Coffee Break with Ameli Paul
Ameli Paul stands for a stirring electronic sound that ranges from cineastic excursions to pop-like song structures. On their musical playground synthesizers, field recordings, vocals and guitars join forces to create thrilling dance tunes to dive into and get lost in.
Following the release of their debut album ‘Echoes of Memoria’, we were curious to chat with them and learn more about their music.
Hey guys, thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for us. First of all, we were wondering when the duo Ameli Paul was created, and how you would define your main musical genre?
We met and began making music together in the summer of 2016. By December of that year, we had played our first live set at Odonien in Cologne, which was quite improvised and left us wanting more. We would define our genre as Electronica, as it encompasses the broadest definition of our style - electronic music with live vocals and synths.
Your album “Echoes of Memoria” was just released. We are curious about the concept behind it and your general idea while creating the tracks.
The album is about our relationship, about transition, inner turmoil, and our journey as an (ex) couple. We initially collected songs for a while, went into a countryside studio and tried to finish sketches to find the right combination that portrays our musical identity. We realized that all the tracks were about us and the development, the ups and downs of our relationship, and ultimately, the breakup. Thus, all the tracks represent a certain period or feeling since we've met. For example, we found the first voice message that we sent each other and thought it would be cool to include it on the album as it marked the start of the whole journey.
An album is often the occasion to explore different genres, and to go through the entire spectrum of sounds which define you as an artist. Could you tell us more about these different genres, and about your main sources of inspiration?
When we first thought about making an album, we were afraid but also felt instantly freed from all the pressure, as it allowed us to do whatever we wanted and dive deep into our creativity. Our main inspiration was probably our intuition, the story we shared, and the COVID lockdown. As there were no dance floors open, we felt more inspired to produce music that did not necessarily fit into our live set and thus had no tempo restrictions. You can find slow 60 bpm tracks like 'Melancholia', three-four time songs such as 'Again' or'Encore,' which features Ameli's opera singing, or tracks like 'Humbuk' at 132 bpm. Inspirations from other musicians come from the likes of the Knife, Eliza, Beth Gibbons, Nicolas Jaar, and Nils Frahm, among others. Although we don't sound like them, their contributions to music unconsciously find their way into our music-making process.
What DAW, gear or VSTs do you use at the moment, and which ones did you use to produce the album?
We use Ableton for producing and Logic for vocal recordings. As for VSTs, we used some Arturia Analog synths, but we also love our Prophet Rev2 and the Model D in combination with analog effect devices. Field recordings play an important role in creating textures and beats.
Which track is your personal favorite, and why?
It's hard to choose just one, but probably 'Melancholia' and 'Encore.' These are the most personal ones that are closely connected to our story. 'Encore' has been the final track of our live shows for a long time, and we combine Ameli's opera singing with electronic music, which is just different. We love 'Melancholia' for the arrangement and the deep feelings that went into songwriting and lyrics.
How long did it take to produce the entire LP?
It took about 2 years, but some pieces date back to when it all started in 2017, or even the first voice message in 2016.
We are wondering about the influence your environment had on your music. You are based in Berlin, Germany. Would you say that this city helped you define your sound?
Our surroundings have definitely been a source of inspiration for our sound, and Berlin's immense creative potential has played a part in that. However, most importantly, we express our inner world and explore our creativity when we let go and experiment. We even had to leave Berlin to finish the songs as we were too distracted here.
2 tracks from the album were released as singles: "Musca" and "Encore", and also got an extra treatment with remixes from Yubik and Ruede Hagelstein. What was the intention behind the remixes?
We are huge fans of remixing as it's exciting to see how other artists can transform our existing sounds into something new and unique. It also allows the songs to function differently in various environments. For example, "Encore" is a slow track and may not work well in a club setting. Yubik and Ruede Hagelstein did an excellent job with the remixes, and we were thrilled with the outcome. Incorporating Ruede's remix into our live set was especially enjoyable, as it allowed us to create something entirely new.
Now that your album is released, what projects are you working on?
We're embarking on our first tour, which will take us to Munich, Stuttgart, Berlin, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Cologne in March and April. We’re preparing a really special concert show that will present the full variety of our musical range, from slow to rave. We're also working on our upcoming EP titled "Love for One Another," which is set to release in spring.
And last but not least: how do you like your coffee?
Espresso (bialetti or portafilter) with oat milk foam and a little bit of agave nectar.