Spanish prouducer on fire with his Dark Matters remix EPs
Welcome to DMCWORLD, a massive ‘Dark Matters’ remix package smashing The Buzz Chart this week with a huge set of names on it, talk us through this splendid release which is the warm up for the album…
“To be honest, I really didn’t expect this kind of support because I’ve only been producing for about two and half years (and ‘Dark Matters’ is my debut album). So you can image what it feels like to have such huge names helping out…Especially because the album has been a lot of hard work. It’s interesting that most of them decided to remix ‘Viclone’, which was actually my first track production for the album, but we’re also releasing some for ‘M1’ and ‘Mongolium.’ In fact, the response was so positive that we’ve had to split them into two separate EPs (with the album to follow towards the end of the year). I really couldn’t be happier with the results, and I look forward to collaborating with these guys in the future!”
You are based in Spain but went to school in America, what’s the story there?
“I was never really the type of kid anyone would want in their class… so my parents had to send me off to sci-fi type boarding school scenario which would set-the-record-straight…I guess learning English was the main thing, but when you go to boarding school I think language becomes quite secondary…All this happened in New England (where the leaves turn beautifully orange and red around Oct and Nov).”
You like so many of us, fell in love with clubbing and dance music at Groovejet in Miami, what was it about this place that got you hooked?
“I can’t believe you were also at Groovejet! That’s really where everything started for me…I still remember how the subwoofer was bigger than the bar, or the outside crystal terrace, or how many of us were discovering this great music, at the same time, and with the same intensity…Groovejet will always remain quite a mythical club for me and my friends. Did you know that years later they reopened Groovejet in NY? Obviously not the same thing…”
Your career dates back when you were promoting and booking acts under SSS at the famed 19th Century Circulo de Bellas Artes Palace in downtown Madrid. Who were the DJs back then that inspired you with their techniques?
“As it turns out, when I started working at Static Sound System in Spain, one of the first people I booked was actually Luis Díaz, who was the resident DJ at Groovejet! Our resident back then was Dimitri (from Amsterdam), and anyone who saw him back then playing techno vinyl, would have to admit he was probably as good as it gets. Most of the guys we booked at Static were technically out-of-this-world. Not only Dimitry, but also people like Derrick May, Kevin Saunderson, Kenny Larkin or Der Ditter Raum, among many others. But one of the guys who’s technique I’ve always specially admired was John Digweed. Even though he doesn’t seem to play that sound anymore, I think he’s probably the best at creating long-progressive buildups.”
You once said that given complete free range, you’d love to include breaks, electro, Goa, dub, blues and even opera alongside your beloved techno and progressive. So, what are the sort of artists you listen to at home or in the
car chilling out?
“Unfortunately, I guess you don’t have much time to listen to other mixes when you have to work on your own productions, album, radio show, etc. So I miss listening to other mixes, because it’s not the same as skipping through promos. There’s a lot to learn from the way other people tell their story…But when I finally get down to it, I’m actually a huge blues fan (especially 30s and 40s). In fact, my very first track was actually a remix of a 1954 blues recording by Howlin’ Wolf. The production quality is not great, as it was my first production, but you have it on SoundCloud by the name of ‘BPM Blues.’ Similarly, right now I’m producing from Cuba because I’m trying to merge the traditional Cuban ‘Son’, which is closer to jazz than to salsa, with electronic. Not sure what will come out of this project, but I think it will be interesting… I also plan on coming back to the ‘bluetech’ concept at some point in the future.”
You spend a huge amount of time researching new music for your mixes, how many hours a day do you spend and is there any method to your research?
