Tarsius: Creating Symmetrical Timings

A Parallel Planets piece by Unknown

Parallel Planets presents Tarsius
in Creating Symmetrical Timings
Story and Interview by Mayee Gonzales

Mentioned: collaborations, beer consumption, and crashing funerals

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Systematic, solitary, and simple -- that’s how some people perceive electronic music. A redundant line of melody that doesn't necessarily need much effort, electronic music may just be a piece of device capable of producing harmonious time signatures for others. Yet even in this day of technology where software and synthesizers could be just another bargain, electronic music isn't at all convenient to form and execute.  And if you think it is, then you better think again.

Then we came across this electronic duo from the Philippines called Tarsius. With a name derived from a local primate specie, Tarsius is composed of Diego Mapa on laptop and Jay Gapasin on drums. Following this kind of set-up, Tarsius definitely isn’t your ordinary beat-syncing-club-pounding electronica act.

Combining electronic sources and live instrumentation, Tarsius’ sound is a unique mix of psychedelic, hip-hop, big beat, house, jungle, and alternative music. There is no surprise why Tarsius’ sound is so vast and all the same difficult to pigeon-hole considering that Tarsius is a band originating from several other bands – Diego fronts indie-rock outfit Pedicab and is one half of DJ duo The Diegos (really, just to name a few of his many efforts) while Jay also pounds the drums with jazz rock band Radioactive Sago Project among his other musical endeavors.

Once a solo electronic outlet for Diego, Tarsius was put into completion when he reunited with Jay in a Daedulus show a few years ago. Currently, Tarsius is a part of Manila-based record label Number Line Records collective and has made quite a name not only in the Filipino music scene but also in a few Asian regions where they have played live. With an array of musical influences and personal experiences, Tarsius is an extravaganza illustration whether on earphones or stage. These two fine gents pinpoint groups like Aphex Twin, Yellow Magic Orchestra, VST, and Human League as their common influences when it comes to creating music and executing a fine performance.

Aside from playing gigs, Tarsius is also on-the-go when composing music for film. One of their most notable works is their contribution to Filipino film “Ang Nawawala” by Marie Jamora which has been acclaimed in various international film festivals. Their single “Deathless Gods” has made rounds in different musical outlets with its catchy yet eccentric tune.

As a personal acclaim, Tarsius is one electronic high you wouldn’t want to miss. Whether sober or after having a few shots in your local bar, Tarsius’ music pounds and enters one system as if it was your own. Loud and truest to its sense, there is no need for trippy club lights or a fine drug sample to enjoy Tarsius’ music. Because really, all you have to do is listen and dance.

Parallel Planets is honoured to talk to Tarsius as part of our collaboration with Hong Kong and Manila-based event production Intastella Burst. From their beginnings, alternate surroundings, and future plans, read more about Diego and Jay in our interview below.

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Parallel Planets: Hi, Diego and Jay! Please tell something about Tarsius as a band and before it became one.

Diego Mapa: "First, of course, I’m with Pedicab and Jay is with Radioactive Sago Project. We played several shows together before and electronic music was our common topic. When Tarsius got invited to play at the first Numberline Records show, I invited him to join me while I was on laptop and him on drums. We hit on easily and the live result was also very pleasing. After that I had already a few tracks and have recorded live drums on them. We also collaborate thru online."

Jay Gapasin: "Tarsius became a band when I received a call from Diego asking if I can play drums for Tarsius." 

Parallel Planets: When and how did your inclination with electronic music begin?

DM: "I don’t know with Jay but for me [it started] as early as Depeche Mode, Beastie Boys, Beck, Cibo Matto, and Towa Tei. I just went to explore more from those."

JG: "I started listening to jungle way back 1996 and from there I discovered a lot of electronic artists and producers. From Stockhausen, Pierre Schaeffer, White Noise to Squarepusher, Aphex Twin, and Daedelus."

