Økapi is Filippo Paolini, an Italian turntablist and sample cutup artist. Filippo has recorded several solo albums, as well as recording in the duo Metaxu and with the trio Dogon. He has performed live for national Italian State radio broadcasts (RAI) with renowned avant-turntablist, Christian Marclay and collaborates with numerous international artists such as Mike Cooper, Peter Brotzmann, Mike Patton, Matt Gustafson, Zu, Damo Suzuki, Andy EX, Kawabata Makoto, Metamkine…
ØKapi’s album releases illustrate his unique and edgy use of turntables and computer beyond the hip-hop school of chopped up music, creating music that veers from orchestral to lounge with quirky experimental electronics that maintain a delicate and spacious sound throughout.
His amazing skills at sample mixing are simply outstanding and during Okapi live sets he mixes: techno/broken beat/electro-/8-bit with melodies from Klezmer, polka, children’s music, idiot pop and hawaiian classics to name but a few…..
Økapi shop/download:
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The Økapi is a mammal which was only discovered in 1901 by an acousmatic engineer. It lives wild in the forest of the Itur Region in Upper Zaire. It was named the Okapia Johnstoni and it also commonly known as the “Daft Giraffe of the Forest”. One of its strangest characteristics is that it is the only known mammal to wash out its own ears with its tongue: just to catch the weird melodies of nature! He adores those ferocious and vindictive chants that make him sway like … and he fights relentlessly for the domination and hegemony of incorrect and unlistenable music. He hates talking about music and certain music purists of the Forest are definitely not his friends! In recent years he has played for Dogon tribal rituals and for those more intimate Metaxu deliriums, but he is considered a solitary mammal and consequently has only published one anthem to protophony for a small label of the American prairies.
What is your inspiration? What music do you listen to/are you influenced by?
My personal musical journey is rather kaleidoscopic, I have always listened to very different things, as a musician I’m coming from rather radical sounds (electronic or not) and maybe less from dance music. I’m generally drawn to and influenced by anything I feel deeply unusual and bizzare.
What are you bringing to Bohemia? Have you ever been here?
Yes, I have already come to Bohemia often, always attracted by its sweet and charming nature and perhaps by something melancholy.
How do you see the Czech psychedelic/psytrance scene compared to others?
Sorry, I trust you that maybe I’m not the right person to ask this, I’m not very informed, for sure for distraction and not for snobbery… I promise that i will work to improve.
Your favourite festival? What was your best gig ever?
The most beautiful festival I attended is definitely the Fusion Festival, in northern Germany. It’s pretty indescribable but it’s certainly a completely insane event.Instead I have perhaps seen too many concerts to remember one as the best, maybe “Rip Rig + Panic” in the 80’s.
How did you come to your artist/stage name?
Økapi was the nickname that I used on BBSs in the 90’s before internet explosion. The okapi as animal is kind of a patchwork of different animals and I think it fits perfectly with what I do musically.
Your favourite synthesizers? Can you briefly describe how you produce your music? Do you master it by yourself?
I don’t and probably never will use a synth. I’m a cut-up artist and I only work with samples. I just copy/paste. I’ll tell you more…I’ve never generated a single sound in my life!!
What is your relationship to the fire?
I’m both fascinated and fearfulled, astrologically I’m an air sign, therefore dangerously palatable for fire!
What do you consider to be the greatest success of yours?
I am so proud to have slowly turned 57 and doing exactly what I want with my life!!
What did the psytrance/psychedelic culture give you?
It gave me the opportunity to abandon my cynical metropolitan certainties and approach people benevolently…
What do you do to have some fun/how do you relax?
Driving listening to music on secondary roads, a real passion. Ah! and my dog…
How do you imagine a perfect Saturday morning at the festival?
I do not hide from you that sometimes I would like to listen to a concert played and not necessarily electronic (especially on Saturday morning at a festival) but not because I’m old school, but simply to clear my ears and my mind.
Beer or wine?
