Eden Burns: The Ransom Note Mix

This has been a busy year for a relatively new producer, Eden Burns. He first appeared on our radar with the release of a balearic come club crossover EP on Public Possession, the record label come shop come fashion parlour extravaganza. Since then he has been busy having been invited to remix music on Optimo and then in his return to Public Possession not once but twice with new music. 

Eden Burns has broad taste, this much is clear in his diverse approach to music and the elements by which he manipulates. You might be as likely to find yourself lost amidst a drawn out ambient saga as an oddball club jam and you never know quite what you are going to get. That’s what makes it exciting. 

Next month he will release a new EP via the label, AGAIN! He works fast. This time it’s a club driven affair on a new EP called “Big Beat Manifesto Vol. I“. In keeping with this we asked him to record a mixtape of his own big beats and he does so in unique style.

Listen and read the interview below:

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I’m Eden Burns, I’m a DJ, Producer & Music Enthusiast! I’m currently living in a small town, Mosgiel at the bottom of South Island, New Zealand.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)? 

I think it’s honest, funny and pretty funky at times.

Where was the mix recorded?

At my mums house in Mosgiel, Dunedin. 

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

On a pirate ship. They’re nice pirates and they’re keen to party.

What should we be wearing?

Full blown steampunk attire, but with pirate hats.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

I’m not fussed, I guess the comfort from my own home, with good friends around and some nice food. Equipment-wise, turntables and a condessa mixer would be nice.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

It’s an unreleased track by Mainline Orchestra. They’re a band from Spain. The track is really fun! I can’t wait to play it out.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Hmmm this is very hard but Valentino Mora aka French Fries’s Boiler room 2013 is one I always find myself going back and listening too

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

I’ve never really owned my own DJ equipment, I kinda got thrown into the deep end and started randomly DJ’ing at bars at the age of 16. I was pretty much at a bar every week DJ’ing after that. I was lucky enough to have some good older and experienced friends to show me the ropes, mix records etc. In New Zealand I guess there weren’t so many people eager to DJ back then.

And now, I have one turntable and no mixer. Definitely need to get my hands on another turntable and mixer, as obviously not able to play at bars so often anymore. 

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Hard question, but I don’t think either matter too much. If the first or last song is great, it’s not going to make a bad set sound good, I guess. 

What were the first and last records you bought?

First record was Trial Rider by Chaos in the CBD, I was about 16/17 and I remember being so excited to take it to the bar I DJ’d at as I didn’t have any turntable at home. I ended up playing it like 3 times to the old people sitting down drinking cocktails. It’s a pretty banging techno record, I don’t think the bar goers liked it too much haha. 

Most recent was a compilation from Wellington based label, Strangelove, titled Kiwi Animals: Future/ Primitive Aotearoa. It’s a compilation of NZ electronic music from 1982-91. It’s so good.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Calamari with insanely spicy sauce, painfully spicy. 

If it was an animal what would it be?

Racoon. 

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

I have a lot of band-y sort of things which are shocking to mix into if I tried, but dance music-wise I have an edit by Pedro Dollar & Samo DJ which has a needle skip/jump in the track, it took me a little bit too long to figure out it was in the song itself and not on my copy of the record.

Buy the new record HERE.