ESCORT
This unique ensemble ESCORT will take the stage Sunday August 21st at the event of the summer, Full Moon Festival. Governors Island will host this epic event with a line-up so delicious, festival-goers won’t even know where to begin. Yet, we do and that’s with ESCORT. I had a chance to chat with these talented (+ funny artists) before the weekend goes into full swing. Check out our conversation and go buy your tickets to see ESCORT LIVE at Full Moon!
EC - Eugene Cho (Founder, keys)
AM - Adeline Michèle (Singer)
DS - Dave Sharma (Percussion)
Mm - Melissa Mushaka (Interviewer)
Mm: I love that you are friends who met at Vassar and “wanted to make records in the spirit of the old ones you were sampling” When did you realize within that, that this is also a career path you both wanted to whole-heartedly pursue?
EC: My co-founder Dan and I were really frustrated with having to dig so hard for any new or new-old records that worked within our DJ vibe. After Dan finally convinced me that we actually could record and mix drums that would actually hit on a club system, we realized that we were onto something. Although as far as a career goes! Dan recently had to jump ship for the much more admirable goal of doing right for his family by concentrating on what is an impressive career completely outside of Disco!
Mm: How do you execute a unified vision with multiple artist in the equation?
AM: There are 4 people involved in the creative process. It’s important to listen to each other and give everyone’s ideas a chance. Strong ideas are always obvious to everyone involved.
DS: It’s unifed from the start, usually 1-3 people create a nexus of a song; the whole song gets written, then Eugene realizes he has 244 percussion tracks to mix for “Cabaret.” And he and Dave sit and drink various teas and sodas in the basement of seaside recording in order to get the bottles tuned.
EC: It certainly helps that we are running under the flag of disco. There are so many different sounds and influences, that everyone truly has a chance to shine. It’s the sound of NY, and as inhabitants of the city, its the soundtrack to our lives.
Mm: Full Moon Festival has an incredible line-up this summer including your unique group. What is the creative aim you are going for within your upcoming set?
AM: Our aim for this festival is the same as usual. We want to give people the best time possible.
EC: NYC has an incredibly rich history in the lineage and appreciation of dance music. We want to do what we can to keep our brand of funky dance music going strong. We hope that we can contribute to the force that has made NYC the best city in the world for house and disco for decades.
Mm: Your Facebook Prince Tribute was beautiful. Did that inspire the creative side of you to do a cover?
DS: We were all heartbroken, truly.
AM: We’re all huge fans and it was devastating news. That cover was part of an interview for NY12 the day after his death. It was an honor to be asked to talk about our idol. The reactions to this video was actually kind of a surprise. We would like to release a couple more of similar short videos covering his music maybe, but a recorded version of a Prince song seems like a mountain too high to climb. I think that would be a very challenging thing musically (because he was just untouchable), but also a sensitive one considering that he didn’t appreciate to see his material being used.
Mm: With that being said as well, who are some musical influences that inspire ESCORT as a unit?
EC: There are two songs that we eventually listen to on every tour. “I Can’t Go For That” and “Automatic”.
Mm: Seeing that “summer-sixteen” is winding down, where do you see the rest of this year heading creatively?
AM: New music for the fall!
DS: We’re looking for Canadian musician grants, in case president Trump becomes a thing.
Mm: What feel/ intention do you hope to leave the crowd with when you play on August 21st at this years Full Moon Festival?
EC: First kiss
AM: The best compliment I’ve received about our show is: “I feel like I just got out of a roller coaster”. If we can leave the crowd of Full Moon feeling just that, we’ll be extremely content.
DS: Complete positivity. Also, you can walk away from a dance music festival and think that the band, not a DJ, was the hottest part.
Keep up with Melissa Mushaka for more exclusively prime interviews.
Full Moon Fest is happening this coming weekend, August 20th and 21st on Governors Island in New York City! *TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE*
