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Exclusive interviews with DJs and electronic music artists.

2019 Rewind: Ascorbite

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Ascorbite

How was 2019 for you?
Ascorbite: Pretty transformative in many ways. Both musicwise as well as on a personal level. 
Lots of new things going on and some new music coming out, remixes and originals. 
Some of it will be a bit more leftfield than my previous material, which is exciting to present.
 I also launched a new project under the alias of Emotional Ty and released a few EPs. 
It’s an outlet for the melodic and deep stuff, which I will definitely be releasing more 
in the near future.

Highlights?
Putting out my first ever album called Macrocosmic Framework, and the recent Mixmag 
review of a track off the latest Emotional Ty release on Human King (local Malmö label, 
Bandcamp-only) called “Wanderlust.”

Lowlights?
I will have to repeat last year’s answer: no lowlights, just the regular ups and downs.

Song of the year?
In regards to techno I will have to say that the one track that really stood out from the 
rest this year is Wallis’ “Apt 1245” on Jell. It’s a proper brain fornicator. In regards to 
the stuff I listen to at home there are way too many.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
I have this yearly tradition since the day I got aware of this phenomena of not making any 
resolutions.

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2019 Rewind: Fouk

Yehouda Silverman Leave a Comment

Fouk

How was 2019 for you?
Fouk: Pretty awesome! We’ve had a very creative year in the studio. We also both became fathers this year, but we found that the less time we had this year the more creative we got. So yeah pretty inspiring year for us.

Highlights?
Our U.S. tours; it’s always amazing to meet fans across the pond. Also playing at E1 London was pretty great!

Lowlights?
Not playing as much festivals as we would have wanted this year.

Song of the year? 
Girls Of The Internet’s “U Changed.” The minimalism of the track works fantastically. The haunting synth melody together with the vocals give this a grimy pop vibe. Instant earworm!

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Hans: Lose a little bit of weight – haha! I love great food and nice beers, which aren’t exactly helping with staying in shape.

Daniel: Since becoming a dad giving attention to my body’s health in general hasn’t been my main focus. So that’d be a good one to pick up! Being a DJ staying up all night during the weekend doesn’t really help as well.

Image by Lennard Heijer

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2019 Rewind: Thomas Schumacher

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Thomas-Schumacher

How was 2019 for you?
Thomas Schumacher: I have had a great year on all levels. I have realized a lot of goals with my music and in my personal life as well. “House of House” was a great process. From the seed of the idea, throughout the production, strategizing the release and the on-going impact my remix is having on dance floors all over the world.  Setting up my first EP release on Drumcode this year, to be released on January 6, 2020, has been both a professional and personal home run for me.

Highlights?
I have been producing music with my incredible wife and partner in everything, Caitlin, for nearly 20 years. Bringing her songwriting and productions into focus again this year has been a dream come true for both of us. Collaborating with our dear friend Victor Ruiz on the remixes of her Freaks & Misfits EP, and seeing his remix of her song hit the Beatport Techno Top 10, was immensely satisfying.

Lowlights?
The thing that has caused me the most sleepless nights this year is the rapidly accelerating rate of global warming and the apathy from politicians, corporations and individuals to make the necessary changes to stop and even reverse the damage we have done to our planet. We now know that we cannot only stop global warming completely, but we can actually reverse the damage we have done with actions like reforestation, soil regeneration, ocean and kelp regeneration and many other straight forward, simple solutions. The knowledge is there and not enough of us are listening.

Song of the year? 
Klangkuenstler – “Dunkle Illusion”

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
Continue to choose love. Keep doing the next right thing.

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2019 Rewind: Thatmanmonkz

Darren Ressler Leave a Comment

Thatmanmonkz - Scott Moncrief

How was 2019 for you?
Thatmanmonkz (a.k.a. Scott Moncrief): Good, thanks. A lot of personal and professional change and trying to manage the changing nature of the industry. But overall, it’s generally been a positive year for me, and one that sets me up nicely for the next decade, fingers crossed!

Highlights?
I’d have to say releasing a solo album on my own label, Non Zero Sum Game, on Shadeleaf Music, closely followed by starting a successful edits-based project too. I’m all about self-ownership and a DIY ethos nowadays!

Lowlights?
Wow, well. The state of national and global politics and existential dread about the upcoming climate crisis would be up there. Concerns about the state of contemporary dance music too. On a personal note, my dog passed away a couple of months ago, which was pretty heartbreaking.

Song of the year?
There have been some absolute gems this year, amidst a growing sea of mediocrity. I’ll go with Atlanta’s DJ Kemit, and his rework of Robert Glasper’s “Enoch’s House” for Kai Alce’s NDATL. It’s beautiful, hypnotic, emotive, and really catches the floor unawares as it evolves.

What’s your New Year’s resolution?
To be honest, I don’t really do them usually. However, I’ll make an exception for you. I resolve to stay as honest as I can when making and playing art and to advise and help others in this industry where I can with regards to encouraging self reliance and creativity. The underground shall rise again!

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