Galcher Lustwerk and Alvin Aronson talk up Studio OST 'Eventide/Ascension' EP

The reunion of two of our favourite musicians was sure to strike a chord with us and it didn’t fail to impress. As Studio OST, White Material affiliates Galcher Lustwerk and Alvin Aronson have managed to combine each of their singular scopes in one, summoning faded memories and porcelain-fragile ambiences shining with a ghostly glow.

Ahead of the release of the pair’s forthcoming 4-track EP on Lustwerk Music, we caught up with Alvin and Galcher to discover more about their collaborative project and the makings of ‘Eventide/Ascension‘ EP. We are also delighted to premiere all four music videos for the release, which you can watch down below.

Interview by Tom Durston
Photography by Kim Nguyen

Studio-OST-BW

"OST stands for “Original Sound Track”
It’s as literal as it sounds.
Soundtrack of a studio session."

Hi guys, thanks for taking the time to answer my questions – happy to support this fine record! Can you tell us what you’ve been up to so far this year?

Galcher Lustwerk: Label logistics and DJing, I’m just trying to learn as much as possible and do things the way I wanna do.

Alvin Aronson: Recording, making edits, and some mix work for friends.

Please can you enlighten us to the coining of the name Studio OST? What does OST stand for?

GL: OST stands for “Original Sound Track” – it’s as literal as it sounds. Soundtrack of a studio session.

A shared passion for electronic music is a solid reason to start hanging out together, however what did you learn from each other in terms of exchanging music with one another over time?

AA: Galcher turned me on to Cleveland rap and a lot of anime over the years. With regards to DJing, I’ve learned it doesn’t matter what style of music you play so much, just take people on a good journey.

GL: Alvin’s introduced me to a lot of different techniques with regards to mixing tracks, sound design, as well as introducing me to more ambient stuff out there.

"The gear evolved each time we’d jam so I don’t remember exactly
what I was playing on any given track. I would bring one of
my Waldorf's over and let Alvin program it."

What musicians, producers and albums do you have a shared mutual admiration for?

GL: Japanese composers

AA: and John Beltran

In terms of working together in the studio on new music, who does what? Alvin on modular synths and Galcher on drums perhaps?

GL: The gear evolved each time we’d jam so I don’t remember exactly what I was playing on any given track. I would bring one of my Waldorf’s over and let Alvin program it. He had an 808 for a small period and I’d mess around with that…

AA: It’s pretty fluid, we always switch it up when it gets boring.

Galcher – your Road Hog project sees you explore more downtempo / ambient territories and less dance floor-aimed compositions – How do you feel your sound is progressing?

GL: I’ve done a Road Hog album every year for the past 3 years. There’s going to be another one this year, too. So if you listen to those you can track my most recent progress I guess. My sound is evolving like a Pokemon.

Studio-OST-Color-Haze

"I think in the end we all feel free to do
as we please for White Material releases.
They are very supportive – No A&R bullshit."

Alvin – Following your releases on White Material and NORD, what do you have lined up next?

AA: I’ve had a few projects brewing since those were released. Another 12” for White Material records is in the cards later this year. Some other things to follow as well… We’ll see what happens.

Your debut Studio OST album “Scenes 2012-2015” is an exceptional body of work that varies greatly to both of your releases on White Material, it’s more subtle and meditative. What do your White Material affiliates think of the album?

AA: Thank you, the LP came about intuitively, with no anticipation of it would be in the end. Once we realised we had enough tracks for a record, we came up with a name for the project. I think in the end we all feel free to do as we please for White Material releases. They are very supportive – no A&R bullshit.

GL: We’re all supportive of each other. As far as specific feedback, I don’t know what they think.

"The album was like a compilation and I see this EP
as like a supplement or secondary compilation."

Tell me about the making of you new “Eventide/Ascension” EP – are these tracks cuts from the album or are they entirely separate?

GL: The album was like a compilation and I see this EP as like a supplement or secondary compilation.

Did you work on the tracks together in the studio or was it case of using the Internet to exchange each others work?

GL: Everything started with working together in one room.

AA: We record the music live without much talking. Sometimes for hours without stopping the tape. Later on we decide what’s good, and there’s some editing & mixing that happens separately, but hanging out, working in the studio is what it’s about.

Personally the lead track is my favourite, it’s super deep yet the drums keep it alive. Why did you decide to include a beat less version on the EP?

GL: The drums make it work for DJs but I also think It sounds great without drums, too.

AA: There were a lot of interesting moments in that one without the drums.

GL: It’s a good ambient DJ tool, actually as well, like with some other drums behind it.

What’s lined up next for Studio OST and your solo efforts? – Live shows, tours, another record perhaps?

GL: The overall response to Studio OST has been pretty low key, I guess since it’s been more home listening material until this point. I’m looking forward to the reception of this EP, maybe some b2b DJ sets or more live jamming.

AA: Would be fun to do some live shows. As for releases we’ll continue to play it by ear.

‘Eventide/Ascension’ EP is scheduled for release 20th March 2017, order a copy from Bandcamp.