The strings of life. The mysterious VFX takes to the stage alongside djB and Brendon P for one night at Future Bound. Read on to find about this musician's influences and thoughts of the local music scene and watch out at the stroke of midnight!

Please introduce yourself and what you do. 


Hello! I'm VFX and I play the violin. I also deejay when I get the chance!





How long have you been playing the violin? Describe your background in music.


I've been playing since I was about 5. I was classically trained, and while classical music remains my first love, I've kept my mind open to almost all other broadly-classified genres of music. I mention "broadly-classified" because an awesome track may have various influences in it, which make it impossible to park it under a specifically defined genre.





How has your taste in music evolved? What kind of music are you currently into? 


Like with most other people, when I was younger my tastes were shaped by what my family and friends were listening to, which were mostly limited to classical, jazz, alternative and pop. I only started independently exploring other genres including electronic music, when I grew tired of hearing the same songs at the clubs all the time. My ears were itching for something fresh! Since then, instead of just sticking with what I’m familiar and comfortable with, I’ve become more adventurous in my musical tastes.  I listen to a very wide range of music, but at the moment I suppose I’m taking in more reggae, jazz, funk and soul.





Name the most memorable gig you caught in 2011.
DaM-FunK at the ThinkMaven Block Party

What's your current top 10?


In no particular order of preference:

Sam Cooke – A Change is Gonna Come
Amazon (256kbps Mp3) | iTunes (256kbps AAC)
Lemon Jelly – Space Walk
Juno Download (Mp3/WAV) | Amazon (256kbps Mp3)
Valentin Stip – Gravels - I & II
Juno Download (Mp3/WAV)
Ifan Dafydd – Tree House
Mount Kimbie – Carbonated
Juno Download (Mp3/WAV) | Amazon (256kbps Mp3)
Oscar + Martin – Chaine Maile
iTunes (256kbps AAC)
Martyn – Ghost People
Juno Download (Mp3/WAV) | Amazon (256kbps Mp3)
Radiohead – Bloom
Juno Download (Mp3/WAV) | Amazon (256kbps Mp3)
Florence and The Machine – Breaking Down (Acoustic)
Mr. Has – Senza (Pocket Magik Reprise)
Juno Download (Mp3/WAV) | Amazon (256kbps Mp3)

I’m also really enjoying The Roots' new album, Undun!

What do you like or dislike about the local music scene? What would you change?
It would be nice to see our local authorities and radio stations recognize that our local music scene extends beyond traditional categories of music (e.g. “Western” music being mostly sub-categorised into classical, jazz, alternative or pop), and to do more to promote and encourage the local musicians who experiment and dare to break out of these set categories. I’ve had friends who were denied eligibility for grants on the basis of their music not fitting into accepted categories or genres of music that are supported. I understand that radio stations are profit-driven but it’s really sad when local musicians make a name for themselves abroad but are virtually unknown in their own home-ground (I am actually thinking of someone I know here)! In this respect, props to the folks at Sonar.sg, I love what they’re doing!

Where do you usually discover new music? 
Music blogs, friends' recommendations, testing new releases



.

Name a dream collaboration between any two acts in electronic music that you wish would happen in real life. 

Flying Lotus and Mount Kimbie – transatlantic!





What are you excited to see in the local and/or international music scene this year? 
I can't wait for SBTRKT at Home Club this month! There's also The People's Party! and Laneway Festival to look forward to. I'm also really excited for The Pocket Magik (such a talented duo!) and the upcoming release of their debut album.

What can we expect from you at the upcoming Midnight Shift event?
Honestly, I’m hoping to surprise myself too!

Go back to the Midnight Shift homepage here.View event details on Midnight Shift x Zouk 02: Future Bound here.