Pre-DEMF Interview with Claude VonStroke
365MAG INTERVIEW: CLAUDE VON STROKE
Special: 365 Interview (2010-05-17)
http://www.365mag.com/index.php?pg=...+Music+Magazine
In anticipation of the upcoming Movement Festival in Detroit later on this month, as well as the recent news in regards to the release of the 5 Years of Dirtybird compilation we felt it was a great time to contact the Dirtybird and Mothership label owner Claude VonStroke for a Q & A session with 365Mag.
We asked Claude some interesting questions, and we would love for you to read them…
What factors do you believe made the Dirtybird and Mothership labels so successful?
For Dirtybird we had a sound that no one else had and I think we still push it to places that no other labels go. Mothership is not as defined as Dirtybird and it is harder to make it successful in general because it is less focused. That is something I will be working on in the future. That being said, we had some huge records on Mothership that really got it going.
Have you recently signed any new artists that you would like to mention?
I don't really sign artists. I sign tracks. I love the new tracks I just got from Sacha Braemer and this will be his 2nd EP so I guess he's part of the family now. I'm also loving some demos that I have as well from newcomers called B-Ju and Eric Volta.
Approximately how much time went into the track selection and the mixing for the 5 Years of Dirtybird compilation?
I don't know since Justin Martin did the mix. I know it took him 3 months to do it, so I imagine it took a long time to make all those special edits and versions.
Is there any particular reason why the digital version and the CD formats were released over a month apart?
That's not actually true. The digital on Beatport (no where else) was released in 3 parts. Part 3 came out the same day the full project was released everywhere. Only part 1 and two of the tracks on CD3 were out before the full project... they helped build the hype basically.
What can we expect from your performance at Movement 2010?
I am working on some special tracks and edits to really surprise some people. Hopefully my remix of Cajmere's Percolator will be ready by then as well. I think our designer is going to be able to finish this crazy video projection as well but it's all up in the air until I get there. I heard Pastikman is Djing inside a space pod during my set so I am just going to have to go for good old fashion ghetto beats, real molasses and condoms, 2 chili cheese with everything -- in order to get the real nasty people over to my tent. I'll go that OTHER route. The sweat and pussy route.
Which other acts that are performing are you most excited to see?
Of course I'll go support my guys the Italoboyz, and see some of the people like Carl Craig and Monty Luke. I haven't studied the line-up and I don't have it in front of me right now. Sorry! I think dOP will be there and I've been wanting to catch their act too.
How do your surroundings in San Francisco influence your music?
Quite a bit, just this weekend I was accused of sounding "too American" but the funny thing is that I take that as a compliment. As long as I don't sound like the 1000 DJs who all sound the same in Berlin. Of course I'm not dissing Berlin, there are some amazing genius musicians and producers there but people know what I'm talking about. San Fran is unique and it is unique to dance music and not a lot of people are actually from there who tour around the world. I love bringing the dirty San Fran flavor to the people.
What are some changes that you have noticed in regards to the music business since you first took an interest?
I always manage to piss everyone off when answering this so why stop now? Digital.... basically wiped the floor with the old model. Physical products no longer run the industry and therefore labels make less money and the Indies are turning into basically just promotional machines for their artists. You can still sell a big record but its not even close to the same as even 4 years ago. Eventually you will just be able to buy music off people's facebook pages and blogs and the whole concept of digital distro will even fall apart. Maybe Itunes will have a lockdown on the bigger artists but for all us people out here in the real world we will sell it to anyone anyhow we can - and that means people are going to get it straight from the artists and on blogs that recommend music. The faceless digital record store that releases 10,000 tracks a week will eventually die due to the unbelievable scalability of the Indie artist and their ability to use technology. It's only going to take three or 4 huge artists to say "I'm only selling this on my own website (but my website can sell it straight to your phone or your ipad or your computer)" for the big digital distro to wince and panic. Good companies like Beatport should be planning and investing 5 years ahead right now in order to stay in business. They are crazy if they think what happened to the majors will not happen to them. It's human nature to try and buck the system and fuck the man. And now the man is simply itunes instead of universal. Except now, everything is exponentially sped up with technology and it will not take 50 years to unseat them.
You have lived in Michigan, New York, and California. Which state would you say has the nest nightlife in your opinion?
San Francisco. No contest whatsoever. 15 years ago I would say for sure it was Detroit but all those amazing underground warehouse parties are quite far and few between nowadays. I don't really go to New York a lot so I'm not qualified to comment on the big apple.
What other upcoming projects do you have lined up for this year?
The Grizzl is my new quasi hip-hop alias. I am finishing up a remix for Chilli Gonzales then trying my best to do something with Die Antwoort but it seems impossible to actually get in touch with them.
Do you have any other comments for our readers?
Come see me on Saturday at the Beatport tent people!! Love ya. Promise I'll have some crazy shit for you to hear.
- Interview by Zaneta Ortiz [365Mag]
http://www.myspace.com/claudevonstroke
http://www.dirtybirdrecords.com/
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Electronic Night Life
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