He’s just released his beautifully crafted album ‘Echoes’ on the acclaimed Einmusika label. – An outing that journeys between chunky, bass-loaded House, intricate cutting edge Techno and smooth, melodic electronica, which is being championed by Pete Tong and many more.. We caught up with the electronic musical genius who goes by the name of Beatamines…
Interview by Ratha Gud
Hi Pascal, where are you in the world right now?
Currently I’m at my most favourite place. In the middle of my beloved family and right beside my studio located in Magdeburg, which is pretty much in the center of Germany.
What was the first piece of music you heard today?
Maggie Rogers – Alaska, what an impressively emotional and wonderful piece of music.
What does the name Beatamines mean and where does it come from?
The idea behind my moniker was basically lend from ”vitamines“ but funnily enough everyone keeps saying Beatam[ai]nes. So through this re-inventional process by my friends and followers, the meaning changed independently.
How would you describe your sound?
Melodic, Colorful, solid and well balanced.
Congrats on your amazing new album ‘Echoes’, please talk us through some of the tracks…
Well, let’s start with Echoes as the first track and simultaneously the title track of this long player. It’s melodic touch and the reflective percussions draw a good picture of my musical intentions for echoes as an album at all. Heading over to Second Decay as a more dance oriented track, build upon a heavy baseline and the recognizable SID Sound the listener starts to perceive Echoes also as a dance album.
Talking about Meet Your Ears I teamed up with Einmusik to drop in some summer vibes. The collaboration with Samuel was a lot of fun and a big honor to me. The work on this track started by big jam session in Einmusik’s studio in Berlin to collect some ideas. We then took another session to finish our thoughts and the whole track.
How does ‘Echoes’ differentiate from your first album ‘In Motion’, where did you get your inspiration from and what did you set out to achieve this time?
First of all, the sound Echoes is a lot more developed. Some people would say my sound has grown up. Looking back to In Motion I worked more in a box for every single track and didn’t draw big pictures. It was a more functional album.
You have made some collaborations with Fabio Montana and Robertsøn, how did they come about?
Robertsøn is a close friend of mine from Hamburg and I was really impressed by his piano skills during our collaboration. Fabio Montana, also a close friend, organizes cool parties in Cologne and Bonn. Over the years we were sticking closer together ending up as very close friends in the studio too.
What are your thoughts on the current Techno / Tech House scene and which producers are rocking it for you right now?
It’s hard to ignore that finally techno is back, and for my part I really like that. But it’s ioce to see that also there are more and more spheric and melodic sounds coming up lately as by Joris Voorn, Agents of Time or Tim Engelhardt for example.
A birdy tells us you’ve now got a new studio, what’s your favourite piece of kit that’s essential to the Beatamines sound?
I really enjoyed working with my Analog Four by elektron for the album, but my newest toy is the Moog Sub 37, and it’s simply a beast. I currently wonder how I ever could produce without it.
Who are your biggest influencers?
I get the main part of my inspiration from family and friends and can capitalize on their very different taste of music. I’m just surrounded by lots of great musical minds and I’m very thankful for that.
Tell us about your collaborations with David Jach
We have made really a lot together and David has stamped me also very much what concerns hanging up. I have learnt it to play with CDJs by him because tractor has fallen out to me once at a huge Openair gig. He had played always with vinyl and CDs and I with tractor because I have still played some live drums with it at my gigs. Then by the album production, agency change and also different musical interests we both have said that everybody rather continues his thing. He makes just rather „groovy house“ things and I wanted to become electronic again a little bit more, so back to the roots like at the beginning.
If you could collaborate with a big artist, who would it be?
If I can choose I would take Moby. Great Pop artist and still inspiring. Moby if you read this, drop me a line.
Name a record that makes you say “damn, I wish I made that!”
Laurent Garnier – The Man With The Red Face, this synthline is just overwhelmingly astonishing.
What’s been the biggest challenge in you career so far?
I played a concert together with the 100 man strong Orchestra of the Dortmund Philharmonicas. The Project was called „Groove Symphony“ and was by far the most challenging experience. I recently get goose bumps thinking of it.
What are you proudest moments?
The birth of my lovely daughter Hannah-Mia.
What was you’re first clubbing experience and who was playing?
The first electronic party I visited was an old indoor swimming pool in Jena where I had the pleasure to dance to a set of the Wighnomy Brothers. Before that I used to go to Hip Hop Parties because I was more located in the Break Dance Scene as a Dancer.
Where has been your favourite place to play?
My favourite place to play is in front of a happy crowd enjoying my music.
What do you like most about your career, writing in the studio or performing? It’s a mix of both worlds. There is the hard work in the studio beside the great inspiring moments while playing on stage which make the difference.
What events are you most looking forward to this Summer?
I’m looking to forward to many lovely Open Airs this summer. Some of them smaller, some of them bigger. But I’m really thrilled to play the Fusion Tanzwueste this year.
What are your current top 5 tunes at the moment?
1 Beatamines – Echoes – Einmusika
2 Tim Engelhardt – Nord – Ritter Butzke Studio
3 H.O.S.H – Meloman – My Favorite Robot
4 Andy Bros – Essenza – Diynamic
5 Charlotte de Witte – Sehnsucht – Turbo
Finally what’s coming next from Beatamines?
There are some pretty amazing collabos in the pipeline with cool guys like Mattia Pompeo from Sincopat or Jiggler, one part of Channel-X from StilVorTalent. And of course some fresh Beatastuff.
Beatamines ‘Echoes’ album is out now on Einmusika.
PREVIEW : https://soundcloud.com/beatamines/sets/echoes-new-album-out-may-27th-2016
