INTERVIEW: Five Minutes With … Joachim Pastor

Hungry Music’s Joachim Pastor is known for his ability to transcend the borders of genre, using a unique blend of instrumental sounds and techno.

After studying at Versailles Conservatory, he played in a few bands before starting to produce his own music. In 2014, he joined Worakls and N’to to create the label Hungry Music, which enabled him the freedom to explore music production of a unique nature: powerful vocals, coloured beats and a tactful touch of guitar. Renowned for his live performances, his instrumental technique has piqued the interest of critics and fans alike.

We had a chat to him about his songwriting process, and his status as a self-confessed “analog geek.”

Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?
I’m doing great, a bit exhausted as I’ve started the construction of my new studio. I’m doing it as an extension of the house and I do everything on my own. I’m recording it – time lapse mode – as I go.

To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
My sound is music that is danceable, with a lot of melodies (techno for the electronic dancey part, melodic for the emotional one).

What are the 5 albums that have influenced you the most?
Daft punk – Discovery
All Queen
Sonata arctica (their first 3 albums)
Stephan Bodzin & Marc Romboy – 6 monde
Royksopp – Junior

Which other artists are you into at the moment and why?
At the moment I listen to a lot of 2pac, mostly I like the atmosphere, and also some classical music in the car.

Are there any key pieces of equipment that you are using to define your sound?
I think the color of the sound is given mostly by the way the elements are mixed together, and the choices of sounds. The equipment such as analog gear will only give a final polish to a track, and fix problems that the computer cannot tackle, but I wouldn’t say it “defines” my sound (although I am an analog gear geek).

What would you say some of the challenges artists face today in the music industry?
The big challenge of today is getting your music out there, and grab people’s attention, and finally keep that attention.

Where do you gather songwriting inspiration?
At the moment i really like to think of something (an idea, a painting, a scene, etc…) and try to match the music to what I feel. Like a painter would paint something, bending what he sees with his art, i try to do the same for music.

Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting your music together?
For the inspiration part, there is no rule, it’s always a different story, but for the technical part:
– when inspired, I do as much “creating” as I can.
– then I do the arranging
– then I do a mix in the computer as good as I can do it.
– then I go from that mix, and polish it as much as I can with my analog gear.
– then I do the mastering

What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
Any gigs where the sound is good, the crowd is happy and reacting, and the logistic is well oiled is the best gig for me.

And the worst?
Man, I really can’t remember.

If you weren’t a musician what would you be?
An engineer for sure (actually I am haha!)

Do you have any particular gigs or festivals that you dream about playing?
It would be cool to go to Ibiza to do a Hungry Music label night.

If you could perform alongside any other band or artist, living or dead, who would it be?
Royksopp, Tony Kakko, Freddy Mercury and Daft Punk of course.

Do you have any information regarding upcoming releases, projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
My new release on Hungry Music, called ‘Promesse’, has just came out. For gigs, there is a lot of exciting things happening, I think people should come and check the calendar on my page!