A Few Questions with 0_0_0_0 

→ Non Rhoncus (ID Felis

originally published as part of the first (and only) issue of ‘In Words’ - a digital zine by Lilies Radio
in July 2021

 Interview by Likhona Camane

You wrote this record between 2015 and 2017. And when you joined Lilies Radio around 2019, your show was titled ‘Negative Space Programme’. Now, about six years later, we finally see the idea in album form - where we see it all come together. Is time is a necessary factor in your process?

My philosophy is something like, when I'm ready, it will be finished. And then there are times when one needs to switch priorities. In 2018 - 2020, I was moving into a new vocation & moving around - so music had to take a back seat. 2020 was also the year we all questioned our reasons for doing music.
2021? I'm just enjoying music so much more right now (ask me how? 🤪). So, it just felt right to release the record.


What are other things you keep in mind while making music?

 Just being open to things changing even afters hours or years of working on a project. Or even deleting projects if they aren't going anywhere.


Have any of your approaches to making music changed since you wrote the album?

 I wrote the album on FL Studio, which I've been using since I started producing. I was using a playlist-timeline style of arranging. I'm now using Maschine with a MK1 as the controller as the host and recording jams, and then doing a few edits afterwards. I've just moved over to Reaper. Just to record & mix so far. But I’m looking forward to getting into more of its customisation.


How does it feel to hear songs you made a while ago?

 I enjoy listening to all of it. I'm doing some backups at the moment and I found a folder of many of the tracks I've made. It's been interesting to imagine what I was thinking or where I was when I made them.


What’s the weirdest gig or place you’ve played at?

Getting kicked off stage at a performance for the first year orientation week at Tshwane University of Technology in 2009. I was part of a horrorcore rap crew, and our mascot was a baby doll that my friend turned into Jason Voorhees, including the knife. We were studying performing arts technology, and he had made various masks and objects in the props workshop before.
After the third song, one of the lecturers grabbed the doll and threw it in the bin. So that ended rather abruptly.


What are your hopes for your label, and your own music?

The label was started to be place for my own & my friends creative projects. So, I'm just focusing on finishing more music, making more connections and having as much fun with it as possible in the process. Incorporating it into lifestyle, as I'm gonna be doing this for a long time.


What’s your desert island song / album?

Wagon Christ - Sorry I make you lush


When you aren’t writing music, or making mixes, what are you up to?

Mostly work, which is a technology and art teacher in early childhood education. Which provides a lot of fun and inspiration. Also hacking old technology and consoles, and playing lots of games when I make the time.


What’s your favourite meme at the moment?

Meme formats come & go with what I'm interested in, so I'll just drop a few of my fave pages on Instagram.

Juulsexual
Brad Troemel
And, the book ‘Can Jokes Bring Down Governments? Memes, Design & Politics’ by Metahaven


Favourite food spots?

 Schwarma Co. for their Laffas and Indian Deli Punjab for their Chicken Tikka. Both in Norwood, Johannesburg.
Royal Danish Ice Cream in Pretoria. The best ice cream, IMHO.