The Echo Collective has become a part of the band over these last years of collaboration. From working together, to recording and performing, we have developed a deep mutual respect and a common musical language. There is no doubt our audience feels that connection. (Dustin O’halloran, A Winged Victory for the Sullen)
They are a collective of classically trained and professionally active musicians based in Brussels Belgium. In addition to their own projects, they collaborate with modern composers and bands on concerts, tours, film scores, recording sessions, and new projects.
Past and ongoing collaborations include A Winged Victory for the Sullen, Stars of the Lid, Erasure, Johann Johannsson, Daniel O’Sullivan, Adam Wiltzie, Dustin O’Halloran, and Christina Vantzou. Echo Collective is releasing his first album “Echo Collective Plays Amnesiac (By Radiohead)” on March 30 on 7k!
FACTS:
1. Americans perfected junk food
2. Belgians make the best beer
3. Echo Collective was founded by Neil Leiter and Margaret Hermant
QUESTIONS:
1 : What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
Our biggest musical inspiration is the people that we collaborate with musically in the studio and on stage. People like Adam BW, Dustin O’Halloran, and the late Johann Johannsson have really inspired us and pushed our music forward.
2. How and when did you get into making music?
Individually we are all originally from a traditional classical education and professional background.
Echo Collective really emerged as a group out of our collaboration with A Winged Victory for the Sullen. That has led to other projects, a residency at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels focused on our rework of Amnesiac, and now to our record release with 7K on March 30.
When you spend time creating with inspiring people and music, it really pushes you to continue and add your own voice. Through our collaborations, we have found a mutual affinity for this new genre of music, and Echo Collective is a platform for us to explore this new path in our career.
3. What are 5 of your favourite albums of all time?
Waww, only 5 !
Off the cuff, here are five, but if you asked tommorow they would be different.
Salero, Adam BW
Journey in Satchidananda ( featuring Pharoah Sanders), Alice Coltrane
Drukqs, Aphex Twin
Sleep, Max Richter
Atomos, A Winged Victory for the Sullen
4. What do you associate with Berlin?
A city run by artists. Life with no filter, space, special light. Berlin Philharmonic. Our musical family and friends.
And the Buritos, we don’t have good ones in Brussels !
5. What’s your favourite place in your town?
The Cobra, for a good drink or whiskey in the Brussels center and Brusilia Tavern in Schaerbeek for a late night hang/meal after those 18 hour days in the studio.
6. If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
…silence…
7. What was the last record/music you bought?
Belcea Quartet, Shostikovich : String Quartet n. 3 and Piano Quintet
8. Who would you most like to collaborate with?
Bjork, Mica levi, Johnny Greenwood, for their music and their creative process.
9. What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
Playing BBC Proms with ‘A Winged Victory for the Sullen’ was an incredible experience. Royal Albert Hall is daunting and uplifting at the same time. And the stars where in sync. Everybody’s energy lined up, and it was a truly shared emotional experience. Special night.
10. How important is technology to your creative process?
Our basic tools are our accoustic instruments. So technology plays a small coloring role in amplifying our intentions. In other ways, it is an accelerator in our creative process. Though we try slow down and work through real experiences as much as possible.
11. Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career/art?
So on behalf of the aproximately 31.5 sibling of Echo…
To Listen: https://7K.lnk.to/PlaysAmnesiac
