Contributing Writer
Norwegian artist Fehrplay [Jonas Fehr], has quickly made a name for himself in the music industry, with his progressive house anthems gaining the attention of heavyweights like Pete Tong, landing a spot on the Pryda Friends roster, and launching his very own label imprint ‘Mood of Mind.’ With his encyclopedic musical knowledge, Fehrplay relishes the opportunity to play personal favourites, new and old, and cuts that never quite broke into the digital market. His ability to draw music from across the dance music spectrum, has proven an undeniable asset. We caught up with Jonas ahead of his return to CODA nightclub on Saturday, March 16th, for the Attlas world tour.
Get Tickets to Attlas + Fehrplay at CODA:
Thanks for speaking with us – you’ll be back in Toronto on March 16, a city that you’ve become pretty familiar with now. What’s your connection like with the music listeners over there?
My pleasure! Yes, Im very excited. It’s always a great time playing in Toronto. I love the city, and I always try to squeeze in some extra time when I’m here. Toronto has a great club scene, and I always feel very free to play what I want.
‘I think it’s important to not feel the need to make music that has the ‘sound’ of a certain label, even though it’s tempting. Developing your own sound that stands out and sounds fresh, will always be something labels are on the lookout for, and it should be something you should strive for.’
Congrats on the success thus far with your label Mood of Mind. Looking back on 2018 — what were some personal highlights for the label?
Thanks! 2018 was a fantastic year for Mood of Mind, as I saw myself feeling very confident in all the releases. Seeing it develop and gaining support is such an honouring feeling, as well as receiving demos from some amazing artists.
So far you’ve kept the label to just your own releases, any plans to host other artists this year? and if so, who will be contributing?
Yes, it’s first and foremost an outlet for my own music, but I’m on the lookout for music from other artists. I’m being picky though, but 2019 will see releases from some new artists for sure.
As an artist who has produced records for other labels, as well as your own imprint– what would you say to the artist who is struggling to find a “home” for their music? What’s the best way to get your music heard if you don’t feel like your ‘sound’ matches a label?
Yeah, good question. I think it’s important to not feel the need to make music that has the ‘sound’ of a certain label, even though it’s tempting. Developing your own sound, that stands out, and sounds fresh will always be something labels are on the lookout for, and it should be something you should strive for. Use your tools: Soundcloud, Facebook etc, to share your music. If you are consistent and keep the quality up, those tools can be enough to get your music heard by the right people.
What’s been the biggest challenge in running Mood of Mind?
The sound, and the development of it. It’s something that’s constantly evolving, and sometimes it can be hard to decide in which direction to take the next step. Other than that I think it’s been pretty smooth sailing so far.
Outside of music, what’s currently exciting you in life right now?
Well, I guess it’s still music related, but I have just finished a huge project for Sample Magic. I have always wanted to make a sample pack, and I felt this was the right time. I’m super happy with the result. I’m also getting married in a few months, so that’s very exciting!
What’s the biggest question on your mind lately?
How do I get my studio acoustics better? It has been the biggest question for the last 5 years…haha.
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