5 questions for... Tigerskin

Tigerskin is the kind of musical beats that needs no introduction. If you've been partying in the last 5 years and never heard any of his tracks in a set, then you must be deaf. Prior to his Montreal gig, we had a chat with the man.



Q - In an age where it's real trendy to have an animal in your music project name, what do you think a name like Tigerskin projects on people ?

Tigerskin - I have no idea... When we put out the first Tigerskin 12" in early 2004 I needed a name and I needed it fast, overnight. So I didn't even think much about what people would put into it. The release turned out to be a good one, an album followed, so here I am now...

Q - You are said to have one of the best studios in Berlin. Is that so ?

T - No, I don't think so. My studio has some crappy sound, and I didn't care much for building it up properly - I just recently started to go for good quality speakers and some backend gear like good hardware equalizers... but I have some vintage gear, modular synth towers and stuff. So for most people it looks impressive at first...



Q - Have you ever played in Canada ? And what can we expect from your Montreal live performance ?

T - I played in Toronto and Montreal a couple of years ago, and a while back at Soundwave (BC). What I'm going to play will depend on the people and the general spirit of the night - it could be deep techhouse or something else, I'm prepared for quite some styles.

Q - If we put you in a cage with Tiger Stripes, who do you think will win ?

T - I don't know the man. I'm not a DJ, so I don't buy much tracks, but for a while I remember we had certain similarities in taste... BUT I WAS FIRST TO USE THE TIGER IN MY NAME! :D



Q - What's next for you, music-wise ?

T - Quite a lot. There will be a new Phonique album soon, which I produced, and lots of Tigerskin stuff on Dessous, Audiomatique and Dirt Crew, just to name a few. I have also recently finished some Dub Taylor dub tracks, which probably will be released this year, don't know yet. And I just finished working on some new tracks with Jens Bond...

Tigerskin plays live at Salon Daomé on Feb. 13th alongside the Fizz Factory Crew and ROUX Soundsystem.

5 questions for... Holger Zilske

Holger Zilske is not just another german producer. He has been making music as half of Smash TV for a long time, and decided in 2006 that it was time to make it on his own, under his real name. Constantly touring and producing, you could say that Holger is quite the music lover.

Q - You've been a long-time BPitch man when releasing your Smash TV project. Under your real name, you just released an album (Holz) on Playhouse. Why the label switch ?

HZ - I started to release records under my real name in 2006 with my first release on Playhouse. The music was different from my Smash TV project at that time. I wanted something deeper, and I wanted to work without self seeded boundaries. So I decided to use my name for it, and to work with labels I respect most. Since then I have released five 12" on Playhouse plus my album, one 12" on Leena (a Mobilee sublabel), one on Dialect / Battle, one on Factor City, a couple of remixes, and there is more coming. I also did something on Mood Music with Dave DK and Richard Davis. I also remixed Kiki's “Immortal” and "Big & Round" from Claude Von Stroke’s new album.

Q - You have played in Montreal numerous times already. Any particular feature of the city you really like ?

HZ - I think I was in Montreal five times so far, and it really is a beautiful city. Because I always stayed over a couple of times, I made some friends that I meet when I'm there. So I feel really at home in Montreal. Besides, it's one of the best cities in Canada in which to party. I really hope to come back soon.



Q - Are "your eyes" really something special ?

HZ - Haha… OK, I think you had the track “Mes Yeux” from my album in your head when you wrote that. In fact the voice and the text are from DJ Mini. I'm sure most readers know her. She's from Montreal, and a former resident of the Overdose weekly at Parking. But besides this, of course, my eyes are really something special!

Q - Who would you say is your bigger inspiration right now ?

HZ - I don't really have one particular artist that I take my inpiration from. I try to find my own way, and I try to find my inpiration in other things than in another artist. It can be a city, the radio, a sound experiment in the studio, a dream, a movie or whatever. And that's how my music is. I didn't try to make just a club album. I wanted to have a concept, a red line in the album, but music that is versatile. Something you can listen to at home, and that still works at the prime time of a club set. The challenge was to put these two different things in one album, and to create something that sounds like it belongs together. I'm still very happy with my work.



Q - Your top 5 tracks of the moment ?


1. Soulphiction – A Short History Of… - Philpot
2. Soundstream – Life Goes On – Soundstream
3. Lauhaus – Latenight – Intacto
4. Holger Zilske – Pleasure – BPitch
5. Kenny Leaven – Odyssey (dOP remix) – Elenore Records

5 questions for... Simon Baker

Brits know what good house is. And Leeds resident Simon Baker knows it particularly well. He has been releasing music since 2005 on labels as diverse as Infant, 20:20 Vision, Playhouse, Connaisseur, Get Physical, Leftroom and Murmur, and has surprised many montrealers with a solid and groovy DJ set at Piknic Électronik in 2008.



Q – You’ve been in Montreal before, for Piknic in 2008. How was that experience, overall?

Simon Baker: Yeah, I loved the gig and the people were great. Unfortunately, I didn't get much of a chance to see any of the city. Maybe this time I will! I hear it's amazing.

Q – What’s your current favorite city to play in?

SB: You may think this is weird, but its my hometown of Leeds in the UK, at the moment. The people are very into the music here, very switched on, no one is afraid to have it BIG, it's my home crowd. I love it! Other favorites are L.A. on the Standard Hotel rooftop... amazing! And Romania is always a good one.



Q – You’ve released your productions on lots of different labels from the start. Why can’t you stick to just one?

SB: I like to keep things varied in my life, with everything. I don't see the point in sticking with one thing. Explore new avenues and new doors opened is the way I see it. It's worked for me so far.

Q – How did you like your Miami experience at WMC last year? Are you planning on going again this year?

SB: Miami was in the middle of a month of touring in the US. If I am honest, I was a ruined man before I even got there, but I still had fun. I am debating this, next year, whether to go or not - I say this now, but I will no doubt be there! I've liked the vibe over the past 2 or 3 years.



Q – What are your plans for the near future?

SB: I am working hard in the studio on my album, at the moment. It will be released in 2010 on 20:20 Vision. Other than this, I am busy with tours of Central America and the U.S again in January, Australia in March, and the usual European gigs - and hopefully throw in a few dance floor bangers in between!

Simon will be performing a DJ set at Salon Daomé on December 15th for the Microzoo night, with opening sets by Nathan Burns & Clifford Brown.

5 questions for... Tomas Barfod

Tomas Barfod is a multi-talented man. His debut EP, 1995, was released on Get Physical in 2004, and he's been unstoppable ever since. Some people might be surprised to learn that he is the shadowy figure behind the analog god Tomboy. On top of all that, he also plays drums for WhoMadeWho.



Q - You are a man of many identities. Tomboy, Tomas Barfod, Filur, and you also play drums for Whomadewho. How are you able to decide which style fits to which persona ?

Thomas Barfod: It's actually pretty easy, because with the projects I have with other people, the music often ends up as a democracy between my partners and me. My Tomboy name is for more experimental and retro sounding music.... It started with my acid / disco series on Gomma. Tomas Barfod is a name I use for Get Physical and Turbo releases, which are a bit more clubby and electronic, and less 'warm' than the Tomboy stuff.

Q - You went from producing cold electro acid numbers under your real name, like your early Turbo and Get Physical releases, but your latter productions with Fredski have shown a housier edge. Is that a direction we'll see you take more ?

TB: Yes, you are right - the new stuff on GPM is definitely more housy and fun than my older releases. However, if you listen to Tomas Barfod tracks like Girlfriends, Saturdaya and 1995, they still have a bit of irony and funk - with cowbells, and guitars... it's not just electro. For my future releases, you never now where I'll end...



Q - I heard (Twitter) rumors that you were starting to work on a new Whomadewho album. Can you tell us more about it ?

TB: I can tell you that we have been in the studio for a week now, and it's some of the most exciting stuff I have heard from us, ever... We already have made a lot during these few days... You never know, as the process is only at the beginning, but I really expect a lot from it. The sound is 30% epic techno, 30% 50s and 60s r'n'b, 30% old school WhoMadeWho disco, and 10% pop.

Q - You often update your Facebook status while playing. Do you think that technology such as iPhones is now a useful self-promotion tool ?

TB: Yes, I think it has been a fun and sometimes powerful tool for me. Sometimes, when I meet people in clubs, they are very informed about my projects - which is a good thing!



Q - What's next for you after the much excellent Mr. Fleurquin release ?

TB: I'm putting different EPs together, with different Danish friends - Fredski and I always have something exciting up our sleeve, and besides that I'm working with my friend Kasper Bjørke, and with two kids I discovered... they are 15 and 16 years old, and are making the most amazing deep techno - expect James Holden meets Supermayer...

8 questions for... DJ SNEAK!

It's not quite often that you get the opportunity to chat with an artist as influencial to a genre of music as DJ Sneak has been for house music over the years. As I was thinking about what questions to ask him, I was listening to my old copy of his 1997 Buggin' Da Beats mixed cd and have to say I was taken back to GREAT memories... 12 years later, he has a new album out that is banging!!! Also, Sneak was nice enough to send Mirrorballs.ca a preview of his upcoming video and it is SMOKING HOT! ENJOY!!!

