Parra for Cuva

Nicolas Demuth, known by his stage name Parra for Cuva (born in 1991 in Göttingen) is a German electronic music producer and DJ.

Parra for Cuva
Birth nameNicolas Demuth
Born1991
Göttingen, Germany
OriginBerlin, Germany
GenresElectronica
Occupation(s)Disc jockey, music producer
Years active2013–present
Labels
[1]
Associated actsAnna Naklab
Websiteparraforcuva.com

Career

Life and early music career

Nicolas Demuth grew up in a small town close to Göttingen in the state of Lower Saxony, Germany.[2] When he was 11 years old he learned to play the piano and became interested in pieces of the French composer Debussy. After his piano teacher changed, he started to be engaged with jazz improvisations, with a focus on the jazz piano.[3] In 2009 Demuth started to print out midi piano notes with the help of a simple program, and then mixed his first piano pieces with hip hop elements.[4] After his A-levels Demuth moved to Berlin to study audio design.[3]

He first called himself "Natur-Klang" before he decided to choose the stage name "Parra for Cuva". His stage name originates in various Spanish words and means between the world / for / Cuva.[5]

2013–2014 career

Nicolas Demuth and Anna Naklab grew up in the same town as neighbors and have been friends ever since their youth. Under the stage name Nianband they published different songs and had some local performances.[6][7] Demuth took over the piano part whereas Naklab played the guitar and sang. The Nianband's musical focus was based on calm and rather relaxed compositions.[5] In the spring of 2013 Demuth and Naklab published "Fading Nights" on the French label Delicieuse Musique Records followed by a joint production of "Something Near" on the label Well Done Music! from Berlin.[5]

In September 2013 the cover (remix) single "Wicked Games" was released by Demuth and featured Naklab. The song is a cover version of Chris Isaak's "Wicked Games" and was published on the label Spinnin' Records.[8] "Wicked Games" was released on Beatport, a U.S. based electronica website. A mainstream release in France in October 2013 was followed by a German release in February 2014. The song charted at number 6 in the United Kingdom.[9] The song also charted in France, Belgium, Netherlands and other European nations. This popularity led to Demuth's international breakthrough.[5]

In November 2013, the instrumental single "Luhya" was released on the label Delicieuse Musique Records.[10][11] November 2013 also brought the Aérotique and Parra for Cuva release of the EP (short track album) titled Unique, with four tracks, on the label Sinnmusik.[12][13] In February 2014, Demuth along with artist Egokind and Jona Mayr released an EP titled First Chapter, on the label Lenient Tales.[14] Soon after, Demuth, Ascii Code and Viken Arman released the EP titled Veiled in Blue, on the label Traum/TRAUMV179.[15] [16]

2015: debut album: Majouré

In January 2015 Nicolas Demuths debut album Majouré (French for "superior force") was released on the label Lenient Tales Recordings.[17][18] It contained twelve songs, with iTunes offering a bonus song.[19] The song Devi features hip hop artist Nieve; the title track Majouré features Casey K; and the song Champa features Monsoonsiren.[20][21] All songs feature distinct foundations of electronic music mixed with a variety of musical influences of other genres.[22]

2016: second album: Darwîś

A darwīš is a religious monk dedicating his entire existence to the advancement of faith and meditation. Although he believes in Allah, he can be described predominantly as a mystic. Refraining from any form of material wealth and even societal appreciation, holy enlightenment is his true aim.

After finishing up their semester at university, Nicolas and Jonas – or Parra for Cuva & Senoy – decided to pack all their gear into their camper and go on a road trip down to the eastern coast of Spain. With the car filled with all kinds of gear, from synths to speakers, guitars, and percussions amongst other tools and toys, three creative weeks ensued, creating music with a view out to the sea. While taking everything in and doing daily trips, the two were able to create enough song ideas in three weeks to spend the rest of the year at home in the studio to finish all arrangements and mixes. Inspired by the Spanish way of life in a small and historically rich port town, a stark contrast to life Berlin, and soaking up diverse musical influences, the individual titles are highly personal and reflect on specific emotions or intimate experiences.

