Project Description

Q&A With

AIRPORTS

Interviewer: Jemma Bird

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Aaron Lee aka AIRPORTS, has years of experience in the music industry as a producer, writer & engineer. He has worked on projects for Universal Music, Capitol Records, RCA, SM Entertainment and more. Based on the Central Coast of New South Wales, his original artist project AIRPORTS has seen major radio support and touring opportunities across New Zealand, but AIRPORTS has only just started making an impact in his home country of Australia. Check out AIRPORTS latest single CHEDDAR here. 

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Before we get into your new single I just wanted to delve into your background a bit. Can you tell me how ​AIRPORTS​ came about?
Totally! AIRPORTS was originally an EDM/Pop duo with my drummer Mossy. We’d been playing small circuits for a few years but recently Mossy decided to pursue more of a session drummer path, as opposed to an artist path. So I myself am now AIRPORTS entirely, as the sole writer and artist. He still plays for me when I need a drummer and we’re great mates!

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Who has your biggest musical influences been?
So many but I have to pick Michael Jackson, Kanye West & Skrillex to name a few.

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Do you think they are reflective of your music?
More so in attitude – confidence, innovation and excellence are what I am working towards being known for.

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Your newest release ​“Cheddar”​ is quite different to your previous releases. Can you tell me a bit about the story/meaning behind it?
I came up with the chorus hook and said it to my rapper mates (Savilian & Ruku) while we were
mucking around. Then we wrote and recorded the whole thing in an hour! My solo releases have been much more melodic and sung, but i grew up in hip hop groups so rap has always been a massive part of my musical vocabulary. It’s been fun to finally release a full rap banger, haha!

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You collaborated with Ruku and Savilian for this track. How was that process? Did youall have specific roles in the writing process?
Once we decided “let’s make this into an actual song” we just sat around my house and all wrote our verses solo at the same time within about 30 minutes, once we were all done we just recorded one by one in the order that you hear the song. We did it over a beat off youtube, and then a few days later I produced a new beat for it so we wouldn’t get sued. It was super organic because we were all just having fun.

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What was the idea behind the video?
After playing Cheddar at a few shows we knew we had to go bigger on this song.We had plans for a different kind of video but one of our camera guys fell through, so we just
borrowed gear and shot the location scenes ourselves. It was so thrown together, we didn’t plan out the final locations, we just stopped at a few that worked and then I edited it all together with some cheesy vintage footage (pun intended).

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Do you have any plans of releasing new music in the near future?
100%. Finishing some new ones off right now.

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What’s your favourite lyric you’ve ever written?
Hmmm, two come to mind: “The storm isn’t really how the sky looks”, and “Without doubt we couldn’t have faith”. Way too deep? haha.

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What’s your favourite lyrics that anyone else has ever written?
“Tenderoni you’ve got to be, spark my nature, sugar fly with me” from Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T” because it’s the most incredible culmination of 80’s slang ever.

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You’re also a producer. Is there much difference in the process of writing and producing your own music as there is for others?
It’s sometimes easier and quicker to execute ideas for other people, because I’m outside of their mind I can see their strengths and weaknesses without getting emotionally caught up in it. When it comes to my music it’s a lot easier to overthink things and hold up the process.

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How do you decide what ideas to keep for yourself and what to hand out to others?
It’s all feeling based. I can like most things I produce and write but there’s a certain feeling that I keep just for AIRPORTS. I’m getting better now at recognising this. For awhile I was very confused!

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Do you have any shows coming up?
I’m just focusing on finishing new AIRPORTS material and getting it out at the very moment.

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What song would you recommend for someone listening to AIRPORTS for the first time?
“Speak My Mind”, “Limbo ft. Sammi Constantine” & “Distance”. All available on my youtube.

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What’s your go to karaoke song?
I’m going to say “She’s American” by The 1975. It’s not a popular song, but it’s just my go to mega jam, and I know you like The 1975 haha!

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Lastly, just for fun – what was your first or most embarrassing email?
[email protected]

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Connect With AIRPORTS:

Youtube       Facebook       Instagram

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