Check-Up: Darshan Jesrani

May 29, 2012
Categories: 
Culture
OCF

 

When it comes to New York City DJ/producers, Darshan Jesrani's work is pretty close to unparalleled. As half of the disco revivalist/house duo, Metro Area, he's been a visible member of the dance music world for well over a decade, thought he's been producing in some way, shape, or form for closer to two. In addition to working with Morgan Geist, he's also been behind a number of more recent records, like the Arcade Lover 12" that came out on Tirk a few years back. We caught Darshan for our newest installation of Check-Up.
 
What have you been working on as of late?
 
A whole bunch of stuff, all happening very slowly in parallel.  I recently finished the control room part of a studio space in Brooklyn.  I used to live there a while ago, when I first moved to [the neighborhood]. Over the years, in-between touring, I've been converting it to a studio and work space.  After I was able to set my gear back up and work again I did a bunch of sketches for what I was hoping would end up as a new Metro Area album, but we've changed course, so I've been working on a new sound for myself, a new project, and new label.
 
What's your next release going to be? And when?
 
The main thing on the horizon is my new project, coming out late summer/early fall on my own label.  I'll also have some remixes being released around then as well.  One for Nina Kraviz on Rekids, and a couple of others.
 
What's something you're looking forward to this year?
 
Please see directly above!  I really can't wait for the first of this new stuff to be out in the world.  The things I release as singles will be more disco/club oriented but I also want to move on and do an album. 
 
What's your favorite release of 2012 so far?
 
It hasn't happened yet (wink wink).  I'm not sure really.  I'm not the best person to ask because I only casually pay attention to what's coming out.  I kind of skim the surface of the marketplace nowadays and depend a lot on tips from friends.  There are some people out there doing interesting things. 
 
Have you had any cool tours or gigs recently? Anything particularly memorable?
 
My last tour was really enjoyable and, more importantly, re-affirmed my faith in playing the stuff I love, rather than depending on pure hardness or brute force or repetition to get over and get a vibe going with dancers.  It was really nice to see people respond to mixed sets of old and new music and to just let it be without expecting specifics – modern, retro, house, disco, etc.
 
What was the last piece of equipment you bought and why?
  
My last purchase was a boring, functional peace of gear that lets me interface my laptop with the rest of my shit (console, A/D converters, etc.), but the thing I bought before that is what I'm more excited about.  It's an old Korg/Univox analog monophonic (one voice, so no chords) synthesizer that looks like it was made for someone who's like, an organ player, or who doesn't want to program.  It's got very simple controls and sounds like it's from space.  It's got no MIDI and no way to control it remotely from the computer so you have to play everything and record traditionally, then edit afterwards.  I've been wanting this juicier, mid-70s analog sound instead of the more precise 80s timbres and this is a great first step.
 
What's something valuable you've learned or discovered this year?
 
I think there have been a lot of little revelations about recording and writing.  Just the lessons that happen almost every day when you make attempts that don't end up working exactly as you'd hoped the first time around.  You're forced to troubleshoot, and then just naturally end up problem solving and developing a process and a set of values that guide your way forward.  It strengthens faith in one's own ability to mold sounds and musical parts to the way they've been imagined.
 
When—if ever—will Metro Area return with an actual release?
 
Not sure!  We've both been developing solo ideas lately so it's all a bit up in the air for now.

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