Interview With Hotel Garuda (Chris Gavino & Aseem Mangaokar)
Location: Email
Interview Date: 5/10/2017
Anime Herald: How did you feel on stage your first time at Webster Hall? Do you have clear memories of that night, or is it a blur?
Chris Gavino: Now that we think about it, everything was kind of a blur. That tends to happen when we have huge shows, we just kind of dive into them without thinking much. Webster Hall was a venue that I had been attending shows at for a few years and it was amazing to have been able to play it โ weโd like to give a huge shout-out to Alex English and the Girls & Boys crew for supporting us from the very beginning.
Anime Herald: Youโve mentioned you knew each other in middle school, but werenโt particularly close and fell out of contact for years. What was it like reconnecting on Facebook? Was it music that brought you back together, or were you just reminiscing about old times?
Chris Gavino: Just like any old friend that you reconnect with on Facebook, it was nice to be able to speak to each other again, even though we werenโt close. The main reason why we spoke to each other in the first place on Facebook was definitely because of music. I was already producing music and Aseem had a huge interest and passion in DJing and electronic music. The rest is history.
Anime Herald (to Chris): RC Cola is apparently quite popular in the Philippines. Have you ever had it? Do you prefer it to American colas? (Royal Crown Cola was pretty big in New York when I was growing up, so I was surprised when I learned it was bigger than Coke or Pepsi in The Philippines.)
Chris Gavino: I have had RC Cola before! But I do prefer American colas. I donโt know why but when I spent my time in the Philippines, I wasnโt fully immersed in the local culture. I attended an International school and lived in the business district of the city โ a lot of the things around me were of Western influence.
Anime Herald (to Aseem): Youโve played metal growing up and generally put the harder stuff in the Hotel Garuda mixes. Any chance that Candleweather will be coming out with a metal mix?
Aseem Mangaokar: Ah, although i do actually have a soft spot for some heavy metal Iโm not sure how Iโd make a DJ mix of it! I like thinking of mixes as journeys and thereโs definitely enough breadth in the sonics to make something interestingโฆmight have to go and do that now!
Anime Herald: Apart from Miyazakiโs works, but are there any other anime that either of you have loved?
Aseem Mangaokar: Iโm pretty new to anime myself and last summer i watched Akira for the first time. Iโve since seen it four more times and I canโt get enough of it. The amount of influence that film has had on stylistic choices in visual media is also wild.
Anime Herald: You both credit Hans Zimmer as an influence. Have you had the chance to see him perform live? If not, are you planning on attending the current tour?
Aseem Mangaokar: I would love to have actually seen him perform at Coachella, but i was also on my way to Jai Wolfโs set at another stage. The videos from the Hans Zimmer set give me major FOMO though.
Chris Gavino: Just this past Coachella, I was able to walk by his set. I believe I heard a bit of the Lion King and a bit of the Pirates of the Caribbean, which was amazing. I also got to see a glimpse of the stage set up, it seemed like there was an entire orchestra up there! It was incredible. I wasnโt able to finish the rest of his set because I was on my way to support my friend Jai Wolf, who was playing on another stage.
Anime Herald (to Chris): Your โWalking with a Ghostโ remix was very popular. I know you werenโt all that enthusiastic about it when you presented it. Is there any remix youโve done that you would like another crack at?
Chris Gavino: That remix, I ended up liking. It grew on me, haha. I think the main reason why I didnโt like it at first was because I felt like I didnโt have enough time to put together something that I truly was in love with. I think if I had to pick a remix that I wouldโve liked to have another crack at, it wouldโve been my remix for Smallpools.
Anime Herald (to Aseem): ย What was it like putting together this remix? Was it odd working on a track of an artist youโre such a big fan of?ย
Aseem Mangaokar: Wow, I actually didnโt know this one made it to YouTube! A while ago Bon Iver had a remix competition, like way before I started producing and I remember wishing I knew how to produce so I could have entered the contest. Fast forward a few years, I got some of the stems online and made that beat, and just had fun with it. Iโm glad people like it!
