Doha-based DJ and producer has announced his next album, ‘Familiar Faces,’ and released its first single, ‘Got A Feeling,’ via Monstercat SILK. His last release came in March, a collaboration with Robby East called ‘Marula,’ released via This Never Happened. The Qatari is now back with more, and he does not disappoint.
‘Got A Feeling’ is the perfect track for both summer adventures and relaxation. The mix of electronic and acoustic percussion provides a modern feel while remaining grounded to more natural and acoustic sounds. We had the opportunity to chat with A.M.R about “Got A Feeling” and his upcoming album, Familiar Faces.
Interview with A.M.R
We had the opportunity to talk to A.M.R about his upcoming album and all things A.M.R! He told us that Familiar Faces started by thinking about “what is” versus the “what ifs” in life, so we thought we’d start the interview there!
Where did the inspiration for Familiar Faces come from? What made you think about the “what ifs” versus the “what is” originally?
A big part of the inspiration behind this album came from the people who are closest to me. My wife, family and friends. Their constant support helped influence the creative directions I went with my music. ‘Familiar Faces’ is a reminder to reflect on the relationships that shape our lives and allows us to cherish those moments with them.
What made you want to release “Got A Feeling” as the first single from the album? Is it particularly special to you, or do you think it’s a particularly special track to launch summer with?
More because of it’s summery quality. My first single from my last album was “Sailor’s Cry” which had a very poignant theme that was bittersweet, and while it was a great track to start with at the time, I feel like it makes more sense to kick things off with a more upbeat and feel-good track this time around. This album will still have a bit of everything and will cycle through many emotions through each record, but I believe “Got A Feeling” is the perfect way to start that journey.
I know this isn’t about the album, but I’ve really loved listening to your collaboration with Robby East, “Marula.” How did that come about?
Sometime last year, Robby reached out to me on IG and after chatting for a bit, he floated the idea of working together on a track. I was already a fan of some of his past works on TNH, so I was immediately on board to team up on this project. He was working on several tracks at the time and shared 3-4 of those incomplete sketches, one of which was “Marula”. Although I liked many of the sketches he shared, I just felt most connected to “Marula” and it was an obvious choice for our collab together.
How do you start your production process for a track, whether it be for an album of your own or an individual single? Is this different when you work with collaborators?
Writing albums differ from singles in the fact that they allow more flexibility to experiment and try new things, but I typically start with a piano or a melodic element since they’re the core foundation I like to build on. I’ll then add more layers like drums, percussions, bass, pads etc… to fill in the gaps and have a strong enough loop that outlines the main chorus. This is normally when most producers move on to arrangement, however in my case, I usually end up leaving this idea and visiting it at a later stage. I find that it helps me disconnect from that original loop and return feeling that same inspiration I had when I first started the track.
In contrast to that, collaborations can start in numerous ways, but generally I’ll try to focus more on the arrangement when I know I’m working with a vocalist, I can then fill in the remaining gaps later. If I’m receiving the vocals first, then I would usually build all the music around that from the very beginning. Similarly when working with producers, depending on who initiated the idea first will influence how the production process starts.
What made you want to incorporate as many old-school elements as you did into Familiar Faces?
I’d say the track that screams ‘old-school’ the most is “Got A Feeling” because of things like the lofi vocal hook, bassline and overall mood which at times can be reminiscent of classic Deep House music. The direction for that track was influenced by a song from my last album called “In The Mornin’,” which has many familiar elements from that. On the other hand the remaining tracks on this album don’t necessarily follow the same style and are quite unique in their own ways.
Will you be touring your new album?
As much as I’d love to go on tour to promote the album, balancing it with my day job in venue management is a little challenging, but while it may not be possible right now, there are potentials to play a few select shows. I’m hoping to have the opportunity to play ADE this year, so hopefully once I get the green light on that I’ll definitely announce it on my socials.
We are thrilled that we got the opportunity to speak with A.M.R, and ‘Got A Feeling’ is absolutely a track we’ll have on repeat for our summer travels. In the meantime, you can check out some of his other music and stay tuned for more!