Mirrorballs: Ok, you've surprised us this year with an amazing record called "The house of house" that contains 20 tracks of banging crazy beats. Did the last few years of electro, minimal, etc. give you that much inspiration to produce such a big "statement" record?

SNEAK: Well the state of music is still suffering with badly produced music and a saturated market. I decided that it was time for me to get serious and get my stuff out. I feel that I stay true to my sound and my production is accurate. I am who I am, and have always been that person, I feel like I survived the madness and fakeness of the last 7 years and now I’m shinning again like a new found Diamond in the ruff.

You're in the middle of a world tour that will take you all over Europe and America to spread the good news around. What has been the response so far?

SNEAK: The vibe and response has been great, people are ready for a change and good times again. I’ve been playing a lot of gigs and the house heads have certainly been keeping me busy. I love seeing people enjoy the soul and groove of house music … It’s kind of hard to not have a good time when good house music is bumpin!!

Is house music really alive again?

SNEAK: Hell Yeah, House is back, listen to what all the top European guys like Luciano , Ricardo Villalobos & Loco Dice are playing, this has been the year that people are demanding better music. The musical revolution is on the way my friend.

Was there ever a down point in the "dark" years where you thought you would have to do something else with your life ?

SNEAK: NO, I know myself, I knew I was going to have another piece of the pie soon enough. My never ending amount work and music is what keeps me going and to tell you the truth I survived like I always do, I’m consistant and always motivated, I know my role and that is to LEAD so I’m doing it now again.

You've collaborated with German techno greats such as Ricardo Villalobos which you've become friends with that have been embracing the Chicago sounds recently. Has these new friendships and encounters inspired you to push your sound to new directions in any way?

SNEAK: It’s been great to meet other DJS and Producers that are underground like myself, the Ricardo encounter was dope cause we had known of each other for years, we played same events but not the same rooms. I have respect for a lot of these German brothers that have also helped get “house music” back in the main rooms, they know I’m a Purist and an innovator and they love that, I respect the fact that they have also pushed their sound and music and now we can elaborate with each other and push each other for a better musical experiences.

What about old friends that have disappeared with house music's downfall. Are there any of them you'd like to see back in the game ?

SNEAK: I can’t speak on what DJ's from the past are doing with themselves today, I know that a lot of them thought the “gravy train” was forever and many have dropped out and gotten normal Jobs and lifestyles. Many people did not plan for the future as I did, I can only speak on what I’m doing for my Music and my fans, I have stayed true always and that is showing big time again.

Are there any new artists that inspire you that we should be looking out for in the near future, any labels that are on your hot list ?

SNEAK: There are lots of people out there doing the do, I have many on the lookout but not trying to single a few out the bunch, Music is what is important not the DJS PERSONAS or the FAME factor that has damaged the scene for so long. Focus on the music not the persona and you will find great music being released from all over the world.

What's next for DJ Sneak?

More DJ SNEAK, more hard work, more innovation for the world and most def more “HOUSE MUSIC ALL NIGHT LONG!”

We couldn't agree MORE!!! Speaking of innovations, check out Sneak's upcoming video preview :

DJ SNEAK ON MYSPACE
DJ SNEAK'S HOMEPAGE

6 questions pour... Seuil

Alexis Bernard est un parisien plutôt habile de ses mains qui concocte une musique envoûtante et housy, et qui grave une cicatrice de plus en plus profonde sur la scène électronique européenne sous le nom de Seuil. Il a récemment remixé Ray Okpara, Mirco Violi, Jan Driver, Anthony Collins, Dyed Soundorom et Delete, et ses productions ont trouvé refuge sur des labels tels que Einmaleins, Eklo, Raum... Musik, Moon Harbour et Freak n' Chic.



Tu fais paraître des EPs sur une base régulière depuis 2006. Y a-t-il un release en particulier qui a, selon toi, propulsé ta carrière?
Oui, c'est difficile à dire, mais un de mes premiers, sur Einmaleins, a été assez reconnu par la scène et supporté par Hawtin, Villalobos, Luciano, Magda... À cette période, c'était top d'être joué par ces DJs... Il y avait moins de musique qu'aujourd'hui il y 3 ans donc voilà, mais je pense que mes deux derniers EPs sur Moon Harbour ont poussé mon nom un peu plus...

La house effectue un fracassant retour en Europe en ce moment. L'avais-tu anticipé?
Ce retour de la house, ouais c'est sûr... Anticipé, je ne sais pas, mais je jouais déjà cette musique il y a 5 ou 6 ans, c'est juste que tout le monde copie un peu tout ce qui a déjà été fait. Faudrait s'employer à inventer et apporter un peu plus à la musique électronique... De toute façon, ce qui marche bien auprès du public et des jeunes DJs, ça n'est pas la musique complexe et "stripped down" qui mexcite aujourd'hui; je vois bien que la musique plus automatique et "loopy" se vend beaucoup plus.



Quel est ton niveau d'implication chez Eklo Music ?
Je suis le boss de Eklo, et la seule personne à m'en occuper...

Tu as récemment travaillé avec Tolga Fidan (sur le EP "The Organ, the Hope"). As-tu d'autres collaborations du genre qui s'en viennent?
Oui, plusieurs projets: une track sur Moon Harbour avec Matthias Tanzmann, un EP avec Masomenos sur leur label Welcome to Masomenos, d'autres collaborations avec mes vrais proches de la musique, tout d'abord sur mon album sur lequel je travaille avec dOP et Nôze... et aussi d'autres tracks avec des artistes parisiens comme Dyed Soundorom, Yakine, Boris Horel, et des artistes d'Eklo également.



Expliques-nous ton nom?
Seuil, c'est la "limite", threshold en anglais... et c'est français cette prononciation, "eui", c'est difficile à dire pour tout le monde, et on le dit de différentes façons dans différentes langues... c'est drôle!



À quoi peuvent s'attendre les gens qui viendront entendre ton live set?
De la musique deep, que j'espère groovy et sexy, avec un côté un peu weird pour ceux qui aiment découvrir un univers...

Seuil se produira live dans le cadre de la soirée Microzoo, le mardi 8 septembre, avec Nathan Burns et Clifford Brown, au Salon Daomé. 141, Mont-Royal Est is the place to be.

5 questions for... Till Von Sein

Till Von Sein, whose real name is Jan Till Lüdtke, has been a sure shot for deep house and tech on the German scene since he started working with Aera in 2006. With recent collaborations with Chopstick and Tigerskin, and releases on Dirt Crew and Baalsaal, you can expect to hear a lot more from him in the future.



You're constantly labeled as "the deep house guy" by the press and in the promo documents your labels send. Do you ever get tired of being strictly categorised, and do you think that an aspect of your personality drives you towards deep music?
A bit, yeah. I would love to be labeled as a simple "house" dude... but in the end it's OK. My first records are really deep, and I'm a big fan of deep music - when I'm at home and start working on new tracks, most of the time I end up doing deep stuff... That's just the stuff which comes out naturally. But from time to time I get funky and try to do work that's more "floor orientated". It really depends on my personal mood... When it comes to DJ gigs, sometimes people are a bit suprised that I also play stuff like Lauhaus or more disco stuff like Prins Thomas. I really like to keep it open minded when it comes to DJing.

You have recently completed a EP with Tigerskin - can you tell us more about this collaboration?
I met Alex (Tigerskin) because he wanted to release a track of mine for his own label 2 and a half years ago... From that point on, he always did a mixdown of all the stuff I produced. I'm a huge fan of his work, and as a person he is the coolest cat around... So down to earth... We are vibin' perfectly together. We got similar feelings on music, politics, women... For me, it was a big honor to work with him, and he is a bit of a teacher to me, with all his knowledge. He's got so much nice equipement, and I feel like a little kid when entering his studio, because I've got none at all!



You have played Salon Daomé, in Montreal, last year. How did you like the city?
It was amazing. I mean, the club was dope, the crowd perfect, really cool residents - but all the rest was fantastic as well, I'm glad I had such nice hosts, and can't wait to meet these guys again! We went to the nice park where you can overview the whole city... stunning! I'm really looking forward to my stay this time, not like last time where I only came for one night. We wanna go to Piknic, where James Holden is playing, and I hope I can visit the countryside as well...



What are your views on the important place that modern house is now taking on the electronic scene in Europe?
I'm really, really happy about it. There is a big wave of talent from all over the place, and due to Facebook, Skype and these types of social networks, it's a nice community... Sometimes I get like 5 tracks a week of friends and think: "Damn, they are all doing such good tracks, I need to work hard as well". But besides Europe, I'm also a big fan of the U.S. stuff. There are so many great producers around, pushing things forward, like the whole Wolf & Lamb clique. These are good days for house music, and it's really exciting to see things develop. It's also wonderful that in some clubs, you can play really deep stuff, around 120 Bpm, and people start dancing and love it... Solid good times.



Your 5 favorite tracks of the moment?
Chris Carrier - I'm in love today
Adam Port - Chemistry
Soulclap - Dreams (edit)
Gadi Mizrahi - Who's gonna love me tonight
Sasse - Reject my love
Three times the word "love"... wow... I didn't realise before I wrote it down... Good times!

