101 with Ramon Tapia: being "El Carlitto"...

Ahead of his highly anticipated performance at tonight's Episode III of Technicolour at EGG club London, we caught up with one of the most loved and appreciated new talents of excellent house music. With new mixes and remixes appearing constantly on his Soundcloud page and already with a Strictly Rhythms Compilation under his belt, Ramon Tapia is on fire!

Get some sun screen then, sit tight, hit the play button and enjoy Codekontrol's 11 questions on "being El Carlitto"
Latest tracks by Ramon Tapia

[code]: Hi there Ramon, and welcome back to sunny London tonight as we roll film and music for Episode III of Technicolour: London’s Cinematographic House Music Experience! How are you and where does this interview find you?

Ramon Tapia: I'm doing great, hanging out on my sofa now after a long weekender; and also had a long long day at the airport :)

[code]: How has summer 2011 been for you and where have you spent it mostly?

Ramon Tapia: I've been touring in Mexico, Brazil and many festivals all over Europe so it has been quite amazing. Wish i'd also had some vacation :P

[code]: :) How has your release schedule been throughout the year since your landmark release for “Strictly Rhythm” last December?


Ramon Tapia: Yes, the Strictly Rhythm release was huge for me with a lot of worldwide exposure;




afterwards I wanted to keep it a bit easy on releasing so i did just a couple of originals and remixes on labels like 100 % Pure, Remote Area, Soma, Snatch and so on …Dj wise its been hectic flying from one side of the globe to the other…but yeah...I'm definitely not complaining :D

[code]: For the readers of our little journal not yet familiar with the Ramon Tapia discography, please give us five of the most seminal RT releases throughout the years. (I know this is not going to be an easy ask :)

Ramon Tapia: hahaha your right! defo' not easy :) But lets try...

1. Strictly Rhythm compilation Vol 6

2. Ramon Tapia -Combustian -100 % Pure

3. Ramon Tapia - Back To the Bush -- Monique Musique

4. Silicon Soul --Right on ( Ramon Tapia remix ) -Soma

5. Ramon Tapia ft Neka --Tanzgefuhl - Gsr

[code]: Speaking of productions, we’ve been checking your Soundcloud page quite frequently (...daily :) for the past couple of weeks and there's always great new music showing up on there! Listening to the stuff you were doing two three years ago on Herzblut or Flash Records it is also different. What is the sonic direction you find yourself getting your groove on from these days? Also tell us more about the process of Ramon Tapia the artist getting to the “today point”

Ramon Tapia: thanks for the good words guys :)
Well these days music is evolving so fast, I try to keep my sound but evolve together with the times…which is not easy… in the beginning when I started making music there was a lot of the minimal sound around which I also did. Then, on my first album on Great Stuff i tried to go wide in the spectrum, from house to minimal to techno!

And actually, today, I still stand for that…there are so many cool things to do with music that it would be simply stupid for me to get stuck in one thing. Don't get me wrong, I think if other people prefer doing so, it is their right to do so, for me, I just love making music in all of its glory!

My main influences come from everywhere and i try to work that in most of the records i do :)

[code]: We read in your biog you’ve been living in Belgium for quite a bit of time and that this is the place where Ramon Tapia the dj first made his appearance. But was actually Belgium the first place where your love for music found the right environment to blossom and to change your life for ever? Or have you always been musical, even before Belgium?

Ramon Tapia: Well...I have indeed started djing in Belgium and before that when I was still living with my parents I would be mostly playing around with my sisters' record player ( and broke it eventually :) or be and playing cassettes that my sisters were coming back with from their trips to the electronic music clubs in Belgium and Holland... .

[code]: Surely your crush on gabba and other more exotic such sounds must’ve come from that scene. Tell us more about the time and space when this happened. Do you ever feel any “heartaches” for those days? Did you ever let such sounds (unconsciously maybe) into the music you’re making now?
(errrmm..new Ramon Tapia live show?!? Don't thinks so :)

Ramon Tapia: Hmmm, well in those days it was all about that kind of music, which I followed like a sheep :)). I surely don't regret any of it, I did it as part of my exploration of new things and new sounds in every sense of the word…that it simply was my time to explore these extremes. We were all a bunch of kids going to big raves to watch the big hardcore dj's and tried to be like them …wearing expensive trainers, etc. etc. I think in that it was maybe in that time when I first got the feeling to want to be a dj. Now going to the question of if I use those sounds nowadays …I think i don't...but maybe others say i do :)

[code]: For the past couple of months, if not years even, house music and techno to some extent have slowly but surely morphed into a more organic, jazzy, (heavily) Latinised sound. Many new producers have got their lucky break by combining such grooves with the 4/4 beat.
Ramon, you are by definition a Latin spirit, do you feel that this heritage has had an important influence in shaping your sound today? How do you make the most of it as part of your sonic palette?

Ramon Tapia: It really has!!!
I do love funked up beats, not neccesairly latin, but definitely FUNKY; but yet other styles influence me too. I try to bring a bit of everything into my musical spectrum, hoping that the fans follow me in these "new territories". As far as I'm aware they do!!!

