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Eagles & Butterflies: from the passion for hardwares and synths to the music studios and dance floors
Get to know better Eagles & Butterflies, an incredible wizard of the synth’s effects
Eagles & Butterflies is more than the sum of the labels he’s released. A diehard hardware enthusiast, if he Is not touring, he’s toiling away in his studio, wrapped up in wires and interacting with his beloved machines.
An artist who prefers the tangible experience of playing music on synthesizers and drum machines, he has constantly been refining his craft and modifying his studio since day one.
Eagles & Butterflies has entered the most crucial career phase so far, where he embraces a liberated approach to making music. With the support of labels like Correspondant Records, Innervisions, Running Back, and Permanent Vacation, he relishes the opportunity to reveal another layer of his multifaceted sonic uniqueness.
Here he is, Eagles & Butterflies, soaring to new heights with a refreshed sound and outlook, driven by the same deep passion and innate talent.
Take advantage of the opportunity to get to know better this incredible wizard of the synth’s effects. Read on!
Hi Chris! What a pleasure to have you in our Brazilian edition!
I’m doing great, thanks for having me.
Regarding your releases, you have presented a great remix for RY X and Bob Moses, mentioning that it is not the first time you have added your magic to their originals. What can you tell us about your relationship with them regarding production and musical vision?
I have known both artists for some time now, all living in LA and enjoying lots of
hangs outside of music. I love both artists for what they do.
RY is incredible and such a unique artist in every way, there is nobody really like him, and this is the third remix I did for him so feel quite lucky.
Bob Moses guys also, love everything they do, and when I heard this song, I knew I had to remix it.
Once you mentioned that ‘Bad Love’ had many versions before you selected the right one. Did ‘Dark Room Dancing’ have the same experience?
Yes, precisely the same. Maybe 10 different remixes I did, I tried to make something more club-friendly, but I just felt it needed this more laidback breakbeat kind of vibe, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out.
“I think the scene is just a very different place now to where it was a few years back, but as an artist you just have to evolve with it.”
In the case of ‘Love Brand New’? Previously, you said that was your favourite song from Bob Moses. Why is that? The lyrics? The rhythm?
I just love everything about this song, I had to bring the temp up a lot on this, so I didn’t know if the boys would like it, but they loved it and have been playing lot out lots also. It was for sure one of my biggest tracks since I made it.
Talk to us about the importance of your label, ‘Art Imitating Life’. Where will it head musically in the next few years?
It’s really important as it gives you the creative freedom to do exactly what you want and when you want.
I’ll start to release another people’s music on it soon also to watch out for that! I feel lucky with my label as had some great people remix like Gerd Janson, Mano Le Tough, Solomon, and know all of these as well.
When I asked to Damon Jee, Coloray, Chinaski, and Jennifer Cardini a remix for ‘AIL Remixes 2022’, everybody said yes.
What is the most memorable compliment you have gotten about your music?
I think it’s always nice when other artists like and play your music, but I still think that at the end of the day something that I’m really happy with and love is still the most important thing.
Rumour has it that soon you will release some tunes with Chloe Caillet. That’s fabulous! What can you tell us about this collaboration?
Yeah, I really like Chloe Caillet, we had a few studio sessions over the years, and we did a day last month and made some really cool stuff so looking forward to finishing them and getting them out!
“I prepare a lot and always dig deep for great new music. I think it’s really important to define your own sound and try and not sound the same as everyone else”
After the massive success of ‘Retropolis EP’ released last October, you will return to ‘Running Back’ soon with another musical treat.
I’m still working on the EP now. I didn’t want to rush the second EP; we have a bunch of tracks that we love and just working on a few other bits. It’s my favourite label so really want to make sure the next EP is perfect!
It is already well-known that you and Gerd Janson have a strong musical and personal bond, How would you describe your friendship?
I love Gerd Janson, both as personally and musically. He is such a pleasure to work with and really puts in so much input into everything.
He has to put up with a lot from me always changing stuff and sending new ideas constantly but is always super happy and positive.
Lots of times I want to give up on things and Gerd was there always with a positive message to keep going. A real pleasure to work with and have as a friend.
To get started, do there need to be tangible ideas or a visualization of the finished work? Did you use this strategy for your coming EP on ‘Permanent Vacation’?
Not really! I’m always working on some type of music all day every day.
So, there are always so many ideas that it’s just a case of piecing them together.
I love working with Benji at PV. We have a great connection and I trust his option.
“I love Gerd, both personally and musically, he really helped me so much and it’s a pleasure being able to work with him. I’m super excited for all the stuff coming with Running Back.”
Along your musical journey, you have shared the stage and the studio with many musicians, some of them became close friends, others a source of inspiration. Have you ever felt that at some point, some artists have lost their individuality in the scene due to the hype of certain events?
Yeah lots, I think in these times being an artist is becoming less and less about the music and more about your brand and being a content provider. There are fewer artists that are really breaking the mold and doing something different.
But there are also lots of amazing artists still and so much good music out there if you look, I think the scene is just a very different place now to where it was a few years back, but as an artist you just have to evolve with it.
How much prep do you put into the tracks you choose to play?
I prepare a lot and always dig for great new music, I consider this is really important, but you can’t really prepare so much for a live audience and when and where to drop a certain track, and that’s what I love about DJing is the unpredictability of not knowing what a crowd will be like, but when you have an amazing audience and can take them anywhere it’s incredible.
As an outstanding artist, how important is it for you to raise awareness in topics like ‘diversity in the lineups or ‘mental health in the industry’?
It’s super important, and I feel like both are heading in the right direction.
Mental health definitely needs to be talked about more as it’s such an important part of being an artist that so many people suffer with.
Any creative job I feel is tough, and so many people struggle with it.
Once you mentioned that Brazil is one of your favourite places in the world. What makes it so unique for you?
I love Brazil! The people, the parties and amazing places. I stayed the whole month of December when I was only supposed to stay for a week.
I got an apartment in Rio on the beach, went surfing every day and made some amazing music, I can’t wait to come back.
To wrap it up, What is 2023’s schedule?
Lots of music, touring, and enjoying life, I decided to start trying to enjoy life more, worry less about being an artist and its success and just enjoy the process more.
