One of the most important men in EDM brings us a brand new Circle Music compilation
Anyone seeking a role model for how to operate successfully and with longevity in the electronic dance music industry today, should study Alex Flatner. The art of multi-tasking across disciplines has been honed to perfection by this congenial, self-effacing man from Munich. He runs his highly successful underground labels, Gedankensport and Circle Music; works as an A&R manager for labels including Harthouse and Plastic City; is a producer of immense talent and a highly regarded DJ who travels all over the globe at weekends.Alex welcome to DMC towers, what an incredible summer you are having. Where are in the world are you right now?
“I have been touring through China, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Beijing. Right now I’m preparing for some gigs in Germany – Cologne, Hannover and Hamburg.”
After the huge success of ‘The Sun Goes Down’ you are about to unveil your new ‘Mixtape’ Circle Music mix compilation – a superb selection of unreleased exclusive tracks featuring both established artists and newcomers. How did you set about compiling this mix, what was the direction you wanted to explore?
“Actually I wanted to touch on the 80’s sound but also to be very modern too. First I asked all the established Circle Artists for tracks, but was also looking for new talent, so mainly I was looking to have equally good quality sounds but also show some new faces to the audience.”
Let’s begin with the newcomers, mix compilations are a great way to introduce exciting new talent to the world. Tell us about Switzerland’s Simon Slice and his contribution to the release?
“By pure luck I met Simon through Soundcloud. I’m always using this tool to find new talent and stopped by his page. I got in touch with him and found we had the same outlook and that we would like to work together. By that time he had sent me this exclusive track, I heard it, I liked it, so I took it.”
There is also input from the new Italian duo Danima & da Ragnio, these boys look potentially really good…
“Yes, the guys are awesome, very good music makers! There will also be a single release pretty soon from these boys on Circle Music.”
You have included another production with studio partner LOPAZZ ‘Dislike’, which sits really well in the middle of the mix – when was this created?
“Actually, Stefan (LOPAZZ) and myself are working together almost every week and we create new tracks all the time. I remember “Dislike” was originally made for our album project, but we decided to take this track for this compilation as we have loads of others which are also very strong for our album.”
There is some extraordinary talent on ‘Mixtape’, from the opening hypnotic, vocalized groove of Slok’s ‘It’s Been A Long Time, established Circle producer Hermanez, Patrick Kunkel who we know from Cocoon times, to the superb Matt Flores & Fransen. What are the tracks you are especially happy to have included on the album?
“To be honest I am happy to have all of them! Every track is very special for me. I believe in every single artist included in this project and also in their music, too.”
How many tracks did you have to leave out?!
“I had at the end 24 tracks, but couldn’t include all of them, so on the CD there are 17 tracks and digitally 7 more.”
How long have you been working on this release?
“It was about 3 months work. First of all the selection, then to check if they all fitted together, then the artwork…I wanted to have artwork that looks kind of 80’s but also modern, same as the music. As you can see this album is a kind of concept album, that’s why it is also called “Mixtape”, as we used to back in the days create our own ones.”
What can you tell us about Chris Venola’s debut artist album coming our way on Circle later this month?
“Chris is for me one of the very promising upcoming Circle artists. He is a very talented musical guy. His sound is quite electronic but also very musical, too. I am really happy to have him involved with the label. We also have some exciting remixes coming for his album, btw. I also did one.”
Aside from the comp, what have you personally got in store for us release wise? And what are Circle’s next releases you are excited about?
“There is a new release from Franksen coming up with a remix by Slok. A new LOPAZZ & Alex Flatner, including remixes by Alex Niggemann, Him Self Her and the Pornbugs guys from Berlin.”
Let’s go back to where it all began. Your main inspiration to start your career came from a certain family member I think?
“Yes, my uncle is a singer and guitar player. He was probably my biggest inspiration when I was starting to make music.”
Had you any idea just how much of an impact your ‘Deutsche Mark’ remix of Corvin Dalek’s ‘Pounds and Penz’ was going to have on the world’s dancefloors? Pete Tong loved that production!
“To be honest, at that time I didn’t have any idea at all what impact this remix would have. But I feel so honoured that I got the chance at that time, that so many people liked it and so many famous producers and key players like Pete Tong were supporting it at that time.”
You A&R labels like Harthouse and Plastic City as well as running your own imprints Circle Music and Gendankensport, as well as DJing and producing. Describe a day in the life of Alex Flatner…
“…my day start’s at 10:00 in the morning in the office and most of the time I am in the office till 18:00. In the office I am listening to new demos, writing contracts, talking with the distributors about the releases, so believe me, there are so many things to do here, every day!”
How many records do you listen to a week at your day job?
“About 100 – 200, it depends, but something like that.”
How does the studio set up work with LOPAZZ work – who excels in what department?
“Well it’s different, sometimes I am on the keyboard and he creates the drums and sometimes I create the drums and he is on the keyboard and we just jam. From the jam, we take the best parts to record and we start to create the vocals. Sometimes Stefan (LOPAZZ) plays the bass guitar and sometimes just use a lead guitar, so it’s totally different, as you can hear on our tracks, it depends how we are feeling, whatever the mood is how we work.”
What is the current Top 10 you are spinning?
1. Gone Too Long – Him Self Her
2. Hot Chip – Night And Day – Dusky Remix
3. Slok – Lonely Child
4. Tiger Stripes – This Man (M.A.N.D.Y. vs LOPAZZ Edit)
5. Dejan Milicevic – Just Keep Talking Girl
6. H.O.S.H. – Don Arp
7. Hot Since 82 – Houze Thiz
8. Darius Syrossian – My Side Project
9. Anna Lunoe – I Met You – (Late Nite Tuff Guy Disco Dub)
10. Hermanez – B To B
What has been your anthem of the summer?
Dr. Dru – The Voice Of Dru ,
Todd Terje – Inspector Norse
Tell us about 2012 and your DJing, where in the world do you really love returning to?
“As mentioned, I was spinning my first time this year in China and will in November get back there to play again. I’m very excited about the country, the cities, the culture and also the new friends I now have over there.”
What have been the standout clubs of 2012?
“Lola Club Shanghai, Watergate Berlin, Weidendamm Hannover, Club 999 Prato and Neutra Club Italy.”
Away from dance music, what artists are you currently listening to at home or in the car?
“Falco, Motown Collections, A-Ha and Buena Vista Social Club.”
And finally, to the thousands of aspiring producers reading this, what advice can you give them?
“Be yourself and don’t copy!!”
Soundcloud link to the album tracks:
http://tinyurl.com/9a4z4sg
http://www.circlemusic.net
http://www.alexflatner.com
http://www.facebook.com/alexflatner
http://soundcloud.com/circle-music-germany
http://www.beatport.com/label/circle-music/2884
