INTERVIEW

DD: Hello hello Kontakt! How would you describe what you’re doing with Kontakt Recordings? You have a huuuuuuuge amount of tracks on that soundcloud of yours..

KR: Hey guy (s) /girl (hopefully attractive). Kontakt Recordings is a promotional label spreading the good quality European and “West Coast” electro to the rest of the country where it has not yet touched down. We are also bringing back a lot of old skool rave and breakbeat influences in as the next evolution in the fidget/electro sound. Down with the amen break! We are in contact with many of the producers that are featured in our mashup tracks and hope to get them the East Coast / USA representation they deserve through our free mashup releases and monthly podcast. Personally, I’m working on my first new album release in 4 years…time to stop djing for a bit and go back to producing, where I came from. Yep that’s what we’re doing!

DD: What’s been your favorite song to remix/mashup?

KR: When I’m playing live, my favorite song to mashup is N-Joi’s “Anthem”. As far as the remixes go, it’s a tie btween the new Hyper Go-Go “Never Let Go” remix and my David Guetta “Delirious” remix from last year. I love bringing back the classic anthems, but that Guetta remix really takes the cheese and gives it groove.

x

DD: How many artists are connected with Kontakt Recordings?

KR: We have about 8 producers and 11 DJ’s right now under affiliation, in NYC, Philly, DC, Orlando, and LA.

DD: Whoaaaa, very nice. How would you like to see Kontakt Recordings develop as time goes on?

KR: I’d love see us doing some international events more than just gigging. Kontakt has sponsored some great events on this side of the ocean, the other side would be a great thing for us. It would also be great to go back to our experimental / techno roots and explore the darker side of EDM. We’re in contact with two German labels now to get both of those things started *high five*.

DD: What’s been the strongest show you guys have put together? What stood out about it?

KR: Orb Festival 2009 was the best event hands down so far. We worked together with a team of great people and artists, had a real international line up (20+ international acts), and the festival looked out of this world. Many of the people we worked with on that are still our best connections in the industry. When you are camping for 4 days with people, you make great friends! it was very inspiring for all of us.

DD: Any final words for all the lovely blog readers?

KR: A great philosopher once wrote, “Naughty naughty very naughty”…It’s been great talking to you guys, and a message to all you dancers out there on the floor: The music will set you free!

http://soundcloud.com/kontakt-recordings

– jimijaxon

FREE TAKE ONE: http://www.mediafire.com/?tss950a3hj7a6b4

MMMatthias was on Disco Droppings last year, happy he’s back at it! In additition to the free remix above, he’s got a new remix release on Juno for Rotze, here’s a previewww

x

INTERVIEW.

DD: You’re sounding fresh MMMatthias! What do you enjoy most about Ed Banger Records?

Thanks, I’m glad you enjoy it! I mostly enjoy their powerful comeback! Been a fan since day one and after some disappointing moments in the recent history, it’s great to see they found back to their greatness. Pretty excited for the upcoming artist albums…like everyone else is, I guess =)

continuing on with the freeness..hit that little down arrow on the right side, make it yours 

x

INTERVIEW

DD: Aww another artist from France. I would like to visit very badly. What are you doing right now?

CP: Yes I’m from France, it’s a nice country and I would strongly advise you to visit when you get the chance. Lately I haven’t been as productive as I used to be, as my main focus recently, I’ve been trying to learn tablas which is a very versatile indian percussion, but it’s also very demanding and needs a lot of work to be mastered. Hopefully I will be able to spice up my electronic music production with it in a very near future, nonetheless I’ve been working on some tunes in many different styles as usual.

DD: I would love to hear some tabla music when that comes together. How did you get interested in electronic music?

CP: I started with metal actually and very quickly picked up a guitar belonging to my father, then started to play in a few metal bands. Then I learned drums, around ’98 my interest in electronic music started to grow. I was very enthusiastic when I first discovered electronic music, I was deep into Tricky, Amon Tobin, Squarepusher, but also some Drum and Bass, mainly Roni Size, Four Heroes etc.. At that time the computer started to be able to handle audio processing, so I started to experiment with sampling, sound processing etc., but it was purely for fun and it wasn’t my main musical focus at the time. Then a time went by and we (our band) started to introduce some electronic elements in our instrumental music and when my last band to date stopped, I decided to focus more on electronic production, and as I was getting better, the music started to get better too, and this led to my first gigs and first releases, and I definitely hope I will keep on improving my musical skills.

x

x
DD: Coming from bands earlier in your life, do you ever collaborate with other artists in songs?

CP: Yes I did quite a few collabs in different styles, I think the key here is to trust (and respect) the creative and musical skills of your partner but overall it really is a hit or miss process it really depends who you’re writing with. if the persons involved have the right attitude it will yield great results, to sum up working with the right person will be a real pleasure, working with someone who isn’t opened to discussion can become a real chore.

