Almamy: The Interview

By Dazzle Kenki


We Discovered Almamy last year (Circa 2008) when we heard some demos from him that he sent to us. At first listen there was something that was unique about Almamy's voice, something special. Since then, he has released a slue of EPs to his name, started a new label called ModyWorks which houses even more unique and undiscovered talent.

Almamy talks to us in this exclusive interview with Nerdy Frames, as we dig deep into the mind of Almamy and give you further reasons as to why you should discover the beauty and harmony which is ........Almamy!



Hey Almamy thanks for taking time to talk to us here at Nerdy Frames. I guess the first question in order is what got you into singing?

House and electroclash. I arrived in New York around the time electroclash was happening so I was really influenced by it. I was also hanging out a lot in local club nights like the Subliminal Sessions, where it was all house music. it had a huge impact on me.

Tell us about yourself?

I was born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, then in my late teens I ran away from home to go to Paris and be a professional dancer. I stayed there for a couple of years then I got a scholarship to come study dance in New York, where I then became involved in music.

The last time we talked we’d featured you in our ‘Discover This’ page in 2008. So what’s been happening since?

Quite a lot. After my last single "Don't Ask Me / French Kiss" got released, I took some time off to develop my label, ModyWorks, and signed other artists. I executive-produced their projects as well so it took quite a lot of my time. Then last month I started to re-focus on my own music.

Now I read that you studied Broadway at the famed Broadway Dance Center. What was that like studying Broadway and do you have a favourite Broadway show that you like?

I studied ballet and Modern dance, not the Broadway-type stuff. Anyway, it was great. Studying ballet actually taught me a lot about music. Moving to classical music all day long really teaches you a lot about composition, rhythm, measure, etc...When I started to write music later on it came to me naturally because of the musicality I unconsciously nurtured by just being a dancer.

How would you describe the music you make?

I would say it's pop, cause I write pop songs. But what I do really is electronica, with a lot of funk.

Do you collaborate with other artists or producers during the process of making your music?

Yes I do. I always co-produce my records. I generally write and compose on my own, a cappella or on my keyboards. But the actual production is always a collaboration. I'm not a computer whiz so I always work with a producer that can deal with the technical aspect of it while I focus on the arrangements and the vocal production.


There is something special about your vocal tone that is so unique. Can you tell our readers about it if you can?

Well, I have a very unconventional singing voice, but I guess it's alright cause it really helps define my overall sound.

For our gear readers and tech nerds…do you use any instruments or audio equipment in the making of your music?

Electronic and analog synthesizers. Logic on a Macbook Pro and a nice Neumann mic to record my vocals.

Where do the ideas for your songs come from? Do you relate them to life experiences, politics, social issues, etc?

Ideas come from everywhere but I always write from my own perspective, my experiences, my journal and my poems. My songs are a definite reflection of my personality. Basically I'm telling my story. Even when I think I don't.

What albums, artists, or bands you grew up with when you were young?

Michael Jackson and Prince. And my dad's record collection, Oum Kalthoum, Baaba Maal, Youssou Ndour etc... a lot of stuff I didn't particularly care for at the time.

Who are your personal influences musically or otherwise?

Michael Jackson, Daft Punk and Prince. Minimalism and Pop Art. Everything short and with a concept (short films, short stories, EPs...). Words. Discothèque. Photography. R&B. Love & Sex. The journal I keep. Jimmy Edgar.

I’m sure like many, you were sadden over the lost of Michael Jackson’s passing just recently. So which one of Michael Jackson’s singles (or album’s) do you hold as a personal favourite?

'Bad', the single and the album, that's the first LP I ever had and it changed my life. My dad bought it for me, in cassette, when I was a kid. I used to stand in front of the mirror dancing and posing thinking I was Michael Jackson... But my favorite Michael Jackson album is 'Dangerous'. I absolutely love this record.

Let’s get to the music, especially some of the tunes that you’ve done. I love ‘Sexy Boy’, tell us little about how that came about?

Well I'm a sexy boy, so I had to write about it... People used to call me that when I was a teenager, cause I was naughty, still am I guess... "I'd like to / put on a show / so you can see / how I feel..." The song is basically me telling the world what my motives are.

Another track you did was ‘French Kiss’. Tell us about that one if you can?

"French Kiss" is total nonsense... it's just me being flirtatious and silly. The idea for the track came after I heard "Manila" by Seelenluft. Very bare production-wise, and with a different sounding vocal over it.

like the majority of remixes that have been done to some of your tracks. Do you work with up and coming remixers?

