Gramatik Dishes On His New Album Epigram, His Love Of New York & Perspective On Politics[Interview]

Perhaps one of the most well known and respected names in the world of electronic music, the funk phenom by way of Portorož, Slovenia known simply as Gramatik. With his new Epigram Tour in full swing, the man himself took the time to chat with us on everything from his love of New York, returning to Mysteryland, and his perspective on American politics.

For nearly a decade Denis Jasarevic a.k.a Gramatik, has bewitched fans all across the world with his enigmatic and soulful style. Influenced by hip-hop, jazz, blues and funk, Gramatik has paved the way for several artists of the same ilk like GRiZ, Gibbs and Exmag just to name a few.

This time of year marks Gramatik’s annual return to the Big Apple to lay down his silky tunes for a packed crowd in mid-town Manhattan. Despite the venue’s change in name, one thing has remained stalwart, Gramatik’s ability to inspire and move a crowd.

Sensible Reason: As many of your fans know you were born in Slovenia and emigrated over to the US. Can you tell me what it was like when you first arrived in this country? Was it a major culture shock?

Gramatik: In many ways it was. I knew a lot of things about American culture beforehand, but seeing those things in action was still an unavoidable culture shock. There are countless things that I find uniquely amazing and uniquely disturbing about the US, which could be said about any country I guess, but as far as the western world goes, those contrasts are the most extreme in the US, in my opinion. It is truly a wonder of a country, for better or for worse. I like it here. 🙂

SR: What types of American artists influenced you the most in your musical development? How did Hip Hop and Funk become such a fundamental aspect of your art?

G: I was influenced by all kinds of American music culture early on. It’s hard to really point a finger at any specific genre or artist, but people like James Brown and DJ Premiere had a huge impact on my development as a music producer. Any genre based on Blues, Jazz, Funk and Soul, which is pretty much the entirety of EDM, is what made me want to become a music producer. Those fundamental “father” genres that started the modern music revolution are the water for my soul.

SR: Why do you think it is so important to release all your music for free? {Gramatik’s discography available here}

G: There are many reasons for that, so let’s dive into it. Firstly, I think music is such an important and vital part of human existence that it should be something that all people are able to enjoy and be inspired by at any given moment; to do great things in life, regardless if they are able to afford to pay for it or not. For most people in our deeply flawed society, music makes life bearable. To people like me, music goes even further and gives life meaning. Secondly, most of the music I listened to as a kid that inspired me to become who I am today was pirated.

I come from a working class family. There was no way in hell my parents could afford to buy me all those high priced albums I wanted from all my favorite artists every year. Furthermore, there was no way in hell they could afford to buy me all the super expensive software that I was using at age 13 when I started to learn how to make music on a computer. I couldn’t exactly get a job while in 7th grade! All of that stuff was made possible for me by piracy. If it wasn’t for piracy and torrent sites, I wouldn’t be talking to you right now. I’d be working a shitty job back in my hometown. As I became “famous” on the internet, I was finally able to afford all these things by making money off of playing shows. So not only do I objectively believe it’s morally right for music to be primarily free, it’s also subjectively the right thing to do in my case. Lastly, in the age of the internet, there are people who take pride in paying for music, they will buy it no matter what, and there are people who don’t like paying for music (or simply can’t afford it), they will pirate it no matter what.

There is no escaping or preventing that reality. That’s why making your music available for free with an option to buy/donate is the most rational thing to do. The most important thing for me is to get my music heard by as many people as possible the moment it comes out, regardless of who does or does not have the money to buy/support it at that very moment. There is no need to force your fans to become “cyber criminals” in an age where record sales are meaningless and virtually non-existent. And you’d be surprised how many people appreciate this approach and donate money to you whenever they can, not only to pay for an album, but to show support and appreciation for the philosophy itself.

SR: You are one of the most prolific artists in electronic music. How do you stay so dedicated to making new music and finding new sounds, especially when you make all of it available free of charge?

G: Like most independent artists in today’s world, I make most of my money by playing shows. Record sales haven’t been racking up to any relevant profit in decades, so they don’t really affect us one way or another. I go on tours whenever I can and I take time off to make new music whenever I can. It’s difficult to find the balance sometimes, but I will continue to do so for as long as I can.

SR: What was your original vision for your record label Lowtemp ? How does the label’s success and current standing stack up to what you envisioned?

G:The original idea was just to have a digital imprint of my own where I can release my own music whenever I want. Later, it became a platform for people we like to come and drop a single, an EP, or album, and use it as a jumping point to further their exposure. We don’t act as a regular label, we don’t have slave contracts, we don’t demand exclusivity, we don’t force people into anything; they are free to come and go as they please.

