COSMIC ARMCHAIR is an Electronic Pop duo based in Singapore and its music has been distributed internationally. Cosmic Armchair’s unique brand of electronic pop music has been described as “Trance with a New Wave feel”. On their latest album, A Different View, Cosmic Armchair combines dance and future pop influences with thought-provoking lyrics and driving beats in 5 fresh and original Electronic Pop Songs. Cosmic Armchair shares its secrets about music making.

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Created in 2006, ELEKTONE has been busy guesting for notable visitors to Singapore shores such as Jens Lekman, DYKO, IGO, Goodnight Electric and Montag. Codenamed de_selecta, themes of the ELEKTONE sound is intimately pegged to the love+hate/forgiveness+revenge equation. Coupled with their computer-aided manipulations, crying guitars, coaxing synthpads and a stable of beats, ELEKTONE has progressively made significant changes to their ‘live’ setup to streamline their bedroom creations into forms of realism.

Zulfadly: To stay sane. Some people do other things to stay sane e.g. Fishing, dancing, gambling. Making music makes a lot of sense to us cos it moves us, be it physically or senti-mentally.

Eswandy: I think we have gained a lot from just listening to music; from there the inspiration drives us to make our own. The act of creation keeps us excited about the future, the act of performing keeps us excited about the now while the act of listening helps us to understand the hidden and the past.

Azman: Music is a universal language & without it, there will be no joy in this world.

As the Tower Records slogan goes “No Music, No Life” and Nietzsche’s “Without music, life would be a mistake”, it’s important to keep it going. No one should stop!

When did you start making music?

Zulfadly: I was 12 years old when I picked up the guitar and started making my own music. Before that I had learnt to play the keyboards and electone organ from my uncle Rahim who used to play for that 80′s band Tokyo Square.

Eswandy: I was in school at 16 years old, writing my first song about my mom on a guitar. I got inspired after listening to Soul Detergent by The Stoned Revivals, that super band from Siglap, Singapore. They made me believe Singaporeans can actually make good music.

Azman: Haha never really keep track of it, maybe when i was 19 or 20?

What is the most important thing about making music?

Zulfadly: Having the freedom of expression

Eswandy: I find musicians very odd personalities who are at best underutilised here in Singapore so opportunities working with these strange but brilliant people is just priceless and very, very important to me.

Azman: Most importantly, to be sincere of what’s coming from the heart. Also nice melodies that will stay on people’s head for a long time.

Where is your favorite place to make music?

Zulfadly: On the bed

Eswandy: In the bedroom

Azman: No particular spot really and strange but true, you’ll think of some of the best melodies in the toilet!

How do you keep making music?

Azman: I don’t really make it a point to “make” music, though making music is a beautiful process.

In fact I think I “play” music more than i make music. But for me, listening to old school classics such as funk, soul, rhythm & blues can get me inspired to make new music all the time.

Zulfadly: The 3 of us are quite into music technology in our own terms. With technology driving a lot of how they make musical instruments these days, I feel this can help in making sure we keep making music. How can you stop technology?

Eswandy: Yup, technology to me definitely makes it even more interesting. Even more difficult for us not to make music! But on the other hand passion has never stopped human beings from doing what they want or are good at. We would want to do this all our lives but can’t say too soon cos we understand that sometimes priorities change over time for different people. Personally my reference point has always been M.Nasir who successfully moved from Commonwealth Crescent to Kuala Lumpur and responsible for almost all the hit songs in Malaysia. Not forgetting Ryuichi Sakamoto, still making great music and in the forefront of cutting edge music even though he’s a senior citizen now.

Catch Elektone at Baybeats 2010: 5.30pm 21st August at the Chillout Stage (Concourse).

Myspace | Baybeats