Adham Shaikh is celebrating the release of his new album Refractions on Saturday night at The Royal. Shaikh is a regular at Shambhala and our friends at the festival caught up with him before taking the stage this weekend.
1. How do you explain electronic music to someone hasn’t been exposed?
Music is made with electronic instruments (technology)like for example synthesizers, samplers, computers and drum machines. Electronic music is where computers are emulating synthesizers, samplers and tape recording equipment using software programs that allow the computer to be these different digital devices.
2. Your electronic sound can incorporate a large variety of world beat rhythms. How has this inspired people who hear you?
I feel like the fusion of electronics and the world sounds creates a further synergy between the listener and the journey the music takes people on. I believe it taps into the collective acoustic history of humanity in a primal way and keeps the real vibrations alive within the listener or connects with the memory of those real vibrations.
3.You’ve scored original soundtracks for numerous film and television productions. What do you enjoy about this kind of work?
The discovery point at which the sounds I am creating for the picture bring the scene alive beyond what the original images initially conveyed.
4. You’ve travelled extensively and performed at festivals in many different countries. What experience stands out the most to you?
I think the thing that stands out the most is the special feeling I get arriving back home.