News
EDLX SPOTLIGHT #19 DVS1
February 12, 2012
[EDLX] How did you start producing and when?
I’ve been tinkering around with production since the mid 90’s, but never quite finished anything..I would say that in the last 3 years I started finishing projects and releasing music.
[EDLX] 16 years is a long time to finnish your tracks, are you still taking plenty of time to complete your music or have you got quicker?
I wish! But actually I’ve realized that I like to work on one project at a time..and that I’m not good at multi tasking when it comes to music production. In the rest of my life, no problem…But I like to focus on making music 1 idea at a time..
[EDLX] What is your approach to putting the tracks together in the studio?
Everything I do is loop based, so I try and get a loop or an idea out and capture a feeling or an emotion at that moment.. When I make the actual track its usually just me mixing it down for 10 minutes or so and capturing all my changes in real time..then I go back and tighten things up a bit and that’s it. I try and capture everything real time, no cut a paste or at least as little as possible… all my movements are done live.
[EDLX] What software and outboard controllers are you exited about at the moment, with examples of what you use them for?
Well, what’s interesting is that a lot of people approach me asking what piece of gear I made some track with. They are always amazed when I tell them that I use Reason to make all my music. Back when I started tinkering with production I had lots of analogue toys, but over the years as I wasn’t really focusing on production I started getting rid of pieces one by one…Then I discovered Reason and realized that I could use it virtually like I did with my gear. I could experiment with plugging things in, patching machines that shouldn’t go together etc. Reason allowed me to try things virtually that I would try in the real world with gear.
My set up is a PC running reason with multiple controllers. I don’t cut and paste bars or even really use the sequencer window when writing my idea. I try and record myself manipulating and performing around a loop from start to finish. All my modulation and changes are made in real time and are captured through the controllers. I use a UC-33 to run the mixer, an MPC pad style controller for some chords and a standard keyboard as well. When I’m ready to mix down I just put shortcuts to all my movements on the UC33 as much as possible and I open up the track for 10 minutes and start playing around with things. I’m not walking in completely blind..by the time I record, I do have some idea of what I want to do. Sometimes things take 3 takes to get right, but 90% of the time, the first take was always the best one that captured my emotion the best. The beauty of the computer for this is that if I make a mistake and bring something in but don’t like it, I don’t stop…I just pull it down and keep going like it never happened…then later I can edit that piece out and not lose the other parts of the mix that were perfect!
[EDLX] Can you describe your sound?
Beats and rhythms. Its that simple….
my sound is a reflection of my influences and my past.
[EDLX] Can you reference some of your influences?
More then any specific artist’s, its more of an era…The 90’s…really it’s just a period and vibe that I was lucky enough to be a part of. I remember the feeling I had on the dance floor and in front of massive stacks of speakers in the Midwest(USA). Feeling the music as much as hearing it. I try and draw from those experiences when I make something current and when I’m Dj’ing.
[EDLX] What do you listen to when you are not producing music?
A lot of old hip hop(NOT RAP), soul, funk, jazz.
[EDLX] Name names any particular artists or albums you can point us towards, whats would be your desert island disc(s)?
Oh man…I’m terrible when it comes to these questions…
[EDLX] What have been your gig highlights of the last 6 months?
I hate to sound cliché, but I’ve been lucky enough to be able to play at berghain every 3-4 months for the last 2 years and its been really special…last summer I did an 11.5 hour set and just a few weeks ago on NYE I played after 3 other NYE gigs and even on Monday morning berghain was still going crazy! Another notable mention was playing in Japan for the first time at club eleven with Jeff Mills.
[EDLX] What can electric deluxe expect from your show?
Really, for me I give what I get. I have a lot of energy, but I can only run on that for so long. I thrive off of the interaction with the crowd. From what I hear these parties are really solid, so If I’m right, you’ll get a solid beatdown!!
