INTERVIEW: apaull

Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from / how did you get into music?

I was born in Amsterdam and emigrated to Canada, with my parents at a young age. My father was a professional musician. My whole family was into music, in one way or another. I played the piano and drums as a child and into my early twenties. I set music aside as I built a career as an environmental scientist. I got back into music in late 2018, after finishing a PhD, in my mid-fifties, and selling my consulting business. I have long been fascinated by electronic dance music and its creation has now become my primary endeavour.

It seems that the underground scene continues to persist. Do you think “normal” events and festivals will return?

I think that how music is presented along with everything else will continue to evolve. We all need some level of personal contact, so I don’t think live music is going anywhere. That said the proliferation of music in a more virtual way through the internet will continue to grow. It is a natural evolution we should embrace and exploit rather than shun.

How is your sound evolving? What artists and genres do you enjoy mixing right now?


As I become more technically proficient, I have greater control over the sounds that I create. Rather than just playing around with sounds to see what works I now have a clearer vision of the sounds I would like to create and make them.

I listen to all electronic dance music genres. I am a child of the 1980s so draw a lot of inspiration from the electronic music of that era. I want to create what I consider to be meaningful music like some of my key influences including the Orb, Depeche Mode, Massive Attack and Skinny Puppy.

How do you feel your music influences or impacts your listeners?

That’s a great question. I don’t have a full answer for that, and it will come over time. I strive to produce music that can serve two functions. First off, I want listeners to be able to chill and/or dance to my music. Secondly, and only if they feel like it, I want listeners to listen more closely to my music for the most hidden messages I am trying to convey.

What projects are you working on right now? What can you tell us about your last job?

I am working on an EP called Depths, which will be released in mid-May, just before Detroit’s Movement Festival. It includes the title track, four remixes by venerable and veteran New York City producer, John Selway and another original track.
I am also working on an as-yet-untitled, album that I am looking to release in late September, just before the Amsterdam Dance Event.

The White LeBaron EP is my current release. The LeBaron is a car from the 80s and 90s. I used to walk by one on my daily ocean walk, in Florida. The track itself is about loss and despair, in need of relief. The EP features two very danceable remixes from veteran LA techno producer Developer.

What bothers you?

Lazy people that want others to provide for them, artists that acquiesce uncritically to government and corporations to the point where they are part of that system, governments’ more interested in power and instilling fear than good governance and the scared people that vote for them.

What makes you happy?

My first coffee of the day, being productive, putting together musical ideas into a single track, a hard spin class, the sun shining, my wife and being alive to put forward my best effort to enjoy each day.

Do you have any final words of wisdom?

Focus on producing high-quality music and try to achieve critical acclaim for this music. I think this is the path to success. There is still no guarantee of course and you will need to support your music production efforts with considerable promotion efforts.