[code]: Coolio, so tell us more of what’s in store for the remaining of the year from the Ramon Tapia production house

Ramon Tapia: Well, let's see...here we go:
I've just released a fresh new record with my good friend Sandy Huner on Remote Area and will do a solo record later this year on the same label …I'm releasing a record on the label i'm doing with Hermanez, Aella Music in Oktober, I'm also starting my very own record label which will feature for the first few releases mostly own productions (name to be announced soon), I'm also expected to do a release on Skint Records and... much much more!

[code]: Tonight's London colourful event which you and Alex Bau of CLR are headlining (in different rooms), TECHNICOLOUR Episode III promises a surreal house music experience of sound and cinematography.
Give us a hint on what will your chosen sound be for the event.

Ramon Tapia: From funky to techy sounds in the widest sense of the word. That is Ramon Tapia!

And finally

[code]: What is the future for gabba?

Ramon Tapia: :))
Gabba is still there ...but it fused more into hardstyle… it'ss like a mixture of hardcore beats with truancy synth leads …. But, you know... for me they simply don't make the Gabba records like they used to :P

[code]: Thanks Ramon, looking very forward to your set tonight at TECHNICOLOUR Episode III It's probably the right time for you to hit the airport. We wouldn't want you to miss your plane by any chance :D


Catch Ramon Tapia headlining the BASEMENT STAGE at tonight's
Technicolour Episode III event at EGG, London

Also, keep touch with Ramon Tapia’s very busy release and gigging schedule through:

Facebook
Beatport
Resident Advisor
Soundcloud

101 with Alex Bau. A heart to heart talk with a 100% techno legend!

There are really few artists like this guy: "techno" flowing through every vein of his body. He has actually lived through much of the growth and development process of German techno. Believe his every word, Alex Bau knows music history. Enjoy!

[code]: Hi there Alex, it is a great pleasure to have you over again in sunny London as we roll film and music for Episode III of Technicolour on 30th September at EGG. Although it is over a year since your totally blasting set at the Ready Made party, it strangely feels like it was yesterday!


Time flies it seems...but just to get things right from the start:
There hasn’t been one day we haven’t missed you! :)

How are you these days Alex and where does this interview find you?

Alex Bau: I am quite ok, just returned from a three gig weekend in Italy which was just great. Actually Thursday was Munich, but during „Oktoberfest“ there are so many Italians, it feels almost like being in Italy :) Rome and Naples were great too.

[code]: Italians are to be found everywhere where music and fun occurs :))




















Oke, give us a status update on the “Alex Bau 2011 situation”: new releases, memorable gigs, forgettable nights = the whole deal please! How has the year been for you and where have you spent it mostly?

Alex Bau: The year has been great so far, unfortunately not too many releases this year which is related to the fact that I was moving house, intense touring and also some technical issues computerwise. I also had to finish a row of remixes for many people, so I ended up with only two „own“ releases on DMOM and UK`s Sleaze Recordings, but both have been received very well and are sure shots in my sets always!
And of course I „helped“ Wayne Sidorsky on his debut 12“ „Abgesang auf Minimal“, which also was accompanied by a nice video, telling the story of the lyrics even without speaking german :-)



Gigwise the whole summer was kind of washed away by the rain, at least the Open Air`s, but luckily 9 out ot 10 gigs were just supergreat!

[code]: Nice little Wayne Sidorsky video :))
Looking at the many many places you’ve travelled around the world only this year, you must’ve seen and heard many new things about techno. What’s the health state of the techno scene around the world right now?

Alex Bau: I think that Techno hasn`t been that vital for years! The last years have been dominated by only minimal and techhouse mainly, it was hard to play solid and even good techno simply because people were afraid of using the word, but after starting in 2010 I think techno is much more accepted again by a broad audience.

[code]: That is very good news! Are there certain countries that impressed you a lot and how? Does that compare to the scene in Germany right now? Or maybe Germany in its young techno days?

Alex Bau: It`s funny that techno seems to be a kind of universal language somehow. Wherever I am booked to play, people there seem to understand 'from the go' what they can expect musicwise, and this results in a super positive vibe, the only difference is that that size of this „microcosm“ is different from country to country. Generally speaking, the acceptance for underground electronic dance music in Europe is much higher as elsewhere, but it does exist everywhere on this planet.

[code]: Speaking of Germany, recently we’ve had a chat with some good friends from the east Side of town (Ostfunk) about Berlin, funk and even Sven Vath’s eyeliner (:). Many artists are hearing the “Berlin Calling” and run to respond to it. What’s the vibe there? Is it really that good as we’re hearing?

Alex Bau: I can not say too much about it as I did not see the movie and I am not really into the latest productions of Paul Kalkbrenner. I loved his very old tracks, back then on Bpitch Control, which were real, proper techno. It appeared to me as he was the only real technoartist in Bpitch at the time. Well, he has changed an developped, and if this is what he feels right now it`s all good, but not my cup of tea.

[code]: In your opinion, what is the new sound of German techno and whose productions capture that feeling best right now?

