GET TO KNOW: Soosh
WORDS: Colin Brownbill

You can always tell when music is truly organic because it doesn’t sound like anything else. In 2012 with traditional genres taking new and exciting directions, our job as journalists has become infinitely more difficult. So often an artist refuses to label their sound as ultimately it becomes an extension of their personality, a manifestation of raw emotion and an aural snapshot of experience. Music is precious and unequivocally individual; we certainly wouldn’t like it if someone slapped our 140bpm solar-funk as certified ‘Dubstep’ (not that we’re making solar-funk, but now that we’ve coined it, we might just). Music is a highly personal expression and such a notion applies perfectly to Soosh.

Based in Glasgow but native to Iran, Soroosh Khavari aka Soosh, is on a mission of musical enlightenment. Equipped with a dazzling array of synths, tape-recorders and samplers, he has mastered the very fabric of sound by cleverly harvesting the noise around him, managing to channel his samples into something utterly ethereal. Taking a year out from his job in 2010, he found his way to Canada where the foundation for his artistry began to stir, making his first tunes with wide-eyed enthusiasm and a creative spirit which has taken him down all the right avenues. With his self-titled EP receiving a unanimously intrigued response from all who heard it, it’s no wonder that Soosh is now regarded as one of Scotland’s most interesting and forward-thinking new talents.

Recently releasing the ‘SoFar EP’ on Fremdtunes, his music continues to capture an audience which will undoubtedly keep growing. In describing his sound we find ourselves quoting the most colourful words of the English language and with that comes a sense of unbridled optimism - an optimism made tangible by songs which wrap round you like a blanket on a wind-swept beach. Elegant, flowing and completely seductive, you’ll soon be using ‘Soosh’ as an adjective for bliss.

Check out samples of Soosh's music below as well as an interview with the man himself:

Soosh SoFar ep -- Out now digi/vinyl- boomkat/itunes/rush hour etc.... by Soosh

Soosh ep..... Available now at boomkat, itunes etc.... by Soosh



Synth: So let’s begin by taking it back to the start – you originally migrated from your native Iran to Scotland before taking a year out travelling in Canada. What initially inspired you to start making music and when did it become more than a simple interest?

Soosh: I’ve always loved music and have been DJ’ing on and off for the past 8 years whileat uni. It started with nights out and going to festivals, and then when I went to Canada in 2010 I had a lot of spare time and finally finished my first few tunes. During the course of my time there I started getting quicker at making tunes and making them sound the way I wanted. I started getting good feedback on soundcloud and started to get a bit of a following – since then things have really taken off.  I would say for the past 6 months it’s definitely more than just an interest and I’m constantly making new tunes and finding my sound.

Synth: You released your self-titled debut EP last year and just put out ‘SoFar’. How do you think you have developed since your initial foray into making music and what has shaped your sound?

Soosh: Well, both those EPs were made while I was in Canada, and were some of the first tracks I actually finished. My first EP had a lot of samples that I manipulated and added my own drums and some synths to. The SoFar EP is a little more melodic and I think the drum work is a bit better with fewer samples in it. To be honest, I would say my sound has really moved on as my old work was just me starting to find my sound. I’m making more intricate stuff now, hardly using samples anymore and I have a lot more analogue gear I’m using to make the tracks. I’ve also incorporated my own voice into stuff lately and I’m working with quite a few vocalists.

I would say the stuff people will hear in the next 6 months represent more of what I’m about. There are a lot of releases coming, and I think you'll hear the difference. My key skills are always improving as well as sound design in general. I think my tracks are still heavily textured and maybe have some of the same emotions, but they are getting deeper and more complex, and maybe more intense - but in a chilled way. Just spending loads of time getting to know my gear and experimenting has got me to this place, and I’m loving it all.

Synth: Many people (including us) have described your music as dreamy, ethereal and otherworldly. Would you agree that it has quite a pensive atmosphere and if you had to, how would you label it? 

Soosh: Yeah, I would agree with that. I don’t really know what I’m making and don’t ever have a plan of how I want it to sound from the start. But I would say its textured, emotive electronic music. I’m starting to make some other stuff now as well, more pop vibes with electronic tones and drums. Most my stuff is pretty dreamy and ethereal but I think some of the stuff I’ve just finished is pretty intense in an uplifting kind of way.



Synth: There seems to be a really healthy scene with regards to new producers in Glasgow at the moment. Do you feel like you’re particularly involved with a growing movement and are there any other local artists you admire?

Soosh: To be honest, I don’t feel that involved with the Glasgow movement. I’ve been away travelling a lot these last few years between Canada, Italy and elsewhere. I used to go out a lot while in Glasgow and obviously the nights have influenced me, but for me it’s more about discovering music from all over. I think once I’m back in Glasgow properly I’ll be getting more involved and gigging frequently.

Synth: Finally, 2012 is shaping up to be a great year for you. What can we look forward to with regards to gigs and further releases? What can people expect from you in a live setting?

Soosh: Yeah, quite excited about the year ahead. I’ve taken 6 months off from working to make tunes and enjoy life. I’ve already finished a dozen tracks which should be released later this year. There’s another 2 EPs coming out with some great remixes on them, cant say the names yet but May should be the next EP - a collaboration with Black Acres’ Memotone on Project Mooncircle and hopefully my LP by the end of the year. I’m just sorting out which label to release these on, but in no rush as I want to find the right home.

But I am excited, there’s a lot of interest from labels that I’m really humbled by so fingers crossed it will all work out. I’m really excited for people to hear the tracks, for me it’s a real step up and hopefully people will dig it. As for gigs, lots coming! I have an agent now and there should be lots of gigs around Europe from summer onwards when my live set should be ready. At the moment, I’m doing some DJ gigs in Italy, and a festival or two as well. I get back to Glasgow at the end of April so should get busy after then! Just busy making tracks for now, life is good!

Soosh - 'SoFar EP' is available now on itunes via Fremdtunes

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