It is when two idiosyncratic producers collide that musical magic is able to ensue. Sydney Producer, Sound Strider and Ghost in the Chill have come together to reignite both thought and feeling within their artistry and the list of label-mates on their newly founded Record Label, Red Tent Records. I caught up with Red Tent Records Founder, Sam Waks, to discuss what inspired him to bring the label to life, his psychological musings including living in an endless utopia and more.
First and foremost, introduce yourself to the world. Tell us about your vision behind Red Tent Records and what inspired you toward bringing the label to life.
Red Tent Records was hatched by myself and collaborator Ghost in the Chill as an attempt to connect disparate musical and aesthetic universes. We both have very diverse and eclectic tastes and we wanted to create a space where talents from estranged subcultures could meet and collaborate. There’s a physical element to the label as well which is based out of a studio in the french countryside. 2019 will see us expanding into the exciting new domain of immersive 360 sound and ambisonics.
Your latest album as Sound Strider, ‘Occult Electric’, incorporates elements that steer clear from the typical. Tell us about your journey of creating that release and what you learned about yourself along the way.
I’ve been into chaos magic and the occult for a long time and given the state of the world in 2018 I thought it was high time to make those influences explicit. I went quite deep into the magical creative process integrating sigils, invocation and divination into my production workflow. Normally my vocal samples are ripped from radio or tv but for this release I wanted to use some of my favourite magic books and so all the vocals you hear are recited either by myself or a computer. For those who are interested the authors I sampled are Peter J Carroll, Gordon White and Peter Grey.
Tell us about some of your upcoming releases on Red Tent Records that you are proud of.
One forthcoming release I’m very excited about is operating under the working title of ‘Mozart vs Cuba’ and will be showcasing a release format we hope to make ample use of in the future. Basically we created a sample pack with about 15 mins worth of source material ripped from original recordings we made. Half the samples are loops from a live string quartet recording of Mozart in a chapel and the other half are street recordings of musicians from Santiago de Cuba. We’ve sent the sample pack to 4 or 5 electronic producers and we will release the results as an EP.
Showcasing the human in you, what is a challenging thought that you recently had and were able to overcome over time?
I often worry that I’m not working hard enough, usually I get over it by remembering that life is meant to be enjoyed not exploited.
What is your perception on the digital world that we live in and social media culture?
I used to be a bona fide Transhumanist, meaning I couldn’t wait for us all to upload our brains on to the net and live happily ever after in an endless utopia of our own imagining. Now I’m not so sure. At the risk of sounding like a dirty hippy, I’ve realised that we already kind of live in an endless utopia of our own imagining and I’m actually happier and more productive when I spend more time with the birds and the trees, far away from the influencers and their feeds. I will say, this attitude doesn’t really do a lot for my exposure as an artist, birds aren’t very good at building hype.
No career path or amount of followers negates the fact that you are a human being that has feelings. Tell us about some parts of you beyond being a musician that you take pride in.
For the last 10 years, I’ve dedicated a significant part of my life to renovating and maintaining a 19th century agro-industrial ruin in the french countryside. La Briche is a harsh mistress but she makes me very proud.
As you are exposed to tons of stimulus through working in the world of Entertainment, how do you proactively take care of your mental and emotional health?
Daily meditation really works wonders. I also like to read a lot, I think the internet has kind of ruined people’s ability to digest anything longer than a paragraph so I find that a nice chunky tome is a great antidote to the hi-octane pressures of modern life.
Last but certainly not least, any closing messages for admirers of your work?
Wake Up Music Group Founder, Pepper Gomez aka MyMy Lady G, has transcended her known to in turn reach back into her roots to gather the right tools and people to sprout a tree abounding with musical branches of hope, love and peace. I caught up with Pepper Gomez aka MyMy Lady G to discuss the creation of Wake Up Music Group, being an advocate for Human Rights, the music video for “Get On Up!” making it onto MTV and BET, taking care of your people, James Moore of Independent Music Promotions, feeding her loved ones and much more.
I think that 2019 will be the year for Wake Up Music Group. I really feel it in my heart and in particularly due to the recent trajectory of events and successes.
I am so pleasantly enthused and surprised by all of the developments. There has been a lot of them in 2018. The music industry is a very interesting business to be a part of. It is a fickle business in a way, yet I sorta feel that I have to prepare myself for the inevitable “No” that comes along because I have been getting a lot of “Yes”. At my core, I’m sensitive, and when it is not a “Yes”, it doesn’t feel good. Therefore, I have to remind myself that the real goal is to keep putting out great and new music. It’s about working positively with my artists and team and allowing them to create, and that is the real joy that I find in my work. But I do have to say, Matt Warren being #1 on DRT for two weeks is astounding.
