Improvised Jams: An interview with Move78

Move78, the jazz-hip-hop collective known for their fusion of live instrumentation with machines, are united by AVER, a prolific producer and lynchpin behind the band's sonic landscape. Merging jazz with the beat-driven precision of hip-hop, Move78 have a sound that's both human and algorithmic. We grabbed Joe Mills (aka AVER) for a quick chat ahead of the Refuge Worldwide 4th Birthday, which will see Move78 perform live in room one on February 1st. Tickets recommended!

---

Joe! Which bands or artists would you say are currently your peers?

Feel a bit odd saying “we’re on par with such and such a band or artist”, as I guess that is for others to decide, but as far as inspiration and folks I look to for innovation I’d say the likes of Makaya McCraven, Irreversible Entanglements, Sault & Cleo Sol, muva of Earth and Nala Sinephro.

The cast of Move78 seems to fluctuate, why is that and who is involved?

The core line-up of me, Doron Segal (keys), Nir Sabag (drums) and Hal Strewe (bass) has been the same from the start, with Meravi Goldman (French horn) becoming a permanent fixture during the pandemic. 

Because of the sample-based nature of the recording process, we collaborate with a lot of friends from Berlin, whose parts generally populate my sampler for live shows once they’ve been woven into the recorded material, and if we get a chance to get them involved on stage - most likely when playing Berlin - we do so.

Folks we work with frequently are Ayjay Nils, Douniah and Eric Owusu, with them appearing on a number of releases and making up a fundamental part of the band’s sound. The list of other musicians is too long to recite but one RW-related one is Geoff Kemback (host of the Loose Ends show) who plays strings on the first two albums.

You made a lot of music as AVER before forming Move78, how does your creative drive differ between the projects and what kind of output were you making as a solo artist?

The drive is the same, no matter what. I love making collages out of sounds, be it raps, jazz or field recordings, whatever. I independently released my first record Dayse & Aver with my mates from Manchester in 2011 and since then I’ve been an integral part of something like 13 full-length albums, 7 EPs or double-a-side singles and drum break record.

The output was originally straight beats for raps and then this evolved over the years into more complex structures and once I moved to Berlin - no longer surrounded by rappers - I started to stretch out the instrumental beats, which I then started getting musicians to play on and that’s kinda where the band starts

What role does improvisation play in your music, both in the studio and live performances? 

Everything the band does is improvised. No musical notation is made for any of the tracks. We improvise for hours on end in the studio. I’ll then make finished songs out of these, maybe adding more layers of improv along the way. Trying to form more solid song structures from the jams. We then learn these structures and then replay them on stage but in such a way that hopefully they sound different to the recordings for both the audience and the band.

Where do you draw inspiration from outside of music—films, books, or life experiences?

I’d say I’m a pretty big art nerd, so I take inspiration from a range of figures from David Hockney to Leonora Carrington or Rammellzee to Joan Mitchell. For me, there are huge parallels between visual art and music and writing as well. I’m currently reading a book called Ninth Street Women, which is an exhaustive look at the Abstract Expressionist movement in New York in the 20th Century and in it it often cites the impact jazz had on the likes of Jackson Pollock or Elaine De Kooning. Inspiration is everywhere, you just gotta be open to it.

You’ve done quite a few Refuge Worldwide radio shows in your time huh? Involved since day one. How has the show grown over the last four years, what do you enjoy about it?

True true, we’re on around 80 shows in total at the minute. I mostly enjoy doing the research to make the shows and listening to tons of music in the process. It stimulates ideas and the show operates as a low-pressure testing site for loads of random ideas I have, like the voicenote collage I made for the end of Episode 4 has now become a part of the band’s next album.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through your musical journey?

The process is the purpose!

What’s something about Move78 that your fans might be surprised to learn?

The band was formed through Tinder :)

Are there any dream collaborations you’d love to make happen in the future?

muva of Earth, Nala Sinephro or Inflo.

Tell me your favourite gig of 2024?

International Anthem Recording Company hosted a two-day event at 90mil of improvised music, with artists from LA, New York, Chicago, London and Berlin all playing together for the first time. For me and Doron, the standout performance was by Jeremiah Chui on modular synths, Frank Rosaly on drums and Cassie Kinoshi on saxophone and FX. I hear Cassie has recently moved to Berlin, so would be keen to try collaborate with her soon as well.

What are you most looking forward to in 2025?

The completion of a 5-album body of work we have been making since 2019. I kinda see it as my pHd or masters (that no one asked me to do). We should have the fifth album “In The Age Of Data” completed by April, ready for release at the end of the year. I’ll obviously be dropping loads of sneak previews on Refuge Worldwide so be sure to tune it :) Cheers boss! See you 1st February.

Tickets for Refuge Worldwide's 4th Birthday are here.