Young Talent in SA:

Ecoteric, a musical project freshly part of Mindspring Music and Technophobia Records.

Launched in October 2018 by Julian Venter, a student of 18 years old living in Johannesburg. He produces music that’s focused merely on the human soul. Ecoteric’s musical genres include Zenonesque and Psychedelic Dub, however, when in the studio, Ecoteric focuses more on the natural sounds and productions of Zenonesque and Dub music.

The young and ever nurtured musical project’s destiny is to enhance all listeners with situated frequencies, with an endless-goal to allow the listener to become more self-aware of his/her emotional soul-baby. Solely music allowing human beings to be at one with themselves and their surroundings, an eternal bond with Mother-Earth.

❝The energies that drive us contribute to every magical moment of our existence, and when combined with the right touch of musical enhancements, we find that we all come across, just like our veins, just like the roots of trees connect each other, with love and compassion.❞

– Julian Venter

 Who/what influenced you towards your style of music and music in general? 

Julian: I began making music at the age of 11, I remember being seated in my cousin’s studio, observing him as he goes. Gilles Dice, the mentor, an incredible artist. The man who originally planted the idea of music production in my mind.

I started the music project Ecoteric last year in October because I felt like I had to make deeper music with meaning, emotion and intention. I felt like making a musical style similar to Adama’s. He inspired me to approach a more natural and organic feel and just like that my journey began.

❝Love earth, for she is our mother,
and she loves us.❞

https://soundcloud.com/ecoteric/leminin

Ecoteric lives for the moment of consolidations between people and nature because it is so ever beautiful to have a glimpse at a person and feel the love that person beholds for our Planet.

Tell us about your past/future festivals?

Julian: I had my first psychedelic festival experience when I was 13 years old, I also perform at this event called Mongi Wobble. After that day I knew what I wanted to do.

I had my first performance at Twilight last year November, I played a three-hour dub set at the chill area. At this stage I had already begun to produce my own music and the first ever track I finished as Ecoteric was called “Teria”. This track may get released by Merkaba Music. I then went on to perform at one Jozi Tribe’s events where I played a more progressive Zenonesque set. later on, I simultaneously got in touch with Technophobia Records as well as Mindspring Music, today I’m an artist on both their rosters.

I have been booked by:

► Psyclical , even though the event hasn’t been launched yet, Psyclical hosts epic indoor as well as outdoor events.

► Connexion NYE Open Air Festival by OneLove Productions

I am also collaborating with an incredible artist from Australia, his name is Gabriel Jack and he goes by the artist name Scionaugh. I have worked with a lot of different artists from around the globe and I have had only great experiences with them. Sarah Leigh Steensma is a driven companion in my musical production lifestyle and I seldom call upon her aid when I want to add extra energy into my music. She writes lyrics and provides powerful vocal material. I recently played a two-hour dark into bush prog set for Elysium Festival.

Upcoming albums and EP’s:

► Teria [Album], 2019 – Merkaba Music
► Leminin [EP], 2019 – Technophobia Records
► Osirus [EP], 2019 – Mindspring Music

Recent bookings:

► Twilight Open Air Festival V14, 2018/11/04 [SA]
► Gypsy-Xmas (Zenonesque Music Gathering), 2018/12/26 [SA]
► Saturn Surfers Earth Day Celebration, 2019/01/12 [SA]
► Elysium Open Air Festival, 2019/04/19 [SA]

Sets:

Teria (might get released on Merkaba Music)

Frequency of Thought Remix

Elysium Open Air Festival Set

Gypsy X-mas Set

What are you currently working on? 

Julian: I have exciting new work coming up such as my multi-styled album as well as my two EPs called “Osirus” and “Leminin” for Mindspring Music and Technophobia Records respectively. One of the many things that excite me the most is that I’m starting a duo project named ‘Shmangle’. This duo-project will have a more driving and progressive, as well as a deeper Zenonesque oil sound. ‘Shamngle.’ It will be myself and Luca Kovacich (Young Padawan) as ‘Shmangle’ and we are in the process of creating a guest mix to feature with Technophobia Records. This will be our first move as the duo.

Before the start of Ecoteric took place, I began two aliases which still exist today. The first would be Eopal. Eopal is my downtempo African tech alias. This music project is part of Suid Tronica Records. It would be my psytrance alias, although I haven’t quite settled with a proper launch for it, I am planning on putting together an EP and involving powerful artists from both South Africa and around the world.

What are your future plans in the beautiful world of music?

Julian: I am planning an Australian visit as Ecoteric, I will be going there and performing at various events as well as at Australia’s traditional Bush Doof Gatherings. This tour would only happen once I have prepared myself, until that day, I’m grinding!

I have a certified and completed mixing and mastering course with lead singer Justin Swart from ‘The Amblers’ behind my name as a music producer. Justin Swart is also the founder of Olive Productions. I also have the future possibilities of being booked in Sweden, Brazil and Israel to perform as Ecoteric.

Catch Ecoteric on IG and FB!