snaps
snaps
bimbos
lucky coq
boris brejcha word s / rk
first floor
Living in Frankenthal near Frankfurt for the last 15 years, Boris Brejcha is a product of the global phenomenon in electronic music. Musically, Boris came from an instrumental base playing drums and keyboard as a youngster. “For me, it was important to have an instrumental base,” he chimes. And years on, he is a producer, DJ and bona-fide all ‘round upbeat guy. “I think the drums and keyboard are two of the most important tools for producing electronic music nowadays,” he says. “The focus on a cool and groovy beat and nice melody – it has helped me tremendously. If I have an idea in mind, I can arrange, mix and master a song in a day. Then it is completely finished and in the box. I have to say, it is not a must, but I would recommend new artists learn an instrument for this reason – it helps!” And that momentum from childhood has of course transferred into the studio in adulthood. Now having produced prolifically over the years, he remains committed to the cause and enjoys delivering new output, especially when it bends the rules. “I have been involved with Autist and Harthouse Records from the start,” he explains. “It was in the beginning that Autist liked my music when I got into the business. Six months later, I went to Harthouse, mainly because of my love of vinyl, where Autist Records only published digitally.” From there, he created a second project titled ANNA and published a number of singles and remixes until 2008 however wrapped the project up to focus more closely on material published in his own name. In 2013, the lad is also planning on creating his own label, but suggests that before that, he has a few plans with the Harthouse imprint. “We will release another EP in the next two to three weeks; and towards the end of the year I will publish my next and fourth studio album.” No less, hoping to make it particularly special, the album will be released as a double CD compilation, with the first mix comprising dance floor oriented material, with the second being calmer, more experimental. “This idea came up because of my very successful DJ mix, which I published at the end of 2012 on Soundcloud,” he says. “Some of the songs from this mix will be on the second part of the album. The name of the album is also already decided too – it will be called Feuerfalter. For it, we will prepare a number of exclusive packages and they will come with a lot of extras.” With its release, he continues down the path of being a DJ who is intent on playing a lot of his own material. “I have always played my
own tracks,” he adds. “The nice thing about my music is that I do not just produce in one line. I produce out of feeling – and accordingly, my DJ sets explore many different genres. But in terms of the style and the sound, everything revolves around my own personal style.” For this reason – and regardless of genre – he is a positive purveyor for the electronic music scene generally. “It is constantly good over here,” he chimes. “In fact both in Germany as well as worldwide. The genre of house and deep house is currently the most popular - but there are also all of the other genres of electronic music that are being well represented. There will always be one genre more popular than another. For me anyway, the scene is going very well in the techno area - especially in countries like Holland, Denmark, France, Brazil and Russia, but it is very well represented around the world. Finally, we talk briefly about the evolution of his music over the years – initially from minimal to techno more recently – and he claims his direction moves with the times. “Techno has always been a big part of my music; even though I didn’t specifically assign myself to a genre, I decided to create my own, calling it high-tech minimal. I think it was mainly because I have never wanted to be stuck within the one genre; I really like to mix things up without any limitations.” Outside of music, the man doesn’t mind a little football, table tennis and swimming - even a bit of computer design work. Admitting that he enjoys a well-rounded life outside of music, he claims external pursuits are incredibly important and creatively stimulating. “Working not-too-hard keeps your focus fresh,” he says. Which is probably why he is chuffed about being invited to play at the forthcoming Earthcore festival. “It is my first time and I’m pretty excited. I always say that if you go to a performance of Boris Brejcha it is always good fun because I play always a good mix of released and unreleased tracks.” And you can’t ask for much more than that?
strike Boris Brejcha plays at the Earthcore 20th Anniversary alongside Ace Ventura, Perfect Stranger and more, which takes place from Friday November 29 - Sunday December 1 at a yet to be disclosed location in country Victoria. soundcloud.com/boris-brejcha
claptone word s / to m k i t s o n
kazbar
4
The masked, crusading beatmaker that is Claptone hits Melbourne next weekend with the intention of bringing people to the far corners of the emotional spectrum through his unique sounds. The mysterious German producer who released the critically acclaimed Cream last year on Berlin based label Exploited is instantly recognisable with his golden bird-like mask. He’s been imprinting his blend of house influenced and bass heavy music in clubs and on stages globally with the aim to have a significant impact on the listening and dancing experience of people who come to his shows. “I love to make the people curious, scared, excited, amused, anxious, euphoric, sad and happy,” he says. “I don’t produce dance music, I create sound. Sound that reaches into your soul and touches your body.” Claptone has a deep and spiritual take on music, saying he exists to express himself through sound and a unique performance experience. “I exist because I express myself; I can not be otherwise,” he says. “There is so much sonic unrest in me, which needs manifestation, and as long as I am, I must communicate through sound so there will be Claptone.” Giving little away on the contents of his upcoming set at Revolver, Claptone says you have to listen closely to his music in order to get an understanding of the man and the driving force behind him. “If you listen very closely to the sound of Claptone you might get a glimpse into my whole universe full of secrets,” he says. “Let those secrets thrill you, allow them to fascinate you and enjoy the excitement they create within you, but accept them as what they are: secrets!” Asked why he doesn’t show his face while performing, he
philosophically describes wearing a mask as a common thing we all do in life’s different roles. “All people take in interaction with others on a daily basis; a lot of different roles. One could describe these roles as masks,” he says. “It is a tangible outward identity description, yet also identity.” Claptone explains that his success has come from his soul, as he is honoured to play music that brings out a physical and emotional response in his audience. “My biggest influence is certainly the soul, for the soul is always the main ingredient in the sonic soup,” he says. “But Claptone is also a creation of the people; only those who come to my gigs and listen to my music make me Claptone.” “Music casts a spell upon people, evoking their emotional response in many ways. It is a great honour to be able to touch people with my music and very rewarding to see them being swept away by the love and heartache, the ecstasy and melancholy that I bring onto them.” Every show he plays is enjoyable and fulfilling he says, with each set taking on its own ‘special energy.’ “Of course Warung in Brazil, Revolver in Melbourne, Creamfields in the UK or Watergate in Berlin are amazing, but I had great nights in Romania, Beirut, Montreal, Shanghai, Bordeaux, you name it,” he says. “But I dare say that almost every Claptone night is memorable for everybody involved.” It all goes down on Sunday September 15 at Revolver Upstairs. soundcloud.com/claptone
electronic - urban - club life
workshop