Formula Indie Sessions _ Interview with Rem Siman

What is your earliest memory connected to music?  

Listening to CDs my parents used to play around the house. I’d dance around while they  had friends over, and there’s actually a video my dad secretly filmed of me jumping up  and down on my bed to Blue by Eiffel 65. I must have had that song on repeat for a long  time when I was really young. I also remember loving school discos from a very early  age, so music and dancing were always a big part of my childhood. 

How did your passion for creating music begin?  

I always had an interest in music, even in primary school. I played keyboard and took  lessons around Year 4, then in high school I played saxophone in the school band for  three years. Around Year 11, I became really curious about electronic music, and a  friend helped me get started with Fruity Loops. As soon as I began messing around with  sounds and making little ideas, I couldn’t stop. 

What’s the story behind your current music project?  

I used to release music under the alias Prem Ess, but in 2020 I decided to start the Rem  Siman project. I felt like the music I was making had become much more personal and  more connected to who I really am, so it made sense to link it to my actual name. Rem  Siman comes from my full name, Remo Simankevicius. 

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music  before?  

A mix of Indie Dance, Progressive House, and Melodic House/Techno. It’s club focused  music with emotion, groove and energy. Sometimes it pulls you into the melodies,  sometimes it makes you move, and other times it hits with heavy bass and drums. I like  making music that feels good on a dancefloor but still has a sense of depth with  melodies that make you feel something 

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music?  Making the switch from Fruity loops to Ableton, has helped me enormously. The  

workflow you get with Ableton compared to FL, in my opinion, is an insane difference. 

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process?  I now have Neumann studio monitors which are really awesome, I have upgraded speakers  

installed in my car which helps a lot for listening back and making adjustments. I love Serum  2 and Analog lab V for my synth sounds. 

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now?  

Tom Zeta, Carl Bee and Andrew Meller, that sort of indie dance/melodic club sound is  what im loving atm. 

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision?  My family has had a big influence on me. My dad and brothers are very musical and  

artistic, and my mum is an astrologer, so I grew up around a lot of creativity. They’ve 

always been supportive of me, and I think coming from a family like that gives you  confidence to pursue something creative like music. 

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work?  Ultimately, I’d love listeners to feel a sense of euphoria, or even just simply want to dance. If  

the music can make someone feel something, move, or get lost in the moment, then I feel  like it’s doing its job. 

 What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far?  

Everyone can connect through music, it doesnt matter where you come from or what you do,  everyone is equal on the dancefloor, and everyone can speak the same language through  music. 

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?  

Playing at Strawberry Fields festival in my home state of Victoria would be up there with  my dream gigs, playing at Stereo Montreal or Space Miami would also be amazing.  

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?  Gorillaz. I’ve loved them for most of my life, I love their unique style and sound, and I  

think we could make an insane track with their vocals if we ever collaborated. 

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website,Spotify, IG, links)  https://www.instagram.com/remsiman/ 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3K5jT9UfVwf4eIGfxsz8hx?si=X1ZywvYASGaE9UCiLhmLhw https://soundcloud.com/remsiman? 

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Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical  journey?  

Would love to start touring and playing overseas shows more consistently! Making a full  time wage doing what I love here is the goal 🙂  

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way?  

I hope people discover that I’m a kind, positive and hard working person who genuinely  loves creating dance music.