Indie Elephant: I write my music from the heart

Indie Elephant, born Arthur, an artist and sound producer from Dnipro, Ukraine, has carved a distinctive niche in the realms of electronic, techno, and dance music. Known for his innovative approach and unique sound, he has captivated a global audience with his critically lauded singles and EPs. Indie’s track \”Other Side\” was featured in the multi-part movie \”Heart of Invictus\” on Netflix. Now the artist continues to create music and develop his own style in the conditions of the war in Ukraine. And today, on April 19th, Indie Elephant presents his first album ー \”The Digger\” LP on Axiom! So, let’s talk!

ー Hello, Arthur! We are happy to see you on the pages of Tune in Mag! How are you? What this spring brings to you ー in personal and professional life? How busy is this period for you? 
ー Hello! Nice to meet you, thank you for inviting me. Everything is fine, thank you. Unfortunately, I\’m writing from a bomb shelter:( The spring period is always special for me because new ideas are born in me during this time, which usually are different from what I did the previous year. Actually, I\’m constantly busy because I\’m currently writing a lot of my music, working with students, and writing ghost production.

ー Let\’s start from the beginning: how did you grow up and what influenced your desire to become an artist? Share with us some of your earliest musical influences.
ー I grew up in the city of Dnipro, the central part of Ukraine. The neighborhood I grew up in had many subcultures, which allowed me always  to hear a variety of music, perhaps that\’s why my style is \”genreless\”, combining electronic sounds with many genres of instrumental music. MTV had the biggest influence on me, even from childhood; my brother and I were discussing this music channel at school, and then after school, I loved listening to the latest hits. It all started with DnB, then Trance, Electro House, and then I heard \”Greyhound\” by Swedish House Mafia, and realized the direction of uniqueness and individuality in which I want to create music, gradually complementing my style with diversity while maintaining my signature sound.

ー Why did you choose such an alias? Is the Elephant your sacred animal? 
ー Indie ー as independent, because I don\’t have genre and stylistic constraints, and Elephant ー because I strive to make my music grand and massive.

ー Congratulations on your new release “Digger” LP on Axiom! This album is your debut via label. What was the inspiration behind it? What is it about? Share with our readers the behind-the-scenes details.
ー Thank you, that\’s very kind. Yes, this is my debut album on this label and actually my first debut album 🙂 I would say this album is about endless musical possibilities, because all the tracks were written with various producers, each bringing their own contribution to these tracks. The secret lies in blending ideas.

ー Tell us about these collaborations with Kole Audro, Monaloca, and Zadiraka. Why did you choose these artists, and what did each of them bring to the “Digger” LP?
ー I\’ve known each of them for a long time, and we\’ve been making music together for a while. Then I had the idea of combining the different perspectives of my producer friends. We wrote all the tracks online, exchanging ideas and projects.

ー Your track \”Other Side\” was featured in the multi-part movie \”Heart of Invictus\” on Netflix. Tell us how it happened and what does this event mean for you personally? How did this achievement affect your career?
ー Yes, almost half a year before the series release, a Netflix distributor contacted me and informed me that they wanted to feature my track in their series, precisely at the moment of showcasing our Ukrainian Heroes. It\’s a great honor for me to be part of a film produced and acted in by Prince Harry himself. This achievement has had a positive impact on my career, as the series was watched by many people, and many even Shazamed my track. 🙂

ー Walk us through your creative process. How do you go from an initial idea to a finished track? What helps you adjust to work? Do you have any secrets?
ー Мy approach to composing music always varies. Sometimes I already have an idea in my head, and other times I just play around with different presets, searching for an inspiring sound. Currently, it\’s very challenging to make music because we face alarms almost every day, which forces me to quickly gather the most valuable small items in my studio into bags: my laptop, headphones, sound card, and hard disk. I carry my synthesizers to a place without windows so they won\’t break, and then I rush to the bomb shelter hoping all the rockets will miss and everything will be fine. So, the secret for now is that I write from the heart, because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

ー Your music uniquely blends electronic, techno, and dance music. How do you balance these genres to create your distinctive sound? Because earlier you’ve said that your music is “genreless”
ー I love mixing samples at different speeds or being inspired by interesting techniques, listening to the most diverse music possible. As for balance and sound, I believe it\’s very important to have mixing skills and develop your taste in this matter. There\’s no recipe; every chef prepares the same dish, but to different tastes.

ー How did the war in Ukraine affect your creativity and the development of the music industry in general? How do artists support the state on the cultural front?
ー The war has greatly affected all of us! It has taken away our normal lives, filling them with fear, sorrow, death, and constant tension… Today, many artists I know who have stayed here are trying to organize charity parties, collecting donations for the army. We are all working for victory, but we need the help of the entire world, of normal people. It\’s very difficult for us, and with each passing day, it becomes even harder. If we are not helped, we may lose the Ukrainian electronic music scene and culture forever.

ー We offer you a short blitz survey:) Share with our readers your favorite:
ー hobby: playing computer games;
ー track: Abba “Dancing Queen”, my all-time favorite track;
ー book: \”The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People\” by Stephen R. Covey;
ー dish: burger 😀

ー Looking ahead, what are some goals or projects you are excited about in the near future? What can your fans expect?
ー I won\’t stop on the journey of blending interesting music genres and styles, so expect a lot of exciting things from me. Also, my friend Vlad Starque and I have launched our label called “In Music We Believe”. We will present our first release to the world very soon!

ー Congrats to your new label! Thank you for the interview! We look forward to the new releases from you!
ー Thank you so much for inviting me!

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