I live in Italy and I’m of French origin, so absolutely…wine (with good cheese)!! ;)
Økapi is Filippo Paolini, an Italian turntablist and sample cutup artist. Filippo has recorded several solo albums, as well as recording in the duo Metaxu and with the trio Dogon. He has performed live for national Italian State radio broadcasts (RAI) with renowned avant-turntablist, Christian Marclay and collaborates with numerous international artists such as Mike Cooper, Peter Brotzmann, Mike Patton, Matt Gustafson, Zu, Damo Suzuki, Andy EX, Kawabata Makoto, Metamkine…
ØKapi’s album releases illustrate his unique and edgy use of turntables and computer beyond the hip-hop school of chopped up music, creating music that veers from orchestral to lounge with quirky experimental electronics that maintain a delicate and spacious sound throughout.
His amazing skills at sample mixing are simply outstanding and during Okapi live sets he mixes: techno/broken beat/electro-/8-bit with melodies from Klezmer, polka, children’s music, idiot pop and hawaiian classics to name but a few…..
Økapi shop/download:
—————————————-
The Økapi is a mammal which was only discovered in 1901 by an acousmatic engineer. It lives wild in the forest of the Itur Region in Upper Zaire. It was named the Okapia Johnstoni and it also commonly known as the “Daft Giraffe of the Forest”. One of its strangest characteristics is that it is the only known mammal to wash out its own ears with its tongue: just to catch the weird melodies of nature! He adores those ferocious and vindictive chants that make him sway like … and he fights relentlessly for the domination and hegemony of incorrect and unlistenable music. He hates talking about music and certain music purists of the Forest are definitely not his friends! In recent years he has played for Dogon tribal rituals and for those more intimate Metaxu deliriums, but he is considered a solitary mammal and consequently has only published one anthem to protophony for a small label of the American prairies.
What is your inspiration? What music do you listen to/are you influenced by?
My personal musical journey is rather kaleidoscopic, I have always listened to very different things, as a musician I’m coming from rather radical sounds (electronic or not) and maybe less from dance music. I’m generally drawn to and influenced by anything I feel deeply unusual and bizzare.
What are you bringing to Bohemia? Have you ever been here?
Yes, I have already come to Bohemia often, always attracted by its sweet and charming nature and perhaps by something melancholy.
How do you see the Czech psychedelic/psytrance scene compared to others?
Sorry, I trust you that maybe I’m not the right person to ask this, I’m not very informed, for sure for distraction and not for snobbery… I promise that i will work to improve.
Your favourite festival? What was your best gig ever?
The most beautiful festival I attended is definitely the Fusion Festival, in northern Germany. It’s pretty indescribable but it’s certainly a completely insane event.Instead I have perhaps seen too many concerts to remember one as the best, maybe “Rip Rig + Panic” in the 80’s.
How did you come to your artist/stage name?
Økapi was the nickname that I used on BBSs in the 90’s before internet explosion. The okapi as animal is kind of a patchwork of different animals and I think it fits perfectly with what I do musically.
Your favourite synthesizers? Can you briefly describe how you produce your music? Do you master it by yourself?
I don’t and probably never will use a synth. I’m a cut-up artist and I only work with samples. I just copy/paste. I’ll tell you more…I’ve never generated a single sound in my life!!
What is your relationship to the fire?
I’m both fascinated and fearfulled, astrologically I’m an air sign, therefore dangerously palatable for fire!
What do you consider to be the greatest success of yours?
I am so proud to have slowly turned 57 and doing exactly what I want with my life!!
What did the psytrance/psychedelic culture give you?
It gave me the opportunity to abandon my cynical metropolitan certainties and approach people benevolently…
What do you do to have some fun/how do you relax?
Driving listening to music on secondary roads, a real passion. Ah! and my dog…
How do you imagine a perfect Saturday morning at the festival?
I do not hide from you that sometimes I would like to listen to a concert played and not necessarily electronic (especially on Saturday morning at a festival) but not because I’m old school, but simply to clear my ears and my mind.
Beer or wine?
I live in Italy and I’m of French origin, so absolutely…wine (with good cheese)!! ;)