Canadian electronic producer Mediator explores a familiar yet ethereal realm in his first official EP, the self-tiled “Mediator”, which consists of seven electronic tracks that span multiple subgenres from lo-fi to alternative EDM and synth wave.

Inspired by Puscifer, synth wave, and science fiction, Mediator creates an ethereal world with atmospheric soundscapes and groovy, complex rhythms that he hopes will transport listeners to their own sci-fi fantasies.

The electronic producer goes by the name Mediator, inspired by the producer’s personality type (INFP). Those with the Mediator personality type tend to be ‘open-minded, and imaginative, and they apply a caring and creative approach to everything they do’.

This couldn’t be more apt for the artist, who not only wrote and produced the album, but also engineered it – releasing a project that he has carefully and personally crafted from concept to release.

With a musical career that began as a five-year-old with a pair of drumsticks and led to the recent six-album acoustic release as Cooper Chasse, it seemed a natural progression for the artist to delve deeper into the source, creation and engineering of music.

‘The album Mediator has been arguably a couple of years in the making,’ Mediator says.

‘A couple of the songs were written a few years ago while in my process of learning electronic music, a genre that I barely listened to growing up.

"After a few years, and a lot of trial and error, the seven songs on this EP are a selection that I’m really proud of.

‘This album is particularly a test of my ability to engineer as well, and with every song that I’ve completed, I’ve learned something new about the whole process. I am still learning, and I hope I never stop learning.

‘There is something really special about creating something completely and entirely.’ Raised on rock and roll music and science fiction films, Mediator combines his two loves to create an atmospheric, groovy vibe.

‘The kind of music I really like to listen to is music that takes me out of this world, makes me feel like I’m in space and sort of just floating on a cloud,’ he says.

‘Or kind of like I’m in a 1980s science fiction film like Blade Runner. It takes me out of mundane reality and puts me into a sci-fi world and my aim is to make music that is listenable, not too experimental, while keeping elements of that type of stuff that I love doing.

‘That’s how I begin the writing process – ‘how can I make people feel like they’re floating around in space?

‘I involve a lot of rock elements to my music. I grew up on rock and roll, I grew up on metal. And I like to include a lot of rhythmic components – drumming is my native instrument, where I feel most comfortable, so I like to put a lot of percussive elements.

‘I feel like this peaks in the final track, Umbra, because Moon Mouse is a percussionist by nature as well, so the whole song is just a jam.’

As well as Moon Mouse, the EP also features collaborations with up-and-coming Canadian jazz and R&B artist, Tribbs (now known as Damesy).

A highlight of Mediator's debut release is his take on lo-fi, featuring Damesy, Galileo. ‘Galileo was the second track I asked Damesy to do. After Cyma, I felt like she needed a track that was more up her alley in terms of style. Something more R&B and chill, while still hitting the usual mark of atmosphere,’ Mediator says.

‘The whole process is sort of a surprise. I never know what I'll get when she sends me her vocal tracks and she never disappoints. I always feel like I'm laying under the stars and having an out of body experience, and Galileo is no exception. I know it has a tonne of potential when I can't get it out of my head.’

Keep an eye out for this up-and-coming producer, with more releases planned for 2021. In the meantime, enjoy “Mediator” below and connect with him on social media.

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