[EDLX] Can you tell us a bit about your setup for show and how you translate your sound to the club what tricks and wizardry are you using at the moment
At the moment, I’m still on Vinyl and CD’s. I’ve realized that over the last few years of travelling for gigs, I’ve started playing more CD’s than I did in the past as it’s the only way for me to bring enough music when I’m travelling for a month playing gigs. I don’t want to always play the same bag, so having options is good for me. I use 2 turntables and 2 cd’s. I know most will cringe when I say this…but I prefer a pioneer 800 mixer for the way I DJ. I know it doesn’t sound the best, but its laid out so well for my aggressive style of mixing. The reality is that most clubs/venues we play these days are set up with a digital processor running the sound systems. These venues should have a basic setting set up for each style of mixer they might be using to guarantee that out of the box the sound will match the mixer being used for that particular show.
To get back to the question…I also prefer to use the Special technics MK5g turntables, as they go +-16. Which allows me to play fast techno a little slower and slow house a little faster. I’ve found that I can get people into a faster tempo/groove than they might be used to…I’ve discovered that 134 BPM is my internal tempo, its where I start to feel things getting cyclical instead of just a pounding beat. I can play slower, I can play faster, but that’s the speed I tend to be drawn to.
[EDLX] What is your electric deluxe top ten from the back catalogue?
Bootes – Speedy J
Sculpture – Speedy J and George Issakidis
Electric city- Function remix
Drastik – PAS remix
Breathless – Terence fixmer
Connect (withoutbass) tool 5-12 – Echologist
Egoist – Original mix
Shoegaze – Speedy J
Paint and Chemicals dept (original mix) - Phil Kieran and Jochem
Objective J – Back Pack Poets
[EDLX] What was your top track of 2011
I wish I could give you that answer, but there is just no way…The reality is that there was a lot of good music this last year and I would be going crazy trying to pinpoint just 1!!
[EDLX] What is your secret dancefloor destroyer
It wouldn’t be a secret if I told you?! The thing that I try and do is play at least half of my sets with music that people might not know. Some unknown artist etc. They may not be that powerful on their own, but in the mix they are amazing! What I remember from my youth and going to parties is that I would always be blown away by the DJ that not only impressed me with their skills, but also played music I didn’t recognize. Of course I love hearing tracks that I know and that have a place in my history and in my subconscious…But I love hearing something new that just completely leaves me speechless and wondering how to find it! In this world of easily accessible everything, I think it’s important to have some secrecy and some wonder about who you are, what you do and how you do it!
[EDLX] What is your next release?
I’ve decided to focus on only original music for the next year and only to release on my own label HUSH. I realized that for the last year I was doing lots of remix’s and although it’s been great and very humbling to be asked to do so many projects I need to go back to focusing on original music and exploring my productions.
[EDLX] Who else is signed to your label Hush and how do you find being a label manager compared to just making music or playing shows?
As mentioned above. I’ve decided for now to just run HUSH as a label to release my own production. My focus is to do all original material, no remixes, no outside artists. I’m not saying that will be the end result, but for now that’s where I would like to see it go. Ben Klock released some of my first material on Klockworks, which was also supposed to be an outlet for just his own production etc.. So I’m open to something if it really matches with my aesthetic and my vision.
[EDLX] Who surprises you the most when you play with them? Who is pulling out records that you don’t know?
Jeff mills was by far the most exciting in Japan..He’s always known to play his own tracks, but that night was really great as he showed up to just DJ, no 909, no extra themes or any special purpose other than just beating people senseless with his dj’ing. He was putting together the simplest, but most effective mixes and his track’s were all just leaving me speechless.. I would say that someone I have the most in common with is Ben Klock. He’s always playing tracks that I either used to play, want to play, or need to play!!
[EDLX] At edlx one part of releases is always the tools. Do you make tools for your own dj sets are you playing lots of edits.
I’ve started to edit tracks to suit my needs a bit more.. Especially things that I really like, but might have 1 element that throws me off..so I’ve been taking them and making re-edits for myself to use.
[EDLX] Anything else you want to mention or say?
Just want to add that it’s been a real pleasure being able to play my music around the world these last few years. I’ve been constantly reminded on these long flights over from the U.S. that I’m being asked to do what I love for people who want to hear what I have to offer. I’m just thankful for these opportunities and that people are feeling my vibe!
