ultra Q: E*Rock
Artist, musician, labelist, turntablist, animator, producer, E*Rock is everywhere, multitentacled and multitalented. He runs or co-runs three record labels including Audio Dregs, he’s one-third of the multi-media team Wyld-File, and has done videos for Beck (with Wyld-File), Menomena, and Ratatat. Recent E*Rock projects include a series of digital psychedelic videos you can find our more about on his website. E*Rock took time out from editing video and sending out new releases for Copy and Panther to answer the ultra Q:
�Qualities you most admire in design:
I love design that doesn’t look like design. I love when you can’t tell what tools people used, but also if its just so simple and obvious that they just cut out some paper or drew a line in photoshop, then that is cool too. I love simplicity I guess, but then again I’m not doing anything simple these days, mostly in psychedelic design hole again. I’m not really a designer I guess.
Qualities you most despise in design:
I don’t know, fake-ness. I try and focus on things I like.
Reading:
I’m reading Wild Highway right now by the dudes from the band the KLF. I keep reading these horrible yet amazing books they made about ridiculous road trips they take and their attempts at press stunts and blowing their every cent they make on music. Other than that, I just magazines, blogs and clip art books on monsters, and Paper Rodeo.
Listening to:
Too much Panther and Copy, Lullatone, O.Lamm and Ratatat (because I’ve been working with them on a daily basis). Also Justice, Zongamin, White Flight, Peter Bjorn and John, Diplo, Yacht, Lil Wayne, RD Burman, Chrome and Chromatics. Tons of stuff.
Dream project:
Well I’m supposed to do videos this year for Kemialliset Ystavat, Eats Tapes and Ratatat. That’s completely dream projects already, but I’d love to do a video for Lil Wayne. I’d really really love to finish another record of my own music this year and make something for myself go on tour again.
Favorite virtue:
Honesty and Speed.
Favorite vice:
Honesty and Speed.
Tragic flaw:
Numbers. And trying to do everything myself. And I can’t cook, yet I’m always hungry.
Secret superhero power:
Mixtapes.
That which keeps your afterburners firing:
Stumptown coffee. Going on tour in Europe and Japan.
What you’d like to be when you grow up:
I don’t know, a video Director, or an artist of some sort. Pretty much what I do now, but a little more focused maybe. I mostly want to be part of a really awesome creative community of friends that create awesome art and music and just keep life vital and challenging. And I wish I could work with dynamite sometimes, that would be cool. Blow up bridges and buildings or something.
Portland’s best kept secret:
That’s a secret that I have not yet heard about. I hope someone tells me soon.
Portland heroes (sung or un-):
Friends mostly, when I get to see them, people that create things and connect people. I don’t want to list 45 names and then leave people out.
Interesting on the horizon (PDX):
Well, the record release party for Panther and Copy on March 2 will be great. Cool group art show with some aforementioned Portland heroes March 1 at Grasshut. I’m working on a new DVD with an artist I met in Holland (Ola Vasiljeva), and a book of art and then hopefully a new album so that I’ll have an excuse to tour.
Want more?
E*Rock
Light & Sound (blog)
Projects/Labels:
Wyld File
Audio Dregs
Fryk Beat
Collective Jyrk
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