Toronto based producer Demuir has been non-stop since 2016 with releases on imprints like Guesthouse, I’m A House Gangster and Henry Street Music just to name a few. We’re honoured to welcome him onboard for our Select Cuts series this week! With his latest EP ‘’Classic presents Demur & Friends’’ freshly out on the Classic Music Company imprint, the producer delivers a funky, groovin’ tape, while also sharing his thoughts on the Summer season gone by and explaining what’s comin’ up for him in 2017!
WWD:Thanks for taking the time to chat with us!
Anytime! And thanks for including me on your featured picks previously..
WWD: How are you doing this week?
Busy is the best way to sum that up. A lot of people are excited about my coming ‘TruSkool’ (LP) and good buzz on my current release on Classic.
WWD: Has the Summer seen much studio work or is the weather too nice?
Funnily, this is one of the best summers we’ve had in Toronto weather wise and temperatures are like Vegas at 40 Celsiuis / 80 to 90 degrees, but I’ve been in the studio quite a bit working on various remixes and bigger projects into 2017.
WWD: What’s been the highlight of your Summer so far?
There are a few, but I must say having an EP release on Classic has been a delight. This summer has seen great feedback and support on the “Demuir & Friends” EP and Derrick Does Disco EP project being on the charts for several weeks with support from great DJs like Cassy. Mr. G also kills it, he wrote on my FB timeline suggesting a collaboration in the future! I could not have imagined anything more satisfying!
WWD: Still having Buzz Lightyear chilling in the studio?
Buzz is chillin’ in the studio overlooking my XDJ deck to make sure only hot beats are being played. LOL!
WWD: Side bar – What’s your favorite beverage when you’re in the studio?
I enjoy some splashes of Oban scotch during the day and kicking it up with espresso in the evenings.
WWD: Your latest track “My Predictables Locals’’ was released on ‘’Classic Music Company’’ Can you tell us more about this release?
This project was fostered by Luke Solomon after listening to a myriad of tracks I had already completed. He really went for songs that sculpted the release in a diverse way while telling stories with talented artists who have collaborated with me including Mark Farina and Cynthia Amoah.. ‘My Predictable Locals’ is the only individual effort, which tells the story of being another “local” person who rarely see the light of day to share their art in their own city.
WWD: You seem to be inspired a lot by your personal life in the process of creating records, besides this and 70’s and 90’s music where do you look for inspirations?
I firmly believe in making music that is believable and true to the artist. So my own personal evolution as an artist and human being works for me and, I think, with others who listen to my music because they can make those real connections as they have experienced or observed something similar.
As far as inspiration is concerned, it’s all around us. You just have to tap into that frequency and surrender to it. The reality is that these things are all around us and you just have to allow for it. I’m not trying to sound like a motivational guru, but I firmly believe there are things we can tap into once we decide. You’re talking to a guy who was away from music for several years and decided that music was a focal part of me and I needed to die trying.
Lately, I have been very fascinated with the idea of how house music has evolved to where it is today and wondering if it has truly been progressive? Does it respect its’ roots?, and how does it sound to me and why? A lot of inspiration flows from those very thoughts.
It even gets comical sometimes. A couple of weeks ago, Mark [Farina] texted me to check out his after hours gig in Toronto. He was brilliant, as usual, but he had a literal ‘Fangirl’ dancing in the booth all night long. She was literally fanning him with her fan the entire night! LOL! He’s got incredible patience, more so than I, and endured the serial fanning…When he was done, I told him I will definitely be writing a song called ‘Mark and the Fangurl’, which I posted a snippet of just days after the event.
WWD: You previously said in an interview ‘’ I simply do not like to be contained or owned by a particular genre.’’ but you’ve been awarded Traxsource’s #1 Jackin House Producer in 2015, How would you like to define your music?
The irony! And this statement is still very true. I refuse to be boxed in or having to record under multiple aliases. We are all multi-layered and complex individuals. Why should artistry be subject to a classification of some sort?
I would like to say I was awarded the Traxsource Jackin’ House Producer award because of my output and impact it had on the genre – not necessarily sales or some clever marketing approach. Some people think this is the way it works, but social media and technology empower people to connect to good music in very powerful ways today. You may have to dig a bit more to get to it. So, it doesn’t really matter if you got a bunch of sales attached to your name with corny edits to boot. It’s either good or bad music. Period.
Most of my releases were Jackin’ House and I have branched out more and released some Tech, Afro / Soulful, and straight House remixes much more in 2016, which also included the first part of 4 Samba EPs on Nick Holder’s DNH label. So with all this diversity, I would describe my music as, ‘…underground house music with soul’… It’s what drives me and is a critical part of who I am.
WWD: What time of the day is Demuir is the most creative?
All day, everyday… It’s non-stop. The voice notes on my iPhone can attest to this. J
WWD: Outside the music industry who are your biggest inspirations?
My Mother is my absolute best friend and inspiration to me. So many lessons then and now that deliver value to me every day. Apart from her, I’m inspired by people who break barriers and create opportunity when there isn’t one that the world does not readily see right away. I’m lucky to have worked with these people in business and have them cross paths.
WWD: You used to run on the same track team with Ben Johnson, do you miss running on the track?
I did and I don’t miss the grueling workouts and cardio work! The exercises and ‘tempo’ / speed strength bordered on suicidal to be honest, but so similar to anything else a determined person would want in life. At that time, I was enthralled with the thought of running 100 meters under 10 seconds and threw up during and after workouts as proof. I don’t miss it at all! LOL!
WWD: Were you an avid follower of the Olympic Games in Rio?
Not really. I’ve been busy in the studio and with gigs here and there. I caught Usain Bolt for the 100, 200, and 4X100 relay finals, which was no surprise. That dude works really hard and kills it every time.
WWD: You’ve released a lot of records over the last few years! Do you feel pressured to release quite often or is it as long as the quality is there you’ll keep them coming?
I don’t feel pressured at all. My output is a reflection of needing to express myself and connect people to my interpretation of house music. As long as I feel the quality of the output is there or I feel I can contribute positively to an artist’ song via a remix, it’s all good.
WWD: If you ever leave Toronto, where would you go live and why?
Definitely in Europe – Italy or France seem like natural connections for me because of their connection and commitment to art. People also live and not so caught up in money and other things that don’t really matter in the pursuit of being your best possible person.
WWD: What’s the next goal for Demuir?
I want to experience Europe and the places that have played my music. I’ve seen videos of clubbers and DJs like Sneak, Mark [Farina], Derrick Carter, and Kevin Saunderson playing my songs abroad and want to experience it fully by being there.
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