During the arrangement of the title song, the percussion track was accidentally dragged to infinity, which resulted in a trance inducing meditative sound that gave them the idea for the title. Watching Turkish dervish dancers while listening should therefore enhance the listening experience.[23][24]

2017: Mood in C

Mood in C is the latest EP by Parra for Cuva. Following the highly acclaimed album Darwīš together with Senoy on Project Mooncircle, the release is a collection of songs that were created in and around the previous year. The title song "Mood in C" was composed after the Ethiopian pentatonic scale that is deeply intertwined with both the spirituality of the people but also the war-torn and deeply trenched history of the country. Furthermore, it combines guitar effects with synths and all sounds were recorded analog with the help of effects units. The song "Unfinished Colours" together with "Others" is the first collaboration of a future joint project of the two friends. All percussion was either recorded on journeys and travels or at home with everyday objects to give the EP a unique sound.[25]

2018: Paspatou

Berlin producer Parra De Cuva, aka Nicolas Demuth, has been on a roll these last couple of months with his oft cinematic sprawling, hypnotic shuffling electronic tracks. In fact, the platinum selling artist just released his new full length, Paspatou, exactly a month ago. A slew of enthralling music videos have surfaced for scintillating tracks from the record, including Cleopatra, featuring May, which you can view above. May’s silky soulful voice dances effortlessly over Parra De Cuva’s lavish pleats of skittering percussion and rumbling beats, culminating an awe-inspiring, heart-bursting beauty of an electronic opus. Also not to be missed is the striking visual accompaniment for album track Cupa Cupa, below, an ambient world-beat inspired electronic masterpiece, plus the video for title track Paspatou, a breathtaking expanse of wonder that illuminates the world around us in a bittersweet yet sanguine light. [26]

Music style

The songs produced by Nicolas Demuth combine elements of house and pop music, piano compositions and downtempo. Many of his electronic pieces find their origin in piano music through sketches or with the help of complete solo pieces. Artists such as Ludovico Einaudi and Bonobo are Demuth's sources of inspiration next to many others. His set Plains of Ostara starts with Einaudis' piece Andare. Next to the piano many other instruments such as a kalimba, steeldrums, carillons, guitars and accordions can be found in Demuth's productions.[4]

Discography

Studio albums
Title Album details
Majouré
  • Released: 15 January 2015[27][28]
  • Label: Lenient Tales Recordings[29]
  • Formats: vinyl, CD, digital download
Darwîś
Paspatou
  • Released: 22 February 2018[30]
  • Formats: vinyl, digital download

Extended plays
Title Details
Fading Nights (feat. Anna Naklab)[31]
  • Released: 8 May 2013
  • Label: Deliceuse Records
  • Formats: digital download
Something Near (feat. Anna Naklab)[32]
  • Released: 21 June 2013
  • Label: Well Done Musik*
  • Formats: digital download
Luhja[33]
  • Released: 25 November 2013
  • Label: Deliceuse Records*
  • Formats: digital download
Unique[34]
  • Released: 29 November 2013
  • Label: sinnmusik*
  • Formats: digital download
First Chapter (with Egokind & Jona Mayr) [35]
  • Released: 21 February 2014
  • Label: Lenient Tales Recordings
  • Formats: digital download
Veiled in blue(with Ascii Code & Viken Arman) [36]
  • Released: 4 August 2014
  • Label: Traum
  • Formats: digital download
Champa[37]
  • Released: 1 May 2015
  • Label: Lenient Tales
  • Formats: digital download
Mood in C[38]
  • Released: 17 February 2017
  • Label: Project Mooncircle
  • Formats: digital download

