‘Southern Soul’ shattering our speakers
So Christopher (aka Glimpse), a real musical and artistic start to your life. You studied at The Central Saint Martin’s Art College until 2000 – the whole of Saint Martin’s College in it’s various areas has thrown up some incredible, ground breaking talent and household names…Paul Smith, Sade, Alexander McQueen, Kissy Sell Out, Mike Leigh, Jason Brooks, Stella McCartney, M.I.A. and Jarvis Cocker to name but a few of some mind blowing talented people – what made you want to study sculpture – a famous quote from you is “I don’t really differentiate between sculpting and writing Techno – explain…
“I think once you have completed a four year degree where you are working creatively every day, it;s very difficult to go back to working non creatively again. I used to think that the only thing I learnt at Saint Martins was how to survive without any money, but I left around seven years ago now and have some perspective on the experience. It has helped me in so many different areas of my life. I do feel that as long as I’m working creatively every day I will be happy, whether this is working in stone, clay, wood or music. Making music is just taking things away or adding things to a space, having an understanding of form, aesthetics and sequence. Which is hugely connected to sculpture.”
Martin, wow, what a career. But let’s begin with your own label’s Kling Klong and Session Deluxe featuring artists like Oliver Klein (who DMC love), Gui Boratto and Oliver Koletzki – what was the passion to begin your own label – when, in truth your DJing career and production career was going very well anyway?
“A reason to start my own label is mostly the same thing – you’re tired of hearing suggestions and advice how to change tracks that you believe work as they are. First I started with Session Deluxe but realised after a while that I like too many different styles to bring things out on the same platform. A perfect point to start my second label Kling Klong was when my collaboration with the Great Stuff guys came around. So I suggested to collaborate with this and they were into it. That’s maybe a reason why Kling Klong has more of a high profile even though it is the younger label. Great Stuff with all their experience in marketing and handling electronic music combined with what I do works just fine. Session Deluxe stays more underground which is perfect for the stuff I do there. As for the DJing side of things, there was not a point when it just went off, it was a step by step process due to constant work and it has only been the last three maybe four years that have I started traveling around the globe.”
Martin, you hail from Stuttgart in Germany – your home city’s motto is ‘Stuttgart is more’, an amazing city stacked with so much history – what are the best and worst things about living there?
“One of the best things here is the size of Stuttgart – only 700 000 inhabitants but it offers so many possibilities. Stuttgart always has been a place for creative people and a good spot for electronic music.You can have a really good life here. The bad thing about is maybe the same thing, its small size. As I travel a lot, it’s the right place to live in for myself and it’s always a joy to return home here from my gigs.”
Boys, what makes a good DJ and also, a good producer?
Chistopher: “I think the most important thing to me is feeling. Some producers really manage to project the personalities in there music. I think if you work hard enough at something you will always develop a personal vocabulary within your medium of choice. I think honesty is also very important in production. Not trying to sound like someone else, standing proud behind your sound.”
Martin: “Definitely personality and a feel for music that can emerge from it. Obviously you need creativity and technical skills, but at the end of the day it’s all about the energy and musical flow that you transport to people, either as a producer or DJ.”
Christopher, an early love for Jazz and Blues – how did you get into this, was it a parent thing or did you pick on these sounds yourself? Who were the artists making this music that put a smile on your face?
“I think it was mainly a parent thing, listening to Jazz and Blues when I was younger had a big influence on me and still does. I have always loved the low slung smokey feel of the old Muddy Waters tracks. I try to capture that feeling when I produce Techno.”
Christopher – what is the best bit of advice you have been given in your life?
Christopher: “‘The only difference between creative people and non creative people is creative people are doer’s.”
Martin: “First think carefully about what you really want, then go for it and you will make it.”
Martin, you have been a DJ for over 20 years – what have been the best clubs you have played at in these two decades, this year alone sees gigs in Brazil, Argentina, Japan, India and Australia – also where was the first club you packed a dancefloor in your DJ career?
This is always very hard to answer. Thers so many places where parties just went nuts. Not always the obviously known clubs. Sometimes just the right place and the right crowd. I also had huge nights with only maybe 20 people. There’s definitely some spots where you know when the party will blow off. If I have to name some sure shots I have to mention clubs like D-Edge7 Sao Paulo, Watergate Berlin, White Rabbit Beijing, Chinese Laundry Sydney and La Feria Santiago. Basically gigs in Latin America are always crazy as people there just have the groove. The first ‘real crowd’ I moved (talking about 800 people) was in Reutlingen in Germany. It’s the town where I went to High School and started in 1986 – fuck I am old!!.”
What are the Glimpse and Martin Eyerer’s big tunes from other artists you are playing right now?
Christopher: “The big one – Levon Vincent ‘Sync Jam’ on Novel Sound”
Martin: As I host a weekly radio show, I listen to a lot of new music and have to be on it, so the tunes change all the time. At the moment it’s Ramon Tapia ‘Carousel’, Namito ‘Heat’ (Marc Romboy remix), LŸtzenkirchen ‘DTM Champion Worx, Guido Schneider & Jens Bond ‘Eijeijeijeij’ and Radioslave ‘Orchestrating Manouvre (m.in & lindsey remix)”
Christopher, your Glimpse Records label have seen DJs stuffing your releases in their boxes which stay in their for ages – DJs like Carl Craig, Laurent Garnier, Jeff Mills, Derrick May and Ritchie Hawtin – what have been the BIG releases on your label that you have loved?
“I rarely release stuff on Glimpse Recordings, maybe only one a year or something like that. I have only had eight releases in total now. It’s hard to choose one, I have been playing the last one ‘Lazer Bathr’ in my live show consistently for around six months which is really unusual for me.”
What is the best record label ever?
Christopher: “Purpose Maker.”
Martin: “This changes a lot for myself. There is always periods when I like a label and suddenl they move into a direction I dont like, but later on I get back into them. In more than 20 years DJing I«ve seen so many labels come and go, but to name just one – Ovum Records that I have followed from the beginning – maybe not the best, just one I love.”
Christopher, a silly good year! ‘The Drifting EP’ on Carl Craig’s Planet E label, an EP on Cadenza, your own release on Glimpse Recordings with ‘Kompkat’ and a release on Get Physicals sister label Kindiisch. What are the plans for 2010?
“In 2010 I have my debut album coming out on Crosstown Rebels, a new project with Tom Demac under our ‘DENSE’ guise for my label Glimpse Recordings and I am expecting my first baby in Jan. So looking forward to a busy year with lots of changes!”
