I first came upon the 20 year old Ukrainian-born producer Rostislav “Steve” Vaynshtok, better known by his alphabetized performance moniker AbdeCaf, while browsing through the North Coast Music Festival schedule. Now based in Miami, AbdeCaf produces instrumental tracks that have a unique blend of chillwave and electronica sounds. AbdeCaf released his Unravel EP in April, which is the first in a trio series that looks at his life in the past, present, and future. Currently working on finishing the follow up EP, Rebuild is scheduled to be released in September via Florida based Fluorescent Records, absolutely free. Between touring and plans of completing his EP trilogy before the end of 2012, AbdeCaf is ready to make his wave in the ocean of EDM music.

I had a chance to chat with AbdeCaf briefly before he made the trip to Chicago for North Coast Music Festival. See what he has to say below:
 
Music to read to.

 
The Sights and Sounds: First off, you have an interesting name. How did you come up with AbdeCaf?

AbdeCaf: It was a completely random word that I just came up with. It was between that and Such Passion, but I felt like Such Passion was pretentious and AbdeCaf ended up being very Google-Friendly.

The Sights and Sounds: You’re touring heavily this summer, what’s it like for you being on the road at such a young age?

AbdeCaf: Well, I’d like to be touring even more, but I’m not complaining. It’s a beautiful experience that I can’t quite get used to. Even after having done it once, flying to a city I’ve never set foot in, and playing my music in front of thousands of people, for money, will never become a familiar concept to me. It’s like standing there and watching your dreams come true at every second throughout that day as you go about your business. The flight is surreal, the ride from the airport to the show is surreal, stepping out on that stage and giving it your all is the best feeling. Nothing can ever compare to that emotional connection you and the people, who get what you’re trying to say with your music, have.

The Sights and Sounds: Between trying to finish your EP and touring, you’re pretty busy. What do you do in your free time?

AbdeCaf: I don’t have any. All my free time is music, listening to it, picking my favorite songs apart. I play PS3 when I’m home in my down time, lots of Max Payne 3 and Skyrim as of late. I’m a huge gaming fan, I’d like to score a video game one day. I’ve been stoked for Resident Evil 6 since it was announced so that’s definitely going to take up the first week of October for me. Other than that I just hang out with friends, and go to alot of shows at Grand Central which is a local venue in Downtown Miami

The Sights and Sounds: Speaking of your new EP, what can we expect?

AbdeCaf: It’s nothing like the first one. There’s elements of the first, but it’s a whole new animal. I’m hoping to establish a really vast range, and then I want the EP after it to encompass both elements of the first two, while introducing new stuff into the mix. Old Flame is the only song I’ve sampled on so far, but that might change. Expect live guitar on this one as well, I finally got a microphone to mic my cab up, and a sweet new Les Paul to play with.

The Sights and Sounds: You’re also 1/2 of #MAGICALPOWERS. Can you tell us a little more about that project?

AbdeCaf: It’s a fun thing to do, and this first EP was just completely silly, but the LP we’re working on is going to be extremely serious, and deep, with lots of Holy Other and oOooOO sounding tunes. Ptolemy’s a joker, we’re going to have alot of fun with this project, including dropping a bunch of differently themed albums with goofy names and appearances, but that will still maintain honest, experimental musicianship.
 

 
The Sights and Sounds: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

AbdeCaf: Life. What better muse is there? I wrote Unravel about the past two years of my life, Rebuild is written in the now, and Triumph will be my hopeful take on the future. They’re all based on my life and experiences and feelings. Of course, I draw inspiration from artists I admire like Flying Lotus, Holy Other, Clams Casino, The Weeknd, Drake, Kanye West, Toro Y Moi, Polica.

The Sights and Sounds: Who are you listening to on your iPod right now?

AbdeCaf: For lack of an iPod I just jam out on my laptop. But the most recent additions to my library are: JSHIH’s upcoming album, he shared it with Ptolemy after my show in Orlando and Ptolemy passed it along to me. Held by Holy Other is also new, one of the most amazing records I’ve ever heard. I got my hands on Flying Lotus’s new album early and that thing blew my mind, scooped it back into my head and blew it again. Polica’s album and their Remix EP is also a staple in my recent playlists. I recently started jamming to Imogen Heap again, her album Speak For Yourself.

The Sights and Sounds: If time wasn’t an issue, who would be the one person you would record a track with?

AbdeCaf: Johan Sebastian Bach. We’d make the best electronic music anyone’s ever heard.

The Sights and Sounds: What are you looking forward to most about Chicago and North Coast Music Festival?

AbdeCaf: The food! Chicago has so much great food. That and the women, and of course the festival itself! I’m going to be watching as many sets as I can before my set at the House of Blues. I’m excited to play in front of a festival crowd again, and then a House of Blues crowd. That’s a huge capacity venue, I’m excited just to see how I’m received opening for the heavy electro acts I’m opening for.
 

 
AbdeCaf will be performing at North Coast Music Festival Friday, August 31 at 3:45 on the Dos Equis stage. If you like what you hear, make sure you grab some of his sounds off SoundCloud and BeatPort.
 

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