Interview with Moldovan electronic music artist and producer, Serge Bulat

He is known for his style that draws on such diverse genres as electronica, downtempo, neo-classical, world, ambient, and experimental music. As an artist he got involved in music at a very early age, first playing the piano when he was just 7. Upon graduating from music school, where he majored in piano, Serge relocated to Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, to pursue a career in radio. In 2007, Serge Bulat was named the Creative Director of Radio 21. Under his leadership, the station won the VIP Award for Best Radio Station, in 2009, he moved to New York City.

On May 25, 2016, Serge released the long-anticipated Queuelbum. It was immediately picked up by such publications and radio shows as Amazing Beats, EDM Ranks, Top 40 Charts, Earbits, One World, Feedbands and The Crate. The album was highly-reviewed in The Deli Magazine, Facts and Arts, Beat, EDM Rush, The Noise Gate, Musical America, and The Hype, where it was described as “an ambitious project”, “truly innovative,” and “an existential musical journey.”

Queuelbum earned Bulat a major nomination at the 15th Annual Independent Music Awards. He won the award in November 2016, taking the trophy for Best Dance/Electronica Album of the Year.
Today we interview Bulat on his newest ecclectic and groovy single "Yehy Vaya"- a collaboration with Mordovian folk band OYME (Deep Forest), and sung in the language of Erzya that represents the culture of the Finno-Ugric peoples of Russia, and is being released as the UN has proclaimed International Year Of Indigenous Languages. 

The collaboration comes at an interesting period in time; despite the political tension between Russia and the USA, the artists find common ground and make an example of contributing to each other's culture. - Serge

Greatest inspirations or influences?

I'm influenced by so many wonderful things... To talk music - that would be folk: Moldovan, Romanian quite obviously, and world music from around the globe. Honestly, it is such an inexhaustible supply of inspiration. Lately listened to a lot Abdelli, Gulaza and Trio Da Kali, great masters of their craft! Classical and modern composers like Giacomo Puccini, Steve Reich, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Arvo Pärt. Electronic: from Enigma and Thievery Corporation to Nils Frahm and Bonobo. Flying Lotus is super interesting.

Oh, and I also loooooove Conan Osiris!

Books are always an adventure: to name a few last ones:

• "Ubik" By Philip K Dick;

• "In Search of the Miraculous" by P.D. Ouspensky,

• "The Reality Frame: Relativity and Our Place in the Universe" by Brian Clegg,

• "Labyrinths" by Jorge Luis Borges,

• "The Power Of Now" by Eckhart Tolle.

Most Interesting Response To Your Work So Far?

Someone asked me if I am aware that my music is psychedelic. Another one mentioned that "Third World River" is a great subject for a science lecture. And, a fellow musician whom I briefly met at a conference, said that my music affects her sensory experience, and I just hoped it didn't make her dizzy.

Favourite websites, social media handles, etc?

I am barely on the internet lately.

• But, there is Netflix! I think "The OA" was such a treat, that it took some time to let it go.

• The New York Academy of Sciences has an abundance of lectures and papers (https://www.nyas.org). Never boring!

• Offline Projects covers quite fascinating subjects (https://offline-projects.com/).

• Studio Ghibli and its animated world - so warming.

• I also keep an eye on the planet. It breaks my heart to see what is going on in the natural world. There should be more David Attenborough-like people, as excited about the world around them; who care to remind us about things that matter.