Till Von Sein will perform alongside Fizz Factory's Max Reynold's at Beat Boutique on Sunday September 6th at Salon Daomé.

5 questions for... H.O.S.H.

H.O.S.H. is a mystery. Holger Behn, the man behind the tracks, is a high flying party machine crafting uncommon sounds for labels such as Diynamic, Kindisch and Stir Vor Talent, and is currently based in Hamburg, Germany. We took some time to chat him up during his first ever date in Canada at Piknic Électronik on August 9th.



You're one of the first artists to have released on Diynamic. How did the label come together, and how much were you implicated?
I was actualy implicated a lot from the beginning on. Solomun and me met around that time and found out we had the same vision of electronic music. We also both produced for a couple of years and kind of shared the same experiences - that people would always like our music, but still wouldn´t put it out because it didn´t fit the sound of their label. So we figured it would be best to form our own label, where we would have complete control. I guess that worked out pretty well.

Please explain the name "H.O.S.H."
I´ve been asked that question a lot, and already have a couple of good explanations, but honestly must say Hosh is just the short form of my nickname "Hoshy", and the dots are just looking good to me. It's also a quite nice tool of presentation because it will stand out, no matter where you are on the flyer!



What's your definition of "modern house"?
Flow, sex, groove, hypnotism, and a certain freshness... and NO, not just chords, which is what a lot of people think at the moment.

If you didn't do music for a living, what would you do?
I love cooking! So maybe a cook, in a small restaurant I would own. But right now, there is nothing else than music for me.



How did you enjoy your Montreal experience, overall?
I think it was a very good. Nice crowd, nice location, and nice atmosphere. It´s gonna be hard for future Montreal gigs to top! I hope you and the crowd enjoyed it as much as I did, and I hope I get back into town soon!

5 questions for... James Teej

James Teej is a 28 year old DJ and musician living in Toronto. You might have heard about him for numerous reasons; lately, he has remixed guys like Trentemoller and Solee, and is currently working with numerous labels including Rekids, Rebirth, Connect Four, No.19 and My Favorite Robot Records. He has just completed his first full length LP entitled "Evening Harvest" and will be releasing it on Rekids in late 2009. This rising Canadian star is fast on track to becoming a household tech and deep house name worldwide, with an expected world tour to begin at the end of 2009.



Would you say the Toronto scene is inspiring, right now?
Toronto is inspiring for me in a few different ways. First off because there is a plethora of artists all located here, it's a great city to widen one's influences. It's also inspiring for me because I'm lucky enough to have a really great network of support here. People that help me stay focused, and lots who have been in and around the industry for a long time, so I always feel inspired to do work... even on those days when things are tough. Also because I don't DJ or perform locally all that often here, a lot of my time is spent working in the studio and on writing music, which is a very good thing. I don't think I could have gotten as much material written had my schedule been busier. Overall Toronto for me has really become my new home, and I hope I can keep it as my musical home base for a while, even as I begin to tour more internationally.

How did you manage to get signed to Rekids?
Rekids was sort of a suprise for me - basically I was put in touch with Matt (Radio Slave) Edwards via Connect Four after an email had been sent to the label following my String Theory EP. After a few conversations, Matt told me he would like me to do something for the label, so that is when the idea came to be. I started off with a remix for Toby Tobias, and following that emerged the plan for a full length LP. I signed with them in December 2008, and spent the first 5 and a half months of this year working on my album "Evening Harvest". It has been a great experience, and it's extremely exciting to have my first full length record come out on such a respected and innovative label. The guys have been hugely supportive of the music... and that for me has been the biggest thing.



How would you describe "minimal soul", a label you have used for your productions?
Minimal soul actually is more of a term I coined for my sound. I sorta got exposed to the "real" minimal movement when I moved to Toronto in 2006. I hadn't really been exposed to much of that music when I was living in western Canada, and I really enjoyed the stripped down aesthetic. As time went on though, and after many attempts to produce the type of stuff I was listening to and playing at the time, I felt compelled to put a bit more musicality into my production. Then after a few early attempts at adding vocals to my music, and after slowly reverting back to some of my house based roots, minimal soul really came to be. I like how the term grew to describe my sound... and how I grew to make music that fit in that description... stripped down music with lots of heart and soul.

Tell us a little bit about My Favorite Robot Records and your link with these guys.
I met Jared from My Favorite Robot years ago, and we sort of came together through mutual friends like Nitin, Jonny White and Kenny Glasgow. As MFR Records began to grow, Jared asked me to do a track for a compilation he was releasing (MFR Records' Stimulus Package) around the same time Jonny White had asked me for something for No.19's "I Live in Toronto" comp. I decided to to do 2 versions of a track "Cabin Fever" and put one mix on each of the labels... that's where it began I guess. Since then for MFR I've done a few remixes, and also have my first full release on the label "Condensation EP" coming out Aug 26. In the end I like the direction of the label and will continue to work with the Robots as things move forward.



What's coming up for you in the next few months?
In the next few months people can expect to see more music and mixes coming out. Though I have really focused on putting out records, and people have come to think of me as primarily being a musician and producer, the reality is that I've spent over 14 years DJing and don't want that overshadowed. So my main focus over the next few months is to highlight my brand of DJing with live vocals, and start touring and promoting my album internationally. I expect 2010 to be very busy, and I hope to remain as focused as I am at the moment. I also hope that I can create a solid foundation of support that will help materialize my next vision of creating a more elaborate live show, one that will coincide with a follow up LP to Evening Harvest.

James Teej plays alongside Kenny Glasgow, My Favorite Robot and Clifford Brown at Resident (400, Notre-Dame East) on August 22nd for a MFR Records label party. No cover.

Mirrorballs.ca chats with Maher Daniel

We had the pleasure of meeting up with Maher Daniel @ Piknic Electronik on August 9th 2009. Marinelli talks to him about getting signed on Get Physical, about his new night @ La Panthère Noire and also about his multiple releases to come over the next few months.



Get Full Body Workout #5 (Get Physical) including Maher Daniel's Casbar on Beatport

Great stuff!

5 questions pour... Yakine

Yakine fait partie de la nouvelle vague house française, aux côtés de ses potes Dyed Soundorom, Okain, Varoslav, dOP et Alex Dee. Il a déjà endisqué sur Esperanza, Tsuba, Circus Company, Je T'Aime et Supplement Facts, et s'apprête à sortir un nouveau EP sur Adult Only. Il est l'un des talents émergents de Paris et nous parle de ses influences et de la scène parisienne.



Tu es passé de la guitare à la production électronique. Comment s'est déroulé ce processus? Incorpores-tu encore de véritables instruments à tes productions?
J'ai toujours écouté beaucoup de musique, et ce depuis mon plus jeune âge... Mais surtout, j'ai toujours voulu savoir faire la musique que j'écoute. C'est d'écouter pas mal de métal, étant jeune, qui m'a donné l'envie d'apprendre la guitare. Ensuite, aussi surprenant que ça puisse paraître, je me suis orienté vers le rap US et j'ai donc découvert la culture hip-hop et le turntablism. J'ai revendu mon énorme ampli et ma guitare pour une paire de MK2 et une mixette pour scratcher. Au départ, je prenais vraiment les platines pour un instrument à part entière, et non pas comme un lecteur de disques à mélanger pour de longues sessions de mix - je trouvais ça inutile et ça ne m'intéressait pas. Puis un pote m'a fait découvrir une soirée, le vendredi soir à la Coupole à Paris, c'etait la Cheers. Moi qui étais à fond dans le hip-hop ,le passage à la house garage fut vraiment naturel, il y avait des danseurs, une belle faune de passionnés, j'en garde vraiment de très bons souvenirs. Après, mon frère, qui lui était plus dans la techno, m'a fait découvrir Jeff Mills et John Thomas au Rex Club et là, ça a été ma révélation. Je suis vraiment resté scotché par tous ces sons qui venaient de Detroit et Chicago. UR, Rolando, Derrick May... le vice pour l'électronique débuta alors !

Pour ce qui est d'incorporer de véritables instruments à mes productions, je pense que n'importe quelle source sonore peut être intéressante à exploiter dans des compositions. Récemment je me suis équipé d'un micro pour pouvoir faire mes propres prises de sons, que j'ai vraiment hâte de commencer à intégrer à mes compos.

Ton arrivée sur la scène house est relativement récente. Y a-t-il un conseil que tu aurais aimé qu'on te donne à tes débuts?
Je fais des tracks sérieusement depuis 2 ans, et là depuis juste l'année dernière j'arrive à terminer mes loops (rires). J'ai eu la chance d'avoir été conseillé depuis mes débuts par des potes plus confirmés comme Seuil et From karaoke to Stardom, qui me donnaient des conseils sur des loops ou des idées que je leurs envoyais. Il n'y a pas de formule magique pour réussir, juste du travail, du feeling et une grande motivation.



