MORPHEUS MUSIC INTERVIEW - DAKSHA

28.01.07

G: Well, Catalin and I have worked together since 1998 for different soundtracks, but at that time we didn't have in mind a project like DaKsha. The idea came two years later and it was done officially with Alexandru Nuca. Catalin was not in Bucharest that year.

G: In 2000 Alexandru and I made the music and the sound engineering for a live show.
Marius-Christian Burcea (the producer and host of the radio program "Journeys to the Infinite") told us about the chance to be selected on an Earthtone Records compilation "Noua Romanie - The Rebirth of a Nation" that would include the best Romanian electronic music on it. That was the moment of DaKsha's birth. We submitted 2 tracks, “On the Wings of the Phoenix" was the song selected.

C: Interestingly enough, after Noua Romanie was released, I came to Bucharest and worked with Alexandru on another project called "Tango in Space". He was not involved with DaKsha from that point on. He did some audio engineering jobs and made music from time to time. Right now he plays the bandoneon (an instrument similar to accordion, particularly popular In Argentina) and is very much focused on tangos...
As DaKsha was on hold for some time, I joined because the music I made at that moment was appealing for Geo. We decided to continue with DaKsha, although it was in a different direction than what had initially been envisioned for DaKsha.

G: Initially we intended to promote the old Romanian music with DaKsha. At that time we did not know any reliable sources. We were constantly searching…
Now things are different.
I would say that the music is a little more visual because we used to think it visually.

C: I think that now DaKsha is going toward a neo-classical direction with electronic and world elements. There is a strong tendency toward classical harmonies and a growing tendency toward electronic sounds.
Finally, DaKsha's musical purpose is to elevate the listener and bring him an authentic state of aesthetical flavor…

G: …and to bring joy and beauty.

C: It's a bit hard to say; while many names are on our listening list it's difficult to point out a certain influence, it's more like another way of doing music. It is a different musical approach, but not experimental.

G: We have borrowed from others and created something unique.

G: On Ascendent we had a wonderful time working together. We were working in the same studio and had plenty of time to listen and create. The same passion for music and a great friendship helped us learn a lot. I'm longing for those times…

C: Actually, now there are very rare occasions when we both work in the same location. We are in different cities, which makes it more difficult. However, with the use of the internet we are working on the second DaKsha release.

C: In fact, "Ascendent" is a selection from years of work. We literally picked the best tracks we had and formed this album. We chose the title Ascendent because our music suggests the ascension, the elevation of the human spirit.

G: Yes, and we had over 30 tracks from which we could select…It is a musical journey through different ways of perception, different inner states. Every track brings you another world with its unique vibrations.
Also, there are some elements in this album, taken from an ancient musical treaty called "Gitalamkara". Including those elements was challenging and rewarding at the same time.

C: It's very hard to say. There is really no such a thing as a best track for us, as they are indeed very different from one other. "Ascendent" is a very special track for me, it's the track that gives the album its name after all, and it was done entirely in a day and night with almost no pause. But so is "Nights in Serampur" or "Nuevo Tango". "The Jade Stem" is another special track and it was finished, by contrast, within a year.

Q : If there were no obstacles at all, financially or otherwise, what would you most like to do with your music?

C: We would certainly promote DaKsha better, and the other projects, in our country, where this kind of music is almost missing from the market.

G: This is a hard question, because we have had a lot of ideas…but everything in the music business depends on feedback. The financial obstacles are a challenge for every artist in these days, but I'd like to think that we make "music for music's sake” and will continue to do so.

Q : How do you see DaKsha developing in the future?

C: There are more possibilities. If the feedback will be positive with "Ascendent", we'll have a good reason to "ascend"... And we are optimistic about that.

G: We want to give our best whichever direction our music takes us. It will be very interesting to see…