Anything to help me sleep. I first started listening to ambient music in order to better close my eyes. I would throw on instrumental playlists first to dream, then eventually they turned into backdrops for reading, for writing, for browsing the web until my eyes bled. Ambient music started as a small bit of my life and continues to blossom into something more profound each and every year. One of the finest suppliers of ambient music is the Russia-based label Ambient Musical Genre (AMG). I spoke with the founder via e-mail about relaxed music, influences, upcoming plans, and about what the music scene is like in Russia.
Just to get started, how has 2017 been treating you?
The year began very positively. It is very pleasing that every day there are more and more fans of this direction of music.
For those unfamiliar, how would you describe your label/collective?
Our channel / label is music for those who want to relax. Turn on music early in the morning for inspiration, have fun during the day and fall asleep under Ambient in the evening.
From playlists to mixes to proper albums, are you constantly seeking new music?
Yes, every day I try to find new music. Previously it was more difficult because I had to search for more music myself for a longer time, now when the channel becomes more massive, people themselves send music for listening.
How long has AMG been around?
Starting from 2013, March 9. The video upload format is daily.
What's the rest of the year looking like for you? Any upcoming releases?
I will continue in the same spirit. Every day a lot of suggestions come. Usually releases on the label occur with artists with whom we support cooperation. Releases will certainly be. By the way recently released a stunning album from artist Cash.
What's the music scene like in your city in Russia?
The statistics show that mainly listeners are people from the USA and Europe. In Russia, ambient is not popular, as in the rest of the world I think. Although this style has appeared decently for a long time, but it is considered an underground. For real connoisseurs.
Any particular producers/artists you've been really enjoying as of late?
There are a lot of such artists, I love all music that is published on the Ambient channel and I want to say thank you to all the artists who were uploaded on the channel. I can mention several names that influenced my mind on the whole life path in this genre: Stumbleine, Owsey, Chasing Dreams (Need a Name), We Are All Astronauts, Hiatus, Lights & Motion, Braak, Sorrow, Asa, Tom Day, Manners, Olafur Arnalds, Rhian Sheehan, Nils Frahm and Delectatio.
Does AMG only listen to relaxing/soothing ambient music, or do you also secretly listen to turn up rap and EDM?
Yes, besides Ambient I listen to EDM and I work in this direction too. I have a EDM project that I started last year, it's called Heartbeats.
Do you have any advice for labels/collectives trying to gain attention and grow?
I started to do this when there were not so many musical channels. Now this niche is very busy and it's already hard to do something.
From myself, I can advise a couple of things, this daily addition of music to the channel and make more mixes, the mixes are very popular now and they are very well advertised inside the system.
Any final words/thoughts/shout-outs?
I've always loved to share music, make selections on the social network, tried to mix, I loved it very much. I'll say such a thing. Love your hobby, it can turn into something more and become the meaning of your life.
Love music and always listen to music!
More Interviews
