QRTR manages to cast a wide net without stepping away from her integrity as a producer as she confidently explores possibilities in this swirling sonic exhibition.
If this LP were a club, it would be one with many rooms
Brooklyn-based electronic producer and DJ Meagan Rodriguez aka QRTR (pronounced like the 25¢) returns with her sophomore full-length album titled infina ad nausea, available on vinyl and digital through Dome Of Doom from 27th August. It may be easy for some to pigeonhole the whole DJ/Producer persona: creating 4-to-the-floor bangers to take out to the next gig. Don’t get me wrong, Meagan has experience in these areas—for those that follow her may be familiar with her recent summer edit of The Prodigy’s “Smack My Bitch Up!” that lit up the runway as we landed our feet back onto the dancefloor.
What she does differently with infina ad nausea is take a step back to demonstrate the evoked club experiences that have weaved into her experimental approach to production. All-in-all creating a unified yet unique representation of modern electronic music; a cocktail of popular formulas mixed with abstract dynamics.
QRTR takes us on a spiraling trip that showcases concepts within ambient spaces and classical movements, soaring all the way through to the melodics of IDM and the antics of drum’n bass breaks. Each nod possessing innovative homages baked within the transfixing twists in house rhythms we appreciate from her earlier productions (Drenched, Dome Of Doom 2020).
Personal selections include album opener “The Outer Edge (feat. ambientkitty),” “Fractals,” and “Rewind”—which have a peppering of flavors that will feel familiar to fans of Boards of Canada, Orbital and LFO on each track respectively. Whilst in other parts of this LP your nostalgia might reach for a separate string that leans in comparison towards the anthem stylings of Olive “You’re Not Alone,” or early Groove Armada. QRTR manages to cast a wide net without stepping away from her integrity as a producer as she confidently explores possibilities in this swirling sonic exhibition.
If this LP were a club, it would be one with many rooms.
You can expect to hear traditional UK electronic approaches mixed in with a heritage that comes from the house and techno scene of the USA. In essence, a multitude of euphoria’s felt at varying angles of the spectrum. Entwined between the party scene and her studio, this new LP holds true to Meagan’s musical personality as QRTR.
Igloo Magazine had the opportunity to ask her some questions about the upcoming release.
Contrasting energies next to each other and ordering them in such a way that still feels cohesive
IGLOO :: Hey Meagan—Congratulations on the new album and thanks for coming aboard for an interview! A lot has happened in the world since your debut release Drenched (Dome Of Doom, March 2020). How was the writing experience for you with infina ad nausea?
QRTR :: Lockdown had a huge role in shaping infina ad nausea, both conceptually and sonically. The album title is a play on Latin terms “ad infinitum” and “ad nauseum.” I was trying to create a phrase to describe growing sick of a false feeling of permanence, as though you’re living in a never ending loop. I arranged the track order in a way that felt like the act of spiraling internally (mentally and emotionally). It starts off bright and playful and becomes more frenzied until suddenly you’ve reached “the point”—which is ever moving and evolving and thus unreachable. The concept was heavily inspired by my mental state during lockdown.
IGLOO :: I describe infina ad nausea as dynamic, as it feels there is a lot of exploration within multiple sub-genres yet remaining unified. Were you listening to anything in particular during its inception?
QRTR :: At the very start of lockdown, I was clinging to nostalgia for comfort. I was watching old TV shows from the 90s and early 2000s, and similarly, I was listening to a lot of music from that time as well. I remember specifically looking up track lists for an electronic music compilation series called Fired Up! from 2003. I was listening to artists like Sonique, Crush, Vitamin C, and Alice Deejay—just total feel-good tunes for me.
IGLOO :: Nothing beats a good compilation! There is something very encapsulating of the era it can represent. Would you say you are translating certain parts, like a memoir, on infina ad nausea of different sonic eras in your lifetime?
QRTR :: I definitely didn’t pick up on it at the time, but in retrospect it’s so obvious I pulled from those radio dance tunes when writing infina ad nausea.
IGLOO :: This album shows development in many areas sonically—hints of IDM, DnB and even classical! Is there a part you’re particularly proud of and may delve into further for future productions?
QRTR :: When I was finishing up Drenched, I kept telling people that my first album explored textures and my second album will explore movement. At the time, I had no idea I’d be churning out another record so soon after my debut but I think I stuck to that goal. I’m really excited about the more club focused tracks on infina ad nausea and looking forward to evolving that part of QRTR’s sound. But that being said, I think what I’m most proud of with this album is being able to put those contrasting energies next to each other and ordering them in such a way that still feels cohesive. That’s the beauty of putting a long-form project together as opposed to just releasing singles, there’s so much more room to explore your sound.
That’s the beauty of putting a long-form project together as opposed to just releasing singles, there’s so much more room to explore your sound.
IGLOO :: I totally agree with the pros of being able to work on a long form project—it feels more personal and can give you that space to experiment. Drenched was textures, infina ad nausea is movement—what other concepts are you intending to explore?
QRTR :: I think after these first two albums, I am really looking forward to allowing myself even more experimentation in my production—tying my more ambient influences into this new dancefloor driven sound, and seeing what comes of it. I’m also very excited to work with more vocalists on projects to come, folding in organic sounds within the electronic soundscapes I create.
IGLOO :: There are certain field recordings on the album, in particular “Nossa Interlude,” sounds a like a vast collage which I really enjoy. Where else on the album do they feature? Do you regularly record stuff when you’re out and about?
QRTR :: I took sound design classes in college and became obsessed with documenting sound the way most people take pictures on a trip. I love sending and receiving voice memos with friends instead of texting so we can hear the little sonic worlds we each live in as we speak. I have hundreds of field recordings I’ve saved taken on various iPhones and on my Zoom recorder. When I first started working on infina ad nausea, one of the first things I wanted to do was make a collage with those recordings. It’s such a cool feeling knowing that when people listen to “Nossa” (that) they’re experiencing years’ worth of memories of mine consolidated into a 2 minute sonic capsule. I sprinkled in a lot of other recordings as more subtle textural layers throughout the album as well.
IGLOO :: DJing seems to be the other big half of your life, it must have been a surreal experience not being able to go to a club for quite some time. Did you get a chance to test the vibes of any material since reopening?
QRTR :: Thankfully yes! I’ve been lucky enough to play a handful of shows and parties since I completed the album. I definitely made a point to squeeze as much infina ad nausea material as I could into those sets! I had such a difficult time choosing singles, but I did notice a lot of movement on the dance floor when I played “Fractals” and “Want Me 2” so that was my main reason for highlighting those two tracks! Though I’ve really been enjoying playing the majority of the album out in my DJ sets recently.
IGLOO :: There are a handful of collabs on the album, personal favorite of mine being the opener with ambientkitty, can we expect to hear you on any forthcoming releases elsewhere?
QRTR :: There’s definitely a lot in the works at the moment! I found a real love for collaboration through this album and am so excited to work with more artists in the near future. :)
IGLOO :: Who should we be tuning our ears to that is up and coming?
QRTR :: Oh my, been rinsing the hell out of coffintexts, WTCHCRFT, Breaka, Elkka, and Jaymie Silk lately. There’s just been so much incredible music coming out the last year, it’s a very exciting time for electronic music!
IGLOO :: Cheers for the tips! Thank you so much Meagan!
infina ad nausea is available August 27, 2021 on Dome Of Doom. Photos: Bren Haragan
[Bandcamp | Website] | Link]