DD: Do you play out much in France? What does the electronic community look like there?

CP: I used to play out a lot but no so much anymore as what I really enjoyed is creating new stuff, playing for a crowd isn’t so exciting for me anymore. Regarding the musical scene in France there’s a lot of different styles represented obviously, I think the most developed  is probably the electro house scene, the kind of stuff JUSTICE and the label Ed Banger is putting out, there’s also quite a few minimal techno nights going on, other than that every style is out there but it’s more underground, there’s a decent Drum n Bass and IDM scene too but there isn’t a lot of producers…but there’s a lot of events so overall I would say the electronic music scene is rather healthy.

DD: What future projects are you most excited to work on?

CP: I really want to start working on some cross genre music, so far I’ve been producing within easily identified genres (Drum n Bass, IDM, Minimal) and I would like to think more outside the box and be ablet to mix all my different influences into one unique style, it’s easier said than done but hopefully this project will come to life in the near future.

x

x

DD: Onward and upward! Any final words?

CP: i was very pleased to answer your questions, and glad you find my music worth interest.

Chaotic Pulse on Soundcloud

– jimijaxon 

ohh shit smoooth and free for download =)

INTERVIEW

DD: our sound quality is superb! Really envelops the listener. How would you describe your sound?

H: ha, well thanks. glad u dig.  To me, heRobust is kind of a slowed n throwed take on future funk.  Its definitely derived from hip hop.  The most defining characteristic is probably my synths.  They’re typically pretty glossy with sci fi undertones, but I arrange them into soulful progressions. My percussion is usually sparse, but I try to pack a wallop.

x

DD: I especially like the way the vocals are used. Where do those come from?

H: All over man.  Mostly old soul records, but I like sampling stuff from different cultures a lot too.  west africa, especially…

DD: What was your introduction to electronic music?

H: Easy.  Prefuse73 – One Word Extinguisher.  I used to produce hip hop growing, but that record changed everything.  Squarepusher was a big influence too, but I connected so strongly with the hip hop styles of Prefuse.

DD: What is the electronic scene like in Atlanta? I think your the first artist I’ve featured from Georgia.

H: lol, there’s a reason for that.  ATL electronica scene is not so developed.  Most electronica fans out here are into american dubstep or stuff like STS9, which is cool.  There’s not much out here in the way of “beats.”

DD: What plans are you making as an artist for 2011?

H: Oh boy.  tons…  heRobust is my solo beat project.  Im releasing a free EP called Albumin on SATURATE records.  This drops on 2-1-11.  Im also involved in two collaborations.  Mane Mane is a collab between me and C Powers.  Its a really dusty, experimental project.  We’re dopping our LP, Mane2Mane, real soon on UUU Tapes.  Lastly, Im collabing with Leonard Dstroy and this year should see a few releases from us as well.

DD: Any shows your dying to see this year?

H: Dorian Concept.  One of the most musically talented producers as far as performing is concerned.  No question.

DD: Last words?

H: Yeah man, Im a fiend for new music.  If any of your readers make music themselves, please feel free to hit me up.  Iv met a lot of cool people this way. heRobustMusic@gmail.com

heRobust on Soundcloud 

http://herobust.bandcamp.com/

– jimijaxon 

INTERVIEW

DD: Alright Jamie, hello hello. What are you doing right now?

JG: I have just woken up!

DD: Awww, what did you dream about?

JG: Spaceships and dinosaurs

x

DD: Haha, man I’ve been interviewing some damn good writers lately. You are very funny. Tell the readers a bit about yourself, what brought you into electronic production? And what’s helped you stick with it?

JG: I’ve always been interested in music, and computers – just kind of makes sense really. I guess it makes it easier to keep making music when people actually listen to it..But I suppose I’d still be making music anyway regardless as it’s still just a hobby, not a career!

DD: You release music on a few labels am I right? Are these close to where you live?

JG: Well I’m signed to Infrasonics – which is a London based label. I live in Leeds, which is a couple of hours north of London. I also brought out my Footwork EP on Fortified Audio, which is based in Glasgow, Scotland – that’s a few hours north of Leeds. So neither labels are exactly local, but not a million miles away either.

DD: What do you gots planned for the rest of 2011?

JG: Couple more releases, more gigs, fly to space, yada yada…

DD: =) Final words? Coming to Seattle anytime soon?

JG: Final words… dongle, and celery. No US plans yet – but would love to go – hopefully soon…

http://soundcloud.com/jamie-grind

http://twitter.com/JamieGrind

http://www.facebook.com/jamiegrindmusic

– jimijaxon