Tripolism: A journey through ‘Absolute Dope’

Emerging from Copenhagen as a compelling force in the electronic music scene, Tripolism has carved a distinct niche with its fusion of house, disco, techno, signature vocals, and an unwavering spirit of positivity.

Photo credit: Dennis Morton

Signing with Ultra Records in 2023, they captivated audiences with their debut single and continued to build momentum in 2024 with notable releases.

Their debut album, ‘Absolute Dope’, released in 2024, is a testament to their innovative approach, blending genres and influences, and marking them as pioneers in the music landscape. The album, a significant milestone in their journey, contains chart-topping singles and fresh tracks, each with its unique personality, embodying a musical road trip.

EG recently had the chance to engage in an insightful conversation with Tripolism about their latest album release, their exciting future projects, and their upcoming endeavors. The trio is set to captivate audiences across Europe throughout spring and fall, with an array of awaited releases on the horizon.

EG: Hi, guys! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. Where are you at right now? How have you been?

Tripolism: EG, it’s a pleasure being here. We’re in the studio in the Copenhagen Nordvest neighborhood. It’s 23:53 Danish time. In seven minutes, our debut album, ‘Absolute Dope,’ is out, but we’re busy finishing up our next big thing. That’s how we roll! Always on the move.

EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your debut album, ‘Absolute Dope’! You must have been excited to be able to share this one with everyone. What has the initial reception been like so far?

Tripolism: Well, it’s only out in 42 countries, but a guy on Instagram just wrote, “Witnessing history being made here” on our album post. Hahaha! So if that’s all the reception we get, we’re still happy. We’ve been touring the last few months, and the reception of our new tracks has been huge. Now we’re releasing a handful of tracks that are more for listening than dancing, and we’re curious about how people will receive them.

EG: So, what can your fans expect to find on ‘Absolute Dope’? Is there a concept or trigger driving this one? What was the catalyst for such a title?

Tripolism: This is a hat tip to the legendary ‘Absolute’ record compilation. They had the mainstream ‘Absolute Music,’ but the real god was ‘Absolute Dance.’ That first compilation… Pure 90s gold. Cut’N’Move, Snap, Dr. Alban. And after our success with ‘Dope Dance,’ we thought this name was perfect. It’s a vibe. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. Just have a dope time! Absolutely.

EG: And musically speaking? What was the recording process for ‘Absolute Dope’ like? Did you set out with a clear destination in mind?

Tripolism: It took us five years to get here. We’ve been in the studio every single Thursday since 2019. We actually made a five-year plan back then, and the goal was to play Ibiza in 2024. We’re playing Circoloco, Pasha, and Chinois this year. It’s a childhood dream come true, and to share it as friends is the biggest thing ever. Regarding the recording process… Oh, it’s been a bumpy ride. But all the detours on the musical journey have been worth it. We love trying out and testing new stuff. Our music from five years ago was not really good, to be honest. But because of all the detours, we got where we wanted to go. We are thankful for that.

“It’s a childhood dream come true, and to share it as friends is the biggest thing ever”

EG: By the way, ‘Dope Dance’, ‘Luna Love’ and ‘Whatever We Call It’ have all been named BBC Radio 1 Essential New Tunes in 2023, and ‘Soultrain’, ‘Ras In France’, and ‘Good Times’ have all been extremely well received throughout this year. Were you guys expecting ‘Absolute Dope’ to hit the ground running like it has?

Tripolism: No, and every time it happens, we’re running around screaming. We don’t take anything for granted. We’ve listened to Pete’s show since we were kids. Trentemøller’s essential mix from 2006 was where it all started for us. Getting this kind of reception and support means everything to us. We hope the rest of the album will be received in the same way.

EG: Are there any plans to showcase ‘Absolute Dope’ in a live setting?

Tripolism: We’ve made a plan with the lovely lads from our booking agency, UTA. Right now, we’re doing all the DJ gigs we can. But we can’t hide the fact that we see ourselves as a live act in the future. Incorporating our own voices in a lot of the tracks is part of this process. It won’t be tomorrow or maybe not even in 2025. But it will happen.

EG: Now, stepping outside of the studio for a bit…What do you think the future of electronic dance music looks like? Are all these innovations and big-screen festival performances bringing us closer or farther away from the music? Have we lost something along the way?

Tripolism: The love for electronic music is on the rise, and we love that the scene is expanding in every way. But going to one of those dark nightclubs in a basement with a no-phone policy and seeing people connecting with the DJ in another way is something special. Remember the culture and what it’s all about. We want to have a good time and play big stages with big screens, but we also want to mix it with small, intimate gigs. We guess there is room for both.

EG: How do you feel about the recent implementation of AI in the creative side of music? Have you explored any form of AI recently on ‘Absolute Dope’? What’s your relationship with that like?

Tripolism: We have only used AI tools to take out vocals from old tracks. AI is terrifying and exciting at the same time. The whole civilization is at a crossroads, and this whole AI thing must be controlled in some way. We’re pretty sure there will be a counter-movement. We haven’t really been using VSTs lately but have mostly been buying old synths. We just bought a Juno-60 from an old guy from the Danish island Funen. The synthesizer used to be owned by a member of an old Danish band called Bamses Venner. Keep it real! Haha.

“Imagine being three good friends, traveling around, playing your own music, and meeting a lot of happy, interesting, and funny people along the way”

EG: Finally, can you provide some insights into what’s next for Tripolism? What can we expect from you in the coming months? Where can your fans catch you next?

Tripolism: Now it’s time to tour across Europe and the Middle East. Imagine being three good friends, traveling around, playing your own music, and meeting a lot of happy, interesting, and funny people along the way. That’s just dope. Find the three Danish – slightly sunburned – Tripo guys and give us a hug. It’s time for GOOD TIMES!

EG: Thank you so much for your time, guys! See you on the dancefloor!

Tripolism: Thanks for the questions and make sure to follow us on Instagram – we promise it won’t be boring.

Tripolism ‘Absolute Dope’ is now available on Ultra Records. Stream and download here.

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