Tangle

‘I Believe’ – huge new uplifting Vandit trance track from the Denver producer going right to the top

Interview by DJ Cola


Welcome to DMCWORLD Tangle!  Where in the world are you and what are doing?  I want to talk about the busy summer you just had!  Tell us all about it.  What were the highlights…

“Hi there, thanks so much for having me!  Right now I’m actually at home in Denver, Colorado in the U.S. and working on some new music.  Yeah this summer was definitely one of the most eventful of my career with three shows in Ibiza last month, my debut in Los Angeles at Exchange LA and an awesome show at one of my favorite venues in the country, Somewhere Loud in San Diego, CA.  It was my first time in Ibiza so was just incredible to see the island and really feel the atmosphere you hear so much about from artists and fans alike.  It was just as iconic as I had imagined, so really enjoyed myself.  The main highlight of the summer would have to be playing the legendary Es Paradis for Judgement Fridays closing out the night after Judge Jules.  Definitely an experience I will never forget!”    

So you are on Paul Van Dyk’s label with a track called “I Believe”.  Describe what this track is all about and how did it get on Vandit?

“Yes, “I Believe” was released a few weeks ago on Vandit.  The main idea behind the track was to create an uplifting track with plenty of energy with a nice lead melody, but also to try to simplify my production process a bit.  Everyone says “less is more” especially when speaking of music, so I really wanted to challenge myself to not overcrowd the mix and keep it as “pure” and uplifting as possible.  “I Believe” is actually my fourth track on Vandit over the past year.  I originally hooked up with Paul van Dyk and his team when I sent in a collaboration with UK producer Tristan D called “Vertigo”.  Paul loved it, and it ended up being one of the most successful tracks of the year for the label.  After “Vertigo” I signed a two track uplifting/Tech Trance EP entitled “Aquarius/Radiate”, which also did very well, so “I Believe” was really meant as a follow up to that release.  It’s always a pleasure to work with the Vandit team as their professionalism, communication and support for their artists is some of the best in the business.”

Let’s get down to your label, Tangled Audio.  Four tracks are in the top 100 on Trackitdown!  Currently –  Ally Brown Remix of Memory Loss’ ‘Radiant Moon’ at #5, Tangle – Leviathan at #7, DJ Carl Nicholson – Electric at #10 and Bluskay & Keyplayer – Giza at #60.  Okay, three of those are in the top 10!  Give us a few words on your newest releases :  Johann Stone’s “Newfound Power”, Cloudriver “On My Way/Sunflower”, Matt Eray, ARS and “Uplifting Sampler” Volume 1 with Bilal El Aly and Aquilae.

“Yeah we’ve been very fortunate with the success of Tangled Audio especially considering how new it is.  We’ve had a few Armin van Buuren plays on ASOT, multiple tracks charting on Beatport and, as you said, we’ve been doing very well on Trackitdown.  Most recently both tracks off of Matt Eray’s new EP “Pistol Star/Fictive Five” were supported on Future Sound Of Egypt by Aly & Fila last week which is a huge accomplishment.  Really I just feel lucky to work with such talented artists.  When I started the label, my ultimate goal was to not only gain exposure for new and upcoming artists, but to also release music from already established artists.  I think we’ve struck a great balance between the two and things just keep getting better and better for us.”  

You also made a track for your wife called Kimberly, which is climbing up the Beatport charts faster than a spider monkey on an extension ladder!  DJs John O’Callaghan, and  Richard Durand charted it in their top 10.  I would like to know the whole sentimental story behind this track.  Are you going to pull a Robin Thicke and make an entire album dedicated to your wife like he did with “Paula”?

“Yes, I did!  “Kimberly” was released on Sean Tyas’ Tytanium Recordings, a sub-label of Black Hole, and did very well in the Beatport Trance charts.  I really wanted to dedicate this particular track to my wife because when I was writing it the emotionality of the lead melody really captured the love and respect I have for her.  She has been the most consistently supportive person in my life, and “Kimberly” was kind of my way of saying thank you.  Honestly dedicating an album to my wife seems like a “no-brainer” thing to do when I do decide to write one.  Really everything that comes out of my studio is dedicated to her, so the huge achievement of finishing a whole album would be no different!”  

What is the relationship between Tangled Audio and Alter Ego Records?

“Tangled Audio is a sub-label of Alter Ego Records.  When I originally had the idea for Tangled, I approached Luigi Palagno, co-owner and main man of Alter Ego, with the idea of running my own “138/140bpm” label under the Alter Ego umbrella.  I noticed they didn’t have a dedicated label to the faster, harder and more energetic side of Trance so I saw an opening to capitalize on the current resurgence of faster BPM Tech, Uplifting and Psy.  I couldn’t do what I do without Luigi and Alter Ego…he takes care of our promotions, he uploads our releases to Labelworx so it reaches the artists, he puts up the Youtube videos and much more.  Basically Luigi and Alter Ego are the backbone of Tangled Audio which allows me to focus my time on scouting new talent and signing bangin’ tracks!”