It’s insane. Amy (ACRONYM) and I were texting when the music video that she filmed for “Get On Up!” made it on MTV and BET and we were blown away.
It’s insane! I am definitely riding that cloud because I am aware that those clouds don’t come all of the time. But I do have to remind myself that those successes are like the frosting on the base of the cake and the cake is the music. I think that the music is everything. Music is feeling. Music is encouraging. We knew that ‘Music Is My Life’ by Matt Warren was a good disc, but this has definitely surpassed my very modest expectations. It goes back to what you were talking about in a post that you had put on Facebook. I thought to myself, “Man, I gotta start dreaming bigger.”
You do. I perceive that we as individuals do have to burst our own bubbles at times and remind ourselves that we are capable of a lot more than we initially perceive. I think that perceive and/or perception is the most important word in that last sentence. If you aren’t attempting to perceive more than you already know, you will get stuck in your own stagnant rut. What inspired you to dip your toes back into the music industry? What led you to inspirit that creative fire once again?
I have always inwardly thought that I was a musician ever since I was a child, but my brother was the real musician. He is unbelievable. I mean, that guy can shred guitar. It was his thing. I wasn’t really allowed to encroach on that space because that was what my brother did. I would go around the house singing my little songs day by day and for anyone who has ever lived with me, you know you’ve heard me do that! I was told that I was giving the family a headache when I was doing so as a child, so then I would only sing in the shower. I would help my brother, Bruce Gomez, with lyrics at times when he was in bands, and I would always bug him and ask him to let me sing. His friends told me that I should try singing Folk, and that confused me. I did like some Folk songs, but not my idea of what I wanted to sing. You know that old saying about being left with the biggest gift under the tree? Well, I haven’t been left with the biggest gift under our tree, but I have always tried to make the best of it.
Yes, you have to cultivate the gifts under the tree. I perceive that we as human beings have gifts that we subconsciously don’t even open up or explore throughout our lifetimes. I think that one of life’s biggest puzzles is teaching oneself how to actively live without regret.
Absolutely. You have to take some risks. At some point, I would love to create a very Experimental album. Back to my brother, there was one point in which I got very lucky because he needed some Spanish vocals for one of his bands. I went to Jerry Soto’s studio and I sang the Spanish vocals. I don’t even have a copy of that project and don’t even know what happened to that musician who actually had some really good tunes. So, that experience made me think that I enjoyed singing. After that, I was married to Tom O’Callaghan who can play any instrument that he picks up. It is some kind of insane gift of his. I laid down the vocals with him for the Master Plan project that we submitted to Columbia College and before you knew it, it was an Underground College and Radio hit.
From my perspective, you experienced the College Radio world with your own music and the cyclic nature of what Wake Up Music Group is experiencing with Matt Warren is pretty bizarre.
Right! I really like College and Community Radio because they will dare to play stuff that they like and could take a long time to get onto mainstream music.
You can look at it through the metaphoric lens of college kids preparing for the real world and musicians preparing for the world of mainstream on college radio. Wake Up Music Group is in that in-between space right now, and once Wake Up Music Group hits the mainstream, it will be heartwarming to reflect upon the “college” days.
Yeah. I never forget the people who are with me in the beginning of things.
You have to choose not to. At times with working in the music industry, it is hard to remember your roots because you are immersed in tons of stimulus, around new faces and creating new ideas. But you really do have to choose to take care of those who took care of you. Those people carry such a piece of soul within the journey.
Yes. Carry is the word there. Those people have carried others and me when not a lot of other people would have paid attention. I do have to say that my “Welcome Back” into the music industry has been astounding. The people that remember my Pepper Gomez stuff really get me. I kinda feel like the prodigal daughter because I did do my straight gig for so long, yet everyone is happy to see me back at it and I didn’t even know that people remembered or thought about that stuff that I did literally decades ago. It’s a beautiful thing to touch people like that. I saw people talking about Master Plan in South America online and that would really cheer me up. Back in the day, we didn’t have opportunity readily available for distributions. The record labels were smaller. It is a whole new ball game now.
Right. There are so many resources and tools readily available to all of us each and every day and it is our choice to maximize the tools at hand for our benefit or not. We are literally carrying around a mini computer around the clock. I don’t know about you but my phone is always with me, and almost always in my hand. We are able to create whatever we desire at any time of day at any place around the world. How could that not fire you up? You didn’t have that in the past.
