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DJ and producer Aurum Miles is back with Modern Slavery, a 4-track EP featuring two original tracks and two remixes. Aurum offers two slow-moving tracks with a dark atmospheric sound design featuring dark programmed female vocals layered with energetic bass lines.
The title track 'Modern Slavery' has a darker theme with a punchy beat created primarily by the bass line and complements the beat of the drums. The track is layered with melodic, almost symphonic synth tunes that complement the bass. The irregular but progressive vibration creates a darker feel with a wide range of sounds that are distributed and designed to enhance the stereo image and sound more widely.
We have had the pleasure of speaking with him and this has been the result. Enjoy!
How and when have you been interested in music? And electronic music?
I have loved music since I can remember. Well I can remember one episode, me sitting in a pram and hearing a Queen song :D I grew up with passion in music, always digging for something new, always wanting to find new genres, new sounds, new music. Rock and shoegazing were my first passion. Later when getting older I found and started to understand more genres. Finally I got attached to electronic music. And it hooked me till the present day.
Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from / how did you get into music?
I'm from Lithuania, based in Vilnius. As I mentioned before, music has followed me since an early age. First I was a fan, later I tried to do some production. It took time for me to understand and learn how to produce, what is good, what is bad and so on. Actually I'm still spending at least one hour a day learning new stuff. Also since an early age I used to visit various music events. The biggest impact for me about electronic music was raves organised by my brothers. They are way older than me and I was way too young but they still used to take me along to these parties. Where I learned about hardwares, djing and so on. So I had a chance to see all the kitchen inside, and to find how it feels when a good few hundred people are dancing in a small space and a dj actually controls them. That was something special for me.
How do you feel that your music influences or impacts your listeners?
I'm always happy when my music gets heard and people talk about it. And if it can impact anyone I am more than happy.
What projects are you working on right now? What can you tell us about modern slavery?
At the moment I'm working on a couple EPs. But the biggest project I am working on is my label made by myself and Poulper - Quixotical Records.
First of all modern slavery is the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain. Secondly it is my latest release in which I try to talk and introduce people to this problem. It consists of two original tracks and two remixes by Franz Scala and Empathy Slow.
In both original tracks I present two common problems that are very related with each other: modern slavery and alienation of our society. One kind of person needs help while the other person lives a perfect life in their bubble and does not care what is really happening. The whole musical atmosphere of this release is slower and darker than usual. Both remixes supplement the original tracks and the idea that I wanted to share.
Where are you and what have you been doing now?
At the moment I'm in Vilnius, Lithuania. A Month ago I came back from Nigeria, where I spent the last 4 months. Now trying to get myself into the usual music routine that I had before leaving to Nigeria. So music production, live gig preparation, studio works with other artists and of course working on Quixotical Records works. Finally I got a Covid vaccine, so I'm preparing myself for gig season again.
Has that sound changed a lot in recent years? What is your musical criteria?
Biggest criteria for me is quality. Genre is not so important as long as the music is quality. My sound actually changes with every release. Because everytime I try to learn and experiment, and improve the quality. Music production is actually an endless learning process for me.
Do you feel safe now to play a more experimental sound?
Music has no boundaries, and that is what I love most about it. Experimental sounds means a much more interesting production process and much more interesting dj sets. Of course I am not into electronica where all you hear is 2 hours of noise. My experimental stuff still has the fundamental elements of dance music - bass and rhyme together with everything else I like to experiment.
We all know that the digital revolution has affected sales, but has it affected creativity?
At some point artists try to release more and more and choose quantity over quality. Because in this digital madness everyday millions of tracks are being released and when you put more music online you have bigger chances to be noticed. That is why the digital revolution has not only affected sales but affected the quality of music as well. It is getting harder and harder to find new great pieces of music in between the tones of crap. Lots of music labels lowered the target of music quality as well. Same situation - the more they release the bigger chance to be noticed. And it is like a closed circle - young fresh artists see what crap is being released and inspire to recreate it instead of making quality stuff, they produce crap as well due to it being popular. It is an endless circle which is leading to disaster.
Can you tell us what your present and future projects are?
A very interesting EP with my friend’s In-Link project is coming up. It will be dark electronic music with rap. Can't wait to finish it and share it with people :)
About future projects, nothing to tell actually, never know what will be in my mind tomorrow. Inspiration comes naturally and unexpectedly. But more music and even an album is coming for sure!
