How did echotracer start?
Jack: echotracer started a couple summers back. Doug wanted to make some electronic music and perform it. He asked me if I was into playing drums for it. We've known each other and been friends for a long time but never made music together so it's been fun to do it.
Doug: I dropped a penny into a wishing well in 2011, wishing for friends. By 2014, I’d seen Jack first through the internet—his band Full Body (precursor to Full Body 2). An image of all of them standing in front of a garage. I messaged them to play shows and we would stay at the house that had that garage, right across from a Wegmans. On tour we used to rob that Wegmans blind. Jack and FB2 eventually moved to Philly. I really just wanted to make a project that was more focused on percussion as the feeling rather than words or guitars. Drum circle shit.
What is your relationship with electronic music? Has that always been an interest?
Jack: I really got into it during 2020. My friend and bandmate Dylan put me on to a lot of amazing electronic music that was new and exciting. It was all happening on the internet when everyone was online and not able to go to shows. I've loved it since.
Doug: I took ecstasy in 2004 and downloaded hella shit off limewire. “Rhythm of the Night.” Alice Deejay. Etc., etc. The thing is it always seemed so distant from me. The natural way was raves and gatherings, my hometown had none of that. So it always felt like listening to a memory of a time that I would never ever be able to partake in. Funny how life works. Didn’t start raving ‘til I was like 24. Didn’t really have the opportunity. Turns out taking drugs in a bedroom with one other friend and fantasizing about just makes u lonely lmao.
What is the echotracer live show like?
Jack: It's loud and bumping.
Doug: Bass heavy, hat heavy; and precise.
You currently have a single EP out. Are you working on anything new right now?
Jack: We recently switched it up a little by adding acoustic drums and percussion. We wrote a new set to accompany the change.
Doug: Yes.
How does this music come together? What is your songwriting process like? Do you jam?
Jack: Doug gathers a lot of the sounds and samples. We work together and try out different ways of introducing and taking away elements. Then we feel out a drum part for what I can play to support it all.
Doug: Jackie kind of summed it all up but also it’s important to note that we’re always kind of jamming. The live set is entirely improv. Of course, we’re familiar with the samples and patterns but also how long we play, what comes next, etc., that’s all left up to momentary decision.
What inspires the visual side of the band?
Jack: Lots of things. Whatever hits.
Doug: For the EP, it was specifically the old 12” singles of dubs and remixes of club classics. And not so classics. For the new shit, I think Spree candy.
Do you go to raves? Any good rave stories?
Jack: I used to go to more. My good rave story happened recently when we played a rave in Philly. It felt special. We always wanted to play at a rave.
Doug: Been to a shitload at this point. This fried-ass one in downtown Austin, Texas while we were on tour. Purityfilter in a tunnel in Northwest Philly. Machine Girl and Baseck and all of Virtua64 in an old auto shop in Kensington. We recently played a renegade. That shit is so fun.
Who is your favorite DJ in Philly currently and why?
Jack: I have many favorites. I can't narrow it down. There's lots of variety here and so many have greatness in their own ways of doing it.
Doug: Purityfilter, vera vertigoaway, but honestly dawg. NAH. He’s the blueprint for everything we’re even doing. Maybe not quite a DJ. More infinite than that.