It is incredible. It’s almost like there is a whole generation who doesn’t know what was going on back at that time. People are now able to experience a new way to consume music. Back in the Master Plan days, it was just a street thing and lifestyle that you were just consumed with whether you listened to the music or not. You couldn’t go into 7-11 and not hear the various mixes by the DJ’s because that is how prominent the House sound was back in the day. We would go out dancing every Friday and Saturday night. It was around the time around the heels of the New Wave time so that music blended into my work because you are always a reflection of what you are experiencing. I thought that creating a Record Label would be great because there are so many cool genres including Flamenco which is one of my loves. I will very cautiously say that I sang Flamenco because I like to be respectful of exactly where I’m at, yet at the same time, I did bring some live singing to our Flamencos troupe. Every piece of the puzzle is important, but I do give great respect to the people who I consider to be the true Flamencos.
Yes. There are those who spearhead genres and movements who have earned the respect. You have to choose to expand your own craft through observing their skill. You have to be respectful of the wolves in the pack. If you think that you’re the only wolf, you’ll never make it in the music industry. It’s all about the relationships that you have developed.
Absolutely. Not only the ones who came before you, yet also those who are absolutely the best at their craft. Some of music is a personal thing, but when you have heard something that is the best, you will never forget it.
Yes. Do you feel that you have stumbled upon newfound clarity in your purpose through being a part of the music industry again?
Yes. I really wanted to give some support to some of the artists that are practicing. I love giving all of the support possible to my artists. I am looking for the next act because Matt is zipping along and actually starting to work on his next disc. I have spoken to so many different artists who have asked me what they would be able to say and what wouldn’t fly which is crazy to me. I want my artists to be able to express themselves exactly as themselves. I am here to support you. I am not here to censor. I am not here to make sure that an artist gives me something that is commercial. I believe that when you put out something that is really pure and from the heart, it is going to touch people whether it hits the mainstream or not. I believe that we have to keep evolving for the better and that each musician is going to bring something different to the table. In regards to me creating my own music again as Pepper Gomez, I am going to put together my own station for sure and that is just going to be all of my old stuff. You would be surprised how many people have asked me when I was going to do my own thing, but my own thing will be so massive. I tend to not do anything small.
I don’t either, ever. It’s a mentality. I have a massive mentality. I couldn’t just put my eggs into one basket, it’s impossible. There are too many baskets in this world to dabble in.
It’s the Virgo thing. When I do something, I want to do it and I want to do it all in. It’s just the way we are. It feels good to do it that way to me. So when I do my own project, it’ll be a tribute album with remakes, my new House stuff, it’ll be my Experimental work and I would love to do something with my two sons, Sharkeyes and Baby Tac – the ET Boys. They are just putting out some beautiful and great stuff that I just love. I love their Hip-Hop. I love Artist Development although it is a really hard thing. As I am searching for the next group or artist, I know that I would love to take someone or a group of people and just move them right along. I believe that I can run a Record Label now, I didn’t believe it in the beginning.
You learn along the way. Consistency, asking questions, developing relationships and being humble have been the keys to any “success” that I have experienced. Being vulnerable and realizing that you don’t know it all in the music industry is so important.
Yes. It has been amazing how generous everyone has been ever since I have been back in the music industry.
The music industry is not a cruel place. I think that many do make it out to be a cruel place, yet those who do make it out to be cruel just aren’t pushing hard enough and/or aren’t taking the time to develop the right relationships. Those people are dealing with their own self-imposed distraction by carrying that belief. The music industry is a very open, welcoming and creative place if you want it to be.
Yes. I am blown away by the welcome. I am blown away by the support. My Promo Team like James Moore of Independent Music Promotions, Stevie B and Andrew Kitchen; they have taken me under their wing and educated the life out of me. I just love that. Having people that you can turn to to ask questions is an absolute blessing.
For sure. I will say that I have personally learned through experience that there are indeed those hardened souls in the music industry who intentionally won’t support you or aid in finding answers because they are insecure in their work and feel as though giving another an “advantage” would put them a step behind. It’s not like that. Let’s get two steps ahead, together.
Totally. That is what has been ultra encouraging to me. I am thrilled when people tell me that I am going to be a part of the music industry for a long time. I absolutely love music. If I could play music all day and carry along with the work that I have to do, I am happy. It is exciting to see what people can produce and what people can create in the studio. The experience in the studio is its own world where things can blossom within the music that you didn’t expect.
But where do they blossom from? The people. Not to toot your horn, one key component that I have recognized through working with you is that you invest in people. I think that it is so important to invest in others. You aren’t going to make it without a team in the music industry.
I personally believe that your path will be made known to you but you really have to pay attention and be alert. I feel that I have been blessed and lucky with people who have crossed my path and have taken the time to respond to me.