Alex Bau: When it comes to german techno everybody speaks about the guys from Berlin and Berghain who have a big influence on the technocircuit of course. And indeed they do; a lot of groundbreaking stuff, but they are only one part of the thing I call „Techno“ and I think that they are part of a cycle as very much from their sound is based on the the vibe that Basic Channel created back in the beginning of the 90ies. Generally I don`t think in national categories, I am fine with every good track, no matter if it comes from Germany, UK or The Fidji Islands. As long as there is enough bass and a present kick, I am starting to get interested.

[code]: Techno from Fidji...hmmm, interesting :)
Without being too indiscreet Alex, could you give us your top five heaviest tunes right now?
The ones that you know when you’ll play the whole place will simply explode!







Alex Bau: That`s a hard question, because it changes every night! Sometimes it`s one track, sometimes another...Luckily I find my own productions leaving the crowd really going wild and happy, especially the new stuff which is not out yet like one remix for the label „Cabaret Groove“ or another tune I did by including some samples from a big 80ies hit and my track „Bullet in the heart“ from 2007.

[code]: Speaking of productions, you’ve been flying the techno flag high and mighty for some time now. You are greatly regarded as a global techno ambassador and innovator. What is the sonic direction you find yourself taking these days? Also tell us more about the process of you getting to the “today point”.

Alex Bau: As many people call my sound „dark and powerful as well as full of bass“ I think there is maybe a connection to my musical education which includes also New Wave and Electronic Pop back from the 80ies and 90ies. I loved and still love the sound of acts like Depeche Mode, Anne Clarke, Front 242, Tears for Fears, Joy Division or also the Cure and many more of this age. This, combined with my affection for the sound of Basic Channel, which I just mentioned, but at the same time, the quite melodic Eye Q and more club orientated Harthouse label from Sven Vath in the early 90ies are probably my main influences.

These days I find myself experiencing more and more, trying to bring back some „colour“ into my productions, which means I'm also using synths and sounds again more intensively compared to the past years time in which I focussed a lot on treating samples and noises or drum and grooveelements.

[code]: Do you still feel there is a place for the minimal sound of techno? Or that has simply been killed for now?

Alex Bau: Of course there is, as long as it is good! I think people simply got sick of 100 copies of „Minus“ or „Richie Hawtin“ or another „Ricardo“.
I mean, they are the forefront, heads of their very own style, and many artists forgot to try to think about what they really want to say with their music. They choosed the easy way and just did what was hip.
Now many turn to techno again, and I think it`s ok, because the crowd, the audience are not so stupid as some artists think. They exactly realize if the Dj they're listen to is authentic or not. But minimal is only one attribute of Techno in general. Remember tracks like „Quo Vadis“ from G-Man or music from Daniel Bell back in the early 90ies. Minimal was not new this time around...just badly copied without some very few exceptions. I would even call some of my productions „minimal“, for example one my most well known tracks on CLR „Summer in Moncton“ has less than 10 elements and was done within 3 hours! 1 bassdrum, 1 kickdrum, 1 clap, 1, snare, some hihats, as bassline and the bleep, that`s IT! Isn`t this minimal too?
Yes, it is, but does it sound minimal? No!

[code]: Tell us more of what’s in store for the remaining of the year from the Alex Bau production house

Alex Bau: As I already mentioned there will be some remixes coming out until end of the year which I promised and which I have to finish before starting new own tracks.
I am in talks with a well known techno label for a new release, but probably only by next year, we are in September already... however, what`s for sure, in November the „Wasabi Tunes – live in Buenos Aires“ DVD will be released which is not a normal boring livecut of a set I played; but more something like a documentation about my trip there. Very authentic as I filmed a lot on my own, but very interesting at the same time as it shows what`s all related to the job and the 90% of the time you're on travel and you don`t spend on making music.
Check it out, it's quite entertaining :D

And finally

[code]: Can techno music ever go mainstream?

Alex Bau: If it`s mainstream, it has nothing to do with real techno :-)

Thanks Alex. It's been great having you on the interview chair for our 11 bullets! Looking forward to your set at TECHNICOLOUR EPISODE III
Keep touch with Alex Bau’s very busy release and gigging schedule through:

Facebook
Beatport
Resident Advisor
CLR page



















Alex’s latest release is out now on Sleaze Recordings exclusivelly through Beatport http://www.beatport.com/release/sibling-rivalry-ep/674165

A summer night's dream: 101 with Anthony Costans aka Tonybar

Nothing like a couple of hours of (cold and windy) September sun to put you straight into "melancholy mode". Wouldn't we do anything for one more month...scratch that, one more week of summer...Well, we did bring a bit of summer back here at Codekontrol HQs. In sound at least. We sat down with the one man who simply defined the summer 2011 sound for us and got the full lowdown in 11 questions. Ladies and gentlemen...Tonybar!

Tonybar @ ThekeyRadio 8/06/11 by Tonybar

Following a good couple of excellent releases on Picknik, Release Sustain and own label Unomi Records, the name Tonybar is now one that resonates of an original “funk and grind” house, if there ever was such a thing.

Tony’s productions would very well fit somewhere in between an 80’s Chicago warehouse sound and a deep techy Café 1001 groove of our days. His sound speaks to the body in a language that everyone can understand and yet keeps a certain mystery, atmosphere or as the French would call it a certain “je ne-sais quoi”.

The reason we brought the French into discussion is not to talk of their cuisine or their important role in developing disco, but because for Tonybar, France is also the place that changed everything, that turned his life around onto the right path: the music path."

[code]: Hi Tony or Tonybar as “daddy” Beatport calls you. So which one is the right one?

Tony: You can call me Tony... i turn into Tonybar behind my laptop but both are correct :)

[code]: But is Tony Bar your real name? And if not how did it come about? (typing Tony Bar in Google, it gives “Tony Blair” as a possible search suggestion :))

Tony: The first time I heard this name it was in my house in France , some friends were touched by the place when they first came to visit me, it reminded them of the BAR 25 in Berlin ...so few drinks later they called the place “the Tony Bar”
About ''Tony Blair'', no resemblances should be taken there :D

errrmm, Naaaah!

[code]: Yeah, Google is weird sometimes...We’ve read on your Myspace biog that Montpellier (France) has a special meaning for you, and also that now you are living and creating music in Berlin. How did the switch happen? And do you miss Montpellier in any measure?

Tony: Montpellier has a very important place in my story. I lived a dozen years there and musically there, in Montpellier is where it all began, with my homies. I still have a lot of my friends there today, friends that I considere like my family.

Now I am based in Berlin. The move for Berlin was an idea of my friend Mikolai, who, quite quickly, convinced me to follow him there. Things then chained together and one thing leading to the next, in our circle of friends some have rallied to the cause and some months after...we were there: Five music makers living together, studios in every room, parties, after parties!! Creativity floating in the air we breathe!

[code]: How do you find Berlin as a place to live? To create? How is the scene there?

Tony: Berlin is the perfect city to live. It is rare to feel this feeling like I do here, in Berlin; an overwhelming feeling of being at peace. People are so respectful of each other just by being open and ready to help others. I sometimes feel that this kind of sentiment has greatly disappeared in France, for example...
Creating in such an environment like Berlin is also “perfect”, because at the end of the day what you feel often resonates in your work so it’s all connected. And of course it’s really awesome to have this massive scene just outside your apartment from where you take influences and inspiration. That's pretty unique.

[code]: I know this will be a controversial observation, but I think we all agree that French dance music has repeatedly influenced dance music worldwide. Be it through Cerrone’s and Moroder’s disco or Ettienne de Crecy’s acid grooves, Cassius’ house or the Daft Punks and Ed Banger Crew of our days, the sound of dance music seems to be deeply imprinted into the French DNA. Do you feel that your French heritage has had such an important influence on shaping your sound today? Do you enjoy having this influence as part of your sonic palette?

Tony: It's hard to include everyone but some of the French artists have inspired me consciously or not. But I feel in my case it's more the old discs soul of my parents and those funk and hip hop of my sisters that I grew up musically with...

[code]: Now that we’ve reached the “inspirational sources” chapter, who are the first three names that always spring into your mind when searching for new beats?

Tony: I really love Subb-An and Adam Shelton; I find them extremely innovative in their many projects. I’m as well currently attacked by the virus named John Tejada!!!

[code]: Now with the summer fever definitely gone (at least here in London that is the case :), what five tunes had been making the Tonybar playlist in the hot season?

Tony:

Mikolai -She's Mine (Picknik)
Sierra Sam & Marcus Vector - Anyone feat Jonny Cruz original mix (Toys For Boys)
Dora - Who's Pimping Who (Remake music)
Anthony Constans- Restons En La (Serialism)
Snoop Dogg Feat. Wiz Khalifa - This Weed Iz Mine (Priority Records)

[code]: Now that we just hit that weak nostalgic chord mentioning the word “summer”, we've seen that your schedule was very busy all along, with plenty of gigging to go around for everyone living in either Berlin or Montpellier. I know I don’t only speak for myself when I say that we’d really love having you on our side of the channel for a couple of gigs! How well are you accustomed to the London scene?

Tony: Some gigs are planned for the coming months, so keep an eye out! You’ll see me more months this year... And as you guys know lots of my friends are based there: Release Sustain, Picknik, the Familly Serialism, and my Cable Street guyz as well... I’ll want to see them more!

[code]: You’ve played alongside some very original names on the house and techno scene, who’s been your favourite up until now and why?

Tony: If I’d have to pick one, I would say James Taylor. I’ve listened to Swayzak’s “Dirty Dancing” album maybe one million times!!! And it was amazing to me to be at his side during one of my first performances.

[code]: Your latest release on Picknik, “Reve du Cuir” for us is just a pure expression of the summer just gone: a laidback, funky and immersive sound. Tell us more about it please...

Tony: “Reve de Cuir” is actually its my first artist EP. It’s made up of a couple of tracks: Da Switch, Funky Chronicles with two remixes from Delhom & Charly and Canary
I wrote “Da Switch” after a short stay in London and after what I believed I knew it would react well with the crowd there. So, now you telling me this is quite funny...:) Funky Chronicles came a little later and I really liked the association of these two tracks...they have little touch of madness.

Tonybar - Funky chronicles by picknik

Tonybar - Da switch by picknik

Da switch (Canary Fontaine remix) by picknik

Da switch (Charly Delhom Da Other Switch remix) by picknik

[code]: Thank you very much sir Tony :)

Keep touch with Tony’s music and gig schedule through:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/tony.bar
Soundcloud http://soundcloud.com/tonybar
Myspace http://myspace.com/tonybarunomi

Tonybar’s latest release “Reve du Cuir” is out now on Picknik Records exclusively on Beatport: http://www.beatport.com/release/reve-de-cuir/378136

"Techno is dead, Long live Techno!" 101 with Alpha Channel

Where is the funk these days in techno?
Whatever happened to the sound revolution and vision of its Detroit fathers and apostles? Well, hard to say with certainity, everybody's "killing" or "saving" techno these days, sometimes in a space of less than a few days

"Techno is dead, Long live Techno!"

"But this is media" you might say, "it has to make and brake its subjects so that it keeps the ball rolling". Hear hear thy techno brother! hear hear!

Just that these days the ball feels sometimes like it may roll a bit too fast and somewhat out of control; looking around it seems like we're adjusting more and more to a Tofler's Future Shock society, where people do quite strange things when faced with extreme (and rapid) change.

Whatever Atkins and co. heard in the early days of the Detroit sound, today is just as potent, if not even more so

Well the best way to find out such sacred stuff is to go in the middle of it and start asking questions: 11 to be exact. We carefully planted our hi-end sound recorder switched on in a middle of a techno field and did our best to capture some discernible sound.

We received a loud and clear signal from our Alpha Channel. Freshly out with a new EP on Solid Tracks and prepping his funk loaded heavy minimal artillery ahead of this month’s Technicolour Episode III gig alongside CLR's very own techno rebel Alex Bau, Alpha Channel's signal is getting more and more frequencies added to the spectrum. This is what we managed to record:

Alpha Channel - Minimal Effort - minimal techno mix by Alpha-Channel

[code]: Hi Alpha, how are you these days and where does this interview find you?

Alpha Channel: Currently stuffing my face with pizza after a rare day of relaxing, I ‘m really good right now :)

[code]: How has 2011 been for Alpha Channel? From start to right now.

Alpha Channel: Tons of stuff has happened this year, thinking back to where this year began with the massive NYE event in Romania seems more like 2 years ago! Well, let’s see...Romania, Sardinia, The Egg and Brixton Jamm (right here on London shores), recently a bit of Spain;

and of course the daily grind: tunes, mixes, remixes, releases, podcasts and tracks and then work!

Seriously though I have been flat out by now and life only seems to get faster! What I can remember has been awesome; there has been too much going on to comment on everything and all. But the gigs have been nuts, from going to Romania for the very first time and smashing Zebra Club at -20 Celsius outside(!!!) to playing alongside Hobo in Sardinia to playing London constantly there hasn’t been any of it I would change. Well maybe the flight back from Sardinia.......add to that some mental house parties and basically I’m “Sheening” it up.

Also my productions have been hitting the right note on the dance floor lately, coming as a much fought for “validation”. Just hearing your tune being played on the club’s sound system and seeing people get their freak on to YOUR TUNE, makes you feel so.... aaaaagh!! It’s totally mad, i love it!
I still feel like the best is yet to come and that I’ve really just began to hit my stride with regards to my productions. I’m looking forward to making the jump across into playing more of my own music and finding new ways of playing live that are closer to the ideas flowing around in my head and truer to the sound that I’m trying to create.

[code]: In a few words, tell us what does Alpha Channel stand for?

Alpha Channel: How many words is a few? ...........basically I like the concept of there being an idea space in which all creative things exist.

Everything comes from everything else though, so you always have a base where you start from and then twisting and remodelling things, ideas; borrowing, recombine and re-channelling concepts into something new, something that wasn’t there before, in the idea space.
And then you start all over again...

[code]: Listening to your music, there is an acute sense of funk, even hip hop riding on the notes of many of your tracks. Probably the truest expression of that can be heard in your latest EP Techalot, which is freshly out on Solid Tracks. Care to elaborate on these relationships and connections?

Alpha Channel: When I first started DJing (many moons ago...:) I actually played hip hop and breaks; so I guess what you’re hearing now is the influence of those forming years coming through in the music I make today. But I really don’t think any music is just one thing.

Techno for instance can be many things and I really get my kicks out of exploring these “many things” and I’ll always try to make things different by taking new approaches and including different influences, not just the same ones over and over again. The approach changes every time with my mood and with what I’m listening to that week or whatever; like right now I’m in a bit of a Giorgio Moroder phase and going a bit disco, so, I have no idea how that will bleed into what I’m working on right now.

In the past I had tried to adhere to one sound or style or thought, but I found that it just didn’t work for me. So now I just do things, like I’ll work on a dubstep track or a nu disco tune and eventually it will mutate into something that I love or I’ll rip just one part out of it and remix that and have that be the basis for an entirely new track. This does tend to leave me with a lot of unfinished ideas...but also I find I get a lot more good ideas from working with less boundaries and less/no direction than I used to. That must also come from just working on tracks more often nowadays, I’ve gotten to a point where I am able to identify quite quick when I’m hitting upon something good.

I did initially think that this would lead to a very disparate and random sound to my productions and that if I were to try and mix them together that they wouldn’t fit at all. But having recently finished a podcast with only my own tracks and remixes I was very pleased to find that I had a sound, distinctive and identifiable even though I had given myself total freedom in terms of the sounds and samples that I used.

[code]: Production wise: old school or new school, analog or digital, loops or recording your own. Give us the whole Alpha Channel creation masterplan!

Alpha Channel: If I had the cash: ALL ANALOGUE. But I don’t so...I’m digital right now. But I am saving up for my First Moog, I want the Minimoog Voyager!

I have wet dreams about it...:)

[code]: Also heard that Alpha Channel is “scratching that itch”. Should we expect some DMC trickery when we see you play live next?

Alpha Channel: No those days are basically gone! I don’t practice anymore, but I used to be into turntablism quite a bit.

[code]: Last time we saw you play a couple of weeks back when you were playing on the same bill with Yoda at Jamm in Brixton! Must’ve been quite an interesting experience. Tell us more about how the whole gig came about and how it went. The whole experience!

Alpha Channel: Yeah it was cool, I played that gig as a part of Designer Thugs which is a side project I have with my mate Christian we just Dj and have fun and play whatever we feel like playing and really b

ounce well off each other, I enjoy doing that as sometimes when I play in a club I can tend to take it all a bit too serious. So doing Designer Thugs breaks the spell and reminds me to have fun with it.

[code]: This week-end just gone it was Jamm again; opening for Phil Hartnoll (Orbital). Now that September is here it’s straight on to Episode III of Technicolour with CLR’s techno rebel Alex Bau in the main room. What are you prepping for the occasions? (sound, performance, hairdo )

Alpha Channel: Again, Jamm was good fun and a way to not think about the complete madness that occurred that week in London with the riots and the looting and general crazy shit. Then as you say Technicolour III with Alex Bau is next. I’m trying to get a couple of new tracks finished up and I’m proper looking forward to rinsing this night out! It’s been a little while since I played The Egg and I remember the sound system is sick. Funktion One if my memory serves me well :D. If I have enough time I’m going to make the switch to a live set up which will be wicked and also a good way of seeing how strong my nerves are, I might bottle out though, as I have fallen back in love with Traktor and just spinning tunes in a more traditional style.

[code]: Until now, who did you feel was the best fit for you playing live? Also who would be your “dream team” on a line-up where your name is written

Alpha Channel: Best by far was warming up for Alex Under (also happened at The Egg last year). Alex is one of my all time favourite producers. I remember seeing him about 4 years ago at Fabric and it’s still in my memory as one of the best nights out I’ve ever had so to warm up for him was very special; it was also my Birthday that weekend: all planets had aligned just right!

Playing with Hobo out in Sardinia was really awesome too. We had an amazing steak for dinner then hung out together all night, he’s a really sound dude and I had an ace time chatting all night and all the next day as everyone else spoke Italian and not much English. We were pretty much stuck with each other. There are tons of people I would love to play with in the future. Some of the names that instantly spring to mind are Minilouge, John Tejada, Gaiser and Mathew Jonson…………but the list could go on and on.

[code]: Who do you consider to be your mentors? Guiding you and inspiring you when you need most. Do you believe in such a concept?

Alpha Channel: I work by myself so I’m not sure I have any mentors really. That may be a good thing or a bad thing but I have too many time constraints to work properly with anyone else over a long period of time.
I basically make tracks and then play them to my brother and my mates and everyone I can and listen to what they have to say and watch their faces when they’re listening to it to see if they smile. Then once I’m happy with the faces, playing tracks out at gigs is the best test of all.

And finally

[code]: What’s your reply to chicks coming on to you and asking you if you’re in any way related to Richie Hawtin? There is some resemblance...

No one’s asked me yet, I guess I would take it as a complement (?) But they’d have to be taking the piss. Either way I’d still laugh my ass off (Laughing hard and blushing)

You can check out Alpha Channel 's latest EP Techalot Out Now on Solid Tracks exclusively through Beatport
http://www.beatport.com/label/solid-tracks-records/13278

Alpha is also playing live on 30th of September at Egg Club London at
TECHNICOLOUR: The Cinematographic House Music Experience
EPISODE III

Techalot #10 - for the short attention spanned:

This Week.....Stanton SCS.4DJ, OCTAPAD SPD-30, M-Audio Venom, Realtime Music Visualization With TouchDesigner and Ableton Live Compression Basics

Stanton SCS.4DJ - Digital DJ Mixstation:

Fully integrated computer, software and controller. The SCS.4DJ is a controller in its true form, but it also has built-in software that makes it able to simply stand alone without any computer. You just need a source with music like a USB Stick. A very good buy if you're simply looking to get a standalone DJ unit for playing digital media. No more computer issues. Just plug and play.

