Doing it for the sake of the music. Exclusive interview
Interview with Dan Prince and all photography Nadine Fraczkowski
Roman welcome to DMCWORLD…where in the world are you today?
“I’m currently upon the Atlantic Ocean on my way from Frankfurt to Boston.”
When we had our weekly editorial meeting at DMC, The Buzz Chart crew were adamant we spoke to you this week. Flying high with the C.A.R remix and also ‘Wilkie’ smashing in – both on the back of your new ‘Happiness is Happening’ album released last month. Let’s kick off with your own tune, please talk us through the sound and history of the track…
“‘Wilkie’ is actually one of my favourite tracks of the new album. It’s a bizarre mixture, something like Italo House meets David Bowie’s ‘Nightclubbing’. When I created the song I wanted it to be beautiful but desperate at the same time. My general idea of the album was to create something that feels like it has fallen out of time, which means I didn’t want to serve any kind of trend.”
Your reworking of ‘Idle Eyes’ is nothing short of brilliant! What is your approach when taking on a new remix…some producers get rid of everything but the vocal, some find it important for their ‘sound’ to be prevalent on the finished article…surely there has to be a connection for you to take it on in the first place?
“Thank you! I got quite inspired by the original vocals. I felt a certain kind of coldness and distance in Chloe’s way of singing and suddenly I had pictures of the opening scene of ‘Blade Runner’ in my head… that combination led me to a music of constant and subtle tension. But a tiny melody in the refrain gives it a lighter feel I suppose.”
You claim that the new album is pretty different to what people would consider a classic ‘Dial’ album. In what way, I know you think the long player is “more weird”…!?!
“Well, I’d consider Lawrence’s ‘Absent Of Blight’ or the first Pantha De Prince album along with John Roberts work classic ‘Dial’ albums. And I see quite a difference to these. In some areas ‘Happiness Is Happening’ is probably more connected to Krautrock or 80’s Electro Pop than the heritage of House and Techno. That combined with my never ending interest for club music gives the album it’s weirdness hopefully.”
In general, have you been happy with the album’s reception, reviews such as “melancholic techno perfection” cannot hurt?
“It’s always interesting to read what people actually think of your work. Finally there are Journalists and Critics who take their time trying to analyse and find the right words for what they think you’re doing and I’m thankful for that. Even though I don’t get everything that’s been written.”
You are about to travel to America to concentrate on the album promotion, this country has turned dance music on it’s head these past couple of years! Whilst talking about the explosion of EDM in America back In 2012 you said… “I like to compare some of the EDM stuff with these big-hair bands, like Motley Crue, Wasp, or Poison, who became super-successful in the ’80s. The effect they had on the audience was incredible—they sold huge amount of records but their musical heritage is rather small.” A brilliant quote! What are your thoughts on the US as you embark on a new tour?
“First of all I’m always grateful to have the chance to come over and play. Secondly I think despite the big role that EDM is still playing there’s a lot more people who are interested in other forms of electronic music compared to a few years ago and additionally the US seems to have a far more vital club scene at the moment. I still don’t get the big room – stadium – super commercial side that EDM stands for but it does not play an important role for me at the same time. Plus, it seems to be very entertaining for it’s fans what definitely gives it a justification.”
The last time you embarked on a US tour was last summer when you hit the likes of Seattle, San Fran, Los Angeles and New York. What can you tell us about the dates this time around…the same big cities or are you trying to spread your wings to more corners of the country?
“This time it’s more the usual suspects again like New York, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, LA and Miami. When I played last year I got really surprised by a roof top fiesta in Phoenix or an unexpected backyard after party in Denver. I hardly played in the south yet.”
What cities do you always love returning to, whose fans always receive you the best?
“Of course it’s always feels good to be back in New York. Not only for the Party but the impressiveness of the city itself. In general it is great to be invited again and get to know people better. I made friends in some of the cities I played and a few of them already came over to visit me in Germany. Great Party’s in many cases are a combination of promoters who are able to establish their own night by booking interesting artists and an interesting and enthusiastic crowd. I had this at the Pickle in Miami for example when I played for SAFE.”
