A thousand lies in a New York minute, but there is nothing pretentious about Future Relative. This band is the truth. A few days ago, I had the chance to chat with Armand Aviram, the lead singer of the electropop rock band, Future Relative. We spoke of their newly released EP, recent gigs in New York, and his passion for music.
Armand and I went to the same High School years back. I’ve seen him in and out of numerous bands and in the progress searching for his own voice. It’s no surprise to me that he’s boldly taken a new direction with Future Relative, mixing electronica with pop and rock, combining a sound and experience that is both refreshing and powerful. He’s always been open-minded and his taste for music is eclectic.
He told me that he struggled in college to find his voice as a singer and songwriter and found it difficult to generate much buzz around his music. At times, he was ready to throw in the towel, but the passion for doing what he loved to do kept him going. I instantly felt connected to Armand. I too experienced similar difficulties and tough decisions that had to be made when I decided to start Sistine. At the end of the day, it’s doing what we feel most passionate about that keeps us going.
Check out Future Relative’s myspace page for their songs and be a fan on facebook!
Interview with Armand Aviram of Future Relative
Congratulations on Future Relative’s new EP! I’ve heard amazing things about your recent gig at the Canal Room in New York. How does it feel to finally get out there and perform the new tracks?
It feels amazing, and it’s been quite a relief. There were moments when I never thought I would even reach this far. I’ve gone through quite a transformation as an artist and musician over the past year or so, and there have been moments of disillusionment and doubt. So to perform in front of 100 people for our very first show, and see people singing the words was pure validation. I knew the moment I got off stage that this was just the beginning for us and nothing inside me would ever want to give up ever again.
How did you get together with Lex Sadler (bass) and Nic Coolidge (guitar/programmer)? When did you guys form the band?
Nic and I went to NYU together. We were roommates when we studied abroad. We hit it off and became really close on that trip. Although we talked about music a lot, we never really played anything together. We’ve stayed friends over the years, and last year he asked me if I wanted to come sing for this hip-hop artist that he had been working with. Lex was also a part of this hip-hop act as well.
So the 3 of us, we’re in the backing band for this rapper and did some shows in NYC. As soon as I saw Lex and Nic playing together I witnessed this incredible spark between the 2 of them; a chemistry between musicians that is rare and exciting. I knew once I had Future Relative up and running (which ended up being a year later) that these were the guys that needed to be involved in the project. They’re not only incredible musicians, but also amazing people, and there’s no better feeling than to create and play music with people you love.
How long have you guys been working on this EP?
In the fall of 2008, I began looking around for a producer to work with. After college I felt really lost and had no motivation or direction when it came to music. I had struggled throughout college to really find my voice as a singer and songwriter, and made very little progress when it came to building any buzz surrounding my music. I was pretty much ready to throw in the towel, but that summer I began to write songs again and realized that I wanted to give it another try.
I hooked up with producer Ido Zmishlany, and came to him basically asking for help. It’s always been my belief that if you want to do something great, surround yourself with someone who’s doing it better than you, and learn from them. I wanted to do 1 song with him, and then decide after that if we were to continue working together. I wanted to expand my horizons, get out of my comfort zone, explore, and do something fresh and exciting. We began experimenting with a more electronic/pop sound, and all of the sudden we realized that this was the direction for me. Future Relative was born then and there. We ended up recording about 8 songs, 3 of them didn’t make the grade for me, so there’s 5 on the EP.
What does Future Relative mean to you and how would you describe the sound?
The concept behind Future Relative is connection. Being one with the audience and just feeling good, like a big family that loves to dance, sing and party. The sound is a mixture of dance/pop/electronic rock. There are a few things that we’re trying to achieve with the music. If it’s a dance song, I want it to be a dance song that explodes, in the way that a rock song would explode. It’s very high energy. Even if we’re doing a ballad, we still want to keep the energy going. I love shows where the band is just drenched in sweat by the end of the set. I draw from many different influences as a songwriter, but I think Future Relative has it’s own sound, an electronic backdrop, with a hard hitting beat, and a chorus that hits you in the face.
When was the earliest age you began playing music? Do you have a family background of musicians?
My family is not musical, but they all love music. When I was young, my brother played classic rock in the house all the time and I was exposed to bands like The Who, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. I began taking piano lessons when I was 5 or 6, and played classical piano until I was 18. Somewhere along the way I started playing guitar, and randomly tried to write songs when I was 14-15. I’ve been in and out of bands since then, but my taste in music has gone through many phases. I’m one of those musicians who really has an appreciation for so many different types of music, it’s pretty overwhelming how eclectic my taste is.
Did you always know that you wanted to do music? How supportive were your family and friends of your decision to pursue music professionally?
