Alle Farben and liberal dance music
Alle Farben is a Berlin native whose personal touch on electronic dance music is what his followers enjoy the most about him.
His second album, ‘Music Is My Best Friend’ has achieved Gold status and the first single from the album ‘Please Tell Rosie,’ has over 24 million views on YouTube.
Electronic dance music has been always a very important part of the LGBT scene. The people created a very unique tradition. Everybody is welcome.”
He talks about the LGBT party scene in the city and how he found his roots there, how he chose direction when working on his albums, what he thinks about internationals who moved to Berlin, and how important it is to have a good and strong team supporting you and your vision.
You’ve played at various LGBT venues in Berlin. What from your experience makes these clubs and parties special? Particularly in the way that electronic dance music is shared in and celebrated?
Alle Farben: Electronic dance music has been always a very important part of the LGBT scene. The people created a very unique tradition. Everybody is welcome. The parties are always fun and hilarious. People go to the events because of the music and to celebrate. It was never focused on dating or hooking up with people.
The atmosphere is always friendly, liberal, and open minded. I really like to party there. And of course these were the first parties where I started being a DJ, so in some ways this was the foundation that my career was built upon.
It’s a melting pot. I think people who moved to Berlin call this city their home like all locals do. The surroundings for creativity are perfect.”
When you were working on ‘Synesthesia’ what did you originally start out focusing on for the release and how did that differ to what you ended up with?
Alle Farben: The work on my first album was a completely new experience for me. I had never done this in my life before. Of course the workload is even bigger than working on an EP. But I made so many EPs in the years before that I wanted to challenge myself to create an album.
On an album you have the chance to work on tracks you cannot play in the club because they are a different style and sometimes not suited. Especially on the first album I tried a lot to not think about the outcome or purpose of the music, just on my idea of what the music should sound like.
Working on the second album was totally different because I learned a lot whilst writing the first one. For “Music Is My Best Friend” I went one step back and decided to sound a little bit more like club music. This was due to the fact that some of my album tracks on my first album were not supposed to be part of my live set, but I would like to play my album songs at festivals and on club stages.
When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is start my Spotify playlist. Music is always with me.”
Berlin is revered all over the world as a destination for dance music. Since it is your hometown, how in your opinion do locals approach dance music culture in the city compared to its visitors?
Alle Farben: I think nowadays there is no big difference between locals and visitors in how they party or create music and art. In the last few decades people from all over the world have come to Berlin to live and create music and art.
It’s a melting pot. I think people who moved to Berlin call this city their home like all locals do. The surroundings for creativity are perfect.
The title of your second album ‘Music Is My Best Friend’ comes across as an honest representation of the significance of music in your life. How often do you spend time with this best friend and how many hours per week do you invest in this relationship?
Alle Farben: It depends on how many days I spend making music. Normally I’m making music seven days a week. On tour, preparing new gigs, working in the studio or listening to music at home.
When I wake up in the morning the first thing I do is start my Spotify playlist. Music is always with me. And then there are moments I enjoy the silence. On a Sunday evening flying back to Berlin and no music around me – that can be satisfying [too].
You’ve enjoyed a brilliant amount of success in the years that you have been in the business. What are some of the things surrounding your work ethic and habits that contributed towards this?
Alle Farben: I would say the team you have around you is the most important factor.
This success is a lot of work. You will never be able to do this on your own. They cover your back in difficult situations and believe in you and your work. That is really important, and of course traveling and touring inspires me a lot. I don’t like to produce music when I’m travelling or on the run.
But otherwise it is very nice to have both sides of the story. On the one hand, time to calm down and think about ideas and on the other hand time to be on the run, you have to be open minded in order to get new ideas.
When it comes to creating music that is original and fresh, what does it require of you as a producer to get into a headspace where creativity like this is possible?
Alle Farben: For me it is important to work with people. With musicians, producers, singer songwriter whatever. This inspires me a lot. I don’t like to be alone in the studio and making music on my own.
Listen to ‘Please Tell Rosie,’ the first single from Alle Farben’s second album ‘Music Is My Best Friend’
[youtube_sc url=”TQLgLcU81e4″]
