We Speak Electronic
ASPEN Talks New Song, Working with JWild, Performing with Lil Jon, and More
With his single, “Sweetest Mistake,” out now, we took some time to hear more from ASPEN. Read below to learn more about ASPEN, the story behind his latest single, and what’s to come.
Hi ASPEN! Let’s start with how did you get your artist name?
It is just my first name. I have an interesting name, so I thought that it fit well as an artist name as well.
What city are you from and where are you based now?
I am originally from Tel Aviv, Israel, but I live in Miami now.
At what point in your life did you decide to pursue a career in music? How did you get started?
I went to Ultra a few years back, and I knew that I loved electronic music, but I didn’t realize how much I really loved it. Once I went there, I just had an overwhelming urge to pursue music myself.
Has your upbringing played a role in shaping who you are and defining your sound today? If so, how?
Absolutely, my upbringing has been instrumental in shaping both who I am and my sound. Being in Miami, a melting pot of cultures and musical styles, exposed me to a variety of sounds. This diverse musical environment instilled in me a love for blending different genres and influences, which is evident in tracks like ‘Sweetest Mistake.’ The emotional depth and eclectic beats of my music are reflections of the vibrance.
How would you describe your sound to readers who may not be familiar with you?
My sound can best be described as an emotive journey through soundscapes that blend electronic beats with soulful melodies. It’s about capturing both the highs and lows of the human experience, packaged within compelling rhythms that invite you to both reflect and dance. With each track, like ‘Sweetest Mistake,’ I aim to create a unique auditory experience that resonates on a personal level with listeners, drawing on elements from downtempo to more upbeat electronic vibes.
Do you have any hobbies outside of music? What do you do to stay creative?
Outside of music, I enjoy exploring the vibrant art scene here in Miami, from street art to gallery exhibitions. These visual experiences often inspire the textures and layers of my music. I also stay active with lifting, which not only keeps me physically fit, but also mentally sharp and creatively fluid. Engaging with different environments and activities helps me to maintain a fresh perspective and brings new ideas into my music production.
Who are some of your main musical influences?
Martin Garrix, Gryffin, and Tiesto.
What are some of your future music career goals?
Music for me has been about following my passion. So, as I progress in my career, I want to share my passion with others. For me, I just want my crowd to be engaged, and I want to make the lives of the people that listen to my music just a little bit better.
Now onto your release, ‘Sweetest Mistake.’ What inspired this song?
I was listening to ‘High on Life’ by Martin Garrix and just came to the conclusion that I really want to make a song like that. I love the message and the euphoric feeling that the song creates, and I wanted to recreate that.
What is ‘Sweetest Mistake’ about in your own words?
‘Sweetest Mistake’ is a captivating blend of introspective lyrics and dynamic melodies. Featuring the compelling contributions of JWild, this track explores the bittersweet journey of embracing imperfections and finding beauty in unexpected turns.
How did the collaboration with JWild come about?
We have some mutual friends, and I just DMed him on Instagram because I listened to some of his stuff and really liked his voice.
What message do you hope fans take away from your music and from ‘Sweetest Mistake?’
Go find love and put yourself out there. You will get hurt in life, but all of those experiences build you up as a person and make you into who you are.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your music career so far?
I played for a crowd of almost 10,000 people in a basketball arena with Lil Jon. Everyone really enjoyed the set, and I was just so happy that I could share the stuff that I was working on with all these other people.
What would you say are the greatest lessons that you’ve learned so far?
You have to be patient. In this industry you have to pay your dues, and you have to be patient in terms of your growth. Also, in life as a whole, you have to be patient in terms of your career growth. There is no such thing as instant success.
What’s next for you? Are you working on any upcoming projects, or do you have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
I am going to continue grinding and releasing music. I have been working really hard, and I have a ton of projects that I am waiting to roll out. I’m excited for everyone to hear them. I also have a headline show on June 15th at Hyde in the SLS in South Beach.
Where can we follow you on social media?
https://www.instagram.com/aspenofc
https://www.tiktok.com/@aspen.dj
https://soundcloud.com/aspenrg
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
We Speak Electronic
Aaron Koenig Releases Ska Anthem for Geeks
Aaron makes music about meaningful topics that rocks and grooves – and sometimes it even skanks on a rock steady beat!
His new song ‘Geeks’ has been released on all major music platforms on November 15th. It is an anthem for the heroes of the digital age: computer nerds, also known as geeks. It is driven by an off-beat ska guitar, a sticky bass line and a groovy brass section. The icing on the cake is a jazzy saxophone solo.
“I have always loved Ska, I even saw the Specials, the Selecter and Madness live in their heydays”, says Aaron. “I chose the topic although I am not a geek myself, but I have a lot of sympathy for them. Geeks are often frowned upon because they can be socially awkward, but they are the ones who are building a better world. So I think they deserve an anthem.”
The music video is mostly made up of typography, minimalistic ASCII graphics and heavily pixelated images – it surely looks geeky! Watch it here:
Aaron writes catchy songs that are made for people who like meaningful, uplifting topics and guitar-driven, hand-made sounds. His musical journey started young but it wasn’t until he discovered Bitcoin and became so invested in it that he used music to express his new found joy.
“It’s mostly rock music, with excursions into funk, soul and other styles I grew up with. In general, it’s guitar-driven and hand-made, often with a punkish energy and beatlesque harmonies. What all my songs have in common are meaningful lyrics about being in the here and now, about transforming disturbing emotions into wisdom, about being in the flow, things like that.” says Aaron in an interview.
“I have always been making music and writing songs, starting with a punk rock band when I was 15. However, I never saw it as a career. I played in several bands in my teenage years and my early twenties, but after my media studies in Berlin and Rio de Janeiro I focused on other things. I first worked in TV production and then founded one of the first Internet agencies in Germany. I discovered Bitcoin in 2011 and became fascinated by it. I wrote five books about it, made lots of promotional videos and educational series for Bitcoin and blockchain companies, and organised events. I even wrote some songs about Bitcoin, which became quite popular in the community, like my Reggaeton about the Bitcoin Beach in El Salvador. People always liked that my songs are catchy and provocative. It was by the end of 2023 that I decided to go full in on music. It’s what I enjoy the most, so now I want to fully follow my passion.”
Since May 2024, his songs have been streamed more than 250,000 times on Spotify and his music videos have been viewed more than 350,000 times on YouTube.
Read more about Aaron King: http://aaron-koenig.net/press/
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