Arp Frique: 'I extensively studied the greats'

28 June 2018

00:00

By David Tindall

Photo: Arp Frique

Arp Frique and family

Arp Frique

Just prior to New Year's Eve, Arp Frique's Nos Magia single had me going a bit bananas on the dance floor. In a good way.

Americo Brito co-wrote and delivered the amazing vocals that make the song so memorable. Its B-side tracks were co-written by Afro-beat maestro - Orlando Julius, but I did not know that at the time of buying, such was the power of the A-side. It was unsurprisingly short listed for Track of the Year 2017 at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Awards. After I finally got round to appreciating all three tracks, I was eagerly awaiting the debut album.

That wait is now over and Welcome to the Colorful World of Arp Frique does not disappoint. Expanding the themes of collaboration with synth-infused disco, and including Nos Magia, the album is as fizzy as soda pop and as infectious as the classroom giggles. Ed Motta, famously the nephew of the legendary Tim Maia, really shines on a stand out track: Living in the Box. The album closer: African Love features flautist Ronald Snijders' skills to wondrous effect. Kid Creole aka August Darnell told the New York Times: "the beauty of music is its possibilities for mutation. And that mutation represents a larger ideal: global coexistence."

What sets Arp Frique apart is this very organic but fully realized melting pot of sound that gives seed to that very possibility. Thankfully, I secured a Trumpet Media Group exclusive interview with Niels Nieuborg who is otherwise known as Arp Frique to familiarise you further.

Photo: Arp Frique

Americo

How did the wonderful collaborations on Welcome to the Colorful World of... occur?

Well the music was there first, the vocals I added later. Most of the songs are based on a bassline or guitar rhythm, that's how I often build tracks. I just keep adding layers till I get the right feeling. It's a very visceral thing, I make these songs standing up, dancing even, instead of sitting behind a desk. Ronald Snijders is on 2 songs, he has been one of my best friends for the last 15 years and we worked on so much stuff over the years. For instance: "The Nelson & Djosa Sessions", an album we did together filled with his originals but in a new version with a host of guests such as Azymuth, Bassekou Kouyate, Ed Motta and many others. That's also where my friendship with Ed really started growing. We've known each other before but working on music together takes the connection to a whole different level. Another artist I started working within those sessions is Orlando Julius. We really hit it off and kept connected, beautiful guy this man! Americo Brito is a Cape Verdean singer living in Rotterdam, my original hometown. I started playing in Cape Verdean bands in Rotterdam decades ago, and always stayed in touch with the Cape Verdean scene even after I moved to Amsterdam. Americo is so important in the Rotterdam-Cape Verdean connection, very special man, who is also a regular member of the live band. Ronald joins us when he can, that's when we feel full circle, all together doing our thing live. Very exciting for Ronald and me because we have been working in the studio together all these years without performing together, it's a big cherry on our cake so to say.

Photo: Arp Frique

Ronald

Your music sounds so fresh and warm. How much does being a DJ influence it?

Well, it was partly being a DJ, partly listening to other DJs and listening to music in general. So obviously there are Cape Verdean influences in there from the 70s golden era, Nigerian funk and boogie influences, Brazilian 70s vibes; but the warmth comes from somewhere else in my musical journey: I extensively studied the greats when I was younger, I mean everybody from Bowie to Marley to Stevie to Sun Ra. I started with guitar when I was 15, but later on I started appreciating synths and keyboards more and more. Especially Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, George Duke, Chick Corea. Not just how the synths they used sounded, but also what they played and how they played it. I guess a lot of that stuff has influenced me heavily. I use analog synths only, no digital stuff. All playing, no midi allowed on my productions, I don't even know how to use it properly. Guitar-wise, I listened to every single note Hendrix ever released, all the P Funk guitar players (Eddie Hazel is my favorite), and tons of Nile Rodgers. Also a big part of my sound comes from the bass, and for that I go in so many directions: Bootsy Collins, Paul Jackson Jr., Wally Badarou, Kassav, Pastorius, Stevie Wonder on synthbass. I love to mess with the bass sound. On a track called African Love (last song on my album, original from Ronald Snijders - I covered) I tried to play the guitar arpeggio that was originally on Ronald's version and that is the bassline you hear, I love how it sounds nothing like a guitar but does fill up the space like an arpeggio on guitar would. I played it on an Arp PRO DGX, my favorite synthesizer I own.

A perfect live band, just how difficult is it to get all the players under one roof?

It's incredibly difficult, it's the main reason I only did studio stuff for 15 years. I did live shows before, it was just too hard on a low budget. But this music screams for a live band. I wanted people who could translate what I played myself in the studio the way I see it, as warm and fuzzy as it is on the record but with extra power. I often use Prince as a reference. He was so good at translating his silky studio stuff to bombastic live shows, that's a big inspiration for me. I give the band members a lot of freedom as long as they get the basics right. I selected them over the years, although most of the people that actually are in the band now came in last. The band called The Family consists of Djosa, my music buddy for the last 15 years, Erik Ritfeld, the hottest piano player I ever met from Surinam originally, 2 youngsters from Ghana both from a church background: Marissa Nyamekye on vocals (also on the album: Awa Dupe together with Orlando Julius) and Emmanuel Afriyie on drums, Gianna Tam (Surinam roots) on percussion and vocals (also on the album), Marilonah Copra from Curacao on bass who is only 18 years old, and Americo Brito on vocals.

Photo: Arp Frique

With Orlando Julius

I am guessing that the huger the band becomes, the more chance there is of all playing together. What are the next steps towards becoming huge?

This album is step one. It was created over the last 4 years, so now I am already making stuff for the next record. Also, I will be releasing more music by other artists over the coming years. And I have my own festival called FESTIVAL MAGIA on September 1st which is gonna be bananas.

I never rest or wait, I am always working on the next thing. Many surprises coming up and not just dance floor stuff. I will be working with Americo a lot more in the future and with other new guests. I won't be giving in to commercial temptations, I'm building this thing from the ground up and I love it when I can keep exploring new galaxies with this, regardless of commercial success. I will be diving deeper and deeper in the coming months and years, it will be a warm and at times, dark journey, always looking for new exciting music from my own mind and hands, the joy of creating is what pushes me forward. Not just music, art as well, videos I do myself, all the artwork, fashion. I very much like to stimulate ALL the senses, instead of just making the tracks. Sky is not the limit in this case, there's more beyond, and I stay connected to the universe for inspiration and stay grateful for all that is happening now. It's a new level of happiness I experience through all these positive reactions to my music and the shows we do. It's heart-warming and I am going to give that back to you all.

As a very part- time promoter who has tried and failed to put on a Manchester Arp Frique show, I will now have to content myself instead by watching the wonderful YouTube clips.

Before finishing, l have to commend him on last year's colossal Festival Magia line up which he did not do justice in his interview.

The aforementioned: Americo Brito, Ed Motta, and Ronald Snijders, all graced the stage of this free festival. Awesome Tapes From Africa who has done bucket-loads to promote West African music also performed as did one of its breakthrough acts DJ Katapila. The Ghanaian DJ made a splash last year with his fresh new work, the critically acclaimed Aroo EP. Co-founder of Red Light Radio, the revered Orpheu the Wizard who spins amazing music from all corners of the world, graced the very same stage. Also, amongst the many other acts, was Philou Louzolo, who performed a William Onyeabor tribute.

Rotterdam is very lucky and I cannot wait to see this year's line-up. If only to roll my eyes in envy. I really hope after reading this, those of you uninitiated in the colourful world of Arp Frique soon will be. We are truly blessed that people like him work tirelessly and joyously to make the world a brighter place.