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-- 2008.04.05. PLATFORM+FOOTWORK present techno legend JOEL MULL(Drumcode/Sweden)+More
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Joel Mull interview:

Joel Mull � The Quiet Achiever

Kate: Before you started DJ�ing you were in some rock & funk bands, first of all, what instruments did you play and also, which groups would have been your biggest influence at the time?

Joel: I was playing a little bit of everything. The drums, guitar, keyboard and singing. Just experimenting with all instruments. At that time was influenced by the 60 ies and 70ies rock heroes such as Jimi Hendrix, The Doors but also Bands like The Cure, Pink Floyd, Stoneroses, Slowdive to name a few. But I always had a tender hart for electronic sounds in the music. So after a couple of years of playing around in bands I got more interested in experimenting with soundscape rather than jamming around with bands. So I bought my first sampler 92 I dived into producing on my own.

Kate: I have read that some of your earliest memories involving music were of your father playing records on a turntable, when was the first time your family saw you DJ and were they always supportive of the career path you chose at such a young age?

Joel: Both my parents were involved in acting and theater. They performed in musicals and plays. And I grew up in an environment with people around me that was acting or playing music. So I always had a support from my parents in what I do. I remember when my mother saw me DJ for the first time. It was in Hamburg 1996 in an Old church from 1300th Century. The Church was still in use and the Event was called �Crusade�. The DJ booth was up on the Organ stage. And the dance floor was build on top of the Benches. The whole night had a perfect buildup with dance performance, ambient music performance, Choir performance, everything perfect directed. I played the last set after Sven V�th. And the last track I played had an outro with strings and atmosphere that faded out in the great natural reverberation of the church. In the End the Priest sang a hymn up on the Alter by the Cross. It was a one of a lifetime experience. My mother had danced the whole night. Very special memory for me.

Kate: Your bio has long stated that as a teenager Adam Beyer helped teach you how to mix, have you in turn since taught anyone else?

Joel: That is true. Adam helped me with some tips. But I have not taught anyone else to play. But I�ll definitely want to teach my kids some day in the future.

Kate: Speaking of Adam, you are playing some select gigs this year as part of the Drumcode records 10th anniversary tour, next year your own label InsideRecords will also reach the ten year milestone, are there any plans to mark that occasion while touring?

Joel: Time runs so fast. Can�t believe it�s already 10 years since Drumcode and Inside was launched. I�m planning to do a Live tour next Year and we will definitely see a string of special releases on Inside next year. More info will be announced in time!

Kate: Already this year you have had releases out on Kanzleramt, Music Man and your own label InsideRecords, do you have any upcoming releases to look out for?

Joel: Yes there is a string of releases planned. First up is a follow up 12� for Underwater records in UK should be out September. Then I have a 12� coming out on Harthouse records in Germany. I�m very happy with this release. Harthouse was a big influential label for me during the 90ies. Then next up is the �Perpetual pt1 &II for Railyard recordings form N.Y. Perpetual Pt 11 comes with a remix from Mathew Johnson whom I am very inspired of.

Kate: Staying on the topic of new releases, which producers lately have been abundant in your crate?

Joel: At the moment there are so many producers that are in their prime time of making music. It seems to me that everyone is back to searching frequencies again. More space and twisted sounds are coming back as BPM is slowing down. As mentioned before Mathew Johnson is a big Inspiration, so is also Steve Rachmad, Jesper Dahlb�ck, Loco Dice, Luciano and many more. The list can go on forever. So many good people making good music.

Kate: Are there any artists that you hope to collaborate with on future productions?

Joel: Good question. Looking forward to work with Alexi Delano who I know since many years but we never had time to sit down. Also I�m planning to work with Madrid producer Santi, a.k.a Xpansul, Whom I met thru Alexi when I was visiting Madrid not to long ago. Looking forward to work on projects with P�r Grindvik who is my studio partner in The Globestudio back home in Stockholm. So many studio sessions are scheduled in the near future.

Kate: Many of the most sought after electronic music producers today hail from Sweden including Adam Beyer, Hertz, Steve Angello, Cari Lekebusch, Eric Prydz, Alexi Delano and Hardcell, yet Stockholm does not seem to have much of a reputation as a hotbed for EDM events, can you describe the club culture in Stockholm compared to some of the other major centers in Europe?

Joel: Small clubs and to less people is my impression of Swedish club life. But there are always something going on and it�s alive and still has a good underground culture. As I mentioned in many other interviews I think why we have so many good producers up here in Sweden is due to the fact of the long winter when everyone are looked up inside their studios. There is no way you are going outside and social life is kind of stopping. We have a great history of good producers from Sweden and I am impressed.

Kate: What equipment and software do you typically use in your Stockholm studio? Also, do you still have any of the original gear you had purchased as a teenager when you were first starting to produce?

Joel: I have saved all my equipment I ever bought, but I don�t use much of it at the moment. For me the easiest and fun way of working in the studio is with Ableton 5.02. It brings back the fun in live arranging tracks and also I can work on so many ideas at the same time. Thanks science for the Computer!

Kate: If you were not a globe touring DJ what career do you think you might have pursued?

Joel: probably something that would involve me with music. Or perhaps I would be acting it�s a thing I always wanted try out.

Kate: Some time ago I remember hearing that you were in NYC on 9/11 and even saw the second plane hit the WTC, is this true and if so, can you describe what you were doing at the time?

Joel: True I was in NY when the �Shit hit the fan�. I was starting my upcoming live tour and had played �Tronic Treatment� the night before. Had 2 hours of sleep when I woke up to see the second plane fly in to the tower. It was horrible experience but I was with good company and had people around me at the time and thank good not stuck alone paranoid in a Hotel somewhere in the city.

Kate: How does it feel to be back in the US right now and are there any upcoming gigs this summer that you are looking forward to especially?

Joel: The tour has been a great success. It is good to finally be back in the US and meet the Different Techno tribes that keep the scene alive. Especially looking forward to the Railyard Barbeque at Sean�s & Diana�s out on Long Island.

Kate: I wish I could have stayed for that! Diana had mentioned it Friday night, it was nice to meet Sean and Matt as well.

What is your current top 5?


1. P�r Grindvik _ Monumental _ Stockholm Ltd 05

2. Guido Schneider _ On and On _ Pokerflat Album

3. Swoop _ Funk d Void Remix � Craft music

4. Sean Degary _ Pluce_ Unreleased CDR

5. Joel Mull _ Nightingale_ Harthouse records



Since the late 90s I have been a big fan of the techno endorsed by many of the Swedes at the time, including yourself, but you have always managed to maintain your own style and have continued to be an influence not only for me but for many others I have talked to over the years. Hope to see you back in Canada soon.

Thank you Joel, much respect & pax!

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