I read something somewhere a while back where you were saying the sizes of the DJ fees in the States (especially Las Vegas) staggered you. America taking things to the next level was always inevitable though surely?
“The modern Entertainment Industry is an American invention and I guess Las Vegas stands for it as a synonym. To think big is part of that concept and I don’t blame anyone to do so. Many people seem to enjoy what they experience there and are willing to spend a lot of money for this. And if the DJ is able to deliver in that context he can expect some money, too. Maybe my European background made it difficult in the beginning to understand what is happening in certain places like Vegas or Miami but since similar concepts are successfully established even in Ibiza for example. I see it more as an global phenomenon that triggers the interest of certain people and not nationalities.”
The best and worst thing about touring the States?
“Best thing is to visit incredible cities and to meet great people. Worst part is the travelling. Your country is just too big…”
Okay let’s rewind for a moment. We owe a gratitude of debt to Mr Morgan Khan and his Street Sounds series from back in the 80s for the birth of your musical journey. Tracks such as ‘Can You Feel It’, ‘Phuture’, ‘A Day In The Life of’ and ‘Like This’ were responsible for first pointing you down dance music avenue after your brother gave you a copy for Christmas. Can you remember the first play…?
“It was obviously life changing. The music sounded different to anything I knew and it’s groove, simplicity and roughness created a new musical culture.”
True or false : You used to have allnight house parties at Ricardo Villalobos’s house in the 90s whilst his parents watched TV upstairs and finished the parties by drinking tea in the garden listening to his father’s latin collection?
“That is actually true. ”
You admittedly enjoy listening to a wide range of music from electronic, jazz, classical, pop and even Indian tantric. With that in mind, if we swung by yours on a lazy summer Sunday afternoon, what would be the Roman Flügel Back To Mine 10 you’d spin us to mellow the vibe…
- 1.Windy & Carl – The Sun
- 2.Victime de la société – Telex
- 3.Skip Glider – Global Goon
- 4.Pineapple – Jah Wobble
- 5.Frost Flowers (Original Mix) – Queens
- 6.Studio 22 – Dune
- 7.With One Another (with Benedikt Frey, feat. Nadia D’Alò) – Massimo Pagliara
- 8.Brigas Nunca Mais – Joao Gilberto
- 9.Dance Away – Roxy Music
- 10. Prelude No. 10 in B Minor, BWV 855 – Johann Sebastian Bach
The Japanese react differently to the music, perhaps listen closer to it.” Discuss.
“I had that feeling when I visited Japan fort he first time more than 10 years ago. I’m not to sure if it’s still the same since everything in this world seems to become more equal due to the internet. Even the way to party and reacting to music. Back than I played in smaller venues that hardly had any lightning but usually a great soundsystem. I saw many people getting lost in sound swinging on the dancefloor with their eyes closed. ”
What was your tune from the summer…
“Prosecco (Barnt Remix) – C.P.I. (Hivern).”
You have been zipping all around Europe DJing these last few weeks; Paris, London, Rotterdam, Munich and Brussels all receiving the Flügel treatment. Where has really rocked?
“Even if it sounds fond I had a great time everywhere. But playing a back to back set with John Talabot in Lyon was truely exceptional. ”
What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend…
1. Subconcious – Erol Alkan
2. Idle Eyes (Roman Flügel Remix) – C.A.R.
3. Insides – Fort Romeau
4. BYO (Jimpster Emix ) – Detroit Swindle
5. Not Stochastic – Bruce
And finally, a moment when you were talking about the art of DJing : “When you become cynical, that’s the end of it. That’s the point where you should probably look for another job.” Have you ever had that feeling whilst spinning?
“I might have had that feeling but I won’t let it take over. Even though things are not perfect all the time I still know why I’m doing this and that’s for the sake of the music. ”
