up to, citing that “he is such a chameleon in the way that he is able to engineer a wide variety of sonic creations”. The beauty of these artists to Escapist that they have the ability to influence other artists and improve and sharpen one another.
GC: We’ve been in a pandemic for a year. How has it impacted how you do your outreach and market yourself?
ES: It’s actually been pretty good, perhaps even better than before! I’ve been able to network with people I wouldn’t usually get to meet because I’m not limited to the people that live around me. Virtual events have allowed me to meet people I normally wouldn’t have. Video chatting isn’t “weird” or awkward” anymore.
GC: Agreed! Being able to get in front of tastemakers with the push of a “join” button has been remarkable! Influencers are more accessible than ever now. As we’ve discussed, you’ve gone through many years of schooling for your craft, can you tell me something you’ve learned over the years as you’ve progressed as an artist?
ES: One of the most important pieces of advice would be from a former professor, who told me the most important thing you have to do is Save. Your. Work. Everything you create has value. Also, no matter how fast you’re going, make sure you stop and see the moment for what it is and capitalize on your wins and appreciate them; take one thing at a time and try to maintain mental and physical health. Another thing I’ve learned is to have friends you relate to, and don’t relate to- different perspectives are enriching.
GC: Like the saying goes, “Iron sharpens iron”. Tell me about your most recent project. Where can we hear your music?
ES: The most recent project I’ve done is an EP called Delta just released in January, and a single on Spotify and other in February. It references properties of water, movement... and it’s a very experimental EP compared to my last project, Flight. It deals with grief, overcoming hardship and finding a way forward in the midst of that hardship. Delta is multifaceted- it is ambient at times, but also it incorporates symbolism with influences from my cultural background of Indian traditional music, with a bit of a pop vibe as well. My single called ‘Lake’ is the first single from the album, and you can find it on Spotify and Bandcamp. I love those Bandcamp Fridays’!
Check out Escapist:
#Escapist #escapistmusic #composer #EP #delta #interview #newreleases #Spotify #artisttowatch #caltech #California