I never really thought about it as much as people would think. I think when you’re a musician you just keep going, because it’s all you know how to do. I could stop, but I don’t know what the hell I would do if I did. You just keep going because you love it and it’s all you know. My family has been incredibly supportive, it’s a blessing, because I know most parents just want their kids to go to law school and make a ton of money. My parents not only believe in me because I’m their kid, but I also think they genuinely love the music and think it has a chance of breaking big.
On the track “Monday Morning”, it talks about the choices we make in life. You can either pursue your passion and risk poverty or you can compromise your values and become rich. How important is it for you to do what you feel passionate about?
That’s an interesting question. I think most people would agree that you have to do what you love, but it’s just not the case with the majority of people. I don’t know what the statistics are, but I think most people fucking hate their jobs. But you have to eat and live life, I think there’s a small group of people who make money doing what they really want to do, it’s special and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Name some of your top musical influences.
That’s always a tough question for me. I definitely grew up on classic rock. During my teenage years I loved all the grunge stuff, all the great rock bands of the 80’s and 90’s. I always secretly loved pop music, but as I got older I felt less and less ashamed to open my horizons and truly explore pop, dance and electronica. Sometimes when you grow up as a rock music fan you shy away from anything that isn’t somewhat rock, I find that with a lot of people. People have no idea how much other stuff is out there, every day I hear something new that blows my mind.
My biggest influences as a singer would probably boil down to Chris Cornell, Seal, Bono, Imogen Heap, and Dave Gahan. I love singers who can create atmosphere with their voice, suck you into their world, but project as if they were singing to a stadium of people. I’m really trying to make an impact with my voice, I don’t wanna just sit in a coffee shop and sing break up songs anymore, that’s not who I am. I want people to know who I am when I sing.
What are you currently listening to on your iPod?
Right now I’m listening to the new Robyn record. She put out an EP called Body Talk part 1, it’s 8 songs and every song is amazing. I believe this is the way of the future when it comes to releasing music. I’d rather release an EP with every song being a gem, than a full album where there are 2 good songs and the rest is filler.
Some other people I’m listening to right now, Kid Cudi, love his style; Dragonette, an amazing electro/rock band from Canada; Sam Sparro, electro/soul singer from the UK; Passion Pit, their creativity is out of this world; Lupe Fiasco, I saw him in concert a couple months ago and was totally blown away, best hip-hop performance I’ve ever seen.
You grew up in Long Island, New York and studied music composition in NYU. How has New York as a city influenced you musically and on a personal level?
Growing up in Long Island I felt kind of isolated. Even within my own group of friends I never felt like I really belonged. NYC just toughens you up, especially as a musician, it’s all about the hustle. I hate to think of it as a competition, but in a way you are competing. There’s an insane amount of bands, artists, musicians, singers, and they all want to make it, and not everyone can.
Living in the city can get really lonely and isolating too, even when you’re surrounded by people. That’s one of the themes I tried to touch upon in “Monday Morning”. I think the best part about being in NY is the access to other musicians and seeing live shows. I love the fact that I can see so much live music, if I lived somewhere else that may not be the case.
What inspires you? How does that translate into your music?
As of late, the thought of playing more shows has inspired me. Sometimes I sit and try to write a song and I keep thinking to myself, “well no one is going to hear this, so what’s the point?” But after the initial response from the EP and from our live show, I’ve been feeding off that energy and I know people want more, and it makes me want to produce.
I have a difficult time trying to write when I want to write. I might be out somewhere at a bar, anywhere really, and an idea will pop into my head and I’ll just write it down, take it home and look at it the next day. Every song is different. I can always remember the time and place where I conceived each idea. For example, with the song “Eye Contact”, I was reading a memoir and this woman was talking about how the guy she was dating told her to look at him while they were having sex, she said the eye contact they made was the sexiest thing she had ever experienced. As soon as I read that line, I stopped reading, went over to my keyboard and tried to write a song about that.
What’s next for Future Relative? New tracks? More live performances we can look forward to seeing?
We hope to release another EP in 4-5 months with 2 new tracks and 3 remixes of the previous ones. We’re playing at Fontanas in the lower east side on September 10th; from there we’re just going to keep the momentum going. New recordings, a constantly evolving live show with new lighting designs, new remixes of our songs, new gadgets. Our #1 priority is building a real fan base in New York. We hope to be able to sell out a small venue within a year’s time and attract some attention.
Any last words?
I think Sistine rocks, the t-shirts look great, and I’m so happy to see someone I know doing what they love. Future Relative is all about building relationships with fellow artists. Thanks for having me.
