Prophet: What’s your name and what do you do?

SS: My name’s Swami Sound—I’m a DJ and record producer.

Prophet: Where are you based? What’s your heritage?
SS: I’m an African-American artist born, raised, and based in New York City.

Prophet: How does being based in New York City shape your sound and creativity?
SS: Being a homegrown artist here feels paradoxical. I see creativity through a lens of realism. Many people migrate here to manifest their creative goals, but I didn’t. There’s a lot to love about this place, yet much to hate. Daily, I feel like I’m on the edge of something, while also feeling like I’m never really on the edge of anything. Even though I choose to stay, I create as if there were no other options.

Prophet: Dance and electronic music transcend borders—how do you see the genre as a bridge between different cultures and communities?
SS: I like when music has a subset of fitting contexts. My favorite soundtrack is the Old School Runescape OST—a computer game soundtrack that also works great when you’re playing board games.

Prophet: NYC and London are hubs for innovation. Are there any cross-cultural collaborations or influences you’ve been particularly inspired by?
SS: Promises—the studio album by Floating Points, the London Symphony Orchestra, and Pharoah Sanders.

Prophet: What’s the key to connecting with audiences?
SS: If you look like you’re having fun, chances are you are.

Prophet: Can you tell us about a pivotal moment in your career that made you realize you were on the right path?
SS: I realized my camera roll and my bank account correlated.

Prophet: What’s your creative process like? Do you start with a mood, a sound, or something entirely different?
SS: I wait and listen. And when I understand what’s necessary, I’ll spend another couple of months or years deciding whether or not I want to reverse-engineer a concept.

Prophet: Which DJs, producers, or musicians have influenced you the most, and how do you incorporate those influences into your work?
SS: I’ve spent a lot of time de-influencing myself musically and have sought influence through people who do other things, especially multidisciplinary artists. I like Steve McQueen’s (the filmmaker) work a lot. I’ve been watching his available films online ever since I experienced his installation Bass at Dia Beacon. The first thing I saw of his was the Small Axe series—the Lover’s Rock episode really moved me. I didn’t realize he worked on that until I read the book on the Dia installation.

Prophet: With the Apple Keynote coming up on January 31st, can you give us a teaser about what to expect? How does it feel to bring your artistry to such a global stage?
SS: This is the story all about what it looks like to commit to your craft, and how you can do it too.
How does it feel? It’s about damn time.

Prophet: The electronic music scene is always evolving. Where do you see it going, and what role do you want to play in its future?
SS: Dweller forever.

Prophet: What role does technology play in your music-making, and how has it helped you expand your reach globally?
SS: Two things:
One, give Twitter back to us, please.
Two, all this tech I want is burning a hole in my pocket.

Prophet: Are there any UK-based artists or venues you admire and dream of working with/in?
SS:Yaw Evans.. I’ve thought about emailing him to talk to him about gear.

Prophet: What advice would you give to young creatives looking to carve out their own niche in music?
SS: If you look like you’re having fun, chances are you are.

Prophet: If you could ask another creative a question, what would you ask them?
SS: I would ask  Boris Tellegen how to take the leap from one medium to another.