I’ve been listening to bass music for about 10 years now. I still remember what it was like when Caspa, Rusko, Skream and Benga were at the top of the food chain with acts like 12th Planet, Kill The Noise, Seven Lions and more coming up in the game. About 4 years ago, I stumbled upon the Brazilian duo I.Y.F.F.E on several SoundCloud channels. A lot has changed since this day, several up and downs, wins and losses for the Brazilians. We had the opportunity to sit down with I.Y.F.F.E for a chat, take a look below.
So, a lot has happened and changed in your musical career in the past year and a half for you. Care to fill us in?
I.Y.F.F.E was a duo formed by Alex Mind and Darth & Vader, we were trying to make mostly Dubstep and Electro House, but after a while we decided to split as my former partner didn’t like the idea of going into Trap Music, I was honestly a little upset and demotivated, but I never thought of quitting. I grew up alone in my sound design and felt free for the first time to make whatever I wanted. Signing as an artist to Uprise Music was essential for my motivation as well.
From your first releases on EDM Network’s several channels many years ago and Monstercat all the way until now, what makes your new sound different from the rest?
Around the time I.Y.F.F.E began I was working on Alex Mind material also, this made me confused as I didn’t know what alias I was working under when finishing a track. I was mainly focused on Electro House and Dubstep, nowadays I feel that my tracks are less busy and more focused on Trap, Future Bass, Hip Hop and Bass House. I still like Electro and Dubstep but I don’t think I’ll make again at least not for now. Also learning more about music theory took me to a different level on my melodies and chord progressions, I’m always trying to evolve as a musician everyday. That’s what makes my sound different from the past.
Aside from the usual bangers, there’s also a melodic side to I.Y.F.F.E such as “Laka Flame”, your “Bring Back The Summer” remix and “Storm”. Describe to me the creative process behind making all these songs.
My creative process depends a lot on my mood and the day, there were countless times that I spend hours looking at an empty session without knowing what to do and I can finish a whole idea in one day. Sometimes I need to take a break of 2 to 3 days to get back in the right mindset. What I can say for sure is that I am feeling much more motivated on making melodic tracks nowadays and that I think I have about 20 unfinished tracks that were lost in my creative process.
You always release a crazy amount of music every year in different genres. What’s your secret for finishing tracks?
I try to listen different genres in different perspectives, by the time I begin a new track and focus on finishing it I try to listen the whole week tracks that are the same genre so I am used to the sequencing and overall mix.
How is the music scene down in Brazil? How has it changed over the last 5 years?
Public in general is interested in Deep House and Nu Disco now. EDM had it’s place 2 years ago but now it’s almost dead. Psy-trance scene lives since 1999, everybody loves it here and it has always a place on big festivals. You don’t see much a Bass music scene here, there are a few clubs that make Trap and Bass parties but I can’t say there’s enough people interested to call it a scene. For example there’s no public enough to fill a big club like Green Valley, it’s growing, but slowly . I hope in a near future the scene can be bigger to have a place in all festivals and clubs. At least festivals like Ultra and EDC are coming to Brazil.
What are your goals for end of 2016-2017?
Make at least another 4 Future Pop songs in the same family as Storm, start touring on a regular basis and sleep more.
Anything special you’d like to share?
I’m experimenting with Brazilian Bass right now also, be on the look out for that material. Maybe on a certain French dj’s imprint… I.Y.F.F.E lives.
Check out some of I.Y.F.F.E’s procutions below and be sure to throw him a ‘like’ on Facebook.
