Lee Burridge and Hoj’s story continues to expand as they mark their 5th release on their new imprint Tale and Tone with a fresh two-track package from Newman. As the name suggests, Newman is the new alias of a well-established artist’s reincarnation in the music scene. His story exemplifies the power of music’s ability to rejuvenate the soul. Find out a bit more about Newman and his world-inspired EP for Tale and Tone.

This is the first release under your new alias, what inspired the name change?

After being in the professional DJ business for 20 years, I wanted to reinvent myself. Focus my sound and my music with a much more defined and personal approach. This change has been 4 years in the making, it’s a reflection of a new start in my life, not only musically but also mentally and psychologically. I am finally emerging from a rough patch and now feel reinvigorated emotionally and artistically. I literally feel like a new person, hence the name Newman.

How did you get involved with Lee and Hoj?

I rediscovered Lee (from his Tyrant days) when I moved back to New York from Miami 4 years ago. I went to All Day I Dream in Brooklyn and connected instantly with the emotions in his music, as they were the same emotions I wanted to express in my music. It was a perfect fit. After I had done “the sky and the Earth”, I sent to him, he loved it and thus started our relationship. I met Hoj this past summer at All Day I Dream here in New York.

Loving the vocals and percussive work in both of these tunes. What inspired you towards a more mysterious / ethnic direction of music?

I always loved world music, and always mixed those elements in my dj sets throughout the years. You always hear about dj’s taking you on a journey and that was certainly my approach growing up in New York, playing 6 hour dj sets minimum. What a better way to send the crowd around the world than by using musical elements from everywhere.

What gear do you use in your studio?

It’s a very minimal setup. When I moved back to New York I sold all my analog gear and downgraded to a laptop, a midi controller and a good pair of headphones, to match New York city’s space and noise constraints.

Do you have a production ritual? If so, what is it?

I think of an idea first. It comes to me at the most random moment, hearing a sound on the streets, while watching a movie, riding my bike, sometimes listening to other genres of music… I rarely get to the computer without having a direction which could be a concept, a sample or a particular emotion i want to explore. Then the track takes a life of its own, sometimes it ends up being completely different than what i had previously envisioned.

Who are some of your biggest musical inspirations? From dance music? From all music?

No one in particular, at least no one that I can identify. My music is of course a reflection and an extension of my musical education but my musical tastes are so varied that I never caught onto one artist or one genre of music for too long. My insatiable thirst for something new has me looking everywhere.

What is your all time favorite track?

I don’t have one. I have many tracks and songs I love which touch me everytime i hear them. But for the same reasons I listed above I never get stuck on one song. One song might be a favorite because of the groove which gets my feet moving everytime, or makes me cry because of its the emotional intensity, or because It was incredibly produced…