Glimpses of the South Florida Scene: The Get

Magic!

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New Times: When we first heard about you, you were DJing at Sumsun shows, but you're also a musician. Tell us about how you started DJ'ing, doing remixes, and eventually making your own tracks.

Edwin Jantunen: I have been playing in some band or another ever since I bought a bass guitar in the eighth grade. I met Judson [Rogers, of Sumsun] in high school, and we ended up recording a few things. By this time, I had started making my own tracks because I just couldn't find any friends that were as into post-rock as I was. I was very big into Constellation records and Sigur Ros, Mogwai, etc., at the time and loved the whole concept of dynamics within instrumental music. I started DJ'ing later on because I thought it'd be fun. It was a new way to express myself, and it also gave me an excuse to buy a PA and some live performance gear. My approach was definitely not the traditional one at the time, but it was the cheapest. I don't use turntables simply because I was broke, so now I do everything internally with Traktor.

I did some house parties and a couple of mobile gigs -- kids' parties -- to pay off my equipment. Mobile gigs suck, by the way. After that, I started remixing a lot more, just because it's a crucial part of music culture. Eventually I started playing at more legitimate venues, though always as a DJ and never as an original artist. (I really have to thank all the DJs at Respectable Street, especially J.J.) My music is so eclectic and varied stylistically that I've never been able to make a cohesive live set that truly captures my vision. I'm a real perfectionist when it comes to this.

Wait, why do mobile gigs suck?

I had to deal with parents who thought they knew everything about everything and still tried to stiff me at the end of the night. That, coupled with spoiled little kids asking for Soulja Boy and Lady Gaga -- plus stupid party games -- equaled me out of the equation as soon as I paid off my gear.

You've already mentioned how you met Judson, but how did you get involved with Sumsun, performing live with him? What are you bringing to the act?

The first incarnation of the current Sumsun was in December '09 at a Dewars' house show. We played a one-time show as the Real Sun, doing an early version of "Ants" and a couple of other Samo songs. It was a really relaxed thing with our samplers all chained up, sitting on the floor across from each other. It was funny that we found ourselves back there a year later playing some of the same songs with the same gear. I ended up in Sumsun because Judson had been looking to expand the sound and live dynamic for a while. As far as what I do live, I'm basically handling a majority of the drums and bass as well as mixer and line effects. This frees Judson up to really nail the guitar parts and add further texture and tones with his samplers on top of the core that he already has. Structure-wise, we are very loose, and it's different every time we play, so we just cue each other on what we want to happen next.

Your own music has a wide range -- it's dubstep-y, house-y. I know you're into Sigur Ros and Mogwai. What are your other influences that have contributed to your own sound-making?

As far as my influences go, it's a very difficult sound to nail down. Post-rock, especially Lift Your Skinny Fists by Godspeed You Black Emperor! was a huge influence in my early attempts at songwriting. Later on, going to UMF and learning about minimal techno and techno in general really made me fall in love with dance music. Going to Philadelphia in '09 also taught me a lot. I've ended up DJ'ing quite a bit up there during the last two years, but it's more guerrilla stuff -- basements and rooftops. More recently, it's been my friends and all the local bands/DJs and other, lesser-known bands that I've met. It's not always so much the sounds they make but the attitude and personalities they have. I've really expanded my idea of what's possible as a musician over the last year because of all the musicians I've met.

How do your songs come about; what's that process like? For example, that song "Mawf" is feel-good and pretty. Do you know what you want the song to sound like before you record?

My songs come about from everyday incidents -- a slip of the tongue or a friendly smile. Pinning down that which moves me is a feat that still eludes. A strong feeling will overtake me, and then I will be compelled to translate that feeling the best I can through music. I start with this feeling, and it evolves as I carve away at the timbres and textures. I may have some kind of idea of where I am going when I start a song, but I let each piece take itself to where it wants to be, which may explain why I have such a wide variety of music. I am very much at the whims of the everyday occurrence, and anything can create an emotion that sends me on some tangent which I may work out one way or another. I am still waiting for that inspirational moment that will drive an LP's worth of music that I truly believe in.

I know you've been working on tracks and that you hope to eventually put them on an LP. Do you think an EP could be in the works first?

The only thing that will determine whether or not I put out an EP versus an LP will be the amount of content that comes out of the fountainhead. It's definitely possible.

Let's switch gears a little -- tell me about Lush Haus. How'd you get started on that project?

Judson approached me and P.J. (Secret Hideout) around mid-November about starting a monthly. We settled on the name and the idea that we all really wanted a way to showcase sounds and styles that aren't necessarily represented in the local scene. Whenever I'm DJ'ing somewhere else, I try my best to play to the crowd and their expectations in a way that supports the other acts. This doesn't always mean I can really play what I'm into at that moment. Now I have a space to let down my hair, have a great time, and hopefully turn on people to some really new and interesting sounds. I really love what everyone is doing here in the 561, so contributing to the melting pot in this fashion seems logical. I'd love to see the music scene keep growing and become ever more vibrant and resilient. After a better-than-expected first show, I'm hoping the ball keeps rolling and that people can find an experience in it worthwhile enough to share with others.

Any upcoming live dates you can let us know about?

I have never played a live show, and I don't have plans to yet, although I feel myself getting closer and closer to it. Maybe it'll happen at a Lush Haus sometime.

Check out the Get on SoundCloud and Facebook.  Download his Lush Haus mix here.