The way things end is sometimes the starting point. For others, however, the essence is in the process, learning from a situation that, despite its universality, highlights something unique and intrinsic that, perhaps, was always a type of art. And that fascination for people, cities and their corresponding environments are sources of inspiration for those seeking a new niche within the whole. Summer Nostalgia by fka.m4a distills the essence of warm nights in love.
Fka.m4a merges electronic sounds with romance (painful or not) in Summer Nostalgia, his debut EP that, honouring its title, uses the depths of production to show how the euphoria of sound can tell a story that, despite not having a rom-com type of ending, is worthy of a movie shot in Berlin. Or, at least, of a soundtrack.
Before diving into Summer Nostalgia, we would like to get to know you a bit more. What are your current obsessions music-wise?
I’m really obsessing over Charli XCX right now, I am absolutely in love with this crossover of pop music, niche and electronic music all in one, which I know she’s been doing for a while, but it’s really amazing to see her finally getting her flowers honestly. I’m really enjoying Billie Eilish and an Irish singer shiv a lot at the moment too, they counterbalance the chaos that electronic music can be for me sometimes.
How do they differ from the ones you had growing up?
I grew up with girl power. The Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Lil’Kim, you get the idea. I guess my love for female artists predominantly has never gone away, so I think not a whole lot has changed.
Did you always know you wanted to become a DJ? Was there a moment of realisation that prompted you to pursue this career path? How about producing?
Music has saved me for as long as I can remember. Looking back, I wouldn’t say there was a solid plan to become a DJ, it kind of just happened to be honest. I started getting into the London queer pop club scene at 18 and would dance until lights on. It was on my first trip to Berlin in 2016 that I got my first taste of electronic music, that was something so different for me compared to what I experienced in London, I completely was in awe of the vibe and the way people were connecting to the music. Until then, I thought a DJ would just playing songs, but after that first trip to Berlin — it made me realise that you could truly be an artist with it.
You began playing pop but changed your direction when you discovered electronic sets. Do you now see this as a 180º turn of events, or do you feel pop, dance and electronic music have more in common than meets the eye?
They all have much more in common than I think people realise, especially in the current day of music. Thanks to artists like Charli XCX, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé — dance music has become so popular in the mainstream pop scope and for me as a lover and consumer of both, it’s incredible.
Take us a bit through the birth of the EP Summer Nostalgia. Aside from the romantic situation that opened the rabbit hole, when did the idea for the EP begin?
I was really keen to make the cross over from selector to producer around early 2023, I found Ableton extremely overwhelming in the beginning and would get very frustrated with my inability to make music, I’m quite a perfectionist and I don’t not like knowing how to do things (laughs)! But after some time, I got the hang of it through the help of YouTube tutorials. The first song I actually finished and was proud of was summer nostalgia (sunrise mix), I didn’t actually know what I wanted the EP to be at that point, I then discovered this old voice message I sent to a former lover and got this idea to make it as the opening for the EP, revisiting that voice note gave me a very clear storyline that I wanted to create for the EP.
Nostalgia, romance and heartache are feelings traditionally accompanied by more melodic and smoother sounds when translating them to music pieces. How do you feel dance and electronic beats connect to these feelings?
I think genres such as trance, indie dance, italo disco, melodic house or techno, to name just a few do an excellent job at moving you through emotion — there is something about the contrast between the heavy bass lines and very light synths and angelic like chords that harmonise so well with each other. I’ve always been fascinated by things that contrast each other. That’s why I decided to name my brand-new label Contr4st, actually.
The release starts with 4 am pillow talk, a track built around a voice note. Are there any other curious details in the creation of the tracks that perhaps go unnoticed?
Perhaps that, as it is a real voice message, which I hadn’t listened to for several years before re-visiting it, I actually forgot it was there until I was scrolling through my WhatsApp messages one very late night when I wasn’t feeling so great. Some people think it’s constructed for the song, but it’s actually a real piece of that moment and where I was at.
In the aforementioned voice note you talk about running wild in Berlin. Can you shed some light on your antics?
God, it was such a free-ing, beautiful and toxic time for me. Non-stop partying, being co-dependant on each other, isolating ourselves from the world and existing in this bubble, it was some of the best times in my life, but I know looking back on it that it was very unhealthy.
What is your relationship like with the iconic Peggy Gou?
Peggy is mother! I have so much love, respect and loyalty to that incredible person. She gave me a chance when nobody was interested in me, I didn’t have an agency at the time, I was just playing a few bar gigs in Berlin and she took a chance on me, which I’m always extremely eternally thankful for.
You’ve talked about your emotional references when creating the Summer Nostalgia EP, but what about your artistic references? What were you looking at throughout the process?
I take a lot of my references from pop and more commercial albums, I like storytelling and I like journeys. Some of my favourite albums (Róisín Machine, What’s Your Pleasure?, RENAISSANCE) built such detailed narratives and storylines across the albums that it really inspired me for Summer Nostalgia, I aim to always tell a story and have a flowing structure with my releases, especially the bigger ones. I definitely plan to work on an album in the coming years.
Let’s dive into other artistic aspects surrounding the EP; like the role of producers. This figure is perhaps still rising, being held in the background in comparison to singers, and even songwriters. How do you see the role of producers from your current position? How do you think it affects your work?
If there are no producers, there are no DJs. I’ll keep it as simple as that. Producers deserve payment and recognition that reflects their work for our industry, which DJs profit from massively — but a lot of producers don’t. I have plans with my label to ensure producers are put on the front line and earn the highest they possibly can for a track, EP or album.
The EP goes beyond the tracks and is enhanced by the artwork that surrounds it. What are the thoughts and purpose behind the images you selected taken on digital cameras of scenes from everyday life?
I wanted the visual treatment for the record to feel very candid and almost like a little glimpse into my real life, all the people in the photos and videos are people that are my chosen family. I’m generally a very private person and don’t share too much about my offstage life or relationships, but I really wanted to celebrate all of those beautiful beings here. I randomly had the idea to make the artworks on a trip one day, love & nrg, summer nostalgia (sunset mix) and Summer Nostalgia EP all tell a different story; the first being about my love for my friends, sunset mix being about going back to that place with my toxic love affair and the EP cover being the emancipation of all of that pain and trauma and going ahead as strong as you can.
Now that Summer Nostalgia is out, your debut USA tour in November has happened and you have more performance dates up your sleeve, what do you expect from the public? Are you looking forward to showing something different in your sets from now on?
I just hope that the music makes people feel something, that it makes them remember that love that got away or they miss, I will always aim to bring people joy and make people happy through my music and selections. I try not to focus too much on virality, It feels like a prison for an artist, I would love for my music to go as far and wide as possible, but I’m big on trusting the process and allowing it all to fall into place as it’s meant to.