We even encourage them to release their music on as many labels as possible to build a following as quickly as possible. In 2016, it’s not about being on a label, it’s about exposing your music to as many people as possible as quickly as possible, so you can build a following, start touring, become financially independent, and finally be able to fully focus on your art.

SR:Now that you have seen how far Exmag has come, watching them play massive festivals and become a huge act in their own right. How does it  make you feel looking back on the first group you really mentored?

G: I’m proud of the boys, they’ve really come a long way. Co-producing their first album was one of the most memorable studio experiences I’ve had so far. We’ve learned a lot from each other, and I’m looking forward to working with them again someday.

SR:This February will mark the 3rd time in a row I’ve seen you play in New York City right around this time. How special has this annual run become for you? What role has the city of New York played in your career?

G: It’s very special actually. Aside from the fact I’ve been in love with NYC since the first time I saw it in a movie as a kid, as a European who’s been all across the US at least 10 times over, it’s the only city I feel really comfortable living in. It feels the most like home while being completely different at the same time. I can find my native food and products from back home here with ease.

It’s a city where I can find anything from any culture I can think of, every nation in the world has their own little area here. A city in which all of the music I love the most was invented or revolutionized. A city where everyone is an immigrant, but we all belong. I can go on for days, so I’ll just say that NYC has played a vital role in my career since before I ever came here, influencing me in all kind of ways every step of the way.

SR: You’re heading back to Mysteryland this summer, after throwing down a very memorable set on the boat last year. What do you like about that festival in particular and who are you most excited to see on that lineup with you?

G: I like the fact that it’s on the same grounds as the original Woodstock. That’s kinda epic. And I’m generally excited to see a lot of those artists as most of them are homies.

SR: How would you say your newest album, Epigram, compares to your last release, Age of Reason?

G: It’s a natural progression of my last album, as all of my new albums are. Since the day I started, I’ve always produced all of the EDM genres that I like and I’ve always tried to find new, and creative ways of mixing them all together while incorporating genres from the past as well. Every new album is the most cohesive or outrageous attempt at that, depending on who’s listening. 🙂

SR:  Are there any non-musical heroes (actors, painters, athletes, inventors), who have had a profound effect on your creative process or career? Who are they and why?

G: Wow, there are sooo many. But to name a few: Nikola Tesla, Jon Stewart, George Carlin, Louis C.K, Alan Watts…. I’d also love to explain why but that would take weeks. 🙂 Besides, people who know those names, know exactly why. 🙂

SR: What would you tell someone, who has never been to one of your shows , to expect when they see you play live?

G: Expect a plethora of emotions to hit you from all directions and solidify your faith in having a good time at a live show. 🙂

SR: Not long ago you produced and scored the short film, “The Condor”. What other passions outside of music are you excited to explore?

G: Mainly film scoring and film in general. My girlfriend, Nina Varano, was the one who wrote, directed, and starred in “The Condor,” so I want to do more projects with her when time permits. She’s has a masters degree from AFI, she’s a very talented lady. I especially love her writing and I’m excited to be helping her write an intricate sci-fi story that we plan to pitch to Netflix as a mini series one day.

SR: Since this is an election year and you are a Slovenian immigrant with an international perspective on politics in this country, I thought it would be interesting to gauge your reaction to this year’s campaign. You don’t have to throw support in anyone’s corner, just curious to your outlook on the whole situation.

G: It’s very unfortunate that the US presidential election has literally become the biggest and most outrageous reality show in the world. Every election gets more bizarre and surreal than the last, and it’s feels like it’s almost beyond parody at this point. It’s hard to believe, but anyone with half a brain has no choice but to agree with me. Personally, I think that the presidency and government in general has long since been bought by corporate interest and big banks, exactly the way Bernie Sanders keeps telling us, that’s why I feel he’s the best candidate. But if he’s right, how do we know he’s not just as much of a puppet as everyone else, put here to say exactly the things people like me want to hear? 🙂

It feels like every candidate appeals to a certain group of people with their ideology, but in the end, they all answer to the same people. I sure hope that’s not the case with Bernie, but we can only know for sure once we get past “talking the talk” and actually see him “walking the walk” when he’s in the White House. Considering how terrible all the other candidates are, he’s still the best shot, at least he’s saying all the morally correct and rational things, which is more than I can say for the rest of them. 🙂

Even if there is only the slightest chance that Bernie is for real and he won’t become just another puppet once elected, Americans should still vote for him, because all the other options are downright terrifying. That’s my humble [opinion].