One of the great minds of dance music drops another Touch Of Class
Interview by Stephen Flynn…
It’s rare that we’ll chat to a DJ or producer who’s as eloquent and genuinely funny as Eric Volta. Undoubtedly one of house music’s great thinkers, the London born, Berlin-dwelling Volta makes music that’s just as provocative and intriguing as the man himself. Since first coming to prominence as a resident at the Lo*kee parties in London, Volta has since become a firm favourite with a host of the scene’s biggest tastemakers. With his recent remixes for Touch of Class just dropping, we thought it a good time to check in with the man himself.
You’re from the UK, right? Whereabouts?
“Yes I was as born in London in Wembley.”
What’s it like as a place to grow up?
“Well I didn’t grow up there. I was a gypsy and my family kept moving me from country to country, school to school for so long.”
You were heavily involved with the Lo*kee parties I believe. What happened there?
“It was magic for a while when I worked with them. Once upon a time I lived in a candy factory in London. One day I went touring somewhere, can’t remember where exactly and when I came back all my housemates were telling me ‘you need to meet the guys who moved into our party flat!’ So in this former candy factory where I once lived existed a space, which for a long time remained empty, and somehow, everyone in the building had a key to it. So we used it for parties. We used to throw epic parties in this building. Once by sheer coincidence everyone in the building threw a party on the same day and it was madness…5 floors, spaces each and a back yard. The collaboration the following year is possibly one of my most favourite events I have ever been involved with or attended. So the Lo*kee guys invaded and occupied our party flat, which turned out great really, because we ere getting tired of cleaning all of these parties up and here come a bunch of swell guys to do events and clean up after…and they always invited us in and gave us free booze. Great deal! And they’re lovely and the music was great! A friendship developed and at some point they asked me to become a resident.”
You used to remain anonymous on the parties you played at. Why was that?
“I’m sure some of you out there are just sick to death of hearing ‘me, me, me, me, me oh and me, me, me, me – have some more me!’ The irony that here I am talking about me. I don’t like to. In this context I suppose it’s fine. But there’s a world out there, ideas and moments to be captured and shared. I always found it annoying. So I thought at the time, the best promotion is no promotion, if people want to talk they came to me afterwards and we would engage in all sorts of conversation.”
So where did you first earn your clubbing stripes? Who was massively influential for you back then?
“My stripes…cute. Credit to the scene in Singapore, although detached, it was raw at some point. Hats off to the Kinemat crew, Don and Angie from Insomnia who took me in and threw some of the best events around and really helped to inspire me, Brendon P who schooled my early house days and X Ho at the Liquid Room.”
Who of that time continues to influence you?
“I still follow Brendon and Chris. Chris especially with his political rants. Always a true rebel. Bless!”
Don’t you live in Germany now? Was it just time for a change…why did you move?
“I woke up one morning in London and thought to myself ’you’ve been here for 10 years. MOVE!’ And that was it.”
Do you still go out clubbing? Does electronic music still excite you like it did in those early days?
“I choose my battles more carefully, I go out to be inspired or dance. But I have to say, I do appreciate live music more these days. I have tickets to see Bobby McFerrin and Chic Corea at the end of summer, that will be the best gig of the year for me already I know it! I’ve just seen Mulatu Astatke again for the second time he is AMAZING.”
You seem quite preoccupied with unusual sounds. Where does that all stem from?
“The thing is – it’s not really unusual to me. What’s unusual is everyone who is just sitting still. Isn’t the more appropriate question here – why isn’t everyone isn’t unusual sounds? Why aren’t we all out there discovering? Why do we seem to be happy regurgitating the same old bollocks again and again? And why does the majority seem to be satisfied with this? Surely you wouldn’t just wanna stay in the same village where you’re from, sitting at the same table, eating the same thing everyday – forever?”
Do you pay attention to old school stuff? Or are you more interested with what’s happening now?
“I do follow a different path of current knowledge. And I am happy with it. But I have to say, I have always been a fan of discovering old gold. There’s the record loft in Berlin you can go to, bring a coffee and smoke a fag and troll through boxes of old discarded records and find these things. Golden moment!”
Do you think it’s important that DJs know their history then?
“Yes and no. I didn’t at some point and I think that helps to break down already established rules. Saying that, I believe in respect. Respect the cats that opened that door for you, respects the cats who laid down the foundation that we walk upon. Anyone who has been around a day more than me has got my respect. And if I tell myself that, then you have to know your history. Or at least – try to get as much of that in as you can. This life is tricky. Music people are the devil. And we dance with the devil. So respect to the guys who keep pushing and stay positive.”
You’re quite closely aligned with Art Department, Pillowtalk and all those guys. How long have you known them? How influential have they been on your career?
“I’m so happy I know these guys. Big love to everyone who has been helping me, I’m still humbled by it all. There’s a lot of people out there would do anything to have the backing of these people, and somehow by universal connections they’re supporting me. I mean Maceo Plex, Seth and Visionquest were heavily supporting me last year, one can only be grateful. And I like to think that I continue to work hard on my music to give back to these guys. thank you!”
Do you find it important that house and techno maintains its political agenda these days?
“I did initially mock this question. I actually see little political involvement with house and techno and politics. But actually, in Berlin and Amsterdam they have reached a balance. These cities understand that this music is an economy and a fruitful one and they work together with clubs to understand a right way of making it work. Unlike the UK right now which seems to think putting sniffer dogs in clubs and breath testing people is a good idea – Cameron—-> SHAME ON YOU! But I wish people would get more involved. But at the end of the day, it’s a bloody party scene isn’t it? It’s an escapists paradise of sorts. I expect there is far more political contribution from fans of the Sex Pistols, Rage Against the Machine, Manu Chao and Pussy Riot.”
So your latest on Touch of Class – is it a pretty typical example of your work?
“I should think so. I try to be as creative as possible. Lets try to push through and discover new sounds together.”
Are you a fully self-taught producer? Or how did you learn how to make music?
“I do love to read. And I do love science and music and I have had many great teachers along the way. But perhaps the music is always there. Floating through the infinite space of consciousness and it only takes a open mind to hear it and become the interment the universe requires in order for it to manifest itself.”
Is the best still to come from you do you think?
“I hope so. Or I’m signing off.”
You can produce with one label and one producer for two weeks. Who would it be?
“I would love to work with Pampa and Daphne!”
And what lies in store in 2015 for you?
“Well hopefully I will be seeing Bali soon again, I can’t wait to look up at the stars from Ubud again. Catching up with friends in Singapore, Thailand, Australia…and yeah, Afrika Burn definitely Burning Man. Going to watch Bobby McFerrin in the summer. I really wanna try that new Oddysey synth that Korg are bringing out. I do always dream about all the Thermionic Culture stuff. And of course music wise releases to come on Supernature, Hallucienda and of course No.19. Playing with my Mogee and perhaps a phone call from Ai Tominaga?”
Tone of Arc’s ‘Run Rabbit Run’ (Eric Volta remixes) is out now on Touch of Class
