The head of the Inside Out label live and direct
Interview by Ian Fleming
Stevie R aka Stavros Potamitis, is a respected DJ and producer with credits on labels such as Motek, Dialtone and OFF. He’s also the head of the Inside Out label, a label that’s devilishly diverse but tends to focus its energies around the house game. Stevie’s recent work has seen him side up alongside Matt Hardinge for Measuring the Universe, a cracking release that sums up all that’s great about his sound. We put some questions to him recently, and here’s what he had to say for himself…
Music apart, what’s been keeping you on your toes recently?
Fortunately or unfortunately music keeps me occupied almost 24/7. On my very limited free time I enjoy cynical literature. Right now I am about to finish “MEMORIA DE MIS PUTAS TRISTES” from Gábriel García Marquez who is one of my favorites. I never found reading relaxing but actually find it quite an intense activity, and one which inspires me and expands my mind.
And musically, what’s keeping you excited right now then?
Being a long time progressive rock head, a love that I inherited from my father, I can’t really say that I have found a bigger excitement for my ears still. After a long day I still play my King Crimson vinyls and be a happy man.
How do you think the past 10 years will be looked back on in 20 years time? A good time for music?
I know many people would argue with this but I would say yes. Even if it is a common belief that music nowadays is a rehash of older ideas, my opinion is that there are certain bands and producers, quite a few actually, who have managed to take the best out of the “old world” and incorporate it in innovative hybrid forms pushing the boundaries of inventing new music styles and sound textures. If I had to name this era, it would be ‘Re-inventing Sound’.
So is most of your day music related then? Is music a full-time thing for you?
All I can say is that for me music related work starts when I wake up and finishes when I go to bed (laughs). On a more serious note, yes, I am a full time sound engineer, producer, sound designer and composer.
And what DJs, producers and labels influenced you to make music in the first place?
Initially my interest was aroused in a very early age when I was studying the guitar and looking up to my favorite bands, guys like King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Weather Report, Jaco Pastorius The Doors, Genesis to name a few. However, if it wasn’t for Kraftwerk I would be possibly be answering this interview to a rock magazine (laughs). I recall when I firstly listened to “The Man Machine”. This was a revelation to me and definitely the time when I realized I wanted to be involved in this distorted and scape free world of electronic music. After that point my influences derived from various directions; labels like Warp Records, Ninja Tunes, Innervisions, Pampa and Hotflush played a major role in my sound.
So lets chat about the UK – how much of an influence has it had on you as a person and as a musician?
Given my Mediterranean background, the UK has had a massive impact on my personality, a fact that is inevitably mirrored in my music. The underground bars of East London, the art culture hidden in every backstreet, the walk of shame on a Sunday morning by Regents canal and this ‘sin city’ itself revealed and unlocked a creative dark part of myself.
And why do you think the country has developed so many great electronic music musicians over the years?
I think to answer this question satisfyingly we should consider the British music culture and innovation since the Beatles if not earlier. Electronic or not, music is the expression of thoughts through sounds. UK is a special breed where people proved to be extremely capable of externalizing their political and social views through art. The fact that this society was challenged by many wars and politically overwhelming and suppressing periods definitely reinforced the need of common people to be heard. I think the fact that the weather is that horrible possibly helped (laughs).
How conductive is it as a place to write music?
Considering the aforementioned answers, it is a very conductive place for an artist’s creativity. However, there are times that saturation knocks one’s door and the need of escaping for a while becomes essential. Personally, I find my inner piece in isolated islands where ambulance sirens are not my everyday soundtrack.
So your latest release is out on Inside Out. Can you talk us through it a bit? What was the general vibe you were going for with it?
(laughs) This is actually an isolated island’s work. The period where ‘Measuring The Universe’ was conceived was an especially dark for me where Gorrilaz, Tangerine Dreams and Burial were the sounds putting me to bed every night. I can say that working with Matt, with whom we share a lot of common inner values and thoughts was an important factor for this to happen. We tried quite a few songwriters after the instrumental was there, but Shawni was the only one that managed to capture the feeling of this work. I feel especially close to this record cause it holds a piece of me and I can say I am very lucky to have all these amazingly talented people to be a part of this record.
Have you a longstanding relationship with the label and can you tell us a bit about it?
Inside Out Records is my child. I founded the label about three years ago with Alex Zed and Ted Alexander. Inside Out was the materialization of our dream for an ideal label. A label about innovative art, which brings talented people from different cultures together with utter goal to offer unique sounds to those thirsty for it. I think we are getting closer to the dream every day and I have to thank our amazing team for that. James Huyton our drawer/art designer, Ioannis Giannousis our video director, Ian Mckenzie our A&R and Leon Shepherd our booking manager.
So what does it mean to you to have your music signed to a label like Inside Out?
Standing by one’s child is what every decent parent would do (laughs). I am very proud of the so far achievements and integrity of the label and I will always be putting my best records there.
Do you have a favourite Inside Out release from over the years? And if so, why?
I love all the releases J If I had to choose I would go for “Lost Little Girl” which means a lot to me and will always have a special place in my heart.
And do you plan to kick on from here again? What else have you got lined up for the rest of the year?
There are quite a few things coming. There is a record on Robert Babicz’s ‘Babiczstyle’ with Kosmas, two records with my good friend Namito, a record on Motek Music with Matt Hardinge and the amazing vocals of Wayne Tennant and some secrets I ll leave for later. Furthermore, quite a few analog sample packs on Cr2 Records and potentially some film scoring. Busy busy J
Do you think house and techno will always remain popular? Do you ever worry that it’ll become seriously niche again?
Nothing remains popular forever. I do not worry at all as music for me is a journey regardless genres and I will enjoy it wherever it takes me.
Electronic music aside, what else do you listen to in your spare time?
As mentioned above I don’t really listen to electronic music at my spare time. Aphrodite’s Child, King Crimson. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan is what plays on my turntable when its not work related. Plus my fiancé hates house and techno music so… (laughs)
What 5 tracks are you pulling out of your bag a lot at the moment?
• MEK – Firmitudo (Original Mix)
• Namito & DJQ – Ride The Flow (Original Mix)
• Robert Babicz – Bassporn (Original Mix)
• Kosmas, Stevie R – Skion Efialtis (Original Mix)
• Roland Appel – Zeus (Original Mix)
Stevie R & Matt Hardinge’s Measuring the Universe is out soon on Inside Out Records