“I guess this goes in waves. I either dedicate all my time to my own production, or I download hundreds of tracks a time. I rather do it this way because I’m more concerned with tracks that pass the test of time, than with tracks that are new. I don’t agree with the idea that new tracks have any sort of advantage over older tracks, because new tracks can be deceiving. Just like some people, some tracks are very good at first impressions, but may lack the type of substance that create lasting friendships. Another thing I’m not very concerned with are labels. Because anyone now can have their own label (like me…), in theory you should be following like 27.000 labels. Because of the way electronic shops are set up, I rather search by genres.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“Again, my current top 10 would never include that many tracks from this year. I’m totally against this idea, I don’t think it makes any sense, and I think it’s very disrespectful to all those slammin’ tracks that didn’t happen to come out in the last couple of months…I wish the industry would slowly move away from this consumerist approach, because the alternative is to undermine the quality of charts and productions. Nevertheless, here is a list:
Cari Lekebush: Shaman
Alex Celler: Nyimphoz
DJ Royce: What Else Is Out There (Biorg Reinterpretations remix)
Maetrik: Fantastic Diversion
Elon: Jazzy Caravan (feat Oneboy)
Kramnik: Schirzo
Kramnik: Viclone (Hernan Cattaneo & Martín García Remix)
Frankee: One Brother Under the Water (Martinez Masteno Dub remix)
Jay Lumen: Bgroove (Pual Ritch remix)
Seismal: Somnambulist (D Diggler remix)
We all have skeletons rattling around in our closets. You though have a brilliant one, tell us about your bizarre appearance on stage with boy band Five!…
“Definitely not the highlight of my career…Well, this was before my DJ career, thank God! I was working at Sony BMG and touring around Spain with Five. But because these guys were extremely informal (didn’t even know each other before casting for the band), we only received 3 of them…Then one of them got sick (down to 2…) and then another one had to go home because of a family excuse. So we were left in Sevilla with just 1 out of 5 – in front of 3000 screaming monsters (as Lady Gaga likes to refer to them). To make a long story short, I had to go in front of all 3.000 and explain why 5 is different from 1…”
What is coming next from you studio wise, anything new coming from Kram Records?
“The next release is ‘Dark Matters’ Remixes Vol 1 (Sep 20), Vol 2 (Oct 20), and then my album in Nov. Vol 1 includes: Hernan Cattaneo & Martin Garcia, Ben Sims, Gabriel Ananda, Frano Bianco & Mike Mall. Vol 2: Timo Maas, Nick Warren, Hans Bouffmyhre and SQL. We really couldn’t be more excited about these releases (as you might expect!).”
What has been your summer anthem?
“Either Kramnik: ‘Mongolium’ or Hernan Cattaneo & Martin Garcia’s remix of ‘Viclone’ (in my ‘Dark Matters’ Remixes Vol 1).”
What are your thoughts on today’s laptop DJ?
“I’ve had tons of connection problems with Traktor in the past, so I’m very skeptical about laptops (technically). I think software can be more of a problem than a solution, even though it allows you to carry more tracks. In general, I think laptop Djing is ok, but only if it makes you better…”
What was the most important thing you learnt working for Sony BMG?
“I guess the main thing anyone learns at a big record label, besides the music, is the need for professionalism and dedication (as in any other job). In other words, what makes or breaks an artist is his or her ability to deliver professionally beyond the music. Good old work ethics!”
Who are the producers from around the world that you are giving high fives to at the moment?
“I guess I have to mention all of the producers remixing my ‘Dark Matters’ album: Ben Sims, Nick Warren, Timo Maas, Hernan Cattaneo & Martin Garcia, Gabriel Ananda, Hans Bouffmyhre, SQL, Franco Bianco & Mike Wall.”
What was the record that changed your life?
“No ONE record changes anyone’s life (except for ‘Strange Brew’ by Cream…).”
What is the club scene like in Madrid at the moment, where are the places and DJs doing it right now?
“Recently I’ve played at Taboo, which is quite a respected club in the underground scene. But the problem with Madrid is that people don’t know the difference between house and techno (which doesn’t help). You either have very big clubs, such as Space or Fabric, or very small clubs with half a mixer and/or one speaker (which helps even less).”
How important to you is your Invisible Radio Show – tell our readers about your very popular show…
“My radio show is quite experimental and not very reflective of what I play live. The target for a radio show is completely different from a club scene, so I don’t think we should compare these different formats for such different scenarios. Because a radio show is usually for just one listener, you have the privilege of experimenting with different approaches without being kicked out by the bouncers. But when you play live, the main goal (sometimes) is to make people dance. What I like a about the “Invisible Radio Show” is that is starts very slow and then pick up it’s speed. For example, the last show (7) starts at 120 and then goes all the way to 128. That’s quite a stretch (and quite an experiment)!”
‘Dark Matters’ is out now with remixes from Nick Warren, Ben Sims, Hernan Cattaneo, Gabriel Ananda, Timo Maas, SQL, Hans Bouffmyhre and Franco Bianco & Mike Wall. The album comes our way in November…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1Rq2hN3qCs&feature=plcp
http://www.kramnik.dj
http://www.myspace.com/Kramnik
http://www.twitter.com/KramnikDJ
http://www.youtube.com/Kramnikofficial
http://www.soundcloud.com/Kramnik
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