Interview by Joe
Photos courtesy of FR & C. Nugent
July 29th, 2010
A thousand lies in a New York minute, but there is nothing pretentious about Future Relative. This band is the truth. A few days ago, I had the chance to chat with Armand Aviram, the lead singer of the electropop rock band, Future Relative. We spoke of their newly released EP, recent gigs in New York, and his passion for music.
Armand and I went to the same High School years back. I’ve seen him in and out of numerous bands and in the progress searching for his own voice. It’s no surprise to me that he’s boldly taken a new direction with Future Relative, mixing electronica with pop and rock, combining a sound and experience that is both refreshing and powerful. He’s always been open-minded and his taste for music is eclectic.
He told me that he struggled in college to find his voice as a singer and songwriter and found it difficult to generate much buzz around his music. At times, he was ready to throw in the towel, but the passion for doing what he loved to do kept him going. I instantly felt connected to Armand. I too experienced similar difficulties and tough decisions that had to be made when I decided to start Sistine. At the end of the day, it’s doing what we feel most passionate about that keeps us going.
Check out Future Relative’s myspace page for their songs and be a fan on facebook!
Interview with Armand Aviram of Future Relative
Congratulations on Future Relative’s new EP! I’ve heard amazing things about your recent gig at the Canal Room in New York. How does it feel to finally get out there and perform the new tracks?
It feels amazing, and it’s been quite a relief. There were moments when I never thought I would even reach this far. I’ve gone through quite a transformation as an artist and musician over the past year or so, and there have been moments of disillusionment and doubt. So to perform in front of 100 people for our very first show, and see people singing the words was pure validation. I knew the moment I got off stage that this was just the beginning for us and nothing inside me would ever want to give up ever again.
How did you get together with Lex Sadler (bass) and Nic Coolidge (guitar/programmer)? When did you guys form the band?
Nic and I went to NYU together. We were roommates when we studied abroad. We hit it off and became really close on that trip. Although we talked about music a lot, we never really played anything together. We’ve stayed friends over the years, and last year he asked me if I wanted to come sing for this hip-hop artist that he had been working with. Lex was also a part of this hip-hop act as well.
So the 3 of us, we’re in the backing band for this rapper and did some shows in NYC. As soon as I saw Lex and Nic playing together I witnessed this incredible spark between the 2 of them; a chemistry between musicians that is rare and exciting. I knew once I had Future Relative up and running (which ended up being a year later) that these were the guys that needed to be involved in the project. They’re not only incredible musicians, but also amazing people, and there’s no better feeling than to create and play music with people you love.
How long have you guys been working on this EP?
In the fall of 2008, I began looking around for a producer to work with. After college I felt really lost and had no motivation or direction when it came to music. I had struggled throughout college to really find my voice as a singer and songwriter, and made very little progress when it came to building any buzz surrounding my music. I was pretty much ready to throw in the towel, but that summer I began to write songs again and realized that I wanted to give it another try.
I hooked up with producer Ido Zmishlany, and came to him basically asking for help. It’s always been my belief that if you want to do something great, surround yourself with someone who’s doing it better than you, and learn from them. I wanted to do 1 song with him, and then decide after that if we were to continue working together. I wanted to expand my horizons, get out of my comfort zone, explore, and do something fresh and exciting. We began experimenting with a more electronic/pop sound, and all of the sudden we realized that this was the direction for me. Future Relative was born then and there. We ended up recording about 8 songs, 3 of them didn’t make the grade for me, so there’s 5 on the EP.
What does Future Relative mean to you and how would you describe the sound?
The concept behind Future Relative is connection. Being one with the audience and just feeling good, like a big family that loves to dance, sing and party. The sound is a mixture of dance/pop/electronic rock. There are a few things that we’re trying to achieve with the music. If it’s a dance song, I want it to be a dance song that explodes, in the way that a rock song would explode. It’s very high energy. Even if we’re doing a ballad, we still want to keep the energy going. I love shows where the band is just drenched in sweat by the end of the set. I draw from many different influences as a songwriter, but I think Future Relative has it’s own sound, an electronic backdrop, with a hard hitting beat, and a chorus that hits you in the face.
When was the earliest age you began playing music? Do you have a family background of musicians?
My family is not musical, but they all love music. When I was young, my brother played classic rock in the house all the time and I was exposed to bands like The Who, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. I began taking piano lessons when I was 5 or 6, and played classical piano until I was 18. Somewhere along the way I started playing guitar, and randomly tried to write songs when I was 14-15. I’ve been in and out of bands since then, but my taste in music has gone through many phases. I’m one of those musicians who really has an appreciation for so many different types of music, it’s pretty overwhelming how eclectic my taste is.
Did you always know that you wanted to do music? How supportive were your family and friends of your decision to pursue music professionally?
