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Alucard (CAN) Interview
Rysh from Trancetribe.com talks with canadian producer Alucard.
(a good read!!)
Q) You’ve been making music for around 10 years now. Why is it only in the few recent years that your music is getting released? In what ways has the technology progressed in this time?
Alucard) hmm, well I made music electronically probably only seriously in the last 5 years and I guess it takes a while to get your name out and about on the scene. I love the mathematics of sound too, and as technology has progressed so has software and I guess my sound, I like to keep my stuff changing in terms of production sound and style. There is a whole other world of Alucard sound which most don’t know about but will be available on my album and upcoming soon on my own record label which will feature down tempo, progressive house, and electro releases, everything under the sun that is well produced but also a label that is not just focussed on dance floor releases so artists can let themselves run free musically. Because that is the music style I like.
Q) 2004 was your “big-break”, in terms of releasing some big songs like “Lighthouse” and “Trailer Park Boy”, how did 2005 compare for you?
Alucard) I think 2005 was the big transition of the opening of the digital realm of music and also an eye opener for me, in terms of Djing. I started to do a lot of Djing locally and found out what works with the local crowd, this also made me change some of my styles. Also I have been quite busy trying to finish my graduate studies, so I can focus a bit more on music after that. But as mentioned before, I am trying to evolve myself, and sometimes evolution is not welcomed by everyone haha. I have really been focussed more on soundtracks and ambient tracks in the last while, as well as taking a break from remixing to complete my first album which will see a release on July 4th this year. I put a lot of time into my album, hopefully it pays off. I guess in short, I don’t do to much trance any more hehe.
Q) You remixed TranceTribe’s second vinyl release “Ibiza Sun”, what was the experience like for you and what did you think when you got asked to do this? Do you get many offers to remix peoples songs?
Alucard)Yes that remix was really fun and was one of those tracks or remixes that just came to me right away one night. Some songs are like that, others take a couple of runs to get what I want out of it. I am not to sure why I was asked to do it, I think I may have known Corbett from before and he said that he liked my style and wanted to hear a remix. I also did a mash up of the song with the interstate I found you vocals, that sounded really nice. I usually have enough offers for remixing to keep my plate full and sometimes so many that I just can’t do em. But as I mentioned earlier I’ve been trying to stay away form remixing in the last year and a half or so I could concentrate on the album.
Q) You’ve also remixed a future TranceTribe release “Waiting for your love”, how do you feel about remixing songs for lesser known artists?
Alucard) Waiting for Your Love was done for Yana Kay as well after the eyes of a perfect stranger song. The track was made more for fun for me but then it really came into itself. It got a maxi cd release in Latvia and the surrounding area. Ill remix anything really that I think I can make something reasonable out of , whether its a huge producer/Dj or just someone’s first song... sometimes doing the lesser known artists is much funner because sometimes there ideas are a lot more original. I just like music in general, man if I ever went deaf it would be difficult.
Q) What got you into trance, and producing it and how do you keep motivated?
Alucard) Hmm, I started listening to trance/dance back in like 1992, I guess that started it for me. So I got a couple of good years in especially around the 97 era and the early 2001-2002 days where I heard Gabriel and Dresden’s stuff and was blown away. Trance was a good stepping stone for me and it has only helped me evolve my sound into other realms. As for motivation, I just love making and listening to music, and its a really neat feeling to be able to take anything or nothing and make a song which I can sit back and listen to myself or play Djing and say wow, I made this. Also I am weird haha.
Q) You mainly produce prog-trance, do you ever have a go at producing any mainstream type trance?
Alucard) Well id say most of my releases are prog trance, but I have produced many other genres like breaks, electro, ambient down tempo, many of which will see the light of day soon for most people. As for main stream trance with typical basslines and claps and sawtooth melodies, not really, as it’s not really my bag any more
Q) Do you have plans on where you want your music to take you? How big of a part of your life, is your music? Is it true you produce music for video games as well? I’ve also heard your on the radio waves over in Canada, how does the radio compare to your other musical ventures?