What the heck is this new house and techno venture you have called Kyfu?!  Your fridge must be full of redbull to keep up with so many different projects!

“Haha, I actually suffered from a mild Red Bull addiction for a while so none for me thanks!  I have always loved all genres of Electronic Music, especially Deep, Techy House and Techno.  I was actually playing Techno at local shows before my first Trance release so it’s always been a part of my identity.  Recently I had the revelation that I needed to cut down on the amount of Trance I was releasing under my Tangle alias as to not oversaturate myself.  If you look at my Discography it’s pretty insane the amount of music that was coming out all at once.  So I decided to limit the number of Trance releases, and focus on the quality of each one rather than quantity, that I would pursue a new project…something fun, different and exciting.  As I’ve said I have always loved playing House and Techno live, so I decided to revitalize my Kyfu alias and have been putting a lot of time in the studio working on melodic Deep House, groovy Tech House and Techno.  So far I’ve worked with some of the bigger Techno labels and received some amazing support, so I’m excited to see how far Kyfu and I can go!” 

So a little about production.  Do you use synthesizers?  Do you own a Nord?  I also heard a rumor you learned how to make tracks by studying dance music all day long like a religious monk in a trance-like state…sorry about the pun, but do tell us what your process is like and any tips on what you use unless it’s a trade secret!

“I do not own a Nord or any other outboard synthesizers.  All of my synth work is done via VSTs within Logic with a simple M-Audio MIDI keyboard connected.  I was never musically trained so I don’t really record my melodies live often.  I’m a big fan of the pencil tool in Logic when it comes to melody and I only really use my MIDI keyboard to find a scale or a simple chord progression in the beginning stages of a new track.  I guess my point is you won’t hear me playing live piano at one of my show anytime soon!  Contrary to popular belief, I did not learn to produce by doing anything in a monk like state.  I actually went to school in London at Point Blank Music College.  When I first went to learn how to DJ I didn’t even know how to put a needle on a record, but their program greatly decreased the time it took me to learn what I needed to to attempt to make a career from my music.  As for my production process, I use a few awesome software synthesizers for the majority of my sounds.  Primarily I use Sylenth, Zebra, Massive, Nexus and a lot of the Native Instruments products in their Komplete software bundle.  I am also a big fan of my Fabfilter plugins, WAVES plugins, Arts Acoustic Reverb and a lot of the plugins that come with Logic 9.  Of course I have quite a few sample packs that are great for inspiration when I get stuck on a track or just need to spice things up a bit in a mix.”

Other than on your label, who’s music and releases really impress you?

“Honestly there are so many amazing artists out there right now it will be hard to narrow it down to just a few.  Some of my favorite artists that are consistently releasing quality tracks would be Vlind, Magnus, Sam Jones, Harmonic Rush, Standerwick, Touchstone, Vertical Mode, Sonic Species, Burn In Noise and many more.  Label wise I would say Perfecto Fluoro, Mental Asylum, VANDIT, Future Sound Of Egypt, Borderline, Damaged, Pharmacy, Digital Om, Ovnimoon, Alchemy and Monster Tunes are all consistently putting out quality material.”

How long have you been on afterhours.fm and how often do you play there?  What is your favorite thing about being on internet radio?

“I have a monthly show on AH.FM that airs every 2nd Monday of the month.  I’m coming up on my 14th episode, so I’ve been running my show for a year and two months.  I really enjoy being on AH.FM…in my opinion it’s definitely the best Trance radio station in the world, so it’s an honor to be a part of it.  My favorite part is definitely the audience interaction.  It’s great to be able to put a mix out there and be able to chat with your listeners as they are hearing it for the first time, there really isn’t anything better than having someone tell you that you made their day because they enjoyed your show.” 

Who is Tangle and Mateuz?

“My first Trance releases were collaborations under that duo name.  We worked together for almost three years before we decided to part ways.  We had some great success including two top 10 Trance tracks on Beatport, remixes for Heatbeat and Corderoy, releases on Lange Recordings, Armada and High Contrast Recordings.  Simply it was my first Trance project and a lot of the reason I was able to gain success quickly with my solo career after the duo was broken up.” 

Didn’t you play in Las Vegas?  Give us a list of all the impressive places you’ve played at.

“I did indeed play at Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas in 2012.  I was one of the winners of Insomniac’s Discovery Project and was fortunate enough to play to an amazing crowd for what is still my favorite show to date.  I’ve played a few exciting places both within the U.S. and internationally, including Malaysia, Ibiza, London, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, New Mexico, Wyoming and of course all over my hometown of Denver.  I think that’s all of them!”

What are you top 10 favorite tracks of all time?

