DD: This label has some very intriguing experimental textures. Very cool to see that embraced. How would you describe the overall sound of Eat Concrete?
EC: First off..thanks for the heads up! To me Eat Concrete is reflecting all the different sounds that I love. As I’m kind of an eclectic this means the label goes in all directions. I don’t really feel it is very experimental but that’s probably because I’ve heard these releases a lot 🙂 It’s quite hard to pinpoint what defines an Eat Concrete release as such, not just because these releases cover such a wide spectrum of styles but also of emotions. I do think there’s a thread going through the label, it’s evolving and I try to keep it fresh. I don’t really care if something is called experimental or not, that’s rather subjective I think. I am mostly interested in connecting with talented artists and in building a catalogue that is colourful and reflecting sounds from the time we’re in. As we can’t predict the future I cannot predict how the label will look in several years time. I hope I’ll still be able to work on it though 🙂
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DD: Talk a bit about some of your artists..
EC: Most of the artists I work with are or have become friends. For example, I’ve known Aardvarck for almost 20 years as we’re from the same city in the south of Holland. We’ve done several projects together and will soon release a new EP that’s an off shoot from his Bloom imprint, we called it ‘Gloom’:). It’s actually a split release with fellow Dutchman Kubus, a great guy and very talented producer. Then there’s LA’s Take, I released his ‘Dirty Decibels Of Thomas Two Thousand’ back in 2008. We then did a tour together for a few weeks and have been friends since. He’s working on his new project for Eat Concrete as we speak. Another great guy is San Franscisco based Will Redmond aka Blipvert. We toured several times together and we’ll hopefully do another one early summer. His music is simply unique and I’m proud to have released his ‘Quantumbuster Now’ EP. I feel priveliged to have met and worked with lot’s of nice people so far, it’s just great to find out you are connected on several levels, not just the music.
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DD: What are your shows like over in the Netherlands? I’ve done several posts for some Amsterdam based artists and labels (Rubix, The Century, Shook, Grand Jackson, GirlsLoveDJ’s), some of my favorite posts so far..such a free and confident sound in the Netherlands.
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EC: Well, honestly, I’m doing different gigs here, it depends on the venue and theme. I like to go in all directions and showcase my label and a broad sense of music as much as I can. Sometimes this works and people are really supporting, sometimes it’s harder cause people expect you to play one type of music. Which is fine with me too.
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DD: What plans are you making as a label for 2011?
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EC: Big plans! No, seriously.. 2011 is gonna be quite a busy year for me. I’m releasing more projects then ever before including a compilation to celebrate 5 years of Eat Concrete somewhere this spring. There will be tracks and releases coming from Baconhead, Aardvarck, Lumisokea, Caural, Boy King Islands, Blipvert, Funckarma, Enemy Earth, Ichiro, Evan Odd, Kubus and others. Together these cover a massive range of styles, going from Dubstep to Shoegaze and Ambient to Noise, Beats and Disco.
Who likes free things? How about 22 free things? Blank & Kytt have sent over this album of theirs from the UK. Follow this link and make it yours. It’s groovy and its funky and I like it yes.
DD: You guys are from France, awwww jealoussss. How do you like the music scene in France?
G: There is definitely a strong connection between electroni c and pop culture in France. It seems to be an historic thing, for at least fifty years, french electronic artists have produced dance music influenced by sound research and pop. Now, it’s a kind of a collective spirit, the number of electro acts is massive. The evolution of the french techno sound into distortion over the last five years is quite interesting.
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DD: Your songs are very clear and fun, has your production style always sounded like this?
C: Back in the day, our sound was more harsh and minimal, the project was based on Laptops’ jamming, but we were also using some pop elements . That’s why we always been a part of the electronic scene. A strange mix between dance and noise. Nowadays, our music sounds more accessible, but it’s hard to say if we do straight electro-pop music. Anyway, people often say that our sound is easily recognizable.
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DD: What’s the best show you’ve been in the past 6 months?
C: We saw LCD soundsystem for the first time a few months ago in Berlin at the very beginning of their tour. The venue was not that big so you could see and listen to the band properly. It’s was great to dance and watch all the interactions between live instruments and analog electronics. Impressive!
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DD: Have you been over to the USA yet for shows?
G: Yes we’ve toured several times in the USA… the biggest tour was 35 gigs in 6 weeks. We obviously played in the big cities as well as very tiny ones… Touring in the USA is really like being on a road trip movie. C: We met wonderful peeps and we discovered the real meaning of the word “fan”. People who love your music won’t hesitate to fly 3000 miles to see you twice. Amazing !! I can’t wait to come back !!
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DD: Best encouragement you’ve gotten as an artist?
well written quote from the article..”Mining the rich histories of new romantic goth and industrial dance, Light Asylum have given new gravity to the shadowy sphere of dark, voltaic music currently on expanse across all virtual media.”
moving along..
THIS NEXT ONE IS FOR MY BOYFRIENDDDDDD
BOYS NOIZE & FRIENDS = IM FREAKKKKIN OUT OVER THESEEEE (Thanks DJ Fuke for the heads up)
psyched on reading this. I really like Brave New World. Once again, turned onto this author by Dazed & Confused. hella dystopian internet life in this hausssss!
Disco Droppings’ NYE post of 2009 was Pictureplane. Now, on the eve of 2011 here in the U.S., this Denver electronic talent is back! If you’re in the Seattle area on 1/6/11, Pictureplane will be performing at the Vera Project with Teengirl Fantasy and USF (I’ll be DJ’ing in between sets!). I’m pressed for time and the Pictureplane answers are in faded font for some reason, sorry!
DD: heyyy Pictureplane. What are you doin right now?
P: Hey! I am sitting on my computer in the city slang office in Krausberg, Berlin. I just played my last show of a short tour with Small Black..I am flying home to Denver tomorrow.
DD: I’ve never toured before, how does traveling all over affect you creatively? Do you do it often?
P: I do travel a lot. It can be hard, and it gets tiring and annoying sometimes, but ultimately it is a hugely rewarding experience. I feel fortunate for all of the experiences I have had and for all the people I have met. It is a huge influence on me creatively, and really, I try to live my life as art and performance while I am travelling. At times I feel like a social scientist, studying human behavior.
DD: Last time I talked to you it was right around new years last year, how do you feel overall with this year coming to a close? Where do you see yourself heading in 2011?
P: 2010, was an amazing, wild, and beautiful year. 2011 is going to be all about my new album. Shit is epic.
DD: I’m quite honored to DJ for a bit at your upcoming Vera Project show in Seattle, any especially fond memories in Washington for you?
P: This will be my 3rd time playing The Vera Project! Um, breaking down in a super tiny eastern Washington meth town, and staying there for two days singing kareoke in a bar to a bunch of truck drivers is a pretty “fond” memory.
DD: Any songs running through your head at the moment?
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