Anime Herald: How has the EDM scene changed since Hotel Garuda was formed? Are you concerned about the perceptions of commercialization?
Chris Gavino: When we first started this project, I was, at the time, really into this trend called Tropical House. All my friends from Manila were listening to Kygo, Thomas Jack, Klingande, etc. and I wanted to try my hand at producing it. Since then, I believe the EDM scene has definitely changed, for the better. There are so many different kinds of sounds popping up and itโs so cool to hear the different mixtures of influences occurring. Iโm not concerned about the perceptions of commercialization, to be honest. The more people that hear the music that I love, the better (as long as it comes from a sincere intention).
Aseem Mangaokar: I feel like most people that Iโd say make โEDMโ now are all just as good at producing as each other, so when collaborations happen and you work with one or two people who possess about the same level of the same ability, you have to think outside of what you know. Personally I think that means songwriting is becoming more and more important, which is great! I love songs that i catch myself humming or singing the odd lyric without necessarily associating it with heavy bass or cryo cannons. Itโs funny how you can totally have both and love it, though! So I think EDM has changed for the better as far as some aspects of the artistry are concerned, but as can often be the case with commercialization of anything, thereโs still a good deal of waffle to sift through to find the great stuff.
Anime Herald (to Chris): Have your business studies come in handy? You turned down a job offer to pursue your music career. How hard was that for you at the time?
Chris Gavino: Business studies have definitely come in handy. Despite the fact that we never focused on the music industry when studying, I could easily apply many of the concepts of marketing, psychology, etc into what it takes to be a successful musician. It was tough because I know that was the route my parents wanted me to take, but I believe that pursuing my passion is something I would never have a chance at again.
Anime Herald: Some technical stuff. You seem to have different styles, as well as different tastes. Can each of you go into depth how you put a track together?
Chris Gavino: The way we put tracks together is actually pretty simple. Either of us will start with an idea, bounce it to the other person, and keep going until we have a finished product. Whatโs great about this process is that weโre truly able to bring our individual styles to the table and compromise when necessary.
Anime Herald: From everything Iโve read, it looks like yโall are hands off when it comes to what the other is working on in regards to a set. However, when Chris is out in LA, you have the opportunity to get a lot of work done together. Or you can sit around and watch Chefโs Table. Either works. So:
- What are your favorite episodes of Chefโs Table?
Aseem Mangaokar: Grant Achatz / Alinea – blew my mind when I watched it.
Chris Gavino: The first episode of the third season that showcases the Monkโs โcleanโ cooking was truly fascinating to me. I thought it was amazing how she was able to use such simple ingredients but tell such a beautiful story through her cooking.
- What is different about your process for putting together a track when youโre working together as opposed to when you are working solo?
Aseem Mangaokar: Whether weโre making Hotel Garuda songs or stuff for our solo projects weโre usually alone, since we work remotely most of the time. For the former, itโs interesting to be able to put some time into a song, pass it to Chris to see what he does with it, and repeat it back and forth without him being in the room with me. Itโs built a level of trust and mutual respect that I really like about our dynamic. For my solo work I tend to work alone in my bedroom on my headphones and itโs a very insular way of making music, but everyone works differently.
Chris Gavino: When weโre working solo, weโre able to be in โour own worlds,โ but working together, weโre able to quickly bounce ideas back and forth, verbally speak about what weโre doing, and share ideas pretty easily.
- Have either of you seen the anime Food Wars?
Aseem Mangaokar: Nope.
Chris Gavino: I have not! It sounds interesting, though.
Anime Herald: What are your goals for the rest of 2017? 2018?
Aseem Mangaokar: Wake everyone up.
Chris Gavino: Make as much noise as possible.
Anime Herald: If you could choose between more touring and more studio time, which would you prefer?
