In a captivating exploration of the mind, Felipe, also known as Personal System 個人システム, invites listeners to embark on a journey through the enigmatic realm between consciousness and the unknown. His latest project, the 5-track EP ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams,’ delves deep into the waters of strangeness and nostalgia, inspired by a peculiar dream.
Photo credit: Personal System – Facebook
Felipe’s debut release takes us on a profound musical adventure, weaving together a sense of emptiness with intriguing melodies. ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams’ reflects a short but impactful experience Felipe had during a time of illness.
The release of ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams’ marks Felipe’s debut as Personal System 個人システム. This new alias represents his desire to immerse himself in a different kind of musical universe.
EG had the opportunity to catch up with Personal System to discuss the creative process behind his recently released project and his future endeavors.
EG: Hi, Felipe! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now?
Personal System: Hello, everyone! The pleasure is all mine. Thank you so much for having me. I’m doing well! Currently, I’m living in the city of Porto, Portugal. It’s a new and exciting experience.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your brand new EP, ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams’! You must be excited to finally share this one. What has the initial reception been like so far? Do you remember the first time you played these songs live? (If you have)
Personal System: Thank you very much. The reception has been going well! Honestly, better than I expected, considering it’s a kind of sound I’ve never explored before. Regarding playing them live, I haven’t had the opportunity to do so yet because I’ve been spending more time in the studio, producing, and striving to explore my skills. I’ve been focusing less on performances, but now with the new record label, perhaps I’ll feel motivated to organize some events again.
EG: So, what’s ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams’ all about? It feels like a rather unique title. What can your fans expect to find on this one? Is there an emotional trigger driving ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams’?
Personal System: As I mentioned earlier, it’s an album quite different from anything I’ve done before, and that really makes me happy. The ambition I had with this work was to narrate a short but very impactful experience for me. The album is about a short dream I had at a time when I was sick with a cold and fever, almost asleep but still awake. It was like the meeting of the conscious with the subconscious and, for reasons I can’t explain, I found myself waking up inside a gigantic laundry room in a place that seemed like a hotel. From there, I began my journey to escape from this place, and it’s precisely this journey that I tell in this new release.
EG: ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams’ actually marks your debut as Personal System 個人システム. Why did you decide to “come out” as Personal System 個人システム with this particular release? Why did you feel the need for a new alias?
Personal System: It was thanks to a kind of “dream” that I had. Right after this experience, I became very intrigued and started searching more about it. That’s when I came across the so-called “Liminal Places,” and I was enchanted by the mysticism and nostalgia they carry. The idea of creating a new alias instead of releasing it under my main project, Nørus, was a desire to immerse myself in another kind of universe. My creativity depends a lot on the creation and exploration of the many worlds I carry within my mind, with my releases being a reflection of that. I’ve never been able to create ‘singles,’ only works that have a strong interconnectivity, whether they are albums or EPs.
“I found myself waking up inside a gigantic laundry room in a place that seemed like a hotel”
EG: And ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams’ is available via your own Code Selections Records imprint. How is Code Selections Records coming along? What new developments can we expect for the coming year? Is there anything you can anticipate on that front?
Personal System: It’s going very well! The next year and the beginning of 2025 are already planned with releases from my projects and artists around the world. ‘Code Selections’ is my most ambitious project in musical terms, and it’s something that has given me a lot of pleasure to invest my time in. This is my third label, so I carry with me some experiences I’ve had along the way, more from mistakes than successes. And that’s something that has made me more mature and confident to start this new project.
EG: What drove you to set up Code Selections Records? What is your vision for the label?
Personal System: The main reason was freedom. I want to have a place to release my works in a complete and truthful way, without worrying if one song or another will be rejected. As I mentioned earlier, the way I work with my creativity has often led to many negative responses from other record labels because I enjoy creating universes in my music that can’t be conveyed through singles or separate tracks. After a few years on this journey, I started to become tired of the bureaucracy and filters imposed by many labels, wanting only to have a space where I can be myself, musically speaking. I want to extend this to other artists as well, providing a space for them to feel comfortable expressing themselves and being true to who they are.
EG: Speaking about live events… What do you think about the current trend that has seen these larger-than-life visuals take center stage? Are they overwhelming the musical aspect instead of just “enhancing” the musical experience? Are they the future of electronic music?
Personal System: I think it’s a valid experience if the musical aspect also receives proper attention. The issue, for me, is when the focus is solely on the visuals, and the music is neglected. Every artist has the right to express their work in the way they see fit, but in my opinion, when the visual aspect garners more attention than the musical part, the meaning begins to fade, and the experience becomes a sea of distractions.
EG: Also, the incorporation of AI in electronic music seems to be on the rise, whether it is in the music, the album covers, and beyond. Do you have a particular stance on this?
Personal System: For me, it depends a lot on how AI is used. I think any tool that can contribute (emphasis on the word “contribute”) to the work is valid. I believe that the unique way in which we, humans, use creativity cannot be recreated in any other way. Even if the technical aspect is mastered by the machine, humans have something different: a soul. The unique and personal essence that humans bring to creativity is incomparable.
“I enjoy creating universes in my music that can’t be conveyed through singles or separate tracks”
EG: Finally, can you provide some insights into what’s next for Personal System? What’s in store for 2024? Where can your fans catch you next?
Personal System: For the next year, I have many releases planned, both as Personal System and as Nørus. These past months in the studio have been and continue to be very valuable. And for now, people can only find me online through my works. This year, I don’t have plans to return to performing, but I already have some events in mind for the label next year.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Felipe! We wish you all the best for the future. Take care!
Personal System: Thank you very much, guys! I appreciate once again the attention and the space. I wish you all the best and much success. Take care!
Personal System ‘Soundtrack For Laundry Dreams’ is out now via Code Selections. Stream and download here.
Follow Personal System: Spotify | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | Instagram