Es-tu satisfait de l'époque où tu arrives dans l'immense arène de la musique électronique, ou aurais-tu préféré te téléporter dans le passé?
Je suis entièrement satisfait de l'époque où je vis. Je ne suis pas trop du genre à me dire: "Ouais, c'était mieux l'année dernière ou il y a dix ans..." Il faut accepter son époque avec ses qualités comme ses défauts. Aujourd'hui, avec un ordinateur, on peut arriver à faire sa propre musique et la faire découvrir très facilement au monde entier, alors je vais pas répéter ce qui a été dit des milliards de fois sur les bons et mauvais côtés d'internet, sur l'industrie du disques et la culture en géneral. Mais au moins, aujourd'hui, tu peux envoyer des maquettes de très bonne qualité à des labels professionnels tout en les ayant réalisé dans ta chambre, au grand malheurs de tes voisins ! Je me serais quand même bien téléporté dans le passé pour me ramener une TR 909 et 808 neuve !

Que penses-tu de l'état de la scène et du clubbing en France?
Il y a une émergence de nombreux talents, c'est plutôt positif. Plein de nouveaux labels voient le jour, ça crée une bonne dynamique pour bosser et se motiver à faire de la bonne musique. En France, je pense que nous sommes encore à des années-lumière de nos voisins allemands, hollandais ou espagnols en terme de fêtes. Nous, on a le bon vin et le bon fromage pour se consoler ! Malgré ce que l'ont peut entendre tous les jours sur l'économie mondiale, j'espère que l'avenir sera fait de plein de bonnes fêtes et de dancefloors en feu !



Tes cinq producteurs favoris du moment?
Michael Melchner, Einzelkind, Kris Wadsworth, Levon Vincent et Martyn.

Mirrorballs.ca & Francois Lebaron au Piknic Electronik

Marinelli prends quelques minutes avec Francois Lebaron pour discuter des projets à venir ainsi que de la performance de Yann Perreau lors du Piknic Electronik du 9 août 2009.

Enjoy!

5 questions for... Billy Dalessandro

Billy Dalessandro, that talented kid from Chicago, has long lived a love story with our fair city and has now decided to officially embrace it by moving here. Dare we say it's about time ? It's time to catch up with our schizophreniac friend.

You recently moved to Montreal. Care to explain why ?
Hoes, music, and the bagels are O.K. No really, I love it here! Bootsy is the shiznit yo, that's my girl! Coming from the USA (specifically Chicago) life gets, mmm, pretty ordinary over there. I haven't moved over to Europe yet, as I like to be close to things at home. Montreal is a fantastic city, for many things, and I feel I get the best of both worlds. Nowhere else do I see this culture as it is here.

How was your european tour ? Any funny anecdotes ?
It was pretty intense, being gone 3 months. Although having a Portuguese agent has benefits. Instead of being stuck in some industrial looking flat in Berlin or some city where they stick you and tell you "techno is the cool here", Soniculture management leaves me close to the beach, with fantastic food and friends, and latin-flavoured shenanigans! Who else gets to pet sheep, donkeys and wild chickens while on tour? Also, Azores is a must see!

How do you see the return of house ? Any plans on joining in ?
Honestly, I find it a step backwards than forwards when it comes to the electronic music industry. Shame shame, I know yo name! I always have plans, for stuff. Nothing specifically related to 'house' music.



Have you seen Tyrone lately ?
Tyrone owes people money, especially Huge Hephner. So he's probably ditched out on Chicago. I think he's somewhere in Montreal proving that degredation can still be a 9 to 5 job.



How has your live set evolved since the last time you performed it here ?
I added some strippers, a portable kiosk for people that need gum and / or glow-in-the-dark glasses while I play, and (finally) got my license in order for my 500,000 watt nuclear-fueled pyrotechnical setup (a must see, really). In and between there I managed to put some more skills together for that new cassette tape I usually just have running in the background while I "jam" on my toys! It's not easy getting white-noise off of that, you know?

Dalessandro plays the Motion night at Daomé on August 15th alongside the Roux Soundsystem boys to celebrate his move to Montreal. Chicago + Montreal = love.

5 questions pour... Mateo Murphy

Il y a peu de montréalais qui peuvent se vanter d'avoir contribué de façon significative au mouvement techno. Mais Mateo Murphy est dans une classe à part. Ses premières parutions remontent à 1999, et son EP Love Express, sorti sur Turbo en 2001, s'est retrouvé dans les boîtes à vinyles de tous les grands de l'époque. Il nous parle aujourd'hui de son statut de légende, de sa pause créative, et du retour de la house.

Tu es selon certains une "légende" de la techno. Il y a même un t-shirt, aperçu pendant le festival Mutek, qui le proclame. Quel effet cela te fait-il de vivre dans une ville qui ne te reconnaît à peu près pas?
C'est pas surprenant, étant donné que ça fait 5 ans que je n'ai pas eu de résidence dans un club à Montréal, et que je ne mixe qu'occasionellement, et mes productions visent surtout les autres DJs. De toute manière, être reconnu par le public, ça n'a jamais été mon ambition; je fais de la musique pour moi-même, et si les autres aiment ça, c'est un bonus!

Tu as pris une pause créative et tu ne produis plus depuis un petit bout de temps. Quelles sont les raisons derrière ce silence musical?
C'était tout simplement un manque d'énergie et d'inspiration. J'étais écoeuré de jouer dans des afters, j'avais de la misère à trouver (et produire) de la musique que j'aimais, beaucoup des labels avec qui je travaillais faisaient faillite, et j'étais cassé; j'avais perdu le chemin, et c'était le temps de faire autre chose. Mais j'ai toujours eu l'intention de revenir à la musique, et je m'y remets tranquillement. En fait, je produis beaucoup depuis un an, mais comme je repars de loin, j'ai du chemin à faire avant de retrouver la notoriété que j'avais avant.



Que se passe-t-il avec le projet TGV?
Rien pour l'instant, mais c'est possible qu'il se passe quelque chose dans l'avenir. Le truc, c'est que Tiga et moi, on a des goûts assez différents, et il a maintenant la chance de travailler avec des gens avec qui il a plus d'affinité musicale. Mais on s'en reparle de temps en temps, alors qui sait?

Racontes-nous ta meilleure gig en carrière.
C'est toujours difficile d'en choisir une, mais c'est probablement l'événement Peacemaker, qui a eu lieu en 2004 à Caen, pour commémorer le 60ieme anniversaire du débarquement. Le line-up était un peu étrange, j'étais sandwiché entre Lonnie Liston Smith et Fréderic Galliano, et je n'ai joué que 45 minutes; mais il y avait au moins 10 000 personnes, ce qui procure un rush vraiment incroyable!



Que penses-tu du retour de la house, qui est en train de lentement tout envahir, un peu comme l'électro il y a quelques années?
Je pense surtout que c'était inévitable! On a tous envie de renouveau, et la façon la plus simple de créer du nouveau, c'est de recycler les vieux trucs qui ne sont plus à la mode. Personellement, j'ai peu d'intérêt dans la house plus classique (je suis déjà passé par là!), mais j'aime bien l'influence que ça amène dans les autres styles de musique. Un peu plus de groove, ça ne fait jamais de tort! D'ailleurs, on en parle moins ici, mais il y a aussi un gros retour vers le techno dans certains endroits; je ne crois pas que ça va avoir le même impact que la house, mais ça montre à quel point les tendances sont cycliques...

Mateo Murphy jouera au Piknic Électronik ce dimanche 2 août en compagnie de Johnny D, Nathan Burns et Alexis Bowles.

5 questions for... Jay Haze

The man behind Contexterrior and TuningSpork, two atypical labels churning out unique dance music, is a man that has gone through a lot. Jay Haze is a controversial figure in dance music, a very outspoken and real man, who defies categorisation. The driving force behind the Fuckpony project took a few minutes off his busy schedule to tell us about his latest fights.



How does one feel running two labels (Contexterrior & TuningSpork) in 2009, when the music industry is in a perpetual crisis ?
I feel great and love the challenge. TuningSpork has always been about slow growth and quality control (hence why we only have had 48 releases in 10 years), and with Contexterrior I'm really satisfied to see it grow into an artists' label, rather than being locked into a specific sound. On both labels I've been blessed to have such great artists, so in a way I feel lucky we're still going strong! No doubt, the crisis will pass...

In a related matter, you released a triple album last year, Love & Beyond, that you gave away for free on your website. Why would a successful artist struggling in a difficult industry do such a thing ?
Music is for sharing. It has real powers and promotes understanding. I just didn't want this album I worked so hard on, and put so much love into, to come to the point where people even thought about money. I thought: "Wouldn't it be great if they could just listen without the pressure of stores, sales people, credit cards ?"
The most important thing for me was that people felt good, and that is what the album is about. On another note, I would gladly say... I hardly care about money or gaining wealth, it is a belief system I feel corrupts everything. Therefore, whenever I can do something outside of that system, I of course will.



You have also set up a global movement for DJs to give away some money to relief groups helping with the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (detailed on the TuningSpork homepage). Can you tell us a little bit about it ?
It is just a small effort really, but one that I believe can have a profound impact. If we come to understand that each of us offering a little help can collectively make big changes, nearly anything is possible. This is the first step towards such projects. The plan is to get as many DJs and performers out there in the electronic music scene to donate half their fee from one gig, from September until the end of the year. I ask them to think of it as time rather than money. We need as many people as possible involved, and are open to new ideas! The situation in the DRC is one to truly spend a little time to reflect on. Part of the reasons why they are in the situation they are in is because we so desire the luxuries and technology that depend on DRC. The point is that the artists don't need to be pros on the political situation there, they just have to be passionate about helping people. And these people need it! Children slaves, sexually abused adolescent females, daily starvation, water poisoning... it's so sad.

