natebytheway is a DJ and producer from San Francisco. His releases this year on Kulture Gallerie, Goodtunes, and Limousine Dream sub-label Nug-Net are equal parts weird and funky; pleasingly trippy tracks fit for the dancefloor.
Growing Pleasures is a brand new label and natebytheway is the first artist on it. The tracks are fun, the mood is jolly. Some wonky grooves and some deep hot basslines. These are the ingredients for this first mushroom soup.
Peace Portal is pleased to premiere a first look at the music video for stickstonesteady, the final track on the release. To accompany, we caught up with Nate a bit below.
Tell us a bit about the video and it's making.
Making of this video took me some time listening over and over to the tune. This song feels really personal to me as I chose to sing in it. I feel the tune has a deep sense of nostalgia towards my life as an artist and I wanted to reflect that in the video. I chose to go backwards in time starting with the present and going to the past. I chose clips that may seem random but are all personal moments of mine that I relate to throughout my journey over the last 3 years producing electronic music.
Can you share about your time in Berlin?
I chose to move to Berlin for numerous reasons but I always knew I wanted to live abroad. My cousin Viviane, whom I am very close with lives in Germany and I visited Berlin twice (once in Summer and once in Winter) before making my decision. A dear friend of mine, Leile also was spending a lot of time in Berlin and that really shaped my decision to move there as well.
Living in Berlin was ultimately a very rewarding place to live as a growing artist. I at first was hopeful to work in a studio but this job fell through and I ended up working at CDV (Club Der Visionare) and Hoppetosse for my first summer.
After this inspiring and chaotic time bartending sometimes until noon the next day, I found a job through instagram of a new listening bar, restaurant and cafe called Anima. I became their main Barista and shortly after became cafe manager. It was also at Anima that I met my dearest friends in Berlin. Everyone's commitment to their work and music was incredible to witness.
The winter in Berlin was hard but being surrounded by this team made it easier. It really feels like everyone living in Berlin cares so much about the creativity that they are involved in and I think that's why it's the most interesting city creatively. The quality of art and music that exists here can be overwhelming but it is also so incredibly humbling and it drives me and will always drive me to get better.
I ultimately chose to return home as I was in a long distance relationship with the love of my life, Erin, throughout my journey here. Also, I am a California boy at heart and I had some challenging health problems while living in Berlin I think mostly from not being able to access the ocean which is something that has helped shape me since a young boy, It was challenging being away from Erin but it was also pretty awesome the time we got to spend with each other in Europe and when I visited. We are now living with each other very happily in San Francisco.
I will always and forever need to come back to Berlin to visit my beautiful community there and to revisit the place I find the most creatively inspiring.
Is there any part of the production process that you took enjoyment in with this EP in particular?
This EP is a collection of tunes I wrote while in Berlin and sent through to Filipo. I made most of them using one synthesizer (Yamaha AN1X) and the MPC1000. It was really fun as I think this helped glue a lot of my sounds together. I think there's a good variety of emotions and overall feelings in the tunes and I am glad it reflects that. One of my favorite sounds I ever made is in A1 Jounrneyviedloving and this is after pushing the AN1X to make the weirdest bubble noise I could and then finding a loop of that to work as a sort of percussive element.
Are there any non-musical influences you've been drawing from?
Definitely various graphic designers and illustrators. Also cartoons have always and will forever be a big part of my life. Avatar: The Last Air Bender is a big one for me.
If this EP were indeed a mushroom soup, what would have been your secret ingredient?
Morel mushrooms. They're their weirdest looking and most delicious mushroom in my opinion. I feel I am a weird person and I hope that I gotta put some weirdness into each tune while still letting it make sense. I hope you all enjoy listening and thank you to everyone for your support of my creative journey.
Pick up a copy of the full Twist & Grind EP via Subwax or via the Growing Pleasures Bandcamp link below.
For more from natebytheway, follow him here:
For more from Growing Pleasures, follow them here: