The incredible Paso label boss demands we “Let Me Go”. What an EP
German producer Marc Miroir is the main man behind the Paso label – an imprint that’s fostered works from some of his country’s most beloved house and techno stars over the past few years. He’s also a DJ of some repute, and on the eve of his next EP just dropping (the fabulous ‘Let Me Go’, a collaboration with Elif Bicer), we thought it high-time we get the lowdown on his residencies, life in Berlin – and a label that’s still going strong after all this time…
Interview by Rob Chadwick
Hi Marc welcome to DMCWORLD. So let’s begin back in the day, how did you first get into electronic music and why did you like it so much?
“Hi Rob. Well, I was born in a small town in Bavaria. When I was 18 years old we went to Club Airport where I´m still resident DJ. It was in 1993 and they played techno! It was completely new for me and my friends…before we were into hip hop and rap from the likes of Public Enemy and Cypress Hill. After our first visit to Airport, me and all of my friends were infected by techno and house till now.”
Are you a trained musician then? Or how did you pick it all up?
“No. I started 1990 with deejaying. I played Hip Hop and learned the DJ skills like scratching, cutting and of course mixing. In 1993 I switched to electronic music. There was no need to have an education as a musician!”
What sort of music do you listen to when you need to chill out?
“When I need to chill out I don´t need music. I go to the gym or go for a walk with my dog. That´s my relaxing.”
Aside from house and techno, are you influenced by the likes of rock and pop etc?
“Sure I´m influenced by 80s pop from the likes of ABC or Massive Attack. But to be honest, today I get my inspiration from my gigs around the world, from the people, the crowd and the clubs.”
Do you find it strange when some DJs and producers only listen to house and techno?
“No! To each his own.”
How do you prepare for a day in the studio? Do you generally stay in the studio for most of the day?
“My studio partners are Asem Shama or Ronald Christoph. I prepare myself by searching sounds and cutting samples at home in Ableton Live. I make some recordings in the subway or anywhere else or take some vocals. Sometimes when I go to the studio I have no idea, sometimes I already have a master plan.”
Are you still as motivated right now to make music as you’ve ever been?
“Yes, more than ever. Running Paso by myself gives me more freedom and space for my decisions. So I can do what I want. Deejaying is still exciting like on the first day…”
How important was growing up in Berlin to your success?
“I´ve been living in Berlin for 8 years. Moving to Berlin gave me and my career a huge push. You get so much of inspiration by the possibility to hear the best DJs of the world everyday. Here are lots of colleagues and the exchange is huge. Here I´m having much more possibilities to play for an international crowd than in a small town.”
As a DJ, how do you define your role then? To amaze? To educate?
“Both of it. On the one hand I´m an entertainer. It´s my job to spread a good mood and to ensure that people are having fun. On the other hand I have my own style and would like to represent my special kind of music. That´s my task to combine both sides.”
Can you tell us about working with Elif Bicer? How did you first hear about her?
“I knew Elif Biçer since her times at Berghain and from her productions with Ben Klock, Prosumer and Steffi. I love her voice. So I asked her and she was up for that. I was inspired from my party Members and from Elif herself. Ronald Christoph and me wrote the music and after that we invited Elif into our studio. We had a lot of fun together and this is the result.”
Did it take a while to confirm the collaboration then? I gather she’s very in-demand as a vocalist?
“No. She knows me as a DJ and likes my music. So it took 1 second to get the “YES”!!”
Why do you think DJs almost have to produce these days to get heard? Were you a DJ or a producer first?
“In the first place I was and I still am a DJ. Producing delivers fun and I love it. Today you have to have some good releases to get booked internationally. So people know you from Beatport and if they like what you do they come to your gigs.”
How would you best describe your style and sound? Does your latest EP signal a ‘new’ Marc Miroir vibe?
“No. My first vocal song was released in 2005 on Huntemann´s Confused label. From time to time I´m in the mood for producing something with vocals. As a DJ I like playing good vocal tracks too. In February there will be my next release on Enough! Music with a strong Valentino Kanzyani remix. This is again a typical Miroir release.”
Can you tell me a bit about Paso then? What’s the history behind it? And what does it stand for in your eyes?
“I started in 2004 together with some friends (Sebrok, Micha Klang and Jo Spallek). The intention was to release our own music and the music we like. This is still my philosophy. Now I´m running the label by myself. Micha is doing his own label and Sebrok and Jo are not into the music bizz anymore. The ethos is to release good music which I love to play in my sets. I prefer releasing music of friends and colleagues I know and appreciate.”
What are your gigging plans for the winter? Many cool gigs lined up? Will you be back in the studio again?
“I´m on tour of course for the Paso 10th Birthday Music anniversary. There will be tour stops in cities like Warsaw, London, Leipzig, Würzburg and of course Berlin. I hope there will be time for some studio sessions. I just finished a new song with Hard Ton and a new techno track. Now I´m searching for a label to release it. The Paso release plan is full till June!”
What else is exciting you about modern electronic music? What producers and labels are you keeping an eye out for?
“Berlin´s club life is still exciting. Night by night. I´m running a monthly party in Berlin at Kosmonaut Club where I invite artists who I appreciate like Rework, Dana Ruh, Martin Landsky, Tom Clark or DJ Cle. We are running the party in London as well. It´s called Members. When we are talking about labels I like Novel Sounds, Rush Hour, Visionquest, La Pena, Bass Culture, Artless or Phoenix G.”
What more can we look forward from you soon?
“’Let Me Go’ feat. Elif Biçer is coming out on December 1st. In February there will be my next release on Enough! Music with a strong Valentino Kanzyani remix and in March there will be the remixes of ‘Let Me Go’ by Luke Hess, Deadbeat and Leo Cubanero. Be prepared for a hot 2015!
Finally, if you were stuck on a desert island, who would you bring, and what album would you bring with you and why?
“I would bring Chuck Norris, so it would be no problem to escape…hahaha. And I would bring a vinyl double album with a double cover. So it can protect me from the sun!”
Marc Miroir’s new EP, Let Me Go (Ft. Elif Bicer) is out now on Paso Music
