Kormac is a composer, producer, DJ, and sonic adventurer from Dublin. In a career that has spanned more than 15 years, two albums, hundreds of live shows the world over, and major TV and film soundtracks, he has honed his craft, twisting organic sounds into wide-screen electronica and working alongside a plethora of highly respected artists across a range of mediums.
After close to a decade’s hiatus from releasing albums, this year sees Kormac unveiling his latest LP, ‘Equivalent Exchange’: a truly creative endeavor featuring a collection of Spatial Audio mixes, 3 short-form animated videos in production made in Cinema 4D & Octane, Unreal Engine and Blender and artwork provided by acclaimed street artist, Maser. The album is the culmination of three years of work and has become an organism of its own, with renowned featured artists and the Irish Chamber Orchestra all helping to realize Kormac’s creative vision.
EG caught up with Kormac to learn more about the release of ‘Equivalent Exchange’, the recording process, inspirations, movie scores, and more.
EG: Hi guys! Welcome to EG. It’s an absolute pleasure to have you here with us. Where are you based right now?
Kormac: Hi! Thanks for having me. I’m in my studio in the center of Dublin city.
EG: Congratulations on the forthcoming release of your new studio album, ‘Equivalent Exchange’! What has the initial reception been like?
Kormac: Thanks! So far, so good. People seem to be pleasantly surprised with the amount I’ve got going on from the orchestra to all the guest singers, rappers, and featured musicians.
I‘d like the listener to feel like they’re experiencing the show right in front of them in a concert hall and people have come back and said just that, which has been great. I’ve mixed in Dolby Atmos too, which really helps put the listener ‘right in the room.’
EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘Equivalent Exchange’? Is there a conceptual or emotional trigger running across it?
Kormac: I wrote this collection of music initially as a live show. I was commissioned to write the closing show of the St. Patrick’s Festival and given the opportunity to work with an orchestra. Because I had this new palette at my disposal, I wanted to connect a little more emotionally with the audience than my previous work might have – a lot of which was aimed at the dance floor.
There are parts of the record that are deeply personal to me, for sure. I recorded a song for this record with MayKay called ‘Always The Sound’. ‘Always The Sound’ is a poem my Mum wrote before she died. MayKay was in my studio one night, recording for something else, so I took twenty words out of the poem at random and handed them to her. She put headphones on and sang the words off the page in whatever way they came to her. When she left, I chopped them up and reassembled them. That’s where the song name and my record label’s name come from, from my Mum’s poem.
EG: ‘Equivalent Exchange’ is your first album in almost a decade. How has your sound evolved since the release of ‘Doorsteps’? How have you changed between both recording sessions?
Kormac: Since my last full-length album, ‘Doorsteps’, I’ve been writing a lot for pictures. I’ve recently completed scores for a Nordic thriller series, ‘Red Election’ (streaming on Disney+), and a feature film. I would actually say that writing for the screen has sharpened my game considerably. Deadlines are that tight, and you’ve so much music to write, you’ve no choice but to be able to find ways to write better music, faster. I really think that writing soundtracks has helped my ‘song-writing’ and vice versa
“I try to collaborate with artists who come from different musical backgrounds and spaces than I do so in the hope that we’ll create something really different together”
EG: There’s an eye-catching number of collaborations on ‘Equivalent Exchange’, including the Irish Chamber Orchestra. How did they get involved with the project? What was the process of selecting who was right for each track?
Kormac: I try to collaborate with artists who come from different musical backgrounds and spaces than I do so in the hope that we’ll create something really different together.
I reached out to artists I was a fan of who were doing amazing things in their respective fields, whether it be Shahab and Shayan Coohe, masters of the Persian Santoor and Tar, Jaffaris’ effortless, abrasive flow, or MayKay, Jack and Loah’s really distinctive tones, I saw so much potential in collaborating with them on new music, I annoyed them into submission.
EG: And now you’re having an album release party at The Button Factory on November 19th. What can attendees expect on that front?
Kormac: I’m ridiculously delighted to say that ALL of the album’s featured artists (including the Irish Chamber Orchestra!) will be joining me live on stage to perform the full album. People moved mountains to perform with us on the night and I’m so grateful for that.
EG: How do you usually keep entertained when not in the studio? Where does your inspiration come from? Any new books, movies, or series you’d recommend?
Kormac: I’ll start with a shameless plug for ‘Red Election’ now streaming on Disney +.
I’ve also been enjoying the series, ‘Candy’ (it’s based on the true story of Candy Montgomery, a housewife in Texas who in 1980 was accused of murdering her neighbor.) Ariel Marx delivered a beautiful score for this one, choc full of gorgeous bells and lush strings. Have a listen to the main theme here.
As far as keeping entertained, I’m listening to lots of Reggae at the minute. Probably inspiring my basslines 🙂
EG: What are your thoughts on the current state of the scene? What would you like to see more and less of?
Kormac: In Ireland right now it’s looking like our existing, draconian licensing laws are about to be axed and, pretty soon, we’re going to be able to have clubs and venues open till 6 am. This will present a whole new set of opportunities for artists and the wider music community. I’m excited to see what this will bring and how we can perhaps move away from billings in clubs being so centered around the ‘headliner.’
“I‘d like the listener to feel like they’re experiencing the show right in front of them in a concert hall”
EG: What’s next for Kormac? What particular milestones are you looking forwards to now?
Kormac: I’m currently finishing up a drama series soundtrack for World Productions (the makers of ‘Line of Duty’) and I’m wrapping a short documentary score. I’m also really excited to get back to touring and doing festivals next year.
EG: Thank you so much for your time! We wish you all the best for the future.
Kormac: Thanks so much!
Kormac’s new ‘Equivalent Exchange’ LP is out now. Purchase your copy here.
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