JDG and Cloe Terare on their new collaboration, Bigsound appearances and future plans in a COVID normal music scene.
CLOE TERARE has been making waves in 2020, with features on Spotify’s New Music Friday, Chill AF, Deadly Beats and Original Storytellers playlists, as well as landing a spot in The BIGSOUND50, while JDG continues to carve a niche as one of Australia’s most consistent underground dance artists with spots on Spotify’s New Dance Beats, a catalogue boasting over 30-million streams and support by electro tastemakers including Anna Lunoe, Martin Garrix, Jauz, Dr Fresch, and even dance titan Tiesto.
To celebrate their new single Intentions, we thought we would have a chat with both of them about life, new music and of course BIGSOUND.
Congratulations on the new single, over the last few years you have certainly diversified your sound from straight up club thumpers, to now some more broody and emotive tones, how has that process been for you?
JDG: Thanks a lot super keen for the world to hear this one!
Yeah for sure I've definitely delved more into song structures and creating more of a “song” compared to straight club thumpers whilst not having to compromise on my sound too drastically. I think the process has come naturally as I've been making club music for so long I just wanted to push myself and create works that mean a little bit more to me and show the world hey this is me, this is my art and I don't want to be put in a box.
Cloe you are seemingly EVERYWHERE at the moment, congratulations on being announced as a part of this year's BIGSOUND. Can you talk to us a little about how it felt when you got that call / email saying you were in?
Cloe: Thank you! When I got the call I was in the lunch room at work and everyone was looking through the window wondering why I was jumping around. It's been a part of so many local artists' stories who have gone on to do incredible things both here and overseas. As an artist you're constantly looking for reassurance (rightly or wrongly) that you're on the right path and opportunities like BIGSOUND feel like a pat on the back to say you're doing the right thing.
You guys both have quite different backgrounds in musical interest and genre, and those kinds of collaborations generally seem to result in a really creative outcome.
Can you guys give us a little insight into your separate processes creating Intentions?
JDG: For me, Intentions started off as some chord progressions I was messing around with, I didn't really give it much thought and didn't touch the session for a while.
I opened the file up one day and was like oh wow why haven't I worked on this?! A few hours later a music bed was done, sent it off & received some AMAZING vocals from Cloe.
I then worked around the vocal because I wanted it to be the Centre of attention in the breaks, chopped it up a little on the drop and it all came together. I think it blended both of our styles really well and complemented each other's sound.
Cloe: I was pretty intimidated the first time I heard the instrumental to be honest. It was one of those songs that put me in a good mood straight away and I was wondering how I was going to do it justice.
My creative process was to write as authentically to my style as I could and not try to change what I do to suit the genre. It wasn't a track that came to me right away but once it clicked I knew it felt right. It does really feel half of me and half of Jordan which is why it's been nice to put this out as a Cloe x Jordan track over me just featuring.
Touring generally plays a major role in a DJ / Producer life, what's it been like for you during the Melbourne lockdowns, and where's the first place you want to play Intentions, when this is all over?
JDG: It has been a crazy time to say the least!
I definitely miss touring and seeing my followers at shows and just having a good time playing music.
In saying that it's been great production wise as I've been stuck at home and really knuckling down in the studio getting music ready.
At this point anywhere haha, as long as there's smiling faces and a good vibe, loud music I want to be there playing!!!
What's on the Horizon for you?
Chloe: Over the last 18 months I've been working on a new project called Dayliites with Paces. We've put a few records and are sitting on a mixtape worth of music which I'm really excited about. I'm also working on a heap of new music for my project and can't wait to get back out and perform again in the new year.
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