SirensCeol

Origin: None

SirensCeol aka Stephen Burke, entered the music world at the young age of 11. At that time he found his love for music through his first introduction to the piano in Danville, California. He began taking lessons and eventually became a very accomplished pianist. However, in 2011 Stephen made a switch to electronic music and found his passion. Now at the age of 20, SirensCeol (Sirens Soul) has begun to make a name for himself in the world of EDM.  Some of his most prominent inspirations have been producers such as Madeon, Krewella, Zedd and KDrew.  However, he also feels that one of his greatest inspirations has been Beethoven. Currently, Stephen spends most of his time at home producing music while attending UC Berkeley and slowly making his way to the top.

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I come from a fairly quiet town and have been independent nearly my entire life, which has certainly allowed me to focus a lot of time on my music career. Aside from that I attend school at UC Berkeley and am studying business management as I’ve seemed to have always maintained a very entrepreneurial mindset my entire life and the idea of starting an original business has always excited me. Other than that I am also a division 1 athlete at UC Berkeley on the track and field team and was recruited for it out of high school. And ultimately for those who may be afraid to reach out, I’m extremely friendly and always willing to talk to anyone, I love being independent, but I also love people. Never had an enemy in my life!

 

Interview

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Home Town: Danville, CA
Currently Living: Berkeley, CA
Origin Of Name: Yes, I’ve always been interested in Greek mythology and Sirens are the characters in which mermaids used their music to lure in ships from out at sea. Ceol is the Gaelic word for music and I chose it because I have a strong Irish heritage. So together it means Sirens Music.
Weapon of Choice: I would consider my weapon of choice to be the program in which I use to make my music, which is Ableton Live. Also going hand in hand with nearly 10 years of practice in music theory.
Source of Power: Before I got into electronic music, I was classically trained and my biggest influence was, and still is, Ludwig Van Beethoven. I’ve always had a keen liking towards darker music because I sense more emotion through it. In terms of electronic music I am extremely influenced by the up-and-coming producers and I envy the creativity that is being introduced into the scene by each one of them. So much talent!

Was there one particular moment in the recording or mixing process for your Discovery Project entry that made you feel like you were creating something pretty damn special?
It is nearly impossible to be able to tell what is going to be incredibly special and what isn’t going to be. Sometimes it’s the pieces of work that you feel to be your worst that end up being put in the spotlight. So I guess my point is, the entire process of creation, and ultimately being selected as a winner, is all pretty damn special!

Are there any dots to connect with where/how you grew up to your musical output?
I started playing piano in about 6th grade because we had one in my house but it was never played. I decided one day to sit down and play it, and from then on I have never loved anything more in my life than creating music. And even if I may not be the absolute best and most talented, the pleasure I get from it is unlike anything I’ve felt in my life. I would say music was entirely a natural occurrence in my life.

What do your parents think of what you are doing?
To be honest, I’m not sure if they even know what it’s called. But as more time passes they have come to appreciate it even if it is tailored towards a younger generation. They have given me incredible support along the way and I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for them. However, they would reallylove for me to finish school! But what parent wouldn’t!

What makes you shake your head in wonderment about being a DJ and producer?
That it is incredibly different being on the stage rather than in the crowd. I normally don’t feel comfortable in the crowd, but when I’m on stage, everything just feels perfect. Those moments are what truly can make me forget about everything in the world around me.

What’s the biggest misconception about being a DJ?
I feel that I haven’t had enough experience yet to answer this question, but I think the most common misconception people have is when they say, “oh yeah you’re a DJ” and then they go on to make gestures with their hands showing someone manipulating old school vinyl turntables. Another huge misconception is the lack of knowledge most listeners have on how important song selection is in a DJ set, and skills truly vary across genres of music.

How does what you do for a living affect you on a day-to-day basis?
It definitely takes away from being able to constantly be available, or communicate. Most days I am in my room perfecting one sound or song for hours on end and I don’t get out much because of it. But those moments on stage that I mentioned earlier make it all worth it. It is an incredibly time consuming job but it is so much fun!

What is your ultimate career dream?
My ultimate career dream is to be as happy as I can be, and be able to give back to the amazing community that has allowed me to end up where I do.

Are you impulsive with your work or do you have a sketch in mind before you start?
Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Usually when I start a new song I have an idea, however that exact idea rarely can be reproduced, but that is the fun in it all. I never know exactly where a track of mine will end up.

How, if at all, does listening to music figure into your creative process?
It influences it a lot actually. A lot of inspiration of mine comes from listening to music from any and all genres. The last song I heard that influenced me was actually for my latest track, “Fire,” which was influenced from a song I heard in a friend’s car (not sure the title) but as soon as I got back home I hit the studio and released the track the next day.

What’s the most important piece of gear in your studio?
Definitely my studio monitors. Being able to hear exactly how your music and mix sound is essential to getting things just right! Wide frequency ranges in speakers is a very important piece to any studio.

How important is it for you to experiment and take on the risk of failure?
Considering how progressive the electronic music scene has become, experimenting seems to be becoming a new normality. At the end of the day, nothing is a failure as long as you have enjoyed what you produce and considering how many people there are in the world, there is bound to always be someone out there who appreciates every sound you make.

Do you have a list of people you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
I don’t have a solid list. In fact I just enjoy collaborating with anyone that I find talented and whom I think I would work well with!

If we pressed Shuffle on your iPod while you went to the bathroom, what would you be embarrassed to come back to us listening to?
Well, I have a pretty big guilty pleasure towards John Mayer. I used to be a singer songwriter and he was perhaps my greatest influence in that point in time.

What sound or noise do you love?
I’ve always had a passion for softer sounds, but it can easily range into even the heaviest of ones. But at the end of the day, nothing hits my music bone quite like a complex 8-bit noise.

What should everyone just shut the fuck up about?
That the EDM scene is dying. People. It’s only beginning…

What gets you excited when you think about the future of electronic music and club culture?
I’m excited to see it becoming more mainstream, which can allow it to be respected as a notable source of music culture and genre.

When you look at electronic music and the surrounding culture, what worries you about the future?
The scene needs to “grow up” a bit. Most people seem to attend these events and festivals to party, but trust me…the DJ wants you to actually listen.

What are your weaknesses?
My biggest weakness is that sometimes I can be very influenced by certain people. I don’t want to fall into any traps or become a sell out but hopefully I’ll keep my good friends around to keep me down to Earth.

Do you have a secret passion?
My secret passion is horror movies with lots of blood and gore. Love ‘em.

How would you describe your sound to a deaf person?
I would probably show them a picture of heaven and hell put together.

Is success physical or internal?
Definitely internal. I could have something great happen to me, and you wouldn’t be able to even tell. I’ve always had a very subtle personality and I like to save the energy for when I’m on the stage.

What do you remember about your first DJ gig?
I remember that I almost couldn’t play because I had no chords. I was also happy to see more than 10 people there!

What’s the hardest professional lesson you’ve learned thus far?
To accept serious and constructive criticism. No matter how much being told a song you’ve spent a lot of time on sucks, it’s what drives us all to be better.

Tell me about your most memorable night out.
I think it is yet to come; most likely will be this coming weekend at EDC!

What advice would you offer someone thinking about entering the Discovery Project competition?
I would give the advice to enter only when you feel you are ready. Being prepared is extremely crucial to achieving goals—big or small. But even more importantly and perhaps rather cliché, is never give up!

Last words?
I actually made a goal for myself that the first festival I attend is one I’m playing at. And through the Discovery Project, I’ve completed that.

Winning Track:

 

 

Soundcloud:

 

 

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