Interview With Monodeluxe

What's new in the world of Monodeluxe, what projects do you have on the go at the moment?

I am just working on a new cd album for little angel/soulstar records.This will be my third cd album in collaboration with Harley & Muscle since 2004.I am also working as a producer/remixer on my own new label KLANG RECORDINGS in collaboration with new and established producers.

How do you approach a tune? Drums first? Melody?

Well..everything starts with an idea, with a certain mood or feeling that you are wanting to express in music. I draw inspiration from numerous places like vinyls, cd's, tv and radio. This happens on a spontaneous instinctive level of almost inconsciousness, then my head starts taking control by organizing what I feel. So i'll turn to the computer and start playing some chords on the piano or keyboard at my home studio. Then I will take the first approach to what I would like to write. On the computer I write the beats first, combine them with chords then i'll layer that with a bass line and start adding melodies and arrangement. It's important that the beat is in tune with chords, more than the bassline. If you don't get to hung up on your original feeling or idea then you're on the right way to producing a good  mix...but in music anything can happen. If you have a new idea that leads you in a totally different direction you'll end up writing something exceptional!!

What five pieces of studio equipment would you say determines your sound?

Computer equipment and music software is a basic. Soundcard and monitors are a must. I also have additional hardware mixers and soundmodule equipment. It's also important to have good music software (audio/midi) like virtual instruments and sfx plugins and for the end to have good audio mastering tools for your mix.

What production technique do you think is really overused/annoying?

This is hard to say as every technique has it's own music history and special sound character. It's really up to everyone how they like to produce. Nowadays maybe combinations of different techniques are intersting to follow, the market is offering fantastic music solutions like software and hardware.

Being an in-demand DJ, do you prefer smashing dance floors across the world or creating music?

The approach is different. Studio work and production, in most cases are not stressed by time windows. The club is more a live entertainment and performance thing, both are creative moments. The result on a dancefloor is immediate and the studio is more elaborated...i do love both situations.

What do you do when you're not feeling inspired?

It's impossible to be inspired 24/7.It's not human, also in music creation there are time outs. There must be so you can re-fill yourself with new attractions, life experiences and emotions. This helps you recharge your soul and mind and put a fresh attitude into your sound. I like going for a walk in town, reading, drinking coffee, going out with friends, parents, daughter...just life.

You recently created a sample pack for Loopmasters, how did you find this compared to creating musical productions?

It's a very unique experience. You really try to put the best possible ideas and skills into it to really create something useful that works and can fulfill the intent of offering immediate sound and musical inspiration for the people. It's a head orientated systematic way of working, but still very emotional. The time window is also more extended as working on a remix or a new music track production, sample packs take months while tracks takes days or at max, weeks.

When you made your pack, were you worried that producers were going to be sampling, or trying to recreate your sound?

Oh I didn't even think of it like that. I just want it to be enjoyed by people to help them create music for there own amusements. Many producers, past or new take influence from elsewhere until they find out that the most important thing is to create what you feel and what you are as a producer. Sure, taking inspiration from others is useful but it's not necessery to copy them. It's useful to learn by listening to music and trying to evolve that way. So at the end of the day it's up to us what we want to do with this wonderful gift called music.

Who are you listening to at the moment, any new artists we should know about?

I was doing a new music chart recently for an established digital store and it was amazing to see how much good music and the amount of quality  there is out there. I had a great time lsitening to all these blessed producers from around the world. I dont remember all the names...but the fact that they exist makes me feel good. Now speeking about electronic music, of course we all know the geniuses that inspired the music world for decades like the Police, Quincy Jones, Miles Davis, but that's another story!

Do you have any advice for the budding producers out there that are trying to make it in the competitive world of the music industry?

I love well produced music in terms of sound quality. That's also what the industry is looking for in order to get signed with labels or distributions, but its not the essence of musical talent. I believe people are born with this gift and skill, you can learn and become better as for everything you do in life, but the real talented one is the one that can say more with 3 notes than the other can with an entire repertoire. Discover where your real talent and power is in music and you'll move mountains. Be different and don't be scared to try out new stuff...