The electronic music industry and club universe are often qualified as "superficial". What made you decide to make a difference by using the position you're in to help out those in need ?
I'm really happy to still be alive, with that being said this is just what I wanna do with my life. It's a passion and I am trying to make it a reality. I like the club world and I love to party, but it is nothing that defines me, I enjoy myself and stay conscious at the same time. The point is - there is really much more in life than having a "hit" house or techno record. When you get older and see things as they are, it's very clear.... Get something else going on to keep the love still flowing, because you never want your living to depend on your passion alone (I think this how passion dies... maybe?).



You have crafted a unique sound over the years, making one of your tracks or remixes almost instantly recognisable. Do you feel you've achieved all your musical goals, or is there a lot more left to do ?
I feel like I've progressed in a good fashion. Still learning new things all the time, and really open to new influences. I'm not the type of guy who would ever say I've reached my musical goals, because honestly I have no musical goals in any traditional sense. My main goal with music is to connect people. And until EVERYONE is connected, I'll still keep trying!

5 questions for... Alex Under

Alex Under has been representing Spain for quite some time on the international scene. Crafting a very precise sound, his unique techno has found a home on labels such as Trapez and Plus8, and also through Cmyk, his own label.

How's the scene in Madrid ?
It's been great for a few years now, in terms of artists and labels. But not as good as before in terms of nightlife and clubs - there are a few good parties still, but not as many as there should be in a city that big. Anyway, it is different for a resident artist, I'm more critical and less objective. But I know foreign artists love to come play over.

You played Piknic Electronik last year. How did you like it ?
It was absolutely perfect. I fell in love with Montreal during my first gig at Mutek, and I was expecting lots of fun, and it just went over my expectations. I loved the concept of the party, and the atmosphere was just unbeatable... I was really happy when I received the invitation to play again this year.

You've been developing a unique brand of, dare I say, very "mathematical" techno. Where are you going with this ? Were you inspired by precise artists ?
Well, that's hard to say, even hard to know. I've been pushing a little bit more lately, going a bit faster and less organic than before, much colder. But I'm just going through a "U-turn" right now, or more like a reset - I want to take it from where I started in the first place, review what I did and try to draw it again, but with the perspective I have now. I've been playing straight live sets for the last five years, but some months ago I started using a different performance live, as well as a DJ set, so I'm having much more input from other artists, something I was also missing.



Is there a label you've been dreaming of releasing on ?
Not really - my dreams were more based on creating a label which people would dream of releasing on. But of course, I was happy when I released on Trapez and Plus8... both are labels I did admire and still do.

If you could take 5 albums with you on a spaceship, what would they be ?
Rosa - Thomas Brinkmann
Headhunters - Herbie Hancock
Georgia is like spiritual tokyo - TBA
...and justice for all - Metallica
Dispositivos de mi granja - Alex Under (this one just in case I find someone out there with the spaceship)

Alex Under will perform at Piknic Électronik on July 19th alongside Damian Schwartz, Vincent Lemieux and Mossa.

7 Questions for... Andre Crom

Before you enter the very interesting world of Mr. Crom, you need to understand the man behind the wheel. So to get you started here's a short bio taken from his myspace...

Andre Crom:
Just a guy who discovered doing music is the perfect excuse for partying every weekend and not having a real job...

Luckily some nice people seem to like the results of my lazy- and wastedness. They invite me to their places, pay me billions of dollars, private jets and 7*hotels only to make me scare their guests with some weird music. Das ist toll.

Hope this will last at least until i win in the lottery.

Ha ha ! Already, you have to love the man ! Ok, now let's get it on with the interview...

In your bio you tell us that it all started 13 years ago when you first went to a real club, can you give us a little more details about those days and how it all started for you ?
I grew up at the end of the world in the German countryside and only when I turned 18 was able to finally experience the clubs in Düsseldorf and around. This instantly got me addicted – the music, the vibe and the people were a totally different dimension than my home village and I instantly started dreaming of being a part of this scene, not only as clubber but also as dj and at some time become able to make a living out of it.


Before being Andre Crom “the DJ / producer / party animal” who were you?
Funny enough: I did 2 years of education to work at a bank! 9 to 5 in the most boring and serious job one can imagine. I hated every day of it, and just 5 days after finishing it I moved to Düsseldorf to start working for a small record label and club… later followed jobs as editor at Germany’s Raveline magazine, dj booker, client manager at different advertisement agencies… but regardless what I did, my only real passion was always the music and since I just follow this I really enjoy life.

We know a lot of local DJ’s and producer who moved to Berlin to expand their career, would you still recommend that move or you would suggest another city?
Honestly I can think of no other city that offers the same opportunities as Berlin. If you live in a foreign country or a smaller german city without a proper club and artist scene, moving here is for sure the best thing you can do if you really wanna get your career going.

Flats are cheap, parties are good, you get great inspiration from the people around and you don’t feel like an alien as a full time dj/producer. In Berlin, you live among like minded people – just do your thing and enjoy live, status is not defined by your salary here.

But if you live in a city where you have a good scene it might also be smart to stay there to keep the diversity and local scene intact – for example I really like what’s happening in Amsterdam or Frankfurt and maybe even Paris– a couple of friends who really stick together, have their own sound, stay true to their hometowns and developed their own style without of looking at “what’s hot in Berlin right now”.


Do you consider yourself and Luca Doobie hipsters?
Ha ha, that name was just a stupid idea for a new track we did which will be released later this year… to be honest i really don’t think too much of what my job makes me, it’s just what I love and am good at. If you wanna find real hipsters I guess you better search in the art galleries or fashion stores of Berlin Mitte!

The best thing to eat after a heavy night of drinking and partying in Berlin ?
A Mini pizza at Schlesisches Tor! Really the best hangover-prevention you can do, ridiculously cheap as most fast food in Berlin and very tasty, especially after drinking... or was that “only after drinking?!”

You work a lot with co producers like Luca Doobie or Danito, also your first production ever was a co production with Tigerskin – what do you like about that and how do you work together?
If the right people come together and their skills complement each other some really good things can be created that are better than what each could do on his own. It’s fascinating to see where you can push your productions if you work together with somebody in a good way…

Also, it’s much more fun to work together in the studio than just sit there the whole day on your own and feel like you’ve sentenced yourself to a single cell in jail!

What's next for you ?
The original plan for this summer was to relax and let it loose at the lakes around Berlin, but it seems to come different thanks god there’s some nice gigs at sunny places this summer!

Just started working with a new production partner called “Dekay” (http://www.myspace.com/dekay202) and we have some great things in the making… a bit later in July, Luca (http://www.myspace.com/lucadoobie) will come over for some weeks and we’ll get locked in the studio as well to produce some hot trax for the winter…

Besides that I’m working hard on getting my labels further on the spot; OFF, which is all about rough old school house music already goes amazingly well and the first ep on my more modern and techy label “VIVID” has also just been released.

And of course I’ll be rocking floors all over Germany and beyond every weekend, which is still my first and biggest passion!

Dj schedule, music & more info: www.myspace.com/andrecrom909
OFF Recordings myspace: www.myspace.com/offrecordings
VIVID Records myspace: www.myspace.com/vividrecords

Thank you for reading this wonderful interview with Andre Crom, as a gift here's Andre Crom most recent mix:

Andre Crom May09 mix

Enjoy !

5 questions for... Reboot

"Reboot is the most successful in our small circle of friends", told me Robert Dietz when he was in town last month. "In August alone, he has 17 bookings, which is insane", he added. Indeed, you could say that Frank Heinrich is quite the hard worker. He emerged to the public eye in 2007, with the "Be Tougher / Letters" EP on Cadenza, but we learned that he's been making music for quite some time. Let's chat with a hitmaker.


You've been releasing stuff for about two years now... how did you decide that you wanted to make music of your own ?
Actually I've been producing electronic music for about 17 years now. I started after I heard one of the first techno music radio shows in Frankfurt, featuring Sven Väth (HR3 Clubnight). I was totally fascinated by that special vibe. A friend of mine had a little studio and showed me the first moves. After playing around with Tracker programs on my mom's PC, I bought my first drumcomputer at the age of 14. I never had the intention to have a career as a musician, so it stayed a hobby over all these years. About three years ago, some friends of mine told me that I should send my music to some labels. From there, it all started. So the decision was made quite a long time ago.


You're know for these long, percussive numbers. How does one find his own voice in electronic music ?
For me it just happened. I don't think that there is something like a master plan for finding your own style. It all depends on your influences and the way you feel about music. Personally, I just like these long trips through sounds and impressions. It's nice to develop a certain picture over more than just five minutes. I also love percussive and groovy rhythms. Of course, the workflow and equipment a musician uses is a huge factor, and I always try to optimize my setups. I guess that's why my music sounds like it does.



