You grew up in Giessen, Germany. How would you say the atmosphere and sounds you encountered there in your youth have influenced your sound, if at all?
Giessen is a city with a population of eighty thousand, the town I grew up in is 20 km away and has a population of about fifteen thousand. I basically grew up in a typical small German town, which means that there isn’t something like a perspective if you choose to stay there for the rest of your life. When I discovered electronic music (which was downbeat/triphop/ambient stuff from labels such as Electrolux´s “Spacenight”, (I’m not sure if it even exists anymore) I suddenly felt the world open up for me. I immediately knew what I had to do and this brought me to where I am.
Influence wise, this trip hop stuff went to drum & bass until around 2003 and then to techno; Chris Liebing, Sven Väth, Umek, and Pascal Feos. Those were the heroes of my late youth.
Having originally been a drummer, what was making the leap to electronic production like for you?
As a drummer you always depend on the other people in your band. That’s why I became electrified from the idea of making everything by myself. I always had an idea of how music should sound like in my mind but wasn’t able to communicate it.
What are some of the key components that you look to include in your live shows?
It’s important for me to still have my own groove in it, play everything a little bit different every time than the original versions and apart from that, trying to communicate with the audience through my music.
Do you have a favourite memory from a live performance?
I always love when this communication thing works, when people react in a good way. But this doesn’t happen that often, unfortunately. Anyway, my favourite memory this year was at the closing party at Sankeys, Ibiza when I played in between Kollektiv Turmstrasse and Solomun. The vibe was amazing, many other artists I respect (like Thomas Koch and Claude Vonstroke) were dancing in the crowd. I loved it!
Since the 2009 release of your highly acclaimed debut album, Reflections, you’ve released a follow up, Liquorice, last year. How do you go about crafting an album, and are you planning to release a new one any time in the near future?
That’s what I’m working on right now, my third album. I have no idea when it’s gonna be finished, I don’t want to put any kind of pressure on myself, because it has to be the best album I made so far.
You’ve remixed tracks by the likes of Deadmau5 to Pool. When working with an existing song to make something new, does the process differ much to making something from scratch?
I admit, it’s easier because the main idea isn’t something you have to develop again, it’s already there. What you do basically is to emphasize a finished idea from a different perspective. That’s why I only do remixes where I think the idea itself is worth it.
You’ll be playing at TRUTH’s 13th birthday party in December. Have you been to South Africa before, and what can fans over here expect from your show?
Yes, I´ve been to Johannesburg once, I played at the lighthouse and fans can expect the best I have, from new stuff to classics, all wrapped up in dance floor story they hopefully will like.
Now that 2012 coming to a close, what would be the perfect ending to this year for you?
As I mentioned earlier finishing my third album would be perfect but I don’t think this will happen, still it would perfect if I have three other great tracks I strongly believe in. I have around four to five right now.
More info on TRUTH’S 13th Birthday
Stimming – live @ 5yearsDiynamic Rio by stimming
INTERVIEW: Jayson Geland
Win Tickets to Truth’s 13th BIRTHDAY PARTY!
