J-Mi And Midi-D The Galactic Ravers

J-Mi & Midi-D The Galactic Ravers!

The galactic Raver J-Mi and Midi-D are two Canadian electronic producers that live right here in my own province! Isn’t that cool?! I think so. These two are amazingly talented at what they do and I personally have been listening to their music for close to 3 years now. Recently I have come in contact with them and they kindly offered to do an interview with me to get my feet back on the ground in this area.

These two music producers have worked with amazing artists like Vic Mignona and have even gotten their music into the ever popular arcade game Dance Dance Revolution. Recently producing songs with Adam Barta and Margaret Cho these two producers never cease to amaze with each next song.   

When I interviewed them I asked them all sorts of Interesting questions about the past, present and future! Here’s how it came out:

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The Fancy Platypus: How’d you guys meet? When did you guys come to start making music? And what was the first thing you guys made?

J-Mi and Midi-D: We met in high school and we started making music around 2006 ish. First song? Probably "Some Stranger feat. Charlotte Summer - I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) (Cusimo & Co. Radio Remix)". 

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The Fancy Platypus: What kind of musical role models does each of you have?

J-Mi: I guess I'd say probably the vast majority of artists featured in Japan's Dancemania compilations series! And a lot from DDR as well!

Midi-D: There's several for me as well. There’s probably too many different ones to list for me.

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The Fancy Platypus: How long does it take you to make any given song? What kind of programmes do you use for them?

J-Mi and Midi-D: We use FL Studio 11 (currently), and we'd have to say, hmm maybe 1-2 days tops, depending on inspiration at the time!

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The Fancy Platypus: When working on a song do you guys work together or do you each work on your own section?

J-Mi and Midi-D: We work together, but (Midi-D) is the best at compositions, while (J-Mi) is the best with mixing things and getting that "sound" we're looking for. But we both occasionally switch roles from time to time. 

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The Fancy Platypus: What’s your favourite song you've worked on? Why?

J-Mi: Mine, would have to be Life is a Journey. Reason being is because I wrote the song entirely by myself and it holds great meaning to my own life.

Midi-D: Hmm... Perhaps Doki Doki from the Smile Dk album we worked on. I had completely did the composing part on that one, and I feel that it really turned out great! Also though I have another one that I really like which is our Remix of Werewolf Boyfriend!

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The Fancy Platypus: Are there any songs that looking back you’d wish to change?

J-Mi and Midi-D: Too many to list, but that's a producer for you right? haha.

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The Fancy Platypus: What do you consider as your greatest accomplishment so far?

J-Mi and Midi-D: Hands down, the 2008 return of SMiLE.dk. Man what a time that was. Had so much producing that record and we met our friends and partners in crime from Sweden, Dick Örnå and Hanna Stockzell!

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The Fancy Platypus: Having worked with many great people in the past, which would you like to work with again if given the chance?

J-Mi and Midi-D: Naoki Maeda. That guy is awesome. Super nice and super creative! 

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The Fancy Platypus: Following that these people you work with come from all over, so how does the collaboration process work?

J-Mi and Midi-D: Mainly the internet, and drop box... and skype... and... Well... the internet. Lol... not much more to say there :)!

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The Fancy Platypus: What about the music industry has surprised you?

J-Mi and Midi-D: How many different kinds of people there are. It's not just artists and producers. There's like a whole other layer of stuff between all of that. (Stuff that can sometimes drive us nuts lol)

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The Fancy Platypus: Getting your music in popular games like DDR is an amazing feat! Has being involved in such a market opened up doors that otherwise might be out of reach?

J-Mi and Midi-D: Yep. It's probably because of DDR that we've managed to make some nifty collabs with people! And that's pretty sweet. We love working with different people and trying our take on their creative world!

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The Fancy Platypus: Where do you guys draw inspiration from for your music?

J-Mi and Midi-D: Well, there's a long and short answer for this one, but I'd say, emotion and color. Don't ask. We know. (we sound crazy!)

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The Fancy Platypus: What’s the most important thing to keep in mind for you when creating a song?

J-Mi and Midi-D: Not to get distracted and let your mind stray. Staying focused really keeps that idea moving! 

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The Fancy Platypus: What are some of your future goals for your musical Careers?

J-Mi and Midi-D: Not sure. We'd mainly like to open our studio full time, but we also just wanna remain what we are, producers. (Not artists) Since we don't really perform, nor have any skill with performing! We like sitting back and letting our imagination flow!

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The Fancy Platypus: To finish off do you guys have any words of advice or any messages you’re like to give to your fans?

J-Mi and Midi-D: listen to yourself more. Stop listening to that moan of society trying to bring you and your dreams crashing down. (Mostly trolls on YouTube lol)

Thanks for asking us to answer some questions!

J-Mi & Midi-D

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These guys are outstanding at what they do and I could not thank them enough for what they have done! If you haven’t already gone to check them out what are you waiting for?! You’re done here go! Please leave a comment bellow if you have any questions for J-Mi & Midi-D or me. Please follow this blog, and expect more in the future! Thanks!

