4RA 4RA – interview

Photo credit: Adéla Zlámalová

Introduce your band, and describe your latest release:
I’m 4ra 4ra (reads Ara Ara), and I’m all about making music, singing, and creating digital art. I dive into everything because I love expressing myself in every way possible, bringing complex audio-visual realms to life.
My latest single is Need for drift, which is Cyberphonk. Imagine yourself in drifting races on the streets of Tokyo in 2036. Put on the radio in the illegal combustion engine car to listen to this and enjoy the mortal ride of your life.

What’s the hardest part about being a music producer/ artist a band in this day and age?
I used to stress about having the perfect, super successful release and have all these grand ideas about it before putting it out. But now I’ve learned it’s better to keep expectations in check. Don’t hype it up too much, and you won’t end up disappointed. It’s way cooler to be pleasantly surprised by how things turn out than to be bummed because you had your heart set on this one big release.

When did you realise that your project had the potential to be much more than just a fun idea?
The first live show, where energy swaps from listeners to performers, heightens THE FEELING where all ambitions and motivations begin.

Tell us about your latest release, why should we check it out?
The entire timeline is gradually accelerating in tempo until it crashes and undergoes enormous changes. From dark synth to cyberphonk to techno to nightcore! It’s funny that it all started from my cover of the song ‘Tokyo Drift,’ where I drastically chopped vocals into nonsense. Additionally, I pitched and bent the melody with a phonk-sounding bell. I also, I wanted to capture the kind of retro-modern synthwave vibe found in Kavinsky’s ‘Nightcall’ in breakdowns. In the end I wanted my listeners to experience a dystopian cyberpunk atmosphere – ultimately, it’s a solid chaos, something like a drifting JPOP song on drugs in a
car crash

How does a song typically come together for you?
I experiment a lot with sounds and visuals. I always like to be the boss of chaos, but at the beginning, I prefer things to be organized. I kickstart my creative process with a concept. Picture me, clicking away on FL Studio at home, in a super cozy setup. My production style is very modern. While I’ve tried various hardware instruments, I usually lean towards wavetable synthesizer VSTs like Serum and other software sound-designing tools.

I also enjoy crafting mental visuals while producing music, creating different scenarios in my head. Sometimes, it’s a bit challenging for me to focus on a specific thing because my mind is tuned into multiple creative frequencies simultaneously.

How would you describe your sound to an unfamiliar reader?
If you want to experience driving energy, madness and digital dystrophy, I’m a cyber pop music producer, singer and digital artist, who simulates this for you through my music.

What do you want listeners to take away from listening to your band?
Art and music are really subjective. Someone can enjoy it and feel vibey, while someone else may be disgusted. I think I’ll leave this question for my listeners. I don’t want to put ideas in their heads. I like it when people express themselves by themselves.

Where would you really like to tour that you haven’t done so yet, and why?
I want to tour the US because I’ve made some awesome new e-friends who I think I’d have a blast with.

How would you say that the sound of your band has progressed over the years?
I’ve been making music for two years now, so my sound hasn’t scaled up as much. But despite the initial jitters, I’m already feeling more confident about my music than I was last year.

How excited are you for 2024 2023, and what can fans expect from you?
Extremely. I’m gonna terror my listeners with new music, art and content. Ready to boss fight 2024!