Huge new debut on mau5trap from Norway’s finest…
Interview by Dan Prince
Onas welcome back to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you today?
“Thanks Dan! I’ve just got back to Norway after a crazy weekend of shows in the US.”
This month sees you make your debut on the mau5trap label thanks to the mighty ‘Pyara’ track – a track the Buzz Chart crew describe as “simply heavenly”. Please talk us through the sound and history of the tune…
“I started making it on the road in India (Pyara is Hindi for ‘love’.) It’s a big, dark and atmospheric club record. I was looking for an outlet for these kinds of tracks as I had a few in the pipeline. When mau5trap approached me and said they were looking for something a little different, this was the first thing I sent over and they loved it. We’re talking about a follow up release already…”
“In a world dominated by festival bangers and deep house fanaticism, Fehrplay gives us the perfect balance with his own unique sound.” Comments like that about your music must tell you, you are doing something right out there?
“I just do my own thing. I don’t TRY to be different, I just make the music that really makes me happy, drawing influence from the music around me and what I grew up with, and that seems to translate well to the dancefloor and the fans – so I’m just going to keep doing it!”
More big news in your life at the moment concerns the small matter of supporting a certain Miss Kylie Minogue on here UK Tour!!! You kicked off in Liverpool last week, when were you approached to get involved?
“It was quite last minute thing, but there is no way was I going to turn down Kylie. I’m kicking off a few UK shows and we’re talking about maybe doing some European dates too. It’s been fun, she is an icon and she has consistently put out great records so I have a lot of respect for her. I wouldn’t support just anyone for this kind of thing, but with Kylie it just felt right, and it’s a lot of fun so why not!“
How was last week in Liverpool and how much involvement have you had with the greatest ass in the music industry?
“Liverpool was fun! It was all a bit crazy as it was first night of the tour. I haven’t got much time to chat with her yet, but hopefully as the tour gets in full swing we’ll get a chance to hang out a little bit.”
Your favourite ever Kylie tune?
“’Can’t Get You Out Of My Head’.”
What were you some of your ‘take home memories’ from this year’s Burning Man…?
“Ah man, the whole thing is just one unforgettably nutty experience.”
You have played a lot of gigs in America this year – has their ‘awakening’ to electronic music affected your sound in any way? Suddenly there is a new market on the radar…
“Not really, I think that the young people are just getting a little tired of the same old EDM that’s been shoved down their throats for 4 or 5 years, and they are just becoming more receptive to different sounds, which is great. I think America will really embrace the more underground scenes in time.”
A recent quote from a certain superstar DJ…“I believe true DJing is actually an art, but it’s a dying art, as everyone is pushing the sync button…it’s a real shame when you see a ‘DJ’ plug his laptop in and call this DJing. Music will always evolve but sometimes not in the best way.” What are your thoughts on that?
“I’m working harder and harder at my live sets and at the art of DJing because of exactly that reason. A lot of these young DJs couldn’t mix a drink, let alone a record! My manager always pushed me to check out DJs like Adam Beyer, Danny Tenaglia and Laurent Garnier and I’m so glad I did. These guys are the masters! They have been doing these epic long journey sets for years and they are truly keeping the art live. They inspired me to work harder at it, digging deeper for records which aren’t in the beatport charts and pushing myself to programme more thoughtful and intelligent sets that still have energy and flow. I played my first 6 hour set at Output in Brooklyn just last week; I want to push myself more and start playing longer and longer live. There will definitely never be a sync button at any gig you come to see of mine. Not now or ever! I’m now planning to go for an 8-10 hour set somewhere. That will be a challenge!”
The big 5 records in your box this weekend…
Fehrplay – Ratatta
Hot since 82 – Sombody Everybody
Sailor & I – Turn Around (Amè Remix)
Maceo Plex – Conjure Superstar
Micahel Cassete – Disco Frisco
Okay gotta ask – what were you doing in the field in Norway last week – or were they just some very big windows?!?!?
“That’s actually taken from my girlfriend’s cabin in the mountains. I just put the studio table in the opening doors to the bedroom. A lot of inspiration that day!”
Two more gigs that have to get a mention from your crazy were in Bangalore in India – a country I know you adore, and also over in Kenya!! What were those two sessions like?
“Amazing! Kenya (pictured below), we didn’t know much what we were coming to, and everything from the production to the crowd blew us away! Def hope to be back there! Bangalore was amazing to. I’ve been to India before, so I knew what to expect, and it was just as good as before. People really go nuts to the music.”
An up and coming producer we should be checking out in 2015?
“Not really up and coming, but I really dig Grum! He’s had a killer year so far! Also the Dutch duo Disfunktion have been sending me some really great stuff!”
What is the record that…
…reminds you of your childhood?
Michael Jackson – Bad
…always get you dancing?
Junior Senior – Move Your Feet
…reminds you of being broken hearted?
Coldplay – Fix You
…you wish you would have made?
Røyksopp – Forever
You have had a monumental 2014 with your own releases, remixes and collabs. Let’s skip 12 months forward…what do you want to have achieved this time next year?
“My first live show (it’s in the developmental works stage). Also, the release of a lot tracks from my other pseudonym ‘Moffe’.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“My Remix of Deadmau5 “The Reward Is Cheese” is out later this month on Rising Music, plus loads of new original material following shortly after!”