I never really thought about it as much as people would think. I think when you’re a musician you just keep going, because it’s all you know how to do. I could stop, but I don’t know what the hell I would do if I did. You just keep going because you love it and it’s all you know. My family has been incredibly supportive, it’s a blessing, because I know most parents just want their kids to go to law school and make a ton of money. My parents not only believe in me because I’m their kid, but I also think they genuinely love the music and think it has a chance of breaking big.
On the track “Monday Morning”, it talks about the choices we make in life. You can either pursue your passion and risk poverty or you can compromise your values and become rich. How important is it for you to do what you feel passionate about?
That’s an interesting question. I think most people would agree that you have to do what you love, but it’s just not the case with the majority of people. I don’t know what the statistics are, but I think most people fucking hate their jobs. But you have to eat and live life, I think there’s a small group of people who make money doing what they really want to do, it’s special and shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Name some of your top musical influences.
That’s always a tough question for me. I definitely grew up on classic rock. During my teenage years I loved all the grunge stuff, all the great rock bands of the 80’s and 90’s. I always secretly loved pop music, but as I got older I felt less and less ashamed to open my horizons and truly explore pop, dance and electronica. Sometimes when you grow up as a rock music fan you shy away from anything that isn’t somewhat rock, I find that with a lot of people. People have no idea how much other stuff is out there, every day I hear something new that blows my mind.
My biggest influences as a singer would probably boil down to Chris Cornell, Seal, Bono, Imogen Heap, and Dave Gahan. I love singers who can create atmosphere with their voice, suck you into their world, but project as if they were singing to a stadium of people. I’m really trying to make an impact with my voice, I don’t wanna just sit in a coffee shop and sing break up songs anymore, that’s not who I am. I want people to know who I am when I sing.
What are you currently listening to on your iPod?
Right now I’m listening to the new Robyn record. She put out an EP called Body Talk part 1, it’s 8 songs and every song is amazing. I believe this is the way of the future when it comes to releasing music. I’d rather release an EP with every song being a gem, than a full album where there are 2 good songs and the rest is filler.
Some other people I’m listening to right now, Kid Cudi, love his style; Dragonette, an amazing electro/rock band from Canada; Sam Sparro, electro/soul singer from the UK; Passion Pit, their creativity is out of this world; Lupe Fiasco, I saw him in concert a couple months ago and was totally blown away, best hip-hop performance I’ve ever seen.
You grew up in Long Island, New York and studied music composition in NYU. How has New York as a city influenced you musically and on a personal level?
Growing up in Long Island I felt kind of isolated. Even within my own group of friends I never felt like I really belonged. NYC just toughens you up, especially as a musician, it’s all about the hustle. I hate to think of it as a competition, but in a way you are competing. There’s an insane amount of bands, artists, musicians, singers, and they all want to make it, and not everyone can.
Living in the city can get really lonely and isolating too, even when you’re surrounded by people. That’s one of the themes I tried to touch upon in “Monday Morning”. I think the best part about being in NY is the access to other musicians and seeing live shows. I love the fact that I can see so much live music, if I lived somewhere else that may not be the case.
What inspires you? How does that translate into your music?
As of late, the thought of playing more shows has inspired me. Sometimes I sit and try to write a song and I keep thinking to myself, “well no one is going to hear this, so what’s the point?” But after the initial response from the EP and from our live show, I’ve been feeding off that energy and I know people want more, and it makes me want to produce.
I have a difficult time trying to write when I want to write. I might be out somewhere at a bar, anywhere really, and an idea will pop into my head and I’ll just write it down, take it home and look at it the next day. Every song is different. I can always remember the time and place where I conceived each idea. For example, with the song “Eye Contact”, I was reading a memoir and this woman was talking about how the guy she was dating told her to look at him while they were having sex, she said the eye contact they made was the sexiest thing she had ever experienced. As soon as I read that line, I stopped reading, went over to my keyboard and tried to write a song about that.
What’s next for Future Relative? New tracks? More live performances we can look forward to seeing?
We hope to release another EP in 4-5 months with 2 new tracks and 3 remixes of the previous ones. We’re playing at Fontanas in the lower east side on September 10th; from there we’re just going to keep the momentum going. New recordings, a constantly evolving live show with new lighting designs, new remixes of our songs, new gadgets. Our #1 priority is building a real fan base in New York. We hope to be able to sell out a small venue within a year’s time and attract some attention.
Any last words?
I think Sistine rocks, the t-shirts look great, and I’m so happy to see someone I know doing what they love. Future Relative is all about building relationships with fellow artists. Thanks for having me.
Interview by Joe
Photos courtesy of FR & C. Nugent
Posted by Joe