Alucard) I would love, in the future to be able to make music for a living most notably for soundtracks for video games or even movies hopefully. Music I would say is a huge part of my life, as Nietzsche said "life without music would be a mistake." I haven’t made soundtracks for any games in particular but it is definitely in the works and the wheels are in motion. I do a local radio show here through the university airwaves and am in the works for doing one on the local city airwaves, as I think with the growing support for electronica type music in this city could very well happen. Radio is definitely a neat experience as the talking/interaction is fun, also good experience to have in the long run.
Q) You are mostly known for your productions, which is more important to you, Djing or Producing? And why?
Alucard) Well before I was producing and it probably still is. I am only now considering Djing more because as most producers know, sometimes producing doesn’t pay all the bills haha. But if I had my choice id love to make a living making music rather than Djing, But I think id love to do couple of years touring and see the world and show them my style, but that is also a tight niche.
Q) Do you DJ internationally? Is there any chance of seeing you spin one day in Australia?
Alucard) I have Djed internationally, and I would love to come down to Australia to Dj. I’ve just got a friend to do some booking for me, as well as I will be doing some North American touring this year and hopefully, some more international dates in the months to come...the demand has been there, but its hard when I live in the exact middle of North America and travelling can become expensive haha.
Q) A lot of big name DJs claim a certain lack of quality music out there these days, how do you feel about this? And do you find it difficult to find good songs for your sets?
Alucard) Hmm really? haha. I usually have no problem browsing through beatport and finding new tracks to play and mix with older tracks. I think maybe with some Djs that I find is that they play too much of the same style, no matter what the Dj I usually cant handle the same style for more than about 2 hours. Usually when I do sets now I play quite a variety of stuff ranging from house to electro to breaks to prog house to possibly even some fluffy prog trance too. I can t even listen to myself Dj the same stuff for longer than 2 hours haha. All I can say is try new things and styles those are the best Djs that can pull that off and do it proper
Q) The most common picture of you is the one of you wearing the T-shirt "Musicians Wanted", what was this photo for and what does the shirt mean, to you?
Alucard) haha, I got that shirt from an apple music conference and a buddy and I were in a 7 eleven at about 2 in the morning fixing or munchy needs and we had a rum and coke in hand and he took the pic. It defo did its way around the net I suppose... but I guess it’s a good stance of mine...I like real musicians, not just people who follow the norm or the sound. It’s a funny shirt definitely maybe it has something to do with me too, as I strive to be a musician
Q) People who have seen you on forums would know that you are synonymous with the term, “Bosh Bosh”. For those who don’t know, what does this mean? And why do you write it?
Alucard) HAHA. Bosh is the noise a kick drum makes when you are listening to it outside a packed Dj tent. It was coined by the people I met out in England when I went to Global gathering in 2003 or 2004 I can’t remember now, ever since it just stuck. Now I have brought the term over to the locals and now it seems to be my sorta signature now haha. Also be on the lookout for my new tune creatively entitled BOSH.
Q) Something a lot of people may not realise is that Alucard spelt backwards is “Dracula”. So it seems pretty important to ask, why did you choose the alias Alucard?
Alucard) Cuz I was young and silly, but also because I make all my music mostly in the dark hours of the day; like doing all my work at night much like a vampire, or king of them, Dracula. And I just stuck with the name
Q) You have your first artist album coming out this year, can you give us any details on what we should expect and what other productions are going to be out soon?
Alucard) Expect everything and something as well, also possibly a bit of that. The album is kinda like two in one. The first half is more progressive related, well the transition though the half of it takes the album to another realm of sound is down tempo and ambient.
Well as most people have asked, Late Summer Fields will be seeing the light, as well as some more remixes and own work. There are two more due out on baroque soon and a breaks tune due out on electrofly.
I will be starting my own label up in mid to late summer as well, which will showcase a broad range of tunes from down tempo to ambient to progressive.
As well a couple of collaborations with code are in the works, one of which is one of my favourite tunes called beautiful midnight.
Probably more to come too, but that will all be updated on my website when I finally get it up in mid summer too.
Cheers
~pete
It’s been a great pleasure Peter, keep up the great work.
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Too old for this shit. But still luvin it
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Good Luck with getting him down and good to hear you like my interview, Binary Finary interview very soon!!! There also coming to Aus....EVERYONE LOVES AUSTRALIA!!!
have fun in melb, hows stuff for sydeny looking?
