In his artist bio, rising Australian electronic musician Child speaks of being brought up by a pack of wolves in the Siberian tundra, only later learning to communicate through the use of a glockenspiel and an old Commodore 64. While this fantasy speaks to the eccentric and unique nature of his music, the true tale of the Tribal Vision label’s latest signing, AKA Elliot Rothfield, is nearly just as interesting.

As I enter the Hawthorn Road print shop to begin our interview, Rothfield is busy at work. He gives a quick wave and motions for me to come look at the laptop screen in front of him. Playing back a clip that I can only describe as subterranean-melodic-techno, he begins to alter various parameters at a speed I find frightening. While this successful printer, publisher, promoter and now producer has gray hairs to show for his toil, how exactly does a 21 year-old turn a passion for music into a talent for it? The answer seems far too simple. “I basically began teaching myself to produce music around the end of high school and haven’t stopped since.”

But the shameful grin that accompanies the end of the sentence makes me think it’s more of an addiction than a passion. And while “practice makes perfect” was definitely a component of his electronic education, Rothfield places critical emphasis on his influences. “It was a privilege to get to work with the likes of Derrick May, Stacey Pullen & Funk D’void in my first year as a promoter for Hi Tek Soul. To be taken under Richard Maher’s wing and given the opportunity to learn about the industry from the inside out was a great experience. We have some great plans over the next year which I am pretty excited about.”

When I ask about his interests on the Australian side of things, Rothfield can’t help but stress his favorites. “Deepchild. Deepchild, Deepchild, Deepchild. He is just such a ridiculously good producer. I am very happy that we share four of the same letters in our stage name (if you only count D once).” Music also happens to run in the family. The eternally respected Raja Ram is his uncle, and cousin DJ Lucas is also renowned in the psychedelic trance scene, a sound that Rothfield had only recently come to understand.
“It’s actually kind of funny; as a kid I just didn’t get it. I remember being on family vacation and showing Raj and Lucas my latest Ministry of Sound purchase in an attempt to sound like a seasoned electronic enthusiast. Raj just gave a sly grin and handed me a Shpongle CD – his newer project at the time. I didn’t really appreciate it until standing on a beach in Thailand years later when it just clicked. I definitely understand the grin now.”

Despite the degree to which Rothfield’s history seems inextricably intertwined with the industry, I feel like there is still a piece of the puzzle missing. As he explains his songwriting style, I begin to understand just how integral eccentricity is to his music. “There are a couple of things that always find their way into tracks, but I’d like to think that there’s no such thing as a fail-proof formula. I remember listening to Aphex Twin talk about how electronic music should not be analyzed and that it is just music with no meaning behind it because of the lack of lyrics. I understand what he meant, but when I write tracks there’s always some sort of story in my head that tells me where to go next. When I wrote the ‘Reprise’ version of Japan I had this epic chronicle in my mind about a fat Japanese kid who can’t catch a break in Samurai school until the Samurai master travels from the hills to reveal that he is in fact The Chosen One. He thought his incredibly large rump was inhibiting his progress as a Samurai, but as he harnesses the power of it he defeats the dragon and becomes Emperor. That is actually the story behind the cover graphic as well.”

Confused and amused, I ask him to describe his sound in a nutshell. “Deep techno psychedelia. I call it deep just because of the instruments I use – most of the synths are pretty closed – and the mood I’m trying to evoke. It is techno just because it is techno…and psychedelic because it’s about making futuristic sounds.”

When I point out that “futuristic sounds” is a little vague when in the realm of the electronic, his response not only answers my questions but provokes a thousand more.
“We have been given the gift of all this amazingly advanced, and increasingly accessible, technology. Through computers we have the power of an orchestra of over 1000 instruments at our fingertips – to be satisfied making nice sounding melodies is a complete cop out. The aim is take production to the next level and push it as far as you possibly can. The tools are accessible to absolutely everyone – the availability means the playing field is level and the opportunity to do something exciting is huge. That is the great thing about working with electronic music. It is one of the few genres where I think regurgitation is kind of frowned upon. I think about guys like Extrawelt, Boards of Canada or James Holden who in every release are just trying to make the most unique sounds they can. That’s where I try to go with my music – to write something that makes two people look at each other and enjoy the most euphoric form of disbelief possible, both thinking, ‘did I really just fucking hear that?!’”

As the demo CD he had handed me on my way out plays on the drive home, I began to understand exactly what he meant. Twisted percussive samples and distant sounding melodic tones give a taste of what’s to come, before a consuming bass line surrounds you and toe tapping is induced by a suitably simple kick. The melody fills out and satisfies you while scatterings of eclectic distortion surprise you. Suddenly it becomes the soundtrack to the grey weather, packed streets and peak hour traffic. It has this way of lending method to surrounding madness. Best of all, it sounds like nothing I have ever heard in my life. Deep techno psychedelia indeed.

Child’s debut EP Japan: Legend of the Fat Bottomed Emperor is out now on Tribal Vision, and you can grab it Beatport. Check out www.childmusic.me for more info.