OCTAPAD SPD-30:

Not a new product but I only jut found it and it is very cool none the less. The size of a briefcase, the Octapad offered drummers and percussionists the equivalent of an entire electronic rig in one self-contained unit. The SPD-30 blends the world’s most essential sounds with the latest triggering technology in a road-tough package that’s ready for the most demanding performers. It has support from people like Pan-Pot have recently been seen using it in their live sets.

M-Audio Venom -12-Voice Virtual Analog Synthesizer:

The M-Audio Venom 49-key synthesizer combines the character of classic analog synths with modern digital processing to deliver an aggressive, infectious new sound. Wet your appetite with the included presets, then sink your teeth into creating original sounds—from atmospheric and subtle, to angry and downright nasty. Easily tweak parameters from the intuitive top-panel interface, or explore endless sound design and configuration possibilities with the included software editor.

Realtime Music Visualization With TouchDesigner:

Some cool visuals based of an old idea - This project explores ‘the possibility of synesthesia in the format of audiovisual performance. The audio triggers the mechanism of lines that flows according to the frequency spectrum.’ Creating a visual representation of the sound. Like most music players have done for ages but a lot better looking.

Ableton Live Guide - Compression Basics:

I can't embed the video for this but here is the link

In this episode Peter introduces Compression , and talks about the four key elements of a compressor - Threshold, Ratio, Attack and Release.

That's it...Enjoy

Mark (",)

Going deeper underground: 1on 1 with Sub Secret

We live in strange times folks. As I'm just about to publish this I'm looking out the window and although not even 7 PM the time looks like it's closer to 10 PM on a typical August eve.

Then again who can count on the weather anyway?! It changes as often as my woman changes moods after a long week-end me being mostly out.


But that's another story...

Let's get back to the beginning of this thing. If it so happens that we both share the same overcrowded, dirty and sometimes overpoweringly beautiful London, you probably have been through quite a few happening in the last few weeks.

Pretty scary shit, i'nnit? Felt a bit like in the very first rows watching Watchmen, huh, have you?

Well i did, and in fact also re-watched the damn film only for the 10th time again. But you know what, it gets better and better with every watch. Rorschach is one tough little motha'! Still not really digging the chick playing the chick superhero role...but that's just me probably, I like my superheroes with a ty bit more darkness to them.

Speaking of superheroes, if you're somewhat into our events or our music (and you should be!) you would have noticed a slightly different pair of individuals rocking out some really good and well crafted melodic techno. They like to put their white masks on when out and about on Saturday nights, the same time when they make use of their heavy artillery of good pumping techno.

They are Sub Secret and they're not your average Joe dj

I thought this to be just the best time to get our very own sound vigilantes onto the uncomfortable interview chairs and fire up 11 questions at them on the who, what, when and the where? As the interview took place in a darken room, they took their masks off for us and laid everything on the table. Here’s the result:

[code] Hi Stephen, hi Mark! How are you guys and how does this interview find you?

Stephen: Good thanks - Riding the rollercoaster of life.

[code]: Rollercoaster of Life?!?

Mark: Haha Yeah I think we have both started to realise that we have become a little obsessive about what we do, to the point where our personal lives suffer at times. Music really is a curse and a blessing lol.

[code]: You guys are known to the techno world as Sub Secret, “two masked sound vigilantes” with super musical powers. I remember I’d first saw you guys rock EGG last year, full masked gear on, bouncing off the walls and thought to myself I need to know more about these dudes: what’s the story and the meaning for the masks? At one point I was actually considering getting my own version of a Sub Secret mask...but that’s another story. So, what IS the story?

Stephen: It all started at a Halloween party we did. We put the masks on for a laugh and while on stage realised we hadn’t took them off!

Mark: Yeah something clicked and and it just felt right.

Stephen: Maybe we just realised we could scream and shout and no one would know that it’s us doing it, just these two other “personas”. We do like to scream and shout :)

Mark: Ha ha Yeah and we are really not that pretty so maybe it's better all round :)

[code]: Lol! So where do Mark Standerline and Stephen Fewings fit in this story? What are their roots?

Stephen: Well, that is where the music starts playing.

S+M: both sing "Tradgady"

[code]: What?

Mark: Ha ha ha we have been through quite a lot together to be honest, lots of highs and lows.

[code]: So how did it start?

Stephen: Well i guess it all started at Uni. We had a lot of friends in common and there were a lot of house parties.

Mark: Hehehe true. After Uni we went our separate ways but a few years later I was moving to London and Steve was the only person I knew. Steve helped me get a job in London and things started.

Stephen: We both DJed and decided to start putting on some parties that did well, and the next step felt obviously right..... producing music together!

[code]: Speaking of productions, Sub Secret creations oscillate from breath taking deep techno runs like “Rambo” or “Side Clap” to heart ripping melodic trips, such as “Wir Schauten Nicht”. How do you guys approach music making? Do you care much about if it fits a certain genre or sound?

Slide Clap (Dark) by Sub Secret

Sub Secret_-_Wir Schauten Nicht by Sub Secret

Stephen: No, So long as it has a four/four beat and within 123-128 we are fine.

