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Hour.ca interviews Joel Mull [Drumcode] before his Stereo debut OCT 8
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| ostrich |
The Hour's columnist Steve Lalla [Lalla Land] interviews JOEL MULL.
His article can be found published online and in print on Thursday
Oct 7th www.hour.ca
SL
Inside was a great label, do you have any plans of doing another
label or doing more releases on Inside ever? Why is this the case?
JM
Thank you. It was fun to run the label and to do everything myself.
It was a good learning experience. The plan with Inside is still
uncertain. I will probably start up the label at some point when I
feel I can put energy into the Label again. But for the time being
I’m focusing on just making music and let other labels release my
music.
SL
Where do you stand on the digital / analog debate, is that an issue
you care about at all?
JM
Technology is an ongoing factor and how people use media will always
change. I think it’s fantastic that people can access music via
internet from all over the world by only using a computer. Before you
had to go to a record store to buy your music and own a record player
to listen to it. It was really a privilege to be able to buy records.
Now many territories around the world are opening up and can now take
part of music and the movement more so than before. And I think music
should be easy to get hold of.
SL
You came and played at Sona in Montreal about 10 or 12 years ago and
if I'm not mistaken it was your first "live P.A.", now you are doing
both live and DJing regularly? What will you do in Montreal and what
kind of equipment do you use for your performances nowadays?
JM
Yes, you remember correctly. It was one of my first shows where I only
played my own tracks. It was great. Sona was a really cool club. At
the moment I’m not doing "Live P.A" shows. But I use Traktor when I
DJ, and for me this software allows me to perform in a very creative
way. So I will perform as a DJ this time around. And it’s actually my
first preference. I get way too nervous to do "Live P.A’s" .
SL
This will be your first time playing at Stereo, a club which is very
well known in Montreal (and worldwide I guess) for the quality of the
soundsystem. Many nights here are house music nights, have you heard
about the club and do you have any special ideas about what it will be
like or how you will prepare?
JM
I have only heard great stuff about STEREO. And I’m very happy to be
invited and to tell my story. I will probably know how to play when
I’ve visited the venue, heard the system, and felt the vibe. Maybe get
a couple of tips before from somebody who knows the club. But mainly
just go with the flow. That’s how I usually do it.
SL
You have a musical background and you've been making 'underground'
techno music for 15 years now, I am sure you have opportunities to
make music that may be more commercially successful, maybe you can
explain how you stay inspired to keep on your path? Can you explain
why you are still inspired by your musical style? Do you believe that
your music, as an artform, is important to the world?
JM
Techno for me is an ongoing process. It’s the whole scene that
inspires me still till this day. The clubs, the people dancing, the
heat of the night and the search for the perfect beat and transition.
So this is the main factor. I feel that the great thing with EDM is
there are no rules to follow, and this is nice because in our society
there are too many rules. I truly believe that dance music sets you
free and when you have found your moment with the music, nothing else
exists in the moment. This is what I strive for when I play. To create
that moment and make people feel it. This is such a strong thing for
me. So yes, it’s important for people to feel free.
SL
The music you make shows that you have a great ear for harmony and
melody, you've also impressed me as a DJ, how is it different to work
with harmonies that you are creating yourself compared to when you are
DJing, when you have to mix together two tracks that are probably
dischordant... which satisfies you more and how do you find a balance
between your musical ear and the dischord of much techno music and sets?
JM
It’s a never ending search for those nice transitions. I probably
search for the hypnotic feeling in a track and try to add my own soul
to it with using soundscapes and loops and things to add that extra
dimension perhaps. But the great thing with techno is that you don’t
have to be a trained musician to create beats and atmospheres. This is
the cool thing with electronic music. It’s more about sound
architecture and FX´s. But I personally was always attracted to
melancholic harmonies in music. And that’s why my style comes over as
deeper or more soulful kind of techno. I don’t know. I always found it
difficult for me to pinpoint my music.
SL
My experience has shown me that techno music and smart electronic
dance music in general is much more accepted and popular in Europe as
opposed to over here in Canada and the U.S., why do you think that is?
Is it due to politics, geography, culture, business? How would you
compare your experiences in North America compared to Europe and also
to the rest of the world?
JM
I often find Canada and Sweden alike. I guess it has something to do
with politics and culture. In Sweden the big room pop EDM is very
popular at the moment and the Techno scene is small. It used to be
much bigger in the past. I don’t consider Sweden to be really part of
Europe because we are a bit isolated with the water between us. So
perhaps that is the reason why it’s a bit similar situation as in
Canada. Just a theory.
SL
I really liked the 'Forming Dies' track you made with Beyer on
Drumcode, but it’s a bit different for you because of the vocal in the
breakdown, we're always wondering: where does this come from and what
is the voice saying?
JM
Nice that you like the track. Actually im not really sure what the
vocal is saying and I'm not sure where it comes from. It was just one
of those days in the studio when i found a vocal snippet somewhere in
my sample library. It's definitely effective on a big sound system.
SL
You have made a few downtempo tracks over the years, intros/outros to
albums and little bits, do you have any plans to make any music that
takes a different direction and is not dancefloor-oriented?
JM
Yes there is a plan to someday collect all of my slower listening
tunes and release them together as a side project. But nothing’s
decided yet. I’d love to score a movie at some point in my life.
That’s one of my dreams.
SL
I really liked the music of Peter Benisch also, you guys worked
together a bit, is he still around doing any music?
JM
Yes, Peter is still doing music and is actually working on an upcoming
album. Very exciting because I know it will be another masterpiece.
His music is amazing. But he has been very secretive about it so I
don't have any details unfortunately.
SL
What artists are you listening to lately that inspire you, in general,
in electronic music or other types of music..?
JM
I listen to a lot of very diverse music all the time, mostly no techno
when I’m home or on the road. But some artists I listen to are Milosh,
Four Tet, JJ, The Detroit Escalator, The XX, Monolake, Rhythm & Sound,
Little Dragon, Lusine, Junoir Boys, and Telefon Telaviv. The list can
go on forever. I try to keep myself updated on all kinds of stuff but
not the pop stuff.
SL
I guess you are 35 years old now, when you were a teenager did you
think that at this age you would have accomplished so much in music,
making all these records and playing so many shows?
JM
I never planned my future and what I would become when I grew older. I
just went with my dream. And I’m now living my dream. And that is to
be able to perform and play music. I will probably continue until my
ears drop off. Techno still keeps me young.
SL
Lastly maybe you can mention some stuff you are working on, if you
have another album coming up sometime? And your plans for EPs,
remixes, more collaborations?
JM
At the moment I’m pushing for my upcoming album "SENSORY" that will be
released in November 2010 on Adam Beyer's sub label Truesoul Records.
This year has been a great one so far in terms of releasing material.
I’ve collaborated with Dustin Zahn from Minneapolis and the label
owner of Enemy records. Done remixes for Cari Lekebusch and for
Argentinean producer Mariano DC. And solo projects for Jericho
Records, Spectrum Records. So it’s been a busy year again. I’m
currently working on a remix for Sian and Lars Sandberg for Octopus.
And there are some other bits in the pipeline.
Looking forward to come to Montreal and to feel the vibe with the
dancing people there. :D
Keep on pushing>> |
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| Zentrix |
| Nice interview from Steve! Joel Mull does techno proper. I was curious to hear what the Forming Dies vocal was saying, ah well... |
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