Exclusive: Rain Man Discusses Creative Freedom on His First Solo Tour [INTERVIEW]

April 22, 2015 -

Milli Encarnacion

The music world was in something of a stir toward the end of last year. The news was widespread that Krewella's producer, Kris Trindl, had parted ways with the other two members, Jahan Yousaf and Yasmine Yousaf. It was only the start of a soap opera-like drama between the three. In March, months after the Yousaf sisters released the vengeful "Say Goodbye," Trindl issued the equally vindictive "Visionary (feat. Sirah)," his first single as a solo artist (streaming below). Better known as Rain Man, he's ready to start anew by keeping his sights set on a bright future filled to the brim with bass.

I sat down with the producer before his show at Webster Hall in New York, part of a three-city mini-tour that also touched down in Los Angeles and his hometown, Chicago. Before another set tinted with a slew of bangers, we discussed his relationship with his new label, Buygore Records, as well as what he plans to do with this new-found creative freedom.

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Photo by Flowmotion Media

DB: Let's talk about the Buygore Pool Party. That was pretty crazy! How was that? There was a lot of booty-shakin' in the recap video.

The one in Miami? Yeah, every time you play a show with Borgore, you know it's gonna be re-donk-ulous. He's a really great dude. We've just been hanging out recently since I've been with Buygore. Every show that they put on is ridiculous. They get porn stars. His girlfriend's a model and she invites her model friends.

DB: What was it like performing solo to that crowd?

Amazing. It's my first time now, playing alone. It was a pool party, so it was low-key. Just play some bangers, you know.

DB: How has it been working with Borgore?

Great. He's surrounded himself with some of the coolest, most chill people I've ever met. They welcomed us into the -- me and my girlfriend -- they welcomed us into the family immediately. They're just really great, really cool, down-to-earth people. Easy to work with.

DB: You're getting a lot of great, positive feedback on your new single, "Visionary," which we've all had on repeat lately. What can we expect from you in the future?

More heavy bass. Bangers. I'm really inspired by reggae right now. So like, heavy bass, and I'm trying to get some guitar in there as much as I can. Guitar's tougher to mix because it's all mid-range. But as much reggae vocals, guitars, and bass as I can put into a tune. Going back to, if you listen to old Krewella stuff, it's just heavy. It's all heavy. So that's what I'm doing now. We put out "Alive," and everyone was like, "Can we have another one of those?" [Laughs] So now, it's like, no.

DB: Is there an album in the works, or maybe an EP?

I'm gonna do singles for now. [Working solo] is something that I've never done before. I've always put out projects. So I'm just gonna do single, single, single, single.

DB: You're someone who's known for collaborating with a lot of other artists. Who's your dream collaboration?

Dave Brubeck. Yeah, Dave Brubeck. I think he's 90-something now. He's a jazz pianist. And, I don't know, all my other favorite artists have been like -- everybody else is working with them. So why would I wanna work with Serj Tankian, who's working with Avicii? I'm gonna do my own thing. Let's get Dave Brubeck on the keyboards, some jazz, put some reggae vocals in there, some bass, and go for it.

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Photo by Flowmotion Media

DB: Now you're a household name in the electronic community, and with "Visionary," it can only go up from here. What motivated you to get to this point in your career?

I guess since I was about 12, I've been making music. I found different software on the computer. It's really cool to be able to sit down at the computer -- especially when I was younger -- and put headphones on, and my parents were like, "What the fuck is he doing?" I'm actually making art. Expressing myself in whichever way I can. I think that I need that. If I didn't have that outlet, I'm like, "I'll just play FIFA all day." So I think that's why I've been doing it.

DB: Let's talk about your future. What's your goal for the rest of 2015?

We're gonna play some spot dates over the summer. We're not doing any festivals. And then in the fall, we're gonna go on a proper-routed tour to try to see everybody. Because now it's like, I did Chicago, tonight's New York, and L.A. next week. We wanna go into the middle of America, into random markets.

DB: How do you know when you're at a creative block?

Aw, man. "Creative block" is like my middle name. Seriously. Because what I do is, I sit at the computer, and sometimes I make the best ideas. Like in "Visionary," it builds up to a little trap part. It's like, [sings] "Drop it on us, na na na na." I made that part in five minutes, because it was inspiration. And half the other time, I'm sitting there like, "Fuck! What do I do, how is this gonna be good?" And then I realize it, and then I, I don't know... play FIFA. Say "Fuck you, go away."

DB: What I like about "Visionary" is that you went through maybe four different genres of dance music in three minutes.

The only problem with that is that I have to live up to it again. You can't just make a trap tune after that. Because they're like, "Well, what the fuck? I heard 'Visionary,' it's all these different things!" So now, every song I do has to be like, nine-million parts complicated.

DB: What message would you like to get out with your music now?

I think music is about having fun, so I try not to take it too seriously. There's a lot of horrible shit that goes on in the world, but I couldn't say that my music really stands for anything. It's just a way to release, you know?

DB: What's your favorite part about being in this stage of your career?

It's cool because when you play with other people, it's a democracy. Imagine DJ-ing a show. "I wanna play this song!" "No, fuck you, I wanna play this song!" Now it's like, "I wanna do this, so I'm just gonna do it." It's freedom.

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