Julia Govor is an established composer and music producer, renowned for her futuristic and cinematic production. Russian born and now New York-based, Julia started as a singer in a military band back at home and ended up djing with the legendary Jeff Mills. Her productions lean towards the sophisticated side of techno, whilst keeping it dry, detail-loaded and diverse. As well as heading her very own JUJUKA record label, you can find her on various collaborations with the likes of Jeroen Search on Pushmaster Discs, with Barbara Ford on Anagram vinyl-only able and on Nina Kraviz’s esteemed Trip label.
For her most recent release, Julia has dropped a four-track killer EP named “Winter Mute”, out on her very own JUJUKA label. The inspiration for writing the record came after reading Neuromancer, a seminal science fiction novel by American-Canadian writer William Gibson. In total isolation in NYC, the book revealed the producer’s vision of a new world. Frequently taking inspiration from Andrei Tarkovsky’s cinematography, Julia find a place for his art in every release, and this record is no different.
How are you? And what have you been getting up to recently?
I just came from EMIT’s studio. EMIT is a Brooklyn-based music composer and sound artist who releases music under several different projects and who is part of my label’s family. We just selected 4 tracks for his new solo EP on JUJUKA and we were brainstorming some ideas for merchandising as well. He has fantastic experience with graphic art involving back in the 90s and I was considering how to incorporate those skills into a new campaign for his solo release.
From an artist’s point of view, how have you found lockdown and what keeps you motivated whilst producing?
Motivation is overrated! If I don’t do something, no one will do it for me. This is the ethic with which I grew up in USSR. Crises are key part of my journey and adventure. Creating work is big part of my life, it’s not a hobby or place of escape. It isn’t a side project or part time endeavor – it is a full time position. Doing “nothing” is actually incredibly difficult for someone with my highly active state of mind. I don’t need motivation to do things, there is always so much to be done, to be honest. I find that when used as an excuse, “I don’t have motivation” means you are doing things not because you know what you would like to be doing, but rather you are doing things because you want to escape from the real you.
Based in New York, how has the city influenced your overall sound and much of an impact does the city have in the contemporary electronic music scene?
It has influenced me big time! You could stop at the Lot radio on any sunny day and experience that beautiful mix of dj sets mixture of every style and moods. You can jump on the bike and go see some art at Moma or private galleries. Or you can sit at Caffe Select in Soho and watch skaters falling around on sections of Lafayette street that has been closed off from traffic. The city gives you that endless creative energy, with endless outlets to connect with artists who provide different experiences in various media. We ( Kamran Sadeghi and myself) are creating something at the moment where artists with phenomenal ideas and practices can express themselves. We will curate series of events at Fridman gallery, which will be officially announced in a few weeks actually. So exciting. We always wanted to curate project like that and now is perfect time. New York without tourists and rich kids is great place for art to become more experimental, take more risks, and thrive. Here is the best place to be at the moment. We are slowly reopening.
Your new “Winter Mute” EP is an excellent listen, how would you describe the record and where did the inspiration for the record come from?
The inspiration for writing the record came after reading Neuromancer, a seminal science fiction novel by American-Canadian writer William Gibson. One of JUJUKA music artists Yahoo Yahoo Training School aka LØT.TE recommend to me. In total isolation in NYC, the book revealed my vision of a new world. Each page helped to manifest all the kaleidoscopic events that I was deprived of due to the global pandemic. Andrei Tarkovsky cinematography is a frequent voice which inspires my music. I find a place for his art in every release. This time in the composition “Awake“ – I took the main idea from his iconic scene “The Kiss” featured in the war drama “Ivan’s Childhood“.
What was the creative and production process behind the record?
All tracks were writing and produced in 2019-20 on my Danish sofa, with computer, LIVE and Apogee. I have great studio and lots of gear but I felt like my sofa had that magic power: some artists have magic carpets – I have magic sofa. Only Drama C track was written in 2015, it was released on the vinyl-only label Akkult from Budapest ( 300 copies only) and unfortunately the labels no longer. I decided to include that track to digital release on Bandcamp to give my loyal followers access to something that they truly deserved.
If you had to pick a favourite track from the EP, which one would it be and why?
Drama C – it has my signature style since I began writing music: crisp, pure melancholia shifting towards cosmic radiance.
If you had to pick a favourite track from the EP, which one would it be and why?
I think “Say Word”, I like the way the vocal was disassembled and used in ever-changing combinations, it was something I had never tried before.
Released on your very own imprint JUJUKA, can you tell us more about the label and what directions you hope to take it in?
I am a future-oriented person by nature. This also applies to music that I believe in and invest my time in. So the main idea is to give the artists on my label the opportunity to go beyond their current abilities and not be afraid to experiment. I’m not releasing tracks, I’m nurturing artists who are ahead of their time!
“Winter Mute” is out now on JUJUKA and is available to listen and buy on Bandcamp.
Tracklist:
1. Winter Mute
2. Drama C
3. Awake
4. Icebreaker