Dots have connected for you through simply choose to walk your path in the music industry once again. For instance, I perceive that you connecting with James Moore of Independent Music Promotions has opened so many doors for you without you even trying to open those doors. James does that. I have worked with James for years and he is one of the most consistent, driven, knowledgeable, kind and reliable people to work with. The opportunities that he creates for others through simply connecting people never ceases to amaze me.
Yes. As you know, I absolutely adore James. He took a chance on the very first disc that I pressed which was very novel with mixing House with Flamenco. James heard something within the release that just got Wake Up Music Group on the map. Otherwise, you may have never heard of that.
True. Tell us about some pieces of yourself that you are proud of beyond the music.
Music is my life, but at the core of my being is serving others. It is one of the things that fulfills me most. I enjoy feeding others. Whether I am cooking or bringing people someplace awesome to eat, I really enjoy feeding people. I believe that we are what we eat and we are kinda in dire straights actually because we have poisoned up the earth so bad.
We have. The poison is leading toward awareness though. I don’t mean to be pessimistic, but the rampant poison throughout the food industry is becoming so extreme that it is affecting individuals livelihood and wellbeing. The choice to consciously choose what we are putting on our fork and our plate creates the experience that is our lives.
Yes. I am going to pray that we take the negatives and turn them into positives. I like science a lot too and I hope that science finds some cures for the damages that we have done, but we have lived in a very selfish manner that I think ends up stifling everything. It’s not working for the long or short-term plan. I do love feeding people, but I am also heavy into physical fitness. I don’t believe that you can be happy if you aren’t feeling strong and healthy. I like going to the gym. I like my pole classes. I like anything that makes me feel strong. I do like to challenge myself. I mean, how many people at the age of 60-years-old do you know would have started pole?
That is amazing though, and you are subconsciously setting an example for others by having started pole dancing classes at your age. Life could just be beginning at 60-years-old. You never know what any other individual has experienced throughout their lifetime at any age, young or older, unless you ask. It could be a time of rebirth and renewal.
Yes! I am a solid intermediate now!
I love it. From my perception, dance and movement releases the mind and leads an individual into a state of flow.
Absolutely. I have been a dancer throughout my entire life and to me, pole has been like another branch of dance. I have been fighting to reduce violence throughout my whole life back in my professional years and it is a big issue to me. I believe that children have rights too. I am a huge human rights advocate and activist and in particularly for kids. If we raise kids with seeds of violence in our own homes under the disguise of discipline, what do we expect in the real world? The microcosm is always going to reflect the macrocosm, and yet in the final analysis we are all launched with baggage so we must use music, art, dance, science and/or anything that you can to heal yourself and reach a place where we can love. It sounds really cliche, but love is the saving force in the world.
Yes. Love is the most important force. It is so simple but we don’t get it. We are so bombarded with our own self-imposed pressures that we subconsciously neglect love. Love can fuel your creative fire and artistry.
Yes. I think that in the arts it is extra hard because you are interfacing with so many different individuals. It takes a lot of time and energy to find people who truly understand that the artist doesn’t relate to the world the same way that someone who has chosen not to embody that may have. Being an artist is so brave. It is so difficult to the point in which many artists need a day job while also creating art and on some days I think that is totally criminal because we should have the supports available so that the people that are artists can simply be the artists that they want to be and are.
A day job blocks creativity. I perceive that you do have to earn that place in which you are able to create art daily for a living and be art. You have to maintain it too. Where do you see Wake Up Music Group five years from now? What direction do you intend to take the Record Label in?
Okay. I only want to do and create music that I like. I started Wake Up Music Group with the intention that I was only going to work with endangered music, but I have come to the realization that endangered music is any music that I might like. I don’t want to close the doors on any particular genre. In a dream scenario, I would have a lovely library of productions from a lot of genres. Being an artist is a complex thing, and I want to work with people that are really artists. People that are actually composing, writing and making music is how I view the artists. It’s hard to do artist development with someone who thinks they know it all, you know? There is a certain way of thinking. It comes out of an artist naturally. Connecting people through the music is so important to me. I like to make music that makes people feel, dance and move. I think that movement is life and we need it so desperately. That’s not to say that we won’t put out songs that are deep, slow and sad because that is part of life too, but what I think Wake Up Music Group naturally gravitates toward is the music that helps me get through my day and that is Dance Music to me.
The more stagnant the body is, the more stagnant the mind becomes. Movement is life.
I can speak from this perspective. Many people think that getting old means that it is time to slow down and retire, but I think that the model is the exact opposite. You need to get busy, stay busy and stay active. It gives you the charge and energy to handle anything that life throws at you and as you may know, life can throw anything at you at any time.