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
GER
[39]		 AUS
[40]		 BEL
[41]		 FRA
[42]		 NL
[43]		 UK
[9]
2013 "Fading Nights"
(featuring Anna Naklab)		 —————— rowspan="6" data-sort-value="" style="background: #ececec; color: #2C2C2C; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | non-album single
"Something Near"
(featuring Anna Naklab)		 ——————
"Luhya" ——————
2014 "Wicked Games"
(featuring Anna Naklab)		 8914157166
2016 "Sacred Feathers"[45] ——————
2017 "Pigment"
(Christian Löffler- Reinterpretation by Parra for Cuva)[46]		 ——————
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory.
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References
  1. "Parra for Cuva, About". Official Facebook. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  2. Interview mit Parra for Cuva elektroaktivisten.de. Retrieved, 14 January 2015.
  3. Featured Artist – Parra For Cuva… Archived 13 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine blog.rormix.com. Retrieved, 14 January 2015.
  4. Anne: Parra for Cuva im Interview: “Es geht hauptsächlich darum, Gefühle durch die Musik auszudrücken”. replaymag.de, 21 Juni 2013. Retrieved, 14 January 2015.
  5. Benjamin Reibert (16 June 2013). "Parra for Cuva (WellDone!): "Meine damalige Nachbarin hat fast die Polizei gerufen"". trndmusik. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  6. "Parra for Cuva - Nianband". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  7. "Nianband". SoundCloud. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  8. "Parra For Cuva Ft. Anna Naklab – Wicked Game". Discogs. Spinnin' Records. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  9. "Official Singles Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 27 December 2016.
  10. "Parra for Cuva - Luhya". SoundCloud. SoundCloud. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  11. "Delicieuse Musique". www.delicieuse-musique.com. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  12. "Aérotique – Unique EP". AÉROTIQUE. Sinnmusik. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  13. "SM010 - Aérotique & Parra For Cuva - Unique". sinnmusik* Your Favorite Record Label. Sinnmusik. 29 November 2013.
  14. "Parra for Cuva, Egokind, Jona Mayr New Releases: First Chapter". pro.beatport.com. Beatport. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  15. "Parra for Cuva, Ascii Code, Viken Arman New Releases: Veiled In Blue EP on Beatport". pro.beatport.com. Beatport LLC. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  16. Parra For Cuva, Egokind und Jona Mayr auf einer EP. trndmusik.de, 23. January 2014. Retrieved, 14 January 2015.
  17. "Parra For Cuva - Majouré". Discogs. Discogs. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  18. "Parra for Cuva New Release: Majouré". pro.beatport.com. Beatport. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  19. "Majouré by Parra for Cuva on iTunes". itunes.apple.com. itunes. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  20. "Casey K. Bio | Casey K. Career". MTV Artists. MTV. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  21. "Monsoonsiren". discogs.com. Discogs. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  22. Akanksha Chauhan: Review: Upcoming Album Parra For Cuva’s ‘Majoure’ on Lenient Tales Recordings + Album Preview. Archived 13 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine euphoricmag.com. 26. November 2014. Retrieved, 14 January 2015.
  23. https://projectmooncircle.bandcamp.com/album/darw
  24. http://projectmooncircle.com/releases/parra-for-cuva-senoy-darwis/
  25. http://projectmooncircle.com/releases/parra-for-cuva-mood-in-c/
  26. http://iheartmoosiq.tumblr.com/post/181475898974/berlin-producer-parra-de-cuva-aka-nicolas-demuth/amp
  27. "Majouré by Parra for Cuva on iTunes". iTunes.
  28. "Album release Majouré by Parra for Cuva". muzoic.org. muzoic. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  29. "Majouré (album sampler)". soundcloud.com. SoundCloud. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  30. http://www.itunescharts.net/artists/music/parra-for-cuva/albums/paspatou/
  31. https://delicieuserecords.bandcamp.com/album/fading-nights-ep
  32. http://trndmusik.de/2013/06/parra-for-cuva-anna-naklab-releasen-something-near-ep/?lang=en
  33. https://soundcloud.com/delicieuse-musique/sets/d012-parra-for-cuva-luhya-ep
  34. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/unique-ep/id783614361
  35. https://itunes.apple.com/de/album/first-chapter-ep/id970567634
  36. https://www.beatport.com/release/veiled-in-blue-ep/1337494
  37. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/champa-remix-feat.-monsoonsiren/id983665658
  38. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/mood-in-c-ep/id1201905967
  39. "German Chart Position (89)". Offizielle Deutsche Charts. GfK Entertainment.
  40. "Australian Chart Position (14)". australian-charts.com. Hung Medien.
  41. "Belgium Chart Position (15)". ULTRATOP. ULTRATOP & Hung Medien.
  42. "France Chart Position (71)". lescharts.com. Hung Medien.
  43. "Netherlands Chart Position (6)". dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.
  44. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/httpwww.aria.com.aupageshttpwww.aria.com.aupagesSingleAccreds2017.htm
  45. https://www.beatport.com/track/sacred-feathers-original-mix/7612584
  46. https://www.beatport.com/release/pigment-parra-for-cuva-piano-reinterpretation/1988099
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