World exclusive with the man behind one of the biggest tunes of 2014
Interview by Dan Prince
Dude welcome to DMCWORLD…where on planet dance are you today?
“I‘m not on planet dance. I’m in my kitchen.”
It’s not often the guys in the Buzz Chart office go all misty eyed, but dude the Justin Martin remix of your immense ‘Stay’ did the trick! Let’s kick off with the original, please talk us through the history and sound of your massive track that has sent shockwaves around the world…
“The original track was born while driving home from a club one night. I was listening to Alicia Keys – Unthinkable (PHYSICAL THERAPY REAL HEAVY VIBE REMIX) and thought that it was such a good track that I should try play with the vocals and make something for myself. I found a DIY acapella on acapellas4u.co.uk and proceeded to make what in my mind was going to be “super poppy house”. After growing frustrated and hating everything I had done with the track I put it in the rubbish bin until my girlfriend convinced me to work on it some more. About a month later the track got to a point where I liked it and then I contacted Future Grooves to submit it for their first ever compilation. It did quite well and was a free download for over a year. The song blew up on Youtube while I was living in China and I started to get emails from people wanted to represent me. I ended up working with TUSK and they’ve been a great help getting me to where I am today.”
Well what a story you have. Born in Estonia, grew up in North Dakota, moved to Florida and then Shanghai. Today we know you as the DeNiro character from Taxi Driver Henry Krinkle, before that you were making beats for some 7 years on other projects, material you laboriously wiped from the internet when Krinkle came around. What can you tell us about the music you were making before this alias?
“Instead of telling you Dan, I’ll show you… https://archive.org/details/the_get_-_poptart
In the Primus ‘Mr Krinkle’ tune the lyrics go…
“Hey ho Mr. Krinkle have you heard the brand new sound
It’s a cross between Jimi Hendrix, Bocephus, Cher and James Brown”
…with that in mind, how would you describe your Henry Krinkle sound in 2014?
“I feel like I’ve recently been channeling whatever muse has been visiting Ten Walls. Overall, things will still be Lush Haus but there will be more techno creeping into things.”
How much of an influence did Aphex Twin have on your career/sound?
“Aphex Twin taught me that you can create anything you want sonically with a computer.”
35 million YouTube hits. What do your family think of that dude?
“I don’t think my family knows about the specific number of plays but my mom is proud of me for doing well and not being a degenerate.”
The full remix package of ‘Stay’ rolls out Justin Martin, Kölsch, Adesse Versions and Three Bar…why were these artists chosen to take on your pride and joy…and what were your initial thoughts on each of their productions?
“Justin Martin was a surprise but I’m so glad it happened because he has been one of my favorite remixers since I first heard his stuff. Three Bar was one of my personal choices as he is a great producer and we became friends online after he put his stuff out on Eton Messy’s youtube channel. The other two are meant to round out the overall package in order to maximize exposure in a variety of markets.”
Check the Justin Martin Remix here…https://soundcloud.com/i-d-online-1/premiere-henry-krinkle-stay-justin-martin-remix
The video is set in sun drenched Los Angeles and highlights the debilitating effects of a heat wave on different characters of Californjia suburbia. How much of an input did you have with director Jeppe Kolstrup?
“Almost none. He was trusted to do the best job he could and create his vision. I don’t much like it when people put their fingers in my work so I try afford the same respect to other creators of media regardless of how I feel about their work.”
The 5 big records in your box this weekend…
“I really like Joel Compass – Girlfriends (Pablo Nouvelle Remix) and everything Leon Vynehall has been doing this year. I’ve mostly been into my own productions at the moment though. When I am working on new music I tend to shut out the outside world for the most part.”
The Forbes DJ Rich List 2014. Discuss.
“I had to look this up, but I hope anyone earning that much has good accountants putting their money to work. I’ve never much cared about what other people are making but it’s good to see people getting paid in the industry that I’m a part of. I think there is a bit of an economic bubble around the EDM scene as a whole but this is based purely on conjecture. Perhaps the bubble will burst, perhaps it will gently deflate and perhaps there really isn’t a bubble and things will reach an equilibrium.”
Where have some of your stand out gigs been this summer?
“Some of the most fun has been playing the Do Lab stage at Coachella. It was a nice daytime set with a large crowd and water jets. People were having a great time and that’s what I love to see.”
As a kid like so many of us you were obsessed with video games, indeed you still sample some of them for your music. What were the games back in the day that had you hooked?
“I’m still obsessed with games and hope to one day help work on them. Some of the most memorable games from my childhood and onwards include (in no particular order) Tribes 2, SimCity 2000, Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Pokemon Yellow, Banjo-Kazooie, Street Fighter II Turbo, Goldeneye, Resident Evil 4, Elder Scrolls IV, Fallout 3.”
True of false : you have never owned a record player?
“I have never owned a record player but my father did which I used to listen to records on occasion. I’m waiting until I can afford to invest in a vinyl collection because I predict that once I start buying records it could easily get out of hand.”
A quote from you : “It’s important to stand out as a DJ and not sound like someone just playing the top 40 Beatport or Billboard charts.” How does Henry Krinkle stand out from the rest whilst DJing?
“Putting in some effort when curating a playlist makes a huge difference. Also by trying to make some moments in the set that tell a story whether it be by great track selection of manipulating and effecting loops and potions of songs. I have to say that there are still far greater depths to be plumbed as a DJ and live performer.”
Paris Hilton earning $200,000 a pop at Amnesia in Ibiza. Has the world gone crazy?
“Human beings love celebrity and love making money so I think this is a very un-crazy manifestation of these facts. I also think there is enough room in the world for Paris Hilton to DJ with the rest of us and if people are willing to pay then the holy ghost of capitalism will make it so.”
Who are some of the producers from around the world you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“I’m giving metaphysical high-fives to Honest, Pham, Pablo Nouvelle, Moon Bounce, Conrank and Secret Hideout.”
So we come back to the Krinkle Crib after the club…who are some of the artists you play us to mellow the vibe?
“I usually let someone else play the role of selector at that point. Sometimes I just don’t want to hear anymore music. I do like some Samba and Bossa Nova quietly playing in the background though.”
What was the most important lesson you learnt whilst living in China?
“That seeing what makes us different from each other really emphasizes what we all have in common.”
And finally, what is coming out next from the mighty Krinkle studio…?
“It’s looking like an arboreal themed EP. I have two original tracks more or less done now and I am hard at work on more.”
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https://www.facebook.com/henrykrinklemusic
http://soundcloud.com/henry-krinkle