Any plans of releasing on Cadenza ever again ?
Yes, of course. Cadenza has been a big step for my career, and I really feel home with the people that work there. They are like family to me. Still, I think it was a good decision for me to also release on other labels, especially since I produce a lot of different stuff. I just looked for the right labels for certain tracks. We have plans for another Cadenza EP this year and I also am working on an album for them.



There are lots of unreleased gems that you produced floating around. Are you working too fast to officially release everything you do on a label ?
Yes, there are! And many of them are not supposed to! I do produce a lot, but I don't want to put out three records each month. For some of the tracks, I made the decision that they should just be something like a DJ tool. Tracks that you should only hear in the clubs, played by certain DJs that I like. Something unique for the dancefloor. Other tracks weren't supposed to go public and played that much at all. Actually, this perfectly leads us to the next question.

What's your take on piracy ?
I don't really like it! Especially if people make money with it. For example, by putting unreleased tracks on bootlegs. I am realistic enough to see that illegal downloads are not avoidable at the moment, but I think that if I really respect the work of a musician, I should support him by buying his records. That’s what I do as well. Sampling is another thing. It's more like a tribute to the original artist. I love using samples, but I still always try to clear all the rights. If that is not possible, I at least don't want my name to be pushed by it. Respect other people's work!

Reboot is playing for a BlkMarket Membership party in New York City alongside Hugo on August 1st at a "secret location". Lucky new yorkers! He's also scheduled to appear on a "rooftop party" in Toronto on the 2nd and us at Mirrorballs would LOVE to learn more about it.

5 Questions for... Fred Everything

Frédéric Blais nous manque beaucoup suite à son exil chez nos voisins du sud. En préparation au Piknic Electronik du 12 juillet 2009, il nous apparaissait évident que nous devions demander à ce pionnier de la scène house de répondre à nos questions. L'évènement de dimanche nous permettra de vivre une expérience auditive des plus attendues sous l'Homme de Calder!

Voici donc nos 5 questions pour Fred Everything:


Frédéric, On sait que tu as quitté le Québec pour t'établir en Californie, plus précisément à San Francisco. Comment s'est passé ce changement ? Est-ce qu'on s'ennuie vraiment de l'hiver de Montréal ?

Ça m'arrive d'être nostalgique au début de l'hiver mais ca passe assez vite. Les hivers du Québec m'ont un peu poussé vers la Californie, trop longs a mon gout! J'aime beaucoup la vie a San Francisco, il y a tellement de choses a faire. C'est comme Montréal l'été mais a l'année longue.

Comment se porte la scène de San Francisco ? Est-qu'il y a des artistes ou DJ's qui font partie de ton entourage la-bas et qui méritent une attention particulière ?

Tout le monde est dj ici! Les deux noms qui me viennent en tête sont bien sûr Mark Farina et Miguel Migs avec lequels je joue régulièrement. Mon ami Olivier Desmet avec qui je partage mon studio est définitivement quelqu'un à suivre. Il y a beaucoup de soirées et club a San Francisco mais la scène est relativement petite et tout le monde se connait. Il y a moins de monde ici qu'a Montréal.

Tu reviens faire ton tour à Montréal entre autre pour une performance au Piknic Electronik. Du point de vue DJ, comment tu peux décrire l'expérience Piknic ?

J'adore les événements de jour à l'extérieur. Le Piknic, c'est unique. J'ai fait le tout premier il y a déja plusieurs années. On s'était fait ramasser par un orage en fin de journée. Toutes mes expériences ont été excellentes. C'est un site formidable pour faire un party, franchement j'adore!


Tu travailles très fort sur ton label Lazy Days Recordings que tu as fondé en 2005. Peux-tu nous glisser un mot sur les releases à venir et aussi sur les artistes avec qui tu travailles sur le label ?

Effectivement, je fais maintenant tout moi meme de San Francisco. C'est beaucoup de boulot avec la production et la tournée mais je réussi a gérer. Il y a bien sur JT Donaldson avec qui je travaille, qui sera aussi au Piknic. J'ai aussi sortis des trucs d'artistes aussi variés que Brett Johnson, Shur-I-Kan, Vincenzo, Tortured Soul et Trentemoller. Pour l'automne, j'ai un EP de Lovebirds et aussi Atnarko avec des remix de Nacho Marco.

Tu as été très productif en terme de "releases" dans les dernières années sur des labels très respectés (20/20 Vision, Om records, etc), tes albums ont reçu des éloges des DJ's les plus reconnus de la scène House ainsi que des meilleures publications (XLR8R, DJ Magazine, etc). As-tu autant de plaisir à faire ce que tu fais et est-ce qu'il y a encore des objectifs que tu aimerais atteindre dans les années à venir ?

Bien sur. J'adore toujours ce que je fais et je me compte très chanceux de pouvoir faire ce que j'aime. Je veux continuer a pousser Lazy Days et continuer a produire mes propres trucs ainsi que d'autres artistes tout en continuant de voyager. Plusieurs projets à l'horizon que je ne peux annoncer maintenant.

On a bien sur hâte d'en entendre parler!

Top 5 - Fred Everything:

1.Lovebirds - N2Deep - Lazy Days
2.Frank Solano - Beautiful Connection (fred everything remix) - Loudeast
3.Alex Niggemann - Perception - 8bit
4.Atmosfear - Dancing in Outter Space (The Revenge and Grey Matter Reworks)-Wolf Music
5.Jimpster - Sleeper (Franc Spangler Remix) Freerange

Live Mix de Fred Everything :

Fred Everything's Lazy Days Podcast 4 - June 2009

5 questions for... Varoslav

Jean-Claude Catel, que les clubbers connaissent mieux sous son nom de scène Varoslav, fait partie de la jeune génération de producteurs parisiens qui ont grandi avec le groove dans le sang, en dépit d'une scène club un peu déficiente. Récemment exposé à la face du monde avec des parutions chez Dirt Crew, Tsuba et Supplement Facts, Varoslav aiguise ses sons avec une aisance surprenante, et produit des petites bombes auxquelles il est difficile de résister.

Il y a une abondance d’excellents producteurs issus de Paris ces jours-cis (la bande Freak n’ Chic, Yakine, etc). Que se passe-t-il en France?
Ah c'est vrai qu'à Paris, on est gâté avec plein de nouveaux producteurs qui assurent, et des nouveaux labels qui émergent, comme Je t'aime Records, Eklo, Quartz... et bien sûr Freak n Chic et Circus Company! Le truc, c'est qu'on se connaît à peu près tous depuis longtemps, ça donne une bonne énergie pour la musique. Ça doit être en réponse à notre misérable clubbing! En ce moment c'est vraiment une sale période, avec juste quelques trucs par ci par là... et la résidence annuelle et estivale de Freak n Chic au Batofar avec un super programme. Heureusement, on se fait plaisir en studio ou à l'étranger.


Tu travailles souvent avec doP. Ce sont des potes?
Je connais l'équipe de doP depuis tout jeune. À l'époque ils avaient un groupe de hip-hop comme d'autres amis à moi. J'étais spectateur, mais déjà passionné de musique... Je fus d'ailleurs l'un des premiers à aimer la house music! On s'est retrouvé quelques années plus tard... et là on a vu qu'on aimait encore les mêmes choses! Jojo, le chanteur, est venu chez moi enregistrer pour la première fois un titre et c'était parti! Depuis, on se voit beaucoup plus, et on travaille plus ensemble - je les ai présentés à Guy Gerber pour qu'on travaille avec eux sur Supplement Facts, le label de Guy dont je m'occupe en partie. On a d'ailleurs un titre qu'on a fait tous ensemble, presque terminé! J'avoue que je suis bien inspiré par ce qui se passe autour de moi, et avec les amis, on essaie toujours de faire mieux que l'autre, toujours dans un bon esprit.



Qu’est-ce qui t’a décidé à te mettre à la production? Il y a des artistes qui t’inspirent particulièrement ces jours-cis?
J'ai commencé à mixer il y a presque 10 ans, et j'ai très vite compris qu'il fallait produire ses propres morceaux pour avoir des dates à Paris et à l'étranger. Au début c'était très dur pour moi car je ne connaissais rien en informatique, ni en musique d'ailleurs... seule ma passion pour la musique m'a guidé. J'ai eu la chance que mon ami David K me montre le chemin à suivre. Je voyais, autour de moi, pas mal de mes amis qui sortaient beaucoup de disques, et ça m'a donné envie tout de suite de faire mon truc. Beaucoup de choses m'inspirent pour faire de la musique... mais spécialement ma culture hip-hop. Pour moi, ça ressemble beaucoup à la house, j'aime bien parfois y sampler quelques trucs!
Sinon, les artistes qui m'inspirent en ce moment... c'est pas parce que c'est mes potes... mais doP sont premiers car je sais comment ils travaillent, et même si leur musique n'est pas toujours jouable en club, elle reste pour moi la plus stylée du moment. C'est musical, j'adore, avec beaucoup de prises de son de différents instruments dans leurs tracks... et ça s'entend! C'est pas juste quatre loops préfaits posés comme ça, quoi...


