The #FutureMusic series is a collaboration between British Council Connect ZA and Live Magazine SA. In 2013 both Johannesburg and Cape Town have played host to unique monthly mini-tours where UK acts share the line-up with local underground bands, DJs and performers.

For the final of the #FutureMusic shows of 2013, British Council Connect ZA and Live Magazine SA have teamed up with the Roundhouse (UK) for #FutureMusic Rising! For more information about the Johannesburg #FutureMusic Rising event on Friday 8 November, visit our Facebook event page.

Meet #FutureMusic Rising Nominee, The Watermark High

Solo artist The Watermark High pushes something for the dreamers. Combining acoustic and synthetic sounds, field recordings, loops and beats, The Watermark High crafts a liminal, washed-out future-garage sound. With the release of his second EP, ‘Murmurs, in June this year, this young artist is quickly gathering momentum both locally and internationally.

Why do you think you were chosen?
I’d like to think that the judges found my sound to be different and interesting. I see my music as audio collages, taking and making samples, loops, founds sounds, using different instruments and beats and to put them all together into something that is mine, something expressive. It’s an amazing time to be a musician in terms of technology (especially in electronic music) and I try to embrace it all, in my production, but live as well. Being able to play my electronic music live (without having to DJ) and to be completely engaged with the performance is really exciting to me.

Can you name a few acts that have helped to shape your sound?
I listen to and love so many artists, but I think, in terms of my production, two names spring to mind: Lapalux and Prefuse 73. I think they are both quite prolific in having unique sounds and that their music is unpredictable and hard to pigeon-hole. Although they are dissimilar, they both manage to make noise beautiful and they manage to make expressive, layered, complex music, but also know how to not go over the top, they understand melody, and they have a gift in managing these contrasts. These are all things that I try to embrace with my music.

Lapalux – “Straight Over My Head”

Any other local acts you would have liked to see on the line-up?
From what I can remember seeing on the primary nominees list, it would have been great if Slabofmisuse or Women Who Kill also made the line-up.

Website: www.thewatermarkhigh.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewatermarkhigh
Twitter: www.twitter.com/watermarkhigh
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/thewatermarkhigh