MUSIC p 30 | 8 DAYS p 32 | ARTS p 33
The Freedom of EDM C by LaTonya Miller
August 27 - September 2, 2014 • jfp.ms
COURTESY ARCHNEMESI
harleston, S.C., musician Curt Heiny performs mance always includes an awesome light show, his music is it,” Heiny says. “My friend Andrew Smith, who’s been with about 150 shows per year as Archnemesis, and he guaranteed to make you move, and—his most exceptional me for about three years, is my permanent light designer plans to unleash a full sensory attack on Jackson at trait—he advocates a drug-free EDM environment. (and) production manager.” Smith built the lighting rig to Martin’s Aug. 29. The electronic-dance music artist As Archnemesis, Heiny feels the pulse of the EDM his own specifications so that Heiny would have a completewith a sound described as “electro hip-hop soul” says early community, and sees its best and worst sides. “There’s just ly original light show for his performances. exposure to a mix of genres led to his EDM creations. so much rampant drug use, so I’m trying to use music and Archnemesis may be tackling club scenes now, but Classically trained on the cello since childhood, create an environment where people don’t feel as though he’s already set his eyes on the next conquest: Hollywood. Heiny spent his teenage years listening to punk, metal and rock before becoming passionate about jazz in college at the University of North Carolina, where he studied music theory and composition from 2006 to 2007. The 37-year-old multi-instrumentalist is equally comfortable playing clubs or symphony halls but feels most at home playing upright bass in jazz trios and quartets. “I play a lot of jazz when I’m not doing Archnemesis, so the jazz influence, I think, comes into the overall sound,” Heiny says. “As long as my fingers will allow me, I’ll always play jazz.” Archnemesis performs Demonstrating that his eclectic taste at 10 p.m. at Martin’s is still intact, Heiny says he would love to Restaurant and Bar work with Thom Yorke from Radiohead, (214 S. State St., Les Claypool from Primus, country artists 601-354-9712), like Zac Brown, pop artists like Katy Perry, Friday, Aug. 29. Visit and fellow EDM artist Avicii, who has also archnemesismusic.com dabbled in the country-laced EDM sound to download all of his Heiny wants to explore as Archnemesis. music for free. Heiny first cut his electronic chops with a band called Telepath before forming Archnemesis about five years ago with friend Justin Aubuchon, who left the duo in 2013 to focus on family. And then Archnemesis became a one-man show, but apparently that’s South Carolina electro artist Archnemesis is a full sensory performer with a penchant for powerhouse light shows. enough to command the growing throng of fans—the “Nemesis Army”—who flock to Archnemesis’ live shows. The transition to performing solo gave Heiny “the they have to come and eat a bunch of drugs to have a good Heiny’s music is featured in documentaries and indie films freedom to be able to do more live, to change directions time,” he says. “It should be about the music and being such as “Forever Brooklyn,” “Selfie” and “The Drop: The if I want to as opposed to having two people and trying to able to feel welcomed in an environment where everybody’s EDM Cultural Explosion,” which explores the growth of coordinate what we are going to do (and play),” he says. there for the music.” the electronic-music scene. Archnemesis is amassing a nationwide following for The music and the lights, that is. “With electronic muHeiny is currently working on new Archnemesis maseveral reasons. He has a sweet afro, his music is free (“Al- sic, having lights behind you, especially if you have a good terial for his first solo release, which fans may be able to 29 ways has been, always will be,” Heiny says), his perfor- light guy, accentuates the songs, and that’s the point behind download as early as next spring.