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Emerging from Ireland, Chymera stands as a trailblazer in the realm of electronic music, distinguished for his groundbreaking creations and mesmerizing performances. Across a career spanning more than twenty years, he effortlessly melds various musical styles, crafting a unique sonic experience that resonates globally. Beyond his contributions to the music scene, Chymera remains a humble and dedicated artist, continually evolving his sound and pushing the boundaries of electronic music. With his unwavering passion and talent, he continues to inspire and influence generations of music enthusiasts worldwide.
How did you first get into music, and what drew you to become a DJ and producer?
The first music that really blew me away was Metallica, in my early teens. Then I started getting heavily into metal, grunge and alternative. Because of that I started learning guitar at school. A couple of years later I started recording some really embarrassing demos on a 4-track recorder. Unfortunately I never really managed to find anyone who was quite into the same music as me and who could also play instruments, so I wasn't able to form a band. Because of that I got somewhat frustrated with the music I was making as it always sounded just partially finished. When I went to university I moved in a few doors down from a DJ. He was in the same course as my flatmate at the time and we quickly bonded. He showed me how to mix two records together. Even though I wasn't really into the music at that point, I loved the process of mixing. It meant I could play finished music - not just a guitar track - and present that to people. Of course after a couple of months of mixing his records, I actually did start liking the music a lot and then I started collecting my own records. From there it was a fast progression through a couple of early styles until I settled on a mix of techno and house. Two years after I started Djing, I started making some electronic tracks too. Finally I was able to make entire tracks from start to finish and I didn't have to rely on anyone else.
Which artists have inspired you the most musically?
There are many, from various points in my musical life. In my teens my favourites were bands like Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Tool and the Smashing Pumpkins. Once I started getting into electronic music, one of the most prominent ones that stood out to me was Steve Rachmad. From there I discovered Detroit Techno - Underground Resistance, Robert Hood, Jeff Mills etc. In later years I also started listening to ambient a lot. Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Oneohtrix Point Never and many others.
How would you define your sound?
My music as Chymera I always used to describe as "Melodic Techno", however now that term has become an entire genre of its own which I don't really identify with so much. I don't really know how to describe my music now - sometimes it's a little harder, sometimes it's deeper or dubbier - but there's typically always some form of melody in there. I also make ambient music as Merrin Karras, which is more cinematic and synthesizer based.
Can you walk us through your creative process when starting a new track? Where do you typically begin, and how do you develop your ideas into a finished piece?
These days it can be something as simple as watching a movie or TV show and hearing some little piece of a melody, or rhythm, which then sparks a counterpart in my mind. When that happens I pause what I'm watching and then load up Ableton and start sketching something out. I make many different sketches, and then every couple of weeks I listen back to everything I've made and then sometimes I'll feel drawn to one in particular which I flesh out into a more finished track. Then I keep refining it and chipping away until it's completely done. It's also important to give some breathing space to the tracks once I've made them. If I come back to them after a month or two and I still like them, then I know it's a winner. If not, then I just file it away and move onto something else.
How do you approach genre experimentation, and what challenges or rewards come with it?
I've actually been making a lot of guitar based music again in recent years. Ironically I wasn't fully happy when making that kind of music in my teens, but now with all my years of experience I'm able to fill in all the missing pieces - drums, bass etc and end up with more well rounded tracks. I don't really know what's going to happen with those though but eventually I'll put them out in some form. It's fun and interesting making that kind of music because it has very different rules and structures than house or techno. I'm also very immersed in making my ambient stuff as Merrin Karras. Likewise that also have a very different structure from house/techno so I like the freedom that that brings.
Are there any software plugins or hardware equipment that you consider essential to your studio setup?
After making music over the last 25+ years, I've come to the stage where I can make my music with anything at hand - whether it's a guitar, a sample, or a software instrument built in to Ableton. I probably use my hardware less and less these days. My favourite plugins are effects from Valhalla, and the Tal Audio range of instruments. Also the built in instruments of Ableton like Wavetable, Drift and Sampler.
Could you share with us any producers or emerging artists you believe are doing exceptional work right now?
Since even before the pandemic, I don't dj anymore - just play live. That means I pretty much stopped paying attention to any new techno or house that's coming out. The only new producer that really caught my ear from the techno world in recent years is Wata Igarashi. Outside of that house/techno world some artists that have blown me away in recent years are Nala Sinephro, Alfa Mist and Nabihah Iqbal.
Can you name a couple of underground clubs or festivals that hold a special place in your heart, and what makes them stand out in terms of atmosphere and crowd energy?
Honestly I haven't really enjoyed clubbing since the pandemic, neither have I played any gigs since then so the clubs and festivals I've liked have long gone under.
Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or releases?
I'm slowly releasing music as Chymera on my own bandcamp: https://chymera.bandcamp.com/
Every few months I'll drop something new on there.
Apart from that, I also release an album every few years as Merrin Karras, as always on A Strangely Isolated Place.
What advice would you give to aspiring DJs and producers who are looking to break into the techno scene?
Don't just do what everyone else is doing. Take the time to find your own sound and your own style. Don't be afraid to try new things, until you find what you really love. Honestly apart from that, the rules for "breaking into the scene" are so different these days from when I was starting out. I would never be able to have the career I had if I was just starting now. Everything has changed these days and I really feel very little connection to the modern scene. I'm happy I was able to carve out my own little slice of the pie for as long as I could, but the scene is so much more crowded these days and the focus is on image a lot more than just music.
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