Julio Estrada presents his work, consisting of a J Dilla flavoured beat with punctuated snare beats, mysterious detuned analogue pads and sweet, organic guitars. Maybe listen to this one on headphones, just after sunset? I’m game!
Make sure to listen to the full album titled Floating Down. Read our discussion with the producer below!
Describe your sound in 3 words
Original, groovy, and fluid
Tell us a few things about the music of Julio Estrada. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I like to make music that is harmonically unique. For me, harmony is the main thing that makes a song different from others. So I try to bring something to the table that I’ve never heard before. I am inspired by the most inimitable artists, those whose styles are unprecedented, instantly recognizable, and difficult to replicate. Herbie Hancock and J Dilla are two that come to mind.
In your IG, there is the advice Headphones Recommended. Are you scared that the average listener may listen to your music on really low quality laptop internal speakers (or even worse on phone internal speakers)?
Haha, I’m not too worried about that because it’s not something I can control. But I like to leave “headphones recommended” just in case. I normally mix and master all of my audio before I make a post 🙂
Favourite guitarist?
Jimi Hendrix, probably. It’s true what people say about how he played the guitar like an extension of himself. I’d love to one day have that level of comfort and self-expression on my instrument.
You are part of numerous different projects. How do all these fit together? Tell us a few things about them.
The biggest project I am part of is called i///u (IG). We’re a 7-piece neo-soul band in Seattle that is trying to push the boundaries of the genre while staying true to our love of jazz and improvised music. I’m also a member of a smaller group called esc (IG). We write more R&B-style, chiller tunes with a little less emphasis on improv+jazz. A lot of the time, when I write music, I don’t know whether the song will end up being for my own collection, for i///u, for esc, or maybe something totally new.
Which of your songs (if any) represents you the most and why?
My debut album Floating Down is a 20-minute collection of experiments that explore a pretty broad range of styles, and I think that offers a “big-picture” perspective on the music that inspires me. But that’s a fluid thing, and eventually I will feel better represented by future projects.
What is the most useless talent you have?
I can make the sound of a water droplet pretty well lol
What’s next for you?
I have several projects that I’m very proud of coming out later this year, so stay tuned! And I’m going to keep challenging myself to create harmony that I’ve never encountered before.
Thank you!
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Follow our Spotify Playlist “Reinvented Eclectic” feat. Julio Estrada
Secret Eclectic 