Parallel Planets: What defines your artistic style? What are your “trademarks”?

DM: "I guess we try to experience all electronic genres we love and mash them altogether.  Some say we’re sort of psychedelic electronic and that’s good enough for me."

JG: "I’m not quite sure about that. With Diego every live performance is improvised. I guess the approach is [that] we try to play like jazz musicians with laser guns."

Parallel Planets: What influences your work? Who inspires you?

DM: "Of course old and new music, films, also our fellow musicians and DJs that we get to see."

JG: "My current existence and curiosity."

Parallel Planets: There are several electronic acts in the Philippines now – what makes Tarsius stand out?

DM: "Hmm, maybe [the fact that] we’re just two and we try to bang it out real hard with our drums and laptop."

JG: "Maybe what makes us different from the rest is our total  beverage consumption during gigs."

photo by Jerico Placido

photo by Jerico Placido

Parallel Planets: Tarsius is a band full of collaborations; you’ve worked with Slow Hello, Archaster, and Similar Objects to name a few. What is it with collaborating that you most like about?

DM: "Ah, of course we love collaborating with artists we love.  We also like that feeling when the artists we jam with takes the track to another level that we could not achieve alone."

JG: "The whole process of building a track."

Parallel Planets: Both of you came from different bands before Tarsius; Diego with Monsterbot, Cambio, and Pedicab and Jay with Radioactive Sago Project. What’s the difference between working with these bands and playing for Tarsius now?

DM: "It’s different jamming as a two piece. Also [being] with other personalities is a different experience."

JG: "With Tarsius I need to keep up and lock my time with the machine; and I use at least three monitors."

Parallel Planets: You’ve played for several shows with Intastella Burst – so far, how has the experience been?

DM: "Chi is very nice to us and he is very deep into music. He is also very persistent in getting his shows across.  He likes introducing new music and I think he cares about that more that earning from his shows. Which I think is a really good thing. I’m looking forward to supporting more of his shows."

JG: "Great! There’s this one show in HK where we played a 1 hour and 30 minute set. Burned a lot of calories that night."

Parallel Planets: Aside from music, what other creative pursuits are you interested in? Tell us more about the other side of Diego and Jay.

DM: "Jay likes to cook, haha. Lately I also got into producing shirts."

JG: "I paint. I use watercolor."

Parallel Planets: Mention three of your favorite things in the world.

DM: "Vinyl records, comics, toys, food!"

JG: "Eggs, Red Horse beer, and a good sleep."

Parallel Planets: Do you have any weird habits? Strange desires? Unlikely fetishes? Surprise us.

DM: "I don’t play basketball, or [basically] I don’t have any sports.  I don’t know if that’s strange.  I can only play badminton and billiards."

JG: "I like smelling things."

Parallel Planets: What project(s) are you currently working on? What should we look forward to?

DM: "We’re still trying to make new music but we're taking our time.  Please come to our shows, that’s what we’re into now -- experimenting with our live set. Thank you!"

JG: "Remixes."

Parallel Planets: In this planet that we're thriving in—

What is your power animal?

DM: "Maybe cats?  Because I have cats in the house."

Who is your alternate ego?

DM: "Eggboy, my first four-track side project is my alter ego because he’s the more organic side of whatever I do I guess.  Also when I’m drunk, then that’s my alter ego."

JG: "Bernardo Carpio. I keep mountains from crashing to each other."

Parallel Planets: In an alternate universe where music does not exist—

What would your name be?

DM: "I would be probably Sound Design. Since music does not exist I guess I would play with natural sound."

JG: "Chazz Reinhold."

What would you be doing instead?

JG: "Crashing funerals."

photo by Jerico Placido

photo by Jerico Placido

MORE FROM TARSIUS

facebook.com/tarsiusmanila

numberlinerecords.com

Editor's Note: Extra-terrestrial thanks to Chi Brotonel of Intastella Burst for hooking Parallel Planets up with Tarsius.