Tell us a about River Tiber.
We’re four best friends who all grew up together. I started River Tiber a couple years ago, growing it out of my solo project. I do all the recording, producing, and performing of the instruments and vocals in my basement. Synapses, which is coming out on January 1, 2013, is pretty much the culmination of that side of the band, but I don’t think of it as a solo project. It comes alive on stage. I think some of the most interesting stuff comes out of collaboration and the creative space between musicians. We’re still figuring out how to function as a band, but it’s super exciting.
Where and how was this mix recorded?
In Toronto, of course – using Logic Pro and a whole lotta love.
What was the idea behind the mix?
It’s a bunch of stuff that has inspired me lately. To be honest, it’s kind of a mess of different sounds – I’ve been listening to a lot of electronic music, but stuff that feels organic, if that makes sense. The mix feels like a journey.
The first track is a remix by my boy, Kwikfiks, who is an encyclopedia of electronic music and has honestly got me onto so much new stuff in the past year.
In your own words, can you describe the sound of River Tiber?
It’s always evolving, but Synapses feels like a real statement. It’s hard to be objective about what’s on the record, because it feels like home. The album is the product of so many of my favorite artists and music: from the bottom layer of Brazilian rhythms and 808s, to the guitar textures and analog synths in the middle, to the vocals floating on top. It tows the line between organic and artificial, between stability and disorientation: it’s definitely ambivalent.
Live is another vibe – as it should be. I think everyone in the band really brings something new to the recorded songs. Every performance feels fresh.
Where can the Standard’s readers see you perform next?
The Synapses release party is on at the Drake Hotel on January 3, 2013. Y’all should come and say hi!
Anything to add?
Keep on rockin in the free world!
- Dabin – Awakening (Kwikfiks Remix)
- Radiohead – Lotus Flower (Jacques Greene Remix)
- Time Wharp – yrLyf
- Apparat – Granular Bastard
- Flying Lotus – All The Secrets
- James Blake – Pan
- M83 – By The Kiss
- Kuedo – Visioning Shared Tomorrows
For even more awesome music jams, check out our StandardTapes archive.
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Igor Bonifacic is a writer working for the Toronto Standard. You can follow him on twitter @igorbonifacic.
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