Erdi Irmak is simply one of the most eclectic producers in the modern deep & melodic scene. The Turk has carved his own path, releasing sensational cross-cultural sounds on the likes of Tale & Tone, Amulanga, and Hoomidas. The XYZ faithful will have grown fond of Erdi’s work on the imprint thus far, appearing on each of our Oppo projects and presenting a delightful remix of a label classic – Same Light. The Istanbul-bred producer now arrives in full, crafting his first full-fledged EP on XYZ in the form of Driftwood.
In many ways, Amega is the voice of XYZ. She collaborates with Erdi on the project’s A-side, offering her instantly recognizable vocals on I Can Find. A rich percussive groove sets the vibe, as Amega’s performance summons hopeful prose lush with light; a valiant tone to start the year. Melodic mastery by both artists, who come together for the first time in pristine fashion.
Driftwood lifts the pace, shifting into dancefloor mode with a warm bassline and synthetic cuts entering the fore. Energy ebbs & flows on this heady hitter from Erdi, showcasing his immense range as a producer. Eastern instrumentals maintain an organic opulence, while the house kicks pause only momentarily to create a powerful rise. An essential tool for the selectors.
Closing out the project is Rainflow, a boastfully balanced groover for both mind & body. The underbelly is built upon an ominous low-end, maintaining a driven arrangement for the dancers. Immaculate instrumentalism rises to a higher plane, and a soft vocal cut exalts exhalation. A special cut from one of the best.
To celebrate the release of Driftwood, we caught up with Erdi to see what’s on the horizon for the new year.
Erdi, thanks for joining us today!
Hello WWD! Thank you for having me for this interview.
Huge congrats on the release! Where did you find the inspiration for Driftwood?
Thanks a lot. I guess it was a summer night. I didn’t want to make music anymore and I found a short movie about driftwood which we shot when I was a cinema student in 2014. I also composed the soundtrack for the movie and listening to it again really inspired me.
We especially love ‘I Can Find’ with Amega, who is one of our favorite vocalists in the scene. What was it like to work with her?
I am actually a fan of her! When I was listening to her amazing track with Henry Saiz, I was blown away and I really wished to work with her in the future. It was really a big pleasure for me to work with Amega!
Tell us about your hometown and the role it has played in your journey as a producer thus far?
I don’t think it has any role it has played in my journey (if it has an effect on my journey, it has been in a negative sense probably).
You rocked it on your latest edition of Selectors, our podcast series. How did you approach this mix?
On my second Selectors mix I played some of my new and unreleased tracks. Hope everyone enjoys the mix!
Have you been touring lately? What has been your favorite party to play recently?
No, I haven’t been touring lately. I played in Ankara (capital of Turkey) last September.
What artists and labels are you currently listening to? Any in particular that have been on repeat?
Melody of the Soul, Amulanga, Tale and Tone, Something Special, Where The Heart Is, Hoomidas and TRYBESof are my favorite labels lately and there are too many amazing producers I can’t count.
You’ve been on a tear with remix projects recently. What do you look for when considering taking on new remixes?
Well, I like to make remixes and I think there is no difference between an original mix and a remix. I’m always trying to be more creative and trying to make a trademark sound of mine on the remixes.
Do you have any big projects coming up that we should know about?
Yeah I have something but for now it would be best to keep it as a secret 🙂
What are your goals and aspirations for 2022?
First of all, I hope new Covid19 variants do not appear in the world and we overcome disease eventually.
For my aspect, I’d like to be more productive and creative in my career.
Erdi, many thanks for joining us today. Congratulations again on the release and we are looking forward to a big year for you.
Thanks a lot!
Connect with Erdi Irmak
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/erdi-irmak
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/erdirmakmusic
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/erdirmak/
Connect with XYZ – https://linktr.ee/wwd.xyz
Stream releases in full via Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2uDd07z
Erdi Irmak – Driftwood[XYZ050].
Release Date – 1.28.22
Stream – https://xyzlabel.lnk.to/Driftwood