Jerry Abstract completely encompasses electronic music in his lifestyle as a DJ, Producer, Remixer, Designer, Promoter and Friend to the community. Currently he is the Art Director for Seattle’s Decibel Festival. He also consults promoters around America, judges laptop battles, hosts his own events and was tagged as a “Next 100″ artist by URB Magazine in 2007 and 2008 for his production talents.
He creates tracks and remixes in his personal studio for the labels Shitkatapult Musick, Semisexual, From 0-1, Schematic, Detroit Underground, Slant Records, Knightriders Recordings, Sub Sensory, Daly City, mass.mvmnt, Innerflight Music, Memex, Fourthcity, Peloton Musique, Dragon’s Eye Recordings and Dulcette. In addition to his monthly contribution to Resident Advisor’s top ten charts, Jerry has been featured many times over on a multitude of worldwide podcasts.
Mr. Abstract’s influences come from a variety of places, starting with his counter-cultural growth in Detroit during the earlier waves of techno while attending inner city underground parties in the early 1990’s. In 2004 he spent the summer living in Berlin, but currently resides in Portland, OR taking inspiration from the scenic Pacific Northwest and has raised his game to become one of the area’s elite electronic artists while bringing a positive attitude and skills to match other international talent.
Monikers: Avee Libretto, Ian Ginsing, Former Selv

Tracklist: ("Siam’s Black Sun Setting”)
01. Eprom - Center of the Sun
02. Second Storey - Shaman Champagne
03. Death Abyss - All Truths Are Worth Betraying
04. Oscar Mulero - Breakdown (Kazuya Kawakami Remix)
05. Mick Finesse - A Shiver For Koku (Mondkopf Remix)
06. Ducerey Ada Nexino - School Phosphene
07. Clouds - Teenage Boy
08. Scalameriya - Planetary Deflector
09. Eschaton - Kali
10. Xhin - Claw Eyes
11. Lakker - Thermohaline
12. Mondkopf - Cause & Cure
13. Sky Wikluh - Srpski Film
14. Raven - Fossil (Oxus Version)
15. NX1, Claudio Prc, Error Etica - Quasar (NX1 Remix)
16. Dead Sound - Bring It Up A Little (Xhin Remix)
17. Alis - Apache (Ital Remix)
18. Manni Dee - Eroded Veiwpoint
19. Surgeon - Fixed Action Pattern (Dub)
20. Nurse With Wound - Untitled 8
21. Donato Dozzy & Nuel - Aqua 5

* This compilation also contains various field recordings of conversations, coastlines, and jungles collected in Thailand by Jerry Abstract to give the mix a more personalized texture.

Interview:
1.You were born and raised in Detroit, what were your main sources of inspiration in your early years, what brought you into electronic music?

I stated listening to punk and other alternative indie music at an early age (exposed by fellow skateboarders and school friends). As the years passed I developed a taste for industrial, experimental and ambient. Not soon after I discovered techno and electro (techno-bass) while randomly attending some of Detroit’s notorious loft and warehouse events. In the mid-90’s IDM began to hit the scene along with my love for Jungle. And now I adore a plethora of it all.

2.Early releases of yours were picked up by Shitkatapult/Musick, how did that relationship begin?

That happened in 2003 when T.Raumschmiere came to Seattle on his debut tour and I handed him a 4 song CD-r demo and he actually listened to it right away in the green room of Chop Suey and he said “this is great! I’d like to release this”; naturally at the time I simply thought he was just being polite. But a few months later he emailed me stating that he was going to put the first two tracks onto some mini-compilations and that Shitkatapult would like me to submit more tunes for their upcoming sub-label, Musick (To Play In The Club). Ironically in 2004 I moved to Berlin for 6 months and I was able to focus on my music more and go on to release two solo EP’s with Shitkatapult/Musick. In addition to the releases I had the honor to perform at a few venues, one of which included the original Tresor.

3.Techno, IDM, and Electro all seem to blend into one inside your tracks.  What is your process for writing music?

I simply start with a sound that builds into a loop that eventually gets constructed in to a song. I never have an intent when starting, nor a locked-down process. It’s typically an experimentation and I just let it develop. When I’m satisfied with that development I’ll go back to either add to or subtract from the song to get it’s end result. 


4.What is Modern Occcult Musick?

In a mother’s womb (nutshell - M.O.M.), it’s my digital label for self-releasing. I figured why wait in another label’s roster for my EP’s to get released when I can issue my songs on my own imprint and have the freedom to create all the content. M.O.M. will house and nurture my finer and fringe projects. Modern Occcult Musick from a Modern Occcult Musician.


5.Outside of music you are a very prolific artist and graphic designer.  How do you separate the 2 artist entities and how do you merge them together?

It has always been a symbiotic relationship. Electronic music, specifically, has always inspired my graphic arts; especially in the earlier years because most of the older techno never had any vocals (lyrics) telling me what to think or how to feel and that allowed my imagination to become more visually free to experiment with graphics and other visual art. Now-a-days my visuals help produce my sounds.

Jerry Abstract - From 0-1 Studio Sessions Vol 075

I'm a VJ, music video producer, web designer, and rave historian into collaborating with new people on music videos (juke / future / noise / experimental), traveling to perform live VJ sets at festivals, and creating unique websites for producers, labels, DJs, bands, and other music professionals. I have been obsessed with archiving rave history in the Canadian prairies since the early 90s. Can't get enough.

Fun Fact #1 : lifelong obsession with origami
Fun Fact #2: into the Oxford comma
Fun Fact #3: I drink the pickle juice before I eat the pickles
Fun Fact #4: I draw the Fool so often in my readings I replaced my Queen in tarot readings. I cherish this Fool's ability to love, leap, fail, learn, and leap again. Nothing breaks that doesn't heal if you leap with the heart of a Fool.
Fun Fact #5: fill in the blank, choose your own adventure

iamyourfriend™

Also known as Former Selv, Ian Ginsing, and Avee Libretto.

Jerry Abstract - From 0-1 Studio Sessions Vol 075

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