When artist-composer duo Arkfoo and Jeff Dodson got together and began making music, there was an unmistakable magic in the collaboration they eventually called Idle Echoes. Their very different approaches and writing styles made them somewhat of an unlikely pairing, but these differences have only strengthened their creative output, keeping it all fresh.
The result is some pretty amazing music that ALIBI is excited to release for streaming and download across platforms. Idle Echoes’ debut album, “Velvet Phoenix,” features tracks that vibe from ethereal and reflective to driving and pacing. Find it on
, , and .We recently got the chance to chat with Jeff and Arkfoo about their new collaboration for ALIBI and so much more. Here’s that interview:
ALIBI: When and how did you first begin working together musically?
Idle Echoes: We actually connected last year. As we bonded over our mutual love for making music and tinkering with technology, it was clear we had something special. Our first studio hangout was laid-back; we swapped tunes, shared stories, and brainstormed ideas for collaboration. Since then, our friendship has flourished, with each jam session serving as a learning experience. Together, we explore what inspires us and how we bring that magic into our music
ALIBI: Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process and how you approach each new track or album?
Idle Echoes: Typically, we both draft several musical sketches independently before swapping them. Incorporating each other's input, we refine these sketches into what resembles a finished product. Whether composing separately or together in the studio, our approach remains collaborative. We've discovered that our best tracks emerge from this joint creative process, where each idea is fully realized through our partnership
ALIBI: What has been the highlight of your collaboration so far?
Idle Echoes: It’s hard to nail down just one highlight. The experience has been both positive and educational. We come from different musical backgrounds and also employ different writing strategies. These differences have brought a real sense of “freshness” to our idea creation and implementation. We both feel that where our skill sets overlap, they are amplified, and where they are different, they add significant artistry to the other’s idea. But if we had to just pick two, it would be friendship and making great music we both believe in.
ALIBI: How did you find inspiration while working on the “Velvet Phoenix” album?
Arkfoo: As our debut release, it served as a litmus test for our collaborative process. Jeff started listening to a lot of Neil Frances and Jungle after asking for a playlist of inspiration from his partner to write a track as a challenge in a genre that he hadn’t dipped into before. We started by each crafting a sketch and exchanging them. Jeff infused mine with an indie touch, while I incorporated his, adding vocals and other elements to infuse a pop vibe. This initial exchange set the tone for our dynamic; we continuously spurred each other on to create compelling, original material that retained enough familiarity to align with the references.
ALIBI: Were you fans of the genre before you began working on it?
Arkfoo: This album was Jeff’s idea. I had heard of this type of music but didn’t spend a lot of time listening to it until we started working on the record. Jeff’s vision was clear, but with a lot of room for experimentation.
ALIBI: Do you each have a favorite track on the album? What is it and why?
Arkfoo: My favorite has to be
. I think it is the best example of the merging of our styles and skillsets.Plus, it’s just a really cool song!Jeff: I’d probably go with
. It was the first sketch for the release and acted as a landmark track for how our dual methods of composing fit together perfectly.ALIBI: What excites you most about this release?
Idle Echoes: This release has a sound, but is not constrained into a rigid sound pallet. We worked really hard to create songs that appealed to the audiences of this genre, but also crossed over into R&B, pop, and even a little rock.
ALIBI: Are you doing anything else exciting right now (career or otherwise) that you'd like to share with the world?
Arkfoo: I am releasing my solo album “Part of Something Beautiful” very soon. It is the culmination of four years of work. I believe this to be my best solo work to date.
Jeff: I just released my sixth album, as my sound-design-focused IDM project Defrag. I use it as a platform to make the most extreme music I can produce and also as a platform to test sound-design ideas that may end up being used in trailer design or ALIBI tracks.
ALIBI: What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not creating awesome music?
Arkfoo: My family is incredibly important to me. My wife, daughter, and daughter that’s on the way bring me such joy. When I’m not spending time with them, I’m investigating astrophysics, writing books, and exercising. Oh, and I love food, especially treats.
Jeff: My family and relationships as well. My lovable daughter brings constant smiles, and I tinker with a lot of pinball machines. My studio is sectioned into three parts: pinball, music studio and my driving/flight simulation rig.
ALIBI: What’s the best way people can follow your work?
Idle Echoes: For our collaborative “band,” you can follow us on Instagram at
. For Arkfoo, you can find him everywhere at . For Jeff, you can find him mostly just on Instagram at .