I do. I'd rather work with up and coming remixers, or producers, than with established ones, cause they're fearless and their shit is the best. But I did work with some terrific well known remix producers, such as Seelenluft and Steve Bronski (Bronski Beat).

Some of the music you make, its kinda club driven with the tempos ranging from 120 to 130 Bpms. Would I be right to assume this?

Oh yeah, for sure. Electronic/dance music is what I do. My roots are deep in the clubs. And I always go back there when I need to get inspired again.

What can you tell us about Jimmy Edgar? Wasn’t he supposed to collaborate with you on a track?

Jimmy Edgar is God. He is outrageously talented. He can do it all. And he is a good friend of mine. I'm actually collaborating with him on my next release, which is a 5-track conceptual EP called "The Love". It's going to be the first installment in a series of 5-track conceptual EPs that I'm going to put out quarterly, starting next Fall. Every EP will explore a different concept. I'm producing the whole project with Jimmy Edgar.

You’re doing a cover of Daft Punk’s ‘Digital Love.’ What is it about this particular song that you like?

My cover of "Digital Love" is actually the centerpiece of "The Love". All the other songs revolve around it. The concept is love in a fuzzy, space-like, dreamy world. It's fantasy-oriented. And I think "Digital Love", one of my all-time favorite song, couldn't be more fitting.

You’re now living in New York, since moving from your hometown of Dakar, Senegal. So what is the greatest thing about living in a big city like New York?

Having supermarkets open 24/7.

Now you own and operate a label called ‘ModyWorks.’ Tell us a little something about how it came to fruition and who is currently signed to ModyWorks?

I was going to get signed to Vice Records then, thanks to a discussion with Vice's GM, I decided to set up my own record label instead and eventually do licensing deals with larger labels instead of signing directly to them. There are 5 acts currently signed to ModyWorks:

- Almamy, who is me
- Jenny Canto, who is a French pop singer
- SpenceGabor., who is a Brooklyn minimal techno artist/producer
- Button Love, who is an electropop duo consisting of SpenceGabor. and JMI, an amazing female singer
- Beetnik, who is a DJ/producer from Glasgow

There is a lovely female chanteuse named Jenny Canto on ModyWorks roster. What can you tell us about her, and where did you find her?

She's a dear friend of mine. We've known each other for years. We met a party and clicked right away, cause we are both into astrology and numerology... She is an amazing talent, a great songwriter and I'm very fortunate to have her on my label.


Being a relative newcomer to the music industry, what are your thoughts about the industry itself? Do you think that major labels are not the way to go but independent is?

It depends on the type of artist. But I think that for self-contained artists it makes more sense, business-wise and for creative reasons, to work with a good independent label or have its own label and do licensing deals. I believe we are going to see more and more artists set up their own label and do licensing or P&D deals with the majors. Or any other company that can effectively distribute the music on a larger scale.

You have released a slue of EPs over the past couple of years or so. Will there be a full album to follow next?

Yes, after my series of 5-track conceptual EPs, I'll be working on my debut album with Jimmy Edgar and probably Isomer Transition, who is a dope techno producer from New York.

What are your plans for the remainder of this year? Will you be doing gigs, tours, etc..?

I have "The Love" EP coming out next Fall, so I'm going to do a lot of shows around that time, then I also have a film project with SpenceGabor. A short film we're going to direct, with a special music project tied to it. Can't say much yet but it'll probably be out early next year. I also have my label to run, with many releases coming up from acts on the roster, and I'm going to have a book of my poetry published around Christmas, and I'll keep working on my series of EPs to release quarterly.

Any wise words you like to impart on to us?

Yeah. Summer is here, so practice SAFE SEX. And please, DO have sex, it's good for your health.

Thanks for talking to us Almamy and good luck with all your musical endeavours!

You're welcome, it was my pleasure. I'm a big fan of Nerdy Frames.

We would like to thank Almamy as well as Terhi Miekk-Oja of Modyworks for providing both press information and the good tunes of both Almamy and Jenny Canto.

For more information on Almamy and Modyworks, please goto the following links

Modyworks on Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/modyworks


Modyworks on Juno Download (BUY!!!!!)
http://www.junodownload.com/labels/ModyWorks/releases/

Almamy on Myspace
http://www.myspace.com/almamy

Jenny Canto
http://www.myspace.com/jennycanto

Button Love
http://www.myspace.com/buttonlovemusic

Spence Gabor
http://www.myspace.com/spencegabordot

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