Music stories from clients who trusted Mind The Wax to press their music on vinyl!
Meet Iannis, the man behind the project Odd Dodo. An individual whose musical odyssey spans an impressive 25 years, embracing a rich spectrum of genres and sounds —a journey fueled by an undeniable passion for what he describes as his “dope”: music.
Hailing from the same hometown and studying at the same university, the bond runs deeper than just a shared passion for music; I’ve had the privilege of knowing him personally. During our university years, conversations about music were a staple, with album exchanges being a regular occurrence. I always found his music taste intriguing and diverse.
This maestro, proficient in playing the bass, vintage synthesizers, and even dabbling in drums, has a unique appreciation for field recordings and raw sounds. His musical canvas on his debut album “Futurepast Temporalities” is adorned with an abstract and cinematic approach, transforming every note into a captivating exploration of creativity.
Which artists or genres have influenced your musical style?
From school years, apart from other favorite bands, Mr Bungle have played a vital role in terms of wackiness in the way I see arrangement and song structures. The variety of genres blended and the way it was made blew my mind away. The following years, after listening to numerous artists and albums from all possible genres, the sound I was really intrigued by was the instrumental and experimental post-rock and experimental ambient. Bands like Battles, Tortoise , Holy Fuck, Zombi, Jaga Jazzist and artists such as Tim Hecker, Fennesz is a huge inspiration. If you put all the forementioned names in a music blender, I think the outcome would be Odd Dodo!
What was the inspiration behind your album and what the album is about?
I was always fascinated with the idea of time travel. The album was created in the heart of Covid19 years, a time that we were closed inside and think about past and future. In a way, this album is a collage of memories and feelings of the past combined with dreams from the future.
Are there any unique stories or experiences that influenced the creation of the album?
Apart from music, my other love is painting with acrylics. The whole abstract expressionism painting method I developed through the years helped me in the way I create my music. For instance, layering instruments or pairing them or connecting song parts, resemble the process I follow while painting.
In an artistic level, Covid19 helped me to have plenty of free time alone with all my musical ‘toys’!
Can you share a bit about your musical journey and how it led to this particular album?
I started collecting music before the age of 10. Hiphop, metal ,funk, hardore , grunge, jazz , electronic, drum & bass, ambient. I was the younger one in my wider family. My brother, my cousins and all their friends, all listen to different genres and styles of music so I took the best things from each one and ended up love music in general . At 16 my first school band with schoolmates, at 18 started my first live gigs with cover bands. Then, for almost 10 years I was the bass player for the greek heavy rock band INK, with lots of touring, TV and radio appearances. At 2011 I left in order to create my own musical path. Since then, after many hours of experimentation and a constant search for something new, I ended up with ‘Futurepast Temporalities’.
“A visual-audio space opera experience.”
It’s a conceptual album, an one-track story! If you close your eyes for 44 minutes and listen to it, you will have experienced the ‘Futurepast Temporalities’ movie.
Which tools and equipment used in the production process of this album?
I used two Fender Precision basses, Moog Sub37, Dave Smith Mopho x4, Korg Ms20, Korg Microkorg, Dreadbox Typhon, Dreadbox Nymphes, Dreadbox Nyx, Doepfer Dark Time, Roli Seaboard , Arturia Drumbrute, Leafaudio Soundbox , Zoom H2n for field recordings and miscellaneous pedal effects . For recording sessions for bass, synths, drum machine and electroacoustics I use Ableton Live.
What were the challenges or interesting aspects of the production?
I live in a different city from all the other contributors of the album, so I did lots of travelling for the past two years but the whole experience worth every kilometer!
Any collaborations that took part and you would like to highlight?
Utmost respect for Dennis Konstantinidis at Headroom Recordings for mixing and Stefan Konstantinidis at Fabrika Music Studios for mastering the album. I’m really thankfull they did put their magic touches at my sonic landscapes. Also many many thanks to Babis Petsinis and Evaggelia Argiropoulou for brilliantly performing drums and trumpet. I really enjoyed all the album sessions. Lots of fun!
What are the vinyl specifications you decided to press your album?
It’s pressed on a Black colored vinyl, on 180gr. Comes with a 2-sided printed insert on 170gr and a Jacket cover of 300gsm paper.
It’s produced on 300 copies and it includes 8 tracks.
How does the experience of listening to your music on vinyl differ from other formats?
The sound of vinyl feels very earthy to me, like watching a concert right before you! It’s the same feeling like when finding shadow in a very hot summer day. A soothing and calm feeling!
Where fans can find and purchase the album, including online platforms and physical stores?
You can stream it at Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer , Qobuz, Bandcamp.
As far as the physical copies you can find at selected greek record stores:
Lotus, Stereodisc, Velona Records, Τo Pikap, Orbers Vinyl, MONO Records, Underflow Records, Entropia Records, Syd Records, Rhythm Records, Rock N Roll Circus, Scarecrow Records and Sound Effect Records.
Are there any exclusive releases, limited editions, or promotions related to the vinyl pressing?
The album will be available also in cassette and a cool t-shirt has been made. In the next few months there will be the first short movie/video clip from the album. Unfortunately, Odd Dodo concerts won’t be possible to happen anytime soon, so there will be some releasing parties. These dates will be announced soon.
How do you envision your audience connecting with this album?
I’d be pleased if the listener experiences it as an audio movie with him as a protagonist and finds himself wandering in a sonically bizarre intergalactic space opera adventure.
Are there any messages or emotions you hope listeners will take away?
Enjoy the ride! Have in mind the element of surprise. Every sound happens for a reason. It’s a puzzle that gets completed after a number of listenings!
Do you want to know more about Odd Dodo?
Click on the below links to stay connected and support their music!
Vinyl pressing and cassette duplication by Mind The Wax
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