J-Mi & Midi-D’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/jmiandmidid

J-Mi & Midi-D’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jmiandmidid

J-Mi & Midi-D’s Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/j-miandmidi-d

J-Mi & Midi-D’s Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhOGMeDVGBREl8vTooGtuA

Brittany Kwasnik

Interview With Brittany Kwasnik

Going to school shows throughout highschool is something most highschoolers do their years. My highschool life was no different. As I didn’t really have any skills that would put me into these shows , I simply went there to support them as best I could. This is how I heard my good friend Brittany Kwasnik sing for the first time. Her beautiful voice lit the entire auditorium with bewitching words spoken softly for all to hear. A lot has happened since, we both graduated from highschool, leaving those kinds of shows behind, now for Brittany her Auditoriums are a bit bigger, she never ceased to be one of my most amazing friends. Brittany Kwasnik showed me how you can reach for your dreams, so when I set my mind on journalism I asked her if she could spare me a few minutes and answer some questions for everyone. Enjoy!

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P: How did you start writing music?

BK: Actually, when I was nine years old, I begged my parents for a guitar. It was supposed to come with lessons as they promised, but they never came around. I taught myself how to play the guitar, and then I started to write naturally. I didn't decide to...Actually, It just happened! In the middle of learning cover songs, I found myself making up my own music. I would begin to hum my own melodies along with it. Then, I started to add lyrics, and thus, songs were born!

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P: Who discovered your voice?

BK: Actually, it's funny because when I was a kid, I had vocal cord dysfunction and doctors told me that I would never be able to sing -- all the more reason to try and prove them wrong! I went to therapy for years, learning how to breathe properly without my vocal cord dysfunction getting in the way. I was fourteen, when I posted an original song, "Breathe" on YouTube, and it went viral! Greg London (an impressionist from the U.S) found it. He and his team started to work with me, helping me record songs for my first album.

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P: What inspires your music? Is it from experiences?

BK: Yes, every word of every song means a lot. Most of my songs if not all, come out of personal experiences. I get inspired by many things. The obvious bad days are one, but even the soft moonlight can inspire a song out of me!

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P: How do you get ready to write? Do you have writing rituals?

BK: I actually don't have any writing rituals. If I feel like I am having trouble to come up with more words or more melodies during song writing, I usually close it up and put it away. I let songs happen naturally, and I never plan a writing session.

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P: What are your hopes for the future?

BK: My hopes for the future are that I will continue to release new music and have the privilege of being heard by people all over the world. I want people to connect with my words and I want to help people feel something through music.

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P: Who encourages you the most to music and perform?

BK: It has to be the fans. It is so heartwarming to get messages from fans telling me how they connected with a song. Hearing that people are enjoying my music is the greatest encouragement!

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P: How does it feel to be such a young up and coming artist?

BK: It feels great to be young because often, young people aren't taken seriously. Also, a lot of pressure is taken off, knowing that I've got time to become successful, it is more relaxed, and I am not going to rush myself.

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P: How do you promote your Cd's?

BK: Promoting CDs usually happens online. Also, I promote my CDs at shows, where people can buy a hard copy and have it as a souvenir. I still look at my cd collection now and again, and there is something about having a real copy of an album in your hands. It is much more satisfying than looking through files on a computer.

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P: What's your favourite part of what you do?

BK: My favourite part is connecting with the fans both online and at shows. Reading comments and messages, seeing the faces of my listeners and talking to them at live shows always brings a smile to my face!

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P: Where has your music brought you?

BK: My music has physically brought me to different parts of the world. I have travelled to France to perform and to work at Laurent Wolfe's studio. In addition, I have been flown to many parts of California to record and perform! I've travelled a lot in Canada as well for my music. But the greatest of them all, is the fact that people all over the world can connect with my music even if I'm not there physically. Actually, a lot of my YouTube views come from places like Australia, Chile, Singapore, Poland and the United Kingdom.

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P: What are your plans for the next few years?

BK: Well, I plan to release my new album and tour Canada in the short term. In the long term, I'd like to tour other countries, release more albums, release music videos and continue spreading my music to new ears!

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P: What do you do when you're not performing and/or writing?

BK: When I'm not spending time on my music, you can find me watching films (including documentaries), reading interesting articles, studying creative arts, and giving vocal and guitar lessons to people who want to learn!

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Hey guys sorry I took this down for so long, it took me a while to really get my confidence back for all these interviews because I kept being shot down but I'm back now. I'm bringing back my interview with Brittany that I originally took down to correct some of my errors then started feeling bad like I was using my friend. I've come to realize this girl is just so amazing, a great friend and musician and she's doing me a great favour to be on here. Thanks for coming back to check this out thank. Please spread the word of my Blog! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brittanykwasnikmusic

Twitter:https://twitter.com/search?q=brittany%20kwasnik&src=typd

Youtube:http://www.youtube.com/user/brittanykwasnik?feature=watch

music Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGtnI2-Zm-Q

Any Questions? Email me at Thefancyplatypus@gmail.com