Tu t’es, dès tes premières parutions, immédiatement retrouvé à endisquer sur des labels de prestige (Supplement Facts, Dirt Crew, Tsuba). Comment se sent-on quand la consécration arrive aussi vite?
Je vais avoir 30 ans en novembre... Ça fait 6 ans que j'ai commencé à produire de la musique tout seul, je ne sais pas si c'est long, mais en tout cas pour moi qui ne fait que ça dans la vie maintenant, ça a été très long, alors je pense avoir eu le temps d'y réfléchir! Malgré le fait que je connaissais bien des gens à Paris, c'est à l'étranger qu'on m'a donné ma chance en premier. J'ai sorti deux trucs en digital avant mes sorties vinyles... Je dois dire que c'est pour moi une grande satisfaction, l'aboutissement d'un long travail personnel... La plupart de mes productions qui ont vu le jour ont mis deux ans a sortir... En ce moment, tout arrive d'un coup en deux mois! Depuis mon maxi sur Supplement Facts, les gens commencent à me connaître, et mon bootleg "Mofo" a pas mal tourné dans les clubs, et a été joué par plein de bons DJs comme Ricardo Villalobos et Cassy, alors ça aide toujours. C'est un peu frustrant pour moi, pour l'instant, car la musique ne me rapporte pas grande chose... Avoir signé sur des bons labels, c'est bien, mais ça ne me fait pas encore manger! Par contre, j'ai la chance de commencer à jouer dans des bons clubs et événements - c'est sûr que ça ouvre des portes. Je vais maintenant focuser sur mes sorties sur Supplement Facts, et un maxi qui s'en vient chez Je t'aime Records.



Tes cinq pistes favorites du moment?
1 - Zev - This Feelin - Wolf+Lamb
2 - PBR Streetgang - Busy Bee
3 - Matt Brown - Sunsky - Einmaleins
4 - Reggie Hammond - Pleased Machine
5 - V/A - You Never Walk Alone - Supplement Facts

Varoslav sera au Festival de Jazz de Montreux le 13 juillet pour un showcase Supplement Facts en compagnie de ses complices Guy Gerber et dOP.

6 questions for... Joris Voorn

Joris Voorn is the type of DJ / producer that needs no introduction. Active on the scene since 1997, he's been touring the world to push a sound that expertly mixes house and techno, with a very deep touch. He recently released Balance 014, a double DJ mix with elements of more than 100 different tracks, elements he blends together and mixes seamlessly to a great effect.

Holland is mainly associated with trance. Was it hard for you to push house and techno at an early stage of your DJ carreer ?
I think Holland is mainly associated with trance by people who are into that kind of music. I personally never ever have the association, maybe only when I get a question about it from someone abroad, which does happen occasionally. We've had a very healthy house and techno scene here for 20 years, and especially in the last few years the music has been really fresh, lots of great new producers and DJ's are getting recognition worldwide. Trance music is a very different scene here than house and techno, two completely separate worlds.


You also record as Rejected alongside Edwin Oosterwal. Tell us a bit about this project.
Rejected started as a fun project in the studio and later on stage, playing back to back DJ sets, and later we started the Rejected label to release our own music. Things got a bit more serious when the label and the music were a big success. We started signing other artists as well, like recently Pitto with his great Feelin' 2009 summer tune. As a producers duo we're having a little break as we speak - Edwin is focusing on his own productions, and so am I, but we'll get back into the studio soon enough...



You have crafted some of the biggest and most amazing remixes in recent memory (Babicz's "Dark Flower", Slam's "Ghost Song"...) - what's the secret behind that massive sound ?
I take my time when I'm in the studio, make as many versions of a mix as necessary, until I'm finished. In case of both mentioned mixes, there have been a lot of test versions before they actually got finished. It's hard to say what it takes to get to a sound like that, but I've learned a lot of things over the years, and as I'm playing as a DJ, I know what works on the floor. Combine that with a fair bit of melody, and you'll get pretty close...


Have you ever played in Montreal ?
I've never been to Montreal, so I'm looking forward! It's actually my Canada debut, both as an individual and a performing DJ!



What's the kind of reputation an event such as Piknic Électronik has overseas ?
I've heard nice things about it, like a good atmosphere out in the open, great music... It will be interesting to see what it's really like though, and if it's different than outdoor events in my own country.


Your top 5 tracks of the moment ?
Joris Voorn - Sweep The Floor - Rejected
Pitto - Feelin' (District One Remix) - Rejected
Dosem - Beach Kisses (Joris Voorn Green Mix) - Green
Joris Voorn - We're All Clean - Rejected
Edwin oosterwal and Warren Fellow - Hotlips - Rejected

Joris Voorn plays Piknic Électronik on July 5th alongside Soundshaper and Baya.

5 questions for... Stimming

Martin Stimming needs no introduction. Those who haven't heard his finely crafted productions, mainly released by Hamburg's label Diynamic, must have been living under a rock for the last two years or so. He has also released music on Freerange, Buzzin' Fly and liebe*detail, and is currently touring the world with a unique live set mixing his own productions and remixes. He also just released an immensely beautiful debut album, Reflections.


You have been praised repeatedly by the press as an artists with a unique sound. In this music industry where it's quite difficult to come up with something original, how does that feel ?
It feels very good, because I see that at least a couple of people seem to understand what I'm doing. You know, I'm playing all my percussions by myself, especially for the album - there is about 70% handmade, which I'm very proud of... But for the usual techno listener, it doesn't sound enough like machines. But I love the little mistakes I do.


Have you taken many latin vacations lately ? Your sound is unusually warm, for a german guy.
Haha, no I didn't, but I prefer a warm and deep sound. I like the aesthetics of house and the energy of techno - thats what I'm trying to combine. And Hamburg doesn't have very nice weather, so escaping is the thing.



How is the dynamic between all Diynamic guys ?
Very good - we're good friends and in a way it feels like a family. With great dynamics.


I heard you in Miami in March at the Diynamic Vs Poker Flat party... how did you enjoy your Miami experience, overall ?
I'm not sure if I should be honest because in a way it was a waste of time. The only venue which I really liked was (The Ice Palace for) Sunday School, and especially Marco Carola's set, which was the bomb! But all the stuff before wasn't very inspiring, and shaking Hawtin's hand and getting just a tired (not even a) smile back wasn't such a good experience (but i can understand him, i would have done that also). But I was there with my mates from Diynamic, which was very good.



What's next for you ?
New releases, moving on to a more complex and radical form than before. Ha! I came to stay, as I always say.

5 questions for... Robert Dietz

It doesn't happen often that a producer with a groove of his own excites us so much. Yet Robert Dietz, whose first release was thrown in the DJ arena in 2008, has a voice of his own, a voice he channels through irresistible samples and raw, groovy house. On the verge of his first North American tour, we had a stop & chat with the man.

Will this be your first time in North America ? What do you expect, and what can we expect from you in return ?
No, it is not the first time for me in North America. I made a trip with my parents through the states in 1999. So... long time no see, and I'm quite excited about the tour. Up there, especially in Montreal, I would love to be greeted by an open minded, sweet party crowd, and I'll do my best to satisfy them with raw house music.



What's the best party city you've recently played at ?
There are too many party cities I could recommend, but to name just a few... Frankfurt, London, Berlin and Ibiza!
Unfortunately for you guys, all of them are in europe. But I hope that you'll convince me that Montreal is one of these cities as well.

Name a label you think will push music forward in 2009.
For me, it's still Cécille Records!


Which artists would you say are your bigger inspiration, and why ?
It is not easy to pick only one artist who has the main influence on me - there are a lot of different artists, from all kinds of music genres, like hip hop, jazz, techno, indie rock... I don't know, influences are coming from everywhere... But my main influences are close friends like Markus Fix (Cécille) and Reboot (Cadenza). We always cheer on each other by sending ourselves our new stuff.




What's the biggest goal you're looking to achieve in the music industry ?
The biggest goal to achieve is to live pleased and satisfied from my music, have a good time with people all over the world, and enjoy fucking life!

Do not miss Dietz as he tears down Salon Daomé this Saturday June 20th at Clifford Brown & Marinelli's Motion night.

5 questions pour... Lee Van Dowski

Français établi à Genève, qui a endisqué au fil des ans pour des étiquettes telles que Mental Groove, BPitch, Soma et Mobilee, Lee Van Dowski n'a guère besoin de présentations. Il a récemment collaboré avec Anja Schneider, Quenum et Glimpse, et son nom résonne de plus en plus fort à mesure que 2009 avance.



Es-tu un sportif ? Tu as sorti cette année une chanson appelée "The Bobsleigh", et maintenant "Go bowling"...
Hahaha, non pas vraiment! Les titres de mes tracks me viennent de manière assez ésoterique, à vrai dire... L'ambiance musicale m'a inspiré ça. Mais ce ne sont pas les titres dont je suis le plus fier... Quant au sport, disont que je devrais m'y remettre, car les week-ends en club, ça n'est pas ce qu'il y a de plus sain! Promis, cette année je m'y remets.