“Really difficult question, but I’ll do my best!  In no particular order…”

1.  System F – Out Of The Blue (Original Mix)

2.  Alphazone – Flashback (Original Mix)

3.  Marc Aurel – The Sun (Dominator Remix)

4.  Sean Tyas – Mirella (Original Mix)

5.  O’Callaghan & Kearney – Exactly (Original Mix)

6.  Lange vs. Gareth Emery – Another You, Another Me (Original Mix)

7.  Rank 1 vs. Jochen Miller – And Then… (Original Mix)

8.  Menno De Jong – Tundra (Fierce Dub)

9.  Dennis Sheperd & Cold Blue – Freefalling (Cold Blue Mix)

10. Sun Decade – I’m Alone (Ronski Speed Vocal Mix)

Bonus Track:  Carlos – The Silmarillia (Original Mix)

Who has been the most inspirational and influential person in your life?

“Musically Sean Tyas would have to be the most influential person.  When I decided to dedicate my life to this music and this lifestyle I was older than a lot of people who decide to make a career in the music industry were/are, so I remember reading about how Tyas had gone from a bedroom DJ to a Trance icon in just six  years and that was what made me commit to moving to England to start from scratch and learn to be a DJ/Producer.  Personally my biggest inspiration is definitely my wife Kimberly.  We met through the music scene and her passion for Electronic Music is infectious and her support has never wavered.  I wouldn’t be where I am today without her and am thankful for that every day.”

What’s the coolest event you’ve played at in your opinion?

“Well the most fun set I played was at EDC Vegas, but the coolest would have to be in Penang, Malaysia.  The venue was at the end of a pier with an opening in the back wall so you could see outside over the water from the DJ booth.  The crowd was amazing and it was definitely awesome to experience the culture there.  Everyone was so kind, considerate and passionate about the music.  Was definitely a refreshing show!”

Did DJ-ing or Production come first for you?

“They pretty much came together as a package.  Technically I learned to DJ first, but after my three month course I went directly into Point Blank’s full Music Producion/Sound Engineering class.  I knew going in to the experience that I would need to be both a DJ/Producer to make a career for myself, so they were always linked in my mind.”

What are the biggest 5 records in your box at the moment?

“That’s another difficult one, so much great music out at the moment…!”

1.  Vlind – Democracy (Original Mix) {Monster Force}

2.  Ally Brown & Rhys Thomas – Nitric (Darren Porter Remix) {Darker Depths}

3.  Eddie Biar – Chemical Spill (Original Mix) {VANDIT}

4.  Nicholson – Nitrous (Original Mix) {Tangled Audio}

5.  Sean Tyas – Unleash {Black Hole}

Tune of summer 2014?

“Johan Gielen – Physical Overdrive (Darren Porter Remix) {High Contrast}.”

What advice would you give to up and coming DJs/Promoters?

“I would say that perseverance is the #1 attribute needed to be successful in the music industry.  We are all faced with rejection, frustration, drama with others in the scene and countless other obstacles.  Without the ability to persevere through anything, you will have a hard time in this business.  I would also say that patience is absolutely essential.  Labels often take their time when responding to track submissions, so get used to waiting on pins and needles for that special email or you’ll drive yourself crazy.  And my last piece of advice, which I’ve learned myself the hard way, is don’t over-saturate the market with your music.  Quality over quantity should be every up and coming artist’s goal.  Take your time, make sure your music is up to the standard of where you want to release and then send your demo.  You can only make one first impression so make sure it’s the best one you can possibly make in relation to labels.  Other than that, work hard, don’t give up and stay away from the drama!!”

What can we look forward to from you in the future?

“Right now I have a hybrid Psy/Tech track called ‘Sahara’ forthcoming on Sean Tyas’ Tytanium Recordings, a Full-On Goa inspired Psy track signed to Activa’s Borderline Music and I just finished up an Uplifting remix for Andy Moor’s AVA Recordings.  Other than that I can’t say too much more, but I definitely have more exciting news and new tracks on the way.  Thank you very much for having me as a guest, I hope I provided some good insight into the world of Tangle!!”

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Stay informed on what Tangle is up to at :

http://www.facebook.com/deejaytangle

http://www.twitter.com/djtangle

http://www.soundcloud.com/djtangle

http://www.alteregorecords.com/

https://soundcloud.com/vanditrecords/tangle-i-believe

https://soundcloud.com/djtangle/tangle-kimberly-sample-tytanium-recordingsblack-hole

https://www.facebook.com/AfterhoursFM

http://afterhoursfm.rad.io/

 

Biography of author:

Evan Hundhausen received his MFA in creative writing from Naropa University in 2001.  He’s published poetry in “The Asheville Poetry Review” and has won awards in prose, screen and playwriting, journalism and poetry.  Currently he’s a freelance writer.  Visit his blog at http://www.djcola.net