Redseat QnA: Das Kapital

There is much to envy when it comes Kyle Brinkmann (aka Das Kapital). The 22 year old is taking on the South African electronic scene with breath a of fresh air in a blazing trail of growing glory.

Refusing to stay out of the headlines, Das Kapital’s own Do Work Records [the name says it all – Ed] is set to take-over Synergy Live’s Red Bull Studio Live Stage this year. In an effort to find out more, we him tied down in IDM’s Redseat.

Wow what a year it’s been for electronic music, especially in South Africa. What in your opinion should be on our agenda for 2014?

DAS KAPITAL: Treating new developments and the past decades of work as a springboard, I believe the focus should be on strengthening the work of artists, as well as developing and breaking our talent globally. We NEED to see more educational information on the processes and intracacies of the music industry made available to independent artists. A lot of artists have been throwing many of their rights away, because they don’t understand what they’re reading on contracts, and frankly that’s unacceptable abuse of hard work.

You’ve also managed to stay in the headlines this year. Your own Do Work Records will be having a take-over at this year’s Synergy Live with RVWR and Leechi. This sounds good. What can we expect? Give us the facts.

DAS KAPITAL: Starting the label has been a wild experience. We’re in a really good place to begin releasing the music. Leechi and RVWR are two outstanding talents that still remain very much “fresh on the scene.” The takeover is simple in its concept: there aren’t just going to be the same top 10 EDM bangers rehashed by 3 DJs. The sets will comprise each artist’s own material, whether that be a VIP re-edit of a hip-hop track, or entirely new music from the label, as well as music sourced directly and exclusively from international “friends of the label”.

I’m going to leave the theatrics of the 3 individual sets as a surprise, but musically, I want people to know that if they’re there for the Do Work takeover, they’re there for OUR music and our friends’ tracks they haven’t heard before.

When you’re playing a set, at what moment do you realise you are at your height – during or afterwards?

DAS KAPITAL: This is a great question. It’s entirely different most shows. There are some sets I get so wrapped up in the mix and selection I can’t really take stock of the impact until afterwards. Other times, I’ll be mixing into one of my tracks and just realise “fuck me, this is doing something right.”

Lastly, what will you personally be spinning at Synergy?

DAS KAPITAL: As much of my new music as possible. When I was last at Synergy a few years back, I got to test one of my first official remixes on the crowd to a really great response – a lot has changed since then, and I’d really like to take that further.

Otherwise, I’m playing new Do Work music from around the country and sourcing exclusive tracks from my producer friends abroad, to try and make up a set of new and exciting music. If it’s good, and you can dance to it, I’m going to play it.