Nathan Power, Mixtape and Interview
We had a conversation with Nathan Power (also known as NPOWA) about Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On’, Fourtet and the ever-growing Australian electronic music scene. Oh, and he made us a mixtape too, which you can hear below:
How long have you been making music? How did you get into it?
I’ve played drums since I was 11 (which is the biggest influence behind my tracks, I definitely approach this as a drummer first!). I really got serious about my own original music and remixes at the start of 2013 when I got heavily into Melbourne’s ‘beats’ scene (and all the bands involved in that: Clever Austin, Kirkis, Hiatus Kaiyote, Silent Jay etc.)
Why did you decide to remix Marvin Gaye’s ‘Whats Going On’ as a tribute to the Prince of Motown? Why is he so influential to you? Why choose this album?
I’ve loved soul since I was about 16, listening to guys like Curtis Mayfield, Aretha, Marvin, they’ve just got such fantastic groove and the music seems so timeless. I got super excited about this project when I heard an acapella of Marvin’s ‘Whats Going On’ and he absolutely nailed the vocal take. I knew I could do something interesting with it! I remixed that track and then a couple others, before I knew it I had half the album done and figured I should finish it up as a complete work.
What do you think of the growing electronic scene in Australia?
Australia’s electronic scene is fantastic. There’s been such a massive growth over the last two years, with guys from all genres of electronic music gaining a larger audience and breaking into the world scene. It’s a great place to be as an up-and-coming producer, but I guess I’m conscious of that idea that you can’t just borrow someone else’s sound and follow them to the top.
You cite Flying Lotus and Teebs as influences – in a dream world where anyone and everyone is accessible, who would you love to collaborate with?
There’s a ton of guys I’d love to make music with. I’ve been really into Susumu Yokota recently, I would love to do something chilled with him. If I could just spend a day hanging with someone, it’d have to be Fourtet.
What do you have in the works for the rest of 2014?
I have a bunch of little projects I’m into, various works with different singers and rappers I know. I’m really keen to start gigging seriously, will hopefully be in Europe at the end of the year, so I’m really excited to check out the scene there and try and book in some gigs while I do it!
Nathan prepared this exclusive Something You Said mix for us. Check it out below…
Keep up to date with NPOWA via Facebook.
Interview by Carol Bowditch.
