Interview: Armen at the Bazaar
MYATS: You are originally from Toronto, what made you decide to move to Montreal and would you now call it home?
Armen: I came to Montreal to do a bachelor of science at McGill. I’ve actually just moved back to Toronto to do a masters in Developmental Psychology. Seems like school keeps pulling me around.
Montreal is home. Montreal is more than home. We work in Toronto, we live in Montreal.
MYATS: What journey brought you to working with looping?
Armen: I saw a tUnE-YarDs show a few years back and knew that I wanted to do something like that. I think it’s the only way to achieve a big sound as a solo performer. How I approach looping has evolved since then but, she really introduced me to the beauty of looping.
MYATS: What and/or whom are your influences?
Armen: More and more, I’m trying to become influenced by the sounds around me rather than a specific style of music. If I come up with a cool sound to sample or hear something in the environment, I record it or load it up into a session and see where it takes me.
MYATS: What bands/acts are you listening to these days?
Armen: Lots of electronic/ambient stuff:
Pantha du Prince, Paul Kelkbrenner, The Field (soooo good), Casino vs. Japan, the new M83 record is brilliant, Sir. James Blake, Dominik Eulberg.
MYATS: What is your songwriting process?
Armen: It starts small. A simple riff, vocal melody or drum loop that I ride out until it becomes a more “complete” song or soundscape.
MYATS: What drives you to write and share your music?
Armen: Writing just happens. It’s too easy to get lost in it and the more time you spend doing it, the more reinforcing it becomes. Sometimes I catch myself just listening to a certain part I’ve recorded over and over just to get that “high” associated with feeling goosebumps.
To me, sharing music is just as important as making it. Music enters our ears and tickles practically every corner of our brains. I want to tickle as many brains as possible.
MYATS: How would you describe your experience putting together your EP Noor?
Armen: I learnt a lot. Producing, engineering, writing, recording – for the most part, I do everything myself so it really forces me to become better at a lot of different aspects related to music.
MYATS: How does technology affect your music in terms of new gear and how it changes the way you write music and perform?
Armen: I think new gear allows you to find and create new sounds. Maybe not “new” in the universal sense, but personally new to your own ears. This kind of discovery, lets you explore new avenues that weren’t available or there to begin with. The idea of new gear is relative too. Imagine getting hold of an old phonograph from the late 19thcentury. That shit would sound new as hell!!
MYATS: I really enjoyed your video by Mitch Fillion, how was your experience with Southern Souls?
Armen: Southern Souls is amazing. Mitch is the man. I’m super happy the connection was finally made. Lots more to come between the two of us I’m certain!
MYATS: What’s next for Armen and the Bazaar? Any collaborations in the works?
Armen: I’m working on a new EP. I’d say it’s about 67.3% done. Hardest part is still ahead though. Really letting loose. More electronic, more experimental, more psychedelic…getting some close friends involved too. Can’t wait, can’t wait.
Interview conducted by Pamela Fillion.
We would like to thank Armen at the Bazaar for answering our questions, and we suggest that you check him out tonight with Sweet Mother Logic at La Sala Rossa.