Mark: Everytime we write something it is different really. Sometimes it’s waking up in the morning with an idea, other times we will have a small sample we want to use but no idea where it will go; and some other times we just find a new trick in Ableton or Reason and see where it takes us.

Stephen: Melody is very important to us so that tends to lead the way.

[code]: Who, what, when and where do you find inspiration for making music?

Mark: Everywhere really. We have taken different paths so there are a lot of influences.

Stephen: I played in bands for years, whereas Mark was always more into electronic music. It is great because we would be listening to music and one of us will be going “WTF is this?!?” – Well actually only when I play music, Mark has shit tastes lol.

Mark: I would defend myself but I do have some awful stuff in my collection that I secretly love.

Stephen: We spend all day listening to things, stuff that people share or just doing random searches and seeing what we find. Suddenly we will hear something and off we’ll go.

[code]: We know that recently you’ve taken on the controls of Codekontrol’s Mind Ability and are managing the label on a day to day basis, practically being Mind Ability. How did you guys decide to take this road? How does it fit in with Sub Secret’s everyday existence?

Mark: Well we have kind of been there from the start, we met Monokode (CJ) when we were running our Sub Secret Parties and he was just starting the labels (Mind Ability, Minimal Force, Solid Tracks and Picknik).

Stephen: It always felt to us that Mind Ability was the label that was the perfect match for our sound and so when we were offered to take over running it we jumped at the chance.

Mark: It’s a lot of work trying to manage everything, but for us it is like a dream coming true! This is what we both wanted for so long that now we are here it’s a bit of a dream.

Stephen: Sometimes we stop and think about where we are and feel a bit shocked but we just keep looking forward and thinking about what we can do next and how we can push ourselves and Mind Ability one step further.

[code]: What can we expect from Sub Secret and Mind Ability in the remaining days of 2011?

Mark: For Sub Secret - There are a few EPs in the pipeline due to be out over the next few months; one on Minimal Force with some AWESOME remixes from Alpha Channel and Min_s’s Click Box, and another very special EP we have done for Mind Ability. Plus you can expect some more remixes wearing the Sub Secret seal to be appearing soon.

Stephen: Sub Secret are about to head off to Barcelona to play some parties over there so we are working hard to get Mind Ability organised for the next few months with some beautiful stuff planned from Duncan & Pantos, Fra-P and Ali Nasser.
Gig wise, Renato Pezzella and ourselves will be representing Mind Ability at the Technicolour Episode III party with Ramon Tapia & Alex Bau on the 30th September at Egg; We’re also gearing up for a very first Mind Ability showcase at Tresor in Berlin on the 11th of Novemeber , That we are very excited about!

[code]: Besides the sound of your music, we can suspect that the masks you wear every time you play out are an expression of a certain outlook on life and everything else. Are we close to the truth? What is the truth?

Stephen: VERY! The white masks represent the nullification of EGO. We are all one, the same consciousness. We hide our faces so that we can lose our individualism.

Mark: We often hand out masks to other people in the crowd, so everyone can do the same: lose their everyday identity and just BE!

[code]: Hmmm, that is slightly alternative...Speaking of which, the past week has been a black one for London.. In a city most loved for its openness and tolerance, deplorable and regrettable things have taken place. Do you feel that is a sign of the times we live in? What does authority mean today?

Stephen: You really want to do this one now, here??!!

Mark: They say you should never mix music with politics, so its probably better to leave this one out!

Stephen: All I want to add is, we all know that this is what is wanted by the establishment so they can further their totalitarian Police State.

Mark: If you watch the mainstream media, listen for the Keywords that are repeated over and over on the news. Its called neuro-linguistic programming! It something definitely worth having a look into.

Stephen: LOL, We're not all doom and gloom! But we like to think of ourselves as perceptive! **Gives a wink**

[code]: “They...are watching you” (verse from Sub Secret's latest EP) direct reference to such ideas or just pure coincidence?

Mark: Yes
Stephen: **utters “Police State” while slurping from his coffee cup**


S+M: *Both smile*

And finally:

[code]: What is the role of a masked sound superhero today?

Stephen: Well, coming from a band background myself. It was quite apparent in the early days of gigging, that the audience listen with their eyes first. So, after moving into the electronic/clubbing world, I soon became bored of seeing boring DJ's, that stand behind the desks and "maybe"' once in a while would look up and acknowledge the crowd...Masked DJ's are nothing new, but for us it just feels right... The response we get when having those masks on, WOW! Everybody wants a picture, which can't really be bad Y’know?!? I mean, even if they really don't like the masks, they will remember the performance, and through it, they will remember us, Sub secret!

Mark: I see us as more like Robbin Hood characters but with Techno as our currency, rather than money.

[code]: Thanks guys, you've been great; undoubtedly the most alternative we've interviewed this far. It's been a real pleasure. Now you can return to save us from shit music and help us fight that damn EGO!


Sub Secret are gearing up for a busy autumn 2011. Sub Secret's latest EP "They" is out on Mind Ability Records also featuring remixes from Alpha Channel, Dirty Dan & Lanski and Mario Reder. Check it out on Beatport