Pourquoi t'être établi à Genève ?
C'est un concours de circonstances - j'avais le choix entre Paris et Genève pour mes études... J'ai choisi Genève car je n'aime pas trop l'ambiance stressante des grandes villes. Genève est une jolie petite ville sympa. Le lac, la montagne à côté... Luciano et Mirko habitent à deux pas de chez moi, le bureau de Cadenza pour les bookings et le label est tout près... Et surtout, l'aéroport est à 15 minutes: un environnement parfait pour moi.

Tu es au milieu d'un immense revival de la house, en Europe. L'avais-tu vu venir ? Crois-tu qu'il y a un label qui fait mieux les choses qu'un autre ?
Cette scène a toujours fonctionné par cycles, et la house n'avait jamais vraiment disparu... Simplement, après cette vague de minimale assez froide, la house est une alternative évidente, beaucoup plus sexy et fun! Et en ce moment, beaucoup de labels le font très bien.



Tu viens de sortir la chanson "Go Bowling" sur le Glass EP, sur Material, qui utilise le même sample vocal que la chanson "Jaunce", de Kreon. C'est voulu ?
C'est un accident malheureux. Je n'avais pas entendu la track de Kreon lorsque j'ai produit cette track, et le maxi était signé et en production quand on m'a appris qu'il avait utilisé le même sample! En ces temps de samplage à tout va... ce sont des choses qui arrivent! Il y a tellement de nouvelles productions chaque jour qu'il est difficile de suivre tout ce qui sort. J'aime bien ce que Kreon en a fait, et je pense que ma track est très différente... Au bout du compte, ce sera une alternative pour les DJs.

À quoi peut-on s'attendre de ta part dans un futur rapproché ?
J'ai encore deux maxis qui sortent avant l'été. Un split EP sur Cadenza ("Versus") avec Luciano & Guy Gerber d'un coté, et Glimpse et moi de l'autre... et un bootleg de Curtis Mayfield sur Saf Serie! Je vais retravailler avec Anja Schneider pour un prochain maxi sur Mobilee, probablement pour septembre.... Sinon je suis actuellement très occupé avec un projet de live appelé "Æther.", qui regroupe Luciano, Reboot, Digitaline, Mirko Loko et moi, projet assez compliqué à mettre en oeuvre d'ailleurs, car nous serons synchronisés avec une équipe de VJs. Nous avons 14 dates cet été, avec ce projet... Voilà de quoi être occupé pour un moment !

5 questions for... Markus Fix

With only half a dozen EPs under his belt, Markus Fix has already made a huge splash on the european house revival scene, was booked at Cocoon this coming summer, and has established a fresh sound that's heavy on the percussions and rich in groove. He's been DJing for a while but is rather new to production. Cecille, Love Letters From Oslo and Be Chosen are three labels that have released his tracks, and our guess is that you'll hear a lot more from this guy in the near future.



You were brough to international attention and a lot of DJ’s charts with a split EP you released with Robert Dietz on Cécille Numbers, “Bo Boston / Shunsowers”. Did you expect the tracks to do so well ? Were you surprised ?

Robert, the Cecille Crew and me had known that this EP was a strong one, but I was still surprised that the EP worked so well. We had a lot of amazing feedback before the release. Robert made this really fantastic track (Shunsower) and the label heads from Cecille were looking for another strong track for the flipside. At this time I had just finished my track “Bo Boston” and gave it to the label, and we all thought that the combination was perfect.

There’s a huge house music revival going on right now in Germany. What city would you say is the epicenter of the phenomena ?

It's difficult to say which city is the epicentre, but a lot of stuff comes from Frankfurt and Mannheim at the moment, so maybe this was a start for new house music in Germany. In the last three years we had a lot of minimal-techno and I think it is pretty normal that people are getting bored of it… So we were at the right time and in the right place to release fresh music. Another good fact is that we are all friends (Reboot, Robert Dietz, Chris Tietjen, Federico Molinari, Vera, Dorian Paic, Sascha Dive), we are a really big crew, and had a lot of output in the past year, but it is up to you to say that RHEIN/MAIN was the epicenter…

What’s your favorite label of the moment ?

I am really surprised about the comeback of Robsoul at the moment. They release great house music, so this is my favourite label right now. When I started as a DJ, I bought a lot of Robsoul vinyls, but then they changed their style, and I dissociated myself from their music. Now they're back in the game with a lot of music I am familiar with. But Oslo, Cecille and Raum…Musik are favourites as well.



Which artists would you say are your bigger inspiration, and why ?

Jean-Michel Jarre was the first producer I saw “live”, and it was one of the magic moments in my life; a huge wall with synthesizers, and all that really wired music. That was a wonderful experience. I also think Moby is a great producer - I prefer when people are good producers and good performers as well. Hardware drum machines or synthesizers are like instruments (piano, guitar, drums) for these guys.

What’s the best reason to live in Frankfurt ?

Frankfurt is an absolutely fantastic city to live in, with a lot of different people, a lot of nice stores, and good clubs too. We have typical food like “Frankfurter Würstchen” and “Grüne Sauce”, very tasty. I love the skyline, our record store “Freebase-Records”, and the fact that all of my friends are living in Frankfurt too.

5 questions for... James Blonde

James Blonde has been dabbling in music all his life. He grew up in Tel Aviv and played in new wave bands in the 80's, before moving to L.A. to indulge in grunge music. Now a berliner, he manages the Sweat Lodge booking agency (representing artists such as Error Error, Guy J and Remute), and recently launched an internet radio station broadcasting electronic music 24/7, Sweat Lodge Radio. He has recorded two EPs with Chaim for My Best Friend and also just released a new EP with Sebastian Roya, Slamboya, on Konsequenz.



You recently launched Sweat Lodge Radio, a 24 hours running station based in Berlin. Tell us a bit about it.
Sweat Lodge Radio was launched in January as a test site for an electronic house oriented internet radio, and in the short time we are on is evolving to one of the nicest projects I am involved in. The concept: live broadcasts from Berlin, from our studio and clubs, from many great DJs and producers we are in touch with, and every day new ones we get to know and support. At the moment we are running tracks and sets 24 hours a day, and by the offical launch we will be broadcasting a full program from our studio. We will also unveil some great tools and features soon which, besides the music, separates us from the rest.

Do you think there’s a market for electronic music on FM radio ?
My ambition is to take Sweat Lodge Radio into the FM universe one day. So I believe electronic music can find its market there. Since this market is very small (although we all make a big fuss about it because of our passion of it), I think that with hard work, ingenuity, and staying updated with the real vibes in the clubs at the moment, it is possible.

Analogue or digital, and why ?
Of course I would like to say analog, but I also recognize the change in the world that makes us have to adapt, and accept the digital world and try to take the pluses in it. I think a good balance of both on a label maintains tradition and sound with the future.



Name a label you think will push music forward in 2009.
I can't say a certain name, but I think the labels that will maintain a good digital/analog balance, as above, labels that will attract people beyond the music with conceptual ideas, and most of all labels that will release real music as opposed to real blips, should stay in the game.

Your top 5 tracks of the moment ?
1. For Those About to Dub - Oliver Deutschmann (Werner Neidermier Remix)
2. House to Go - Koljah (Daniel Stefanik Remix)
3. Slamboya - James Blonde & Sebastian Roya (Varoslav Remix)
4. Mojoe & Marlow - Look Over Feel
5. Fake Life - Lonya (Dan Drastic Remix)

5 questions for... Milton Jackson

Milton Jackson is like a breath of fresh air on the UK house scene. Having released his first productions at 19, he was in a band called "The Pretty Boys" with Mylo long before the dude was even known. His long-player CRASH was released at the end of February to critical acclaim, and added a few gems to an already impressive discography. He took some time to tell us about his life & works.



You were quite the musical early bird. What got you into production ?

When I was about 13, I started studying classical guitar at school. I did that for a number of years until I was about 18. Then for my 18th birthday my parents got me an MPC2000. From there I started getting really into house music and clubs. Found myself getting an Apple Mac, then continued from there. Haven't stopped since!

Which producers inspire you the most right now ?

Just now I love all the Diynamic guys like Solomun, Stimming, HOSH. Also my label mates at Freerange: Manuel Tur, Shur-i-kan, Jimpster... I also love Kris Wadsworth, Sei A & Hiro's new stuff. Three relatively new producers who are just tearing it up !

You have a new album coming out. Tell us a bit about it.

Crash is the name of the album, on Freerange. I was going to pack music in at the start of the year, as it was doing my head in a little bit, and I didn't really have an end game or focus point. Then Freerange asked me to do an album, which gave me a bit of mojo back and something to work towards. I spent most of 2008 on it. It's mostly deep and tech house, i really enjoyed working on it and it seems to have gone down well, so I'm glad I did it.



Name one label you think could change the face of music in 2009, and explain why.

I think a lot of the deeper dubstep labels, like Hessle. I love their stuff. Certainly that sound is one that has really grown on me recently, I can see it supplanting deep house in a lot of places. I would also say Freerange as well - they always sign forward thinking house music that breaks with the older stuff of the past, which in my view is a good thing!

Any plans to visit North America soon ?

Unfortunately not, I don't get booked out there that often, to be honest, apart from one gig in NYC that I missed due to flight problems, unfortunately. The time before that I was at the WMC in Miami where I lost my passport, the less said about that one the better! I would love to come out there and play one day though.