Esa Williams: Going Back To My Roots

Ahead of the launch of his label Rememory Music and the first installment of his Dissect series, <b>Esa Williams</b> talks about deep house, his father's influence and stealing some thunder

Feature by Chris Duncan | 28 Apr 2010
Esa Williams is talking passionately about his latest venture, pausing only for breath and the occasional sip of his drink. His music release project, Rememory Music, is nearing completion after months of work. 
"The project itself is called Rememory Music, but it's also the name under which I'm going to carry out various other smaller activities. The aim is to combine independently produced music with unique artwork. The first project is the Dissect Series, the first release being an EP of my own tracks with remixes from various other people, including OOFT Music (The Revenge and Ali Herron) and bespoke artwork Jennifer Crouch. The record is called I Stole Some Thunder and will be followed by another release on a South African label that is yet to be announced."
DJing under the name Esa, making up part of the Sensu live act and producing music under the moniker Mervin Granger, it's fair to say that his is a face well known to many a discerning night owl. After regular appearances at Subculture, Sunday Circus and Red Bull Music Academy events he has a proven history of working with electronic music at almost every level. His involvement with Red Bull meant that artists such as Kevin Saunderson, Josh Wink and Tony Lionni arrived in Glasgow for a series of performances, lectures and workshops. 
"[My involvement in Red Bull Music Academy] began in Cape Town in 2009 when I worked at their studios and helped with recordings there. I kept in touch with them when I moved to Glasgow and they use me as their contact in the city to set up events. Outside of that, this summer I'm playing at Stop Making Sense in Croatia, Be Cool in Barcelona, Rockness under Sensu and various nights in Subculture as Esa."
When discussing his motive and inspiration for Rememory Music and other musical projects, one name is continually mentioned, Esa's father Mervin Granger Williams. 
"He gave me the opportunity to get into music through his records and musical equipment. I was always beside him as a kid whilst he would play at parties so this is my way of keeping him in the loop, as everything is down to him. He is always in mind. As far as Rememory Music goes, my inspiration comes from the sounds around me but I feel that the initial process comes from my father. I always reflect on both past and current events. The I Stole Some Thunder EP was created at a very emotional time, my wife's mother had passed away and I released all of that emotion through my music. The music I create is deep house, but deep house isn't just the sound, instead in my eyes, the deep meaning behind the music itself."
It is only when piecing together Esa's various projects that you begin to see the bigger picture. The Cape Town upbringing, his father's record collection and Esa own world travels have all amounted to his Rememory Music output and it makes for a very rich listening experience. 

 

Esa Williams is talking passionately about his latest venture, pausing only for breath and the occasional sip of his drink. His music release project, Rememory Music, is nearing completion after months of work. 

"The project itself is called Rememory Music, but it's also the name under which I'm going to carry out various other smaller activities. The aim is to combine independently produced music with unique artwork. The first project is the <Dissect Series, the first release being an EP of my own tracks with remixes from various other people, including OOFT Music (The Revenge and Ali Herron) and bespoke artwork Jennifer Crouch. The record is called I Stole Some Thunder and will be followed by another release on a South African label that is yet to be announced."

DJing under the name Esa, making up part of the Sensu live act and producing music under the moniker Mervin Granger, it's fair to say that his is a face well known to many a discerning night owl. After regular appearances at Subculture, Sunday Circus and Red Bull Music Academy events he has a proven history of working with electronic music at almost every level. His involvement with Red Bull meant that artists such as Kevin Saunderson, Josh Wink and Tony Lionni arrived in Glasgow for a series of performances, lectures and workshops. 

"[My involvement in Red Bull Music Academy] began in Cape Town in 2009 when I worked at their studios and helped with recordings there. I kept in touch with them when I moved to Glasgow and they use me as their contact in the city to set up events. Outside of that, this summer I'm playing at Stop Making Sense in Croatia, Be Cool in Barcelona, Rockness under Sensu and various nights in Subculture as Esa."

When discussing his motive and inspiration for Rememory Music and other musical projects, one name is continually mentioned: Esa's father Mervin Granger Williams. 

"He gave me the opportunity to get into music through his records and musical equipment. I was always beside him as a kid while he would play at parties so this is my way of keeping him in the loop, as everything is down to him. He is always in mind. As far as Rememory Music goes, my inspiration comes from the sounds around me but I feel that the initial process comes from my father. I always reflect on both past and current events. The I Stole Some Thunder EP was created at a very emotional time; my wife's mother had passed away and I released all of that emotion through my music. The music I create is deep house, but deep house isn't just the sound; in my eyes it's the deep meaning behind the music itself."

It is only when piecing together Esa's various projects that you begin to see the bigger picture. The Cape Town upbringing, his father's record collection and Esa's own world travels have all amounted to his Rememory Music output and it makes for a very rich listening experience. 

 

 

 

Esa Williams' Dissect Series is released on vinyl and digital soon