Posted by Gosia Mrugala

Intrepid bpm:tv bloggeuse Gosia Mrugala dons her space suit for an otherworldly encounter with NYC techno producer BLACK ASTEROID (a.k.a. Bryan Black).

GOSIA MRUGALA:  Hey, Bryan Black — what have you been up to lately?

BRYAN BLACK: I’m currently in Paris for Fashion Week. I often collaborate with designers (Rick Owens, Raf Simons) on runway music, and in return they provide inspiration for the visual identity of my musical projects. The promotional video for “Black Acid” was directed by Anna October, who is also a fashion designer. The girl in the video (Nadiia Shapoval) is a fashion model from Kiev. After Paris, I will go home to New York and finish recording my next EP.

GM: You started off as a sound engineer for Prince. What influenced you to pursue a career as a DJ/producer?

BB: I was always fascinated by electronic music. For me, electronic music has a bigger spectrum of expression and sounds than rock and roll, which is essentially limited to four traditional instruments. The first real exposure I had to pure dance music was via acid house coming from the UK back in the late 80s. So when I started making electronic music for myself, it always had some classic song structure and a strong visual identity, which I learned from growing up with Prince, Depeche Mode, etc.

GM: Tell me a little about Motor and how you went from that to Black Asteroid?

BB: Motor in the very beginning was essentially techno, but it changed and grew over time into a more of an electro act. I was also a techno head. So last year after finishing the new Motor album, I decided to get back into underground techno because that will always my favorite style music to produce.

GM: What’s the significance behind the project name “Black Asteroid”?

BB: “Black” because of Bryan Black perhaps, but not intentionally. “Asteroid” because I’m fascinated with space and astronomy. On my new EP, there is a song called “Lunar Landing.” It’s a theme that will always be present with Black Asteroid.

GM: How would you describe your musical style?

BB: Techno / experimental techno.

GM: How did you wind up with the title “Black Acid” and what influenced the production of this track?

BB: The song titles usually are chosen because they best describe in words how I think the music sounds. I try to give the music a visual identity through the titles. The main synth bass in “Black Acid” was vaguely like an acid techno sound, but it was darker and more dangerous, and thats’ probably the inspiration for the title. The production was inspired in part by Laurent Garnier‘s “Crispy Bacon,” which has all the elements that I find fascinating in techno.

GM: Who have been your biggest inspirations and what have you learned from them?

BB: Prince: Work hard. Never stop writing and performing. Believe in yourself, don’t listen to others. Nine Inch Nails: That electronic music mixed with the energy of rock is a great combination. I always admired how much soul and energy came from the early NIN albums. And sound design. Depeche Mode: Classic songwriting with well crafted synth sounds.

GM: Your top 3 tracks at the moment?

BB: 1. Rrose – “Waterfall”; 2. Truncate – “Dial”; Monoloc – “Shame.”

GM: Can you tell me of any upcoming projects or collaborations in the works?

BB: The Black Acid EP and video was just released. Next will be the Black Acid remix 12″/EP featuring Perc and a few other of my favorite techno producers. I’m also working on an EP with Dave Clarke. We finished the A-side and it sounds amazing. We don’t even have a name for the project yet, but I’m really looking forward to this release.

GM: Where do you see yourself in five years?

BB: I would hope to be doing what I am now: making techno and collaborating with people I respect from all different art mediums — fashion, film, music, art, etc.

Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.