INTERVIEW: Stuster

05/18/2022 1

OO Recordings returns with the second edition of Splits – a meeting spot between two creative minds. This time around, we’re representing the vibrant local scene of Helsinki.

Kicking things off on the A-side we have emkay. Also known as Gem-K or Maria Korkeila, emkay is taking the listener into the depths of house and electronica, both with a unique and cheeky touch. emkay’s minimalistic (but in no means minimal) approach to electronic music, combined with her playful lyrics creates a state of musical being that is hard to pin down into a singular genre. The key to emkay’s sound is the way it invites the body to interact with the sound, from subtle swing to full-on body-rocking.

B-side features Stuster’s takes on contemporary electro and acid. It’s what music with a sophisticated bang should be all about during the 2020’s Stuster’s cuts lace heavy kicks with digi-synths and acidic basslines, and manage to bring together something from the very early days of electro with something very current. Stuster’s sound in general combines the creative thinking of a mind from the digital age with an interest in sounds of the past, always with a relentless attitude to taking things forward – both in sound as in dancefloor response.

All tracks on the release are dancefloor friendly but for very different moments of the night. The tracks share a subconsciously communicated ethos, perfectly summarizing what the Splits release series is all about.

We have had the pleasure of interviewing Stuster and this has been the result.

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

I’m originally from the Netherland but I’ve lived in Finland for a long time now. This is also where I got into DJing, when about six years ago I started with rap/hiphop and that kind of stuff. I already had some background from music as I played guitar as a kid. That was more geared towards thrash and prog metal, but when I started getting into more electronic stuff – in the beginning trap and dubstep – I started using Ableton.

You are quite active in your local scene. How is the current state of the underground from your perspective? What’s happening in Helsinki?

Haha, well to be completey honest, I live in Espoo but it’s close enough to Helsinki to be able to experience what our capital has to offer. I feel like despite the difficult two passed years – or maybe even because of those – there are new people involved in the scene with interesting events taking place outside of the usual club settings. Since the clubs were closed, we had to make do with outdoor events or underground things during the lockdowns. I’d say we’re up for an interesting summer with loads of variety and interesting people involved, maybe a bit of best worlds now that everything is open again but there’s also more experimental locations.

How is your sound evolving? What artists and genres are you enjoying mixing right now?

I’d say I am bringing a more agressive sound to what I play and produce at the moment. Maybe it has something to do with my guitar background? But yeah, I’m really inspired by stuff from Manao, Viikatory, Isolated Material and Spectral Frequency. I don’t want to box myself in too much but acid, breaks, electro, house and some edit stuff is what I like to blend together.

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

I mean music is such a personal experience, everyone experiences it in different ways. I like to keep it that way too, I don’t want to tell what people should feel when they hear my music. But I will hint that if it makes you move, then it’s doing something right.

What projects are you working on at the moment?

Though Splits 2 only recently came out, I’m already working on more solo stuff. I also frequently collaborate with my friend Miro-Benji, at the moment we’re working on something a bit more housey. And we also have a more experiemental project that is a mix of acid, EBM and rap. That one is called Soft Assault Orchestra.

What pisses you off?

Very obvious things happening in the world right now.

What makes you happy?

Finally getting Splits 2 released. It’s taken some but it’s nice to have it out just before the summer. Plenty of potential summer anthems on both sides – some more summer-y than others! Summer anthems for people who like the summer and for those who don’t, haha.

Do you have any final words of wisdom?

Big up to OO Recordings for getting this out there, and a massive shoutout to emkay for splitting the sides of the cassette, it was an honour to get to share the release with someone so talented!

Splits 2: emkay & Stuster is out on OO Recordings on the 20th of May 2022. Available digitally, as a cassette and in all major streaming services. Pre-order here: https://oorecordings.bandcamp.com/album/splits-2-emkay-stuster