Aseem Mangaokar: Thatโs a brutal question, because I love different things about each one. I thrive in both scenarios but the physical cost of touring adds up quickly so Iโd pick studio time, if I had to.
Chris Gavino: I absolutely love touring, but I also love making music. I wouldnโt pick one over the other because without enough of one, the other suffers. I like touring because Iโm able to showcase the music that Iโve made at home, but I like making music because it helps prepare for the touring. Kind of like a chicken or an egg situation.
Anime Herald (to Chris): ย Any regrets about not pursuing a break dancing career with the Riot Kings Any chance for a reunion?
Chris Gavino: HAHAHA. I loved break-dancing, but I knew I was never going to be โamazingโ at it. It was definitely a hobby that brought me some of the best friends I could ever ask for. We see each other from time to time too โ but no, no reunion anytime soon.
Anime Herald: For those of us unfamiliar with the EDM scene, what are some mixtapes or EPโs that youโd recommend to jam out to and familiarize yourself with the scene?
Chris Gavino: The EDM scene is huuuuge, and there arenโt many mixtapes, albums, or Eps out. Iโd say listen to Kaskadeโs โStrobelight Seduction,โ Justiceโs โCrossโ, Daft Punkโs โAlive 2007โ and โHuman After All,โ Porter Robinsonโs โWorlds,โ Justin Martinโs โHello Clouds.โ
Anime Herald: Has Hotel Garuda thought about touring internationally? If so, what are some of the potential locations youโre considering?
Chris Gavino: We talk about this pretty often. Weโre both from Asia and have Asian backgrounds so weโd love to go back. I believe weโve always wanted to play in: Indonesia, India, Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
Anime Herald (to Aseem): This sounds like a touching moment:
my fav producer/songwriter came to my show last friday and i'm still weeping
— epileptissimo (@seizuresaladd) May 10, 2017
Is it something you can talk about? I totally understand if you want to respect his/her privacy.
Aseem Mangaokar: Haha Iโd rather respect their privacy but Iโm just glad to be so fortunate in my creative endeavors that Iโm constantly surrounded by cool people, sometimes those cool people are my heroes haha.
Anime Herald: Did headlining the Bowery Ballroom give you butterflies, or are you well past that at this point in your careers?
Chris Gavino: It was honestly one of the most amazing shows of our lives. NYC is one of the most important cities to us, and it was incredible to know that that many people came out to see us. I donโt think weโll ever NOT get butterflies from playing such big shows.
Anime Herald (to Aseem): What was it like performing in front of your parents? Was that the first time they were able to attend one of your shows?
Aseem Mangaokar: Theyโre super supportive and love coming to the shows when they can. Theyโd been to a few of our shows in the past but never an early, hard ticket show at a venue like Bowery. They brought a few of their friends too, people whoโve seen me grow up and have been part of my life for the better part of the last two decades, so it was really nice to show them what we do! Sort of like Take Your Parents To Work Day.
Anime Herald: How have you grown as artists over the past few years? Can you point to any musical decisions youโve made that you wouldnโt have when the group was formed?
Aseem Mangaokar: Every single day I get to make music all day, if I want to. Realizing that and focusing my energy as much as possible on working on the craft contributed greatly to my development as an artist. Also just being open-minded and not taking myself too seriously, listening to different kinds of music all the time, consuming cool art in all forms. I donโt regret anything weโve done because at its core, Hotel Garuda is the two of us friends who like making music together and somehow happen to do it for a living. Music is so subjective that no matter what you do thereโs bound to be people that like it or dislike it, you just canโt let it get to you!
Chris Gavino: Iโm constantly growing as an artist. Every day Iโm trying out new things, listening to new music, exploring new realms of the internet, etc. so I believe that I have a more refined taste of what direction I want to go into as an artist. I donโt really regret any decision weโve made because everything has been building blocks to where we are now.
