Part 1

Names: James Curd, Osunlade
Nationalities: American
Current release: James Curd and Osunlade team up for the Chocolate Puddin' EP via Get Physical.
Recommendations:
James Curd: "Fascinated By Everything” is a project by Chris Holms. He is basically remixing light! He has created an immersive VR world that is scaled to be used from VR headsets to the new 24k domes popping up in the states. You can have a look at the music video he did for Warpaint’s song “Stevie” to get a small idea of what the live experience is like.
Also check out the movie “Buffalo 66”. One of my favourites that not a ton of people know about.
Osunlade: Dr John “Gris Gris Gumbo”

If you enjoyed this interview with James Curd and Osunlade and would like to stay up to date with their music, visit James's official homepage and Osunlade's Instagram profile.

For an even deeper dive, we recommend our earlier Osunlade interview. 



What were some of your earliest collaborations? How do you look back on them with hindsight?

James Curd: In my early days, while Parisian lights illuminated my youthful ambitions, I had the privilege of collaborating with the maestro himself, Atjazz. At a tender age of 23, I jetted off to Derby, diving headfirst into his world of beats and rhythms. Our synergy gave birth to the track “Andy Woman,” which later became a featured song on my debut album with Classic Music Company in 2003.



At that time, my soundscape was raw and unfiltered, sculpted solely on an MPC2000xl. Meanwhile, Atjazz was orchestrating magic, even curating tracks for monumental games like Tomb Raider. His hunger to replicate and refine the unique essence of my sample inspirations was a testament to his unparalleled precision.

That journey was a masterclass for me; witnessing his craftsmanship up close compelled me to elevate my own game when I returned to my sanctum of sounds.

Osunlade: With James, we’ve been working together for years ... I can’t recall the exact moment but it happens whenever I’m in Australia and make my way to Adelaide. I’d say its been at least 5 years or more since the start of our collaboration.

There are many potential models for collaboration, from live performances and jamming/producing in the same room together up to file sharing. Which of these do you prefer – and why?  

James Curd: Being in the same room is unparalleled – it's where raw energy and inspiration collide. It's like a collaborative dance, where we're both throwing ingredients into a pot, creating a unique melody stew. I watch, absorb, and build on his notes, and this interplay continues, creating a cascade of sounds. When the synergy is right, like with Chocolate Puddin’, songs seemingly craft themselves, as if bestowed by cosmic forces.

But there's a certain allure to file sharing as well. It offers a fresh twist, a way to take an idea further than you might have envisioned solo. Starting a track and then catapulting it to a colleague is thrilling—awaiting their spin, their unique touch. What returns often feels like opening a gift; the same essence, but wrapped in delightful new layers

Osunlade: I’m a same room, energy person. I need the actual frequency of the other person with me. I’ve shared files etc and that sometimes works but live and in person is always best and more organic for me.

How did this particular collaboration come about?

James Curd: Whenever Osunlade embarks on an Australian tour, Adelaide becomes our rendezvous point, and the studio, our playground. Our track record? Two electric studio sessions and two distinct tracks to show for it.

As the years roll on, our bond deepens beyond just music. There’s always an eagerness in the air when I know we'll meet. Osunlade's vibe? It’s a potent mix of inspiration and possibility.

Osunlade: This one specifically happened on my last trip to Australia in mid February, it's become common nature when I arrive, we work and get something done. The first thing we accomplished together landed on Ultra Nate’s latest album.



But for our new release Chocolate Puddin’ it was clear it had to be us and not for another artist.

What did you know about each other before working together? Describe your creative partner in a few words, please.

Osunlade: I knew of the Greenskeepers records and had heard of James before but to be honest I wasn’t that aware of the multitude of what this dude does! I knew the music but not the man.

When we finally made it to the lab, I was astounded at how he works as its such a different process for me. Also, discovering his mainstay is soundtracks etc made for a wider appeal musically and it always feels natural as we aren’t coming into the fold with any of our shit. Hard to explain. But we work great together! It’s like I'm the piano man and he’s the mad scientist arranging shit and utilizing things I’d never before.

James Curd: You know, there's a chance Osunlade might've let this one slip through the memories ... Our first encounter? We DJ'ed together at an art gallery opening in Puerto Rico.

My friend from Chicago, the artist Dzine (Carlos Rolan), had invited me to DJ. At 22, I was just starting out, while Osunlade was already well-known. That night, we played side by side, playing records until sunrise.

What do you generally look for in a collaborator in general and what made you want to collaborate with each other specifically?

Osunlade: I never look for collaborations to be honest, music for me is very personal so it’s quite rare I do collabs.

When it happens its usually with people I’ve a relationship with.

Tell me a bit about your current instruments and tools, please. In which way do they support creative exchange and collaborations with others?  

James: I've meticulously designed a state-of-the-art studio in my backyard, which now houses a curated collection of around 30 vintage synthesizers I've acquired over the years.

The acquisition of a new piece of equipment invariably fuels my creativity. When I integrate a new keyboard, for instance, I find myself crafting 6 or 7 fresh tracks, driven by an urge to explore its capabilities. Admittedly, as the novelty of a piece fades, my reliance on it may wane, but instruments like the Mini Korg 700s, Micro Moog, and Jupiter 6 remain my perennial favorites.

The beauty of collaborating with new artists in my studio is witnessing their fresh perspective. Their exploration reinvigorates my appreciation for instruments I've long known, breathing new life into the music we co-create.

Osunlade: I'm sort of a vagabond when it comes to instruments as I’m always touring.

However the joy of working with James is I have an engineer and musician, the way he manoeuvres his lab it's quite impossible to leave without something … it's really quite impressive because I’m old school as fuck.

Before you started making music together, did you in any form exchange concrete ideas, goals, or strategies? Generally speaking, what are your preferences when it comes to planning vs spontaneity in a collaboration?

Osunlade: Nothing whatsoever, We just vibed and knew we were brothers and wanted to see what we sound like. Simple.

James Curd: When it comes to Osunlade it was 100% spontaneity. I don’t even think I knew what time he was going to arrive at my house. It was like … surprise, I know it’s late but do you wanna work!? Hells yup!