Patrice Bäumel occupies a highly distinctive and less-trodden niche in electronic music. He operates at the intersection of the emotive and the technical; his keen ear for melody and drama working in tandem with intricate sound design and experimental templates. While you could loosely label him as a ‘techno’ artist, his love of ambient, electronica and thereabouts are just as crucial to his musical identity as any sense of dancefloor machination might be. And that’s why he is absolutely perfect for the new Balance Presents album…
Interview by Dan Prince
A stalwart of the Amsterdam scene with residencies at the legendary Club 11 and Trouw, Patrice Bäumel has proved himself to be a formidable producer with releases on Kompakt, !K7, Get Physical, My Favorite Robot and Systematic as well as his acclaimed debut album Vapour. He has time and again proven his skill in crafting intricate, often conceptual mixes, frequently weaving in unusual field recordings, found sound and speech samples to add a hypnotic layer of otherworldliness to the proceedings. Here he joins the illustrious Balance Presents cannon, joining the likes of Guy J, Kölsch, Fur Coat and jozif in the series of one-disc mix compilations and following recent double-disc releases from the Australian curators by Magda and Stacey Pullen. We check in…
Hey Patrice a huge welcome back to DMCWORLD…where on this crazy planet of ours are you today – you are in the middle of the Balance World Tour right?
It has just started, yes. I am doing a pretty intense North America leg. It is a big continent with long flights and not much time to stop and smell the roses. Fortunately I am spending a few days with my wife in Miami and the sun is shining every day.
What is the best piece of music you have heard since rolling out of bed?
I love my silence in between gigs. But we have this amazing album by Arif Kindt on our car stereo at them moment, it’s called “Floods” and provides us with an otherworldly soundtrack while cruising through tropical Florida.
A really exciting start to 2016 for you dude with the release of your forthcoming ‘Balance Presents…’ compilation. These type of mix albums have been around for ever and most end up forgotten after a few weeks, after listening to your creation this sounds as though you wanted to put something out there that would stand the test of time?
It is always my ambition to make music that does not chase trends and that will still sound fresh years down the road. The Balance mix is no different. But I am well aware that in these times of total information overload, even the most brilliant music only has a short window of attention before it gets buried under the next wave of new arrivals.
The whole feel sounds very musical. How did you do your track selection that would represent you as an artist but at the same time showing off your trademark quirks and idiosyncrasies?
I mostly focussed on tracks that have been favourites of mine for a long time, tracks that I know I won’t fall out of love with and that I think are really outspoken and unique. That simple step of very personal curation ensures that this mix really sounds like me.
What was the first tune on the playlist you just HAD to have on there?
Guy J – Moderate. It’s one of the most important tracks of the mix and I let it run for nearly 20 minutes. There is something deeply satisfying about the sound of that bassy synth stab. It is organic yet abstract. It touches my soul.
Tell us some of the mix albums from over the years that have stood the test of time in your house?
Laurent Garnier’s Laboratoire mixes, Joris Voorn’s Balance mix and James Holden’s At The Controls mix are all time favourites.
What is the one thing you want the listener to remember/take away from your album?
There isn’t one message that can be expressed in words. I want the listeners to be able to attach the album to a certain memory in their lives, like being at that afterparty at home with friends where everything felt right, or that road trip. I want that the mix brings them back to that place whenever they listen to it again. Quality emotional music has the power to transport you in this way.
Another release we’re shouting about is the new Speicher on Kompakt Records…please talk us through the music…
For Speicher I always want to make proper dancefloor bombs. Sometimes I come home from a night of dancing and I want to recreate the feeling of that night in the studio straight away. “Dum Dum” was made right after a Maeve night at Marktkantine during ADE, where Baikal, The Drifter and Mano Le Tough were destroying the room. I made that track with these guys in mind. When quality dj’s like these three later end up supporting and playing the track then I feels like a two way connection. “Surge” was made in a few hours after another demo track had been rejected by the Kompakt guys. They are always super polite and will be like “it’s cool but maybe you can tweak it a little…”. Then I know it’s back to the drawing board. I needed something more decisive and just tried to find a really dominant sound. Once I struck gold the track made itself in a minute. I think it’s one of my favourites to date.
Okay let’s rewind for a moment. What is your earliest musical memory, your dad was a music journalist right?
As far as I can think back, there was music playing at the house. Good stuff, too. Velvet Underground, Rolling Stones, tons of weird free jazz – I think that really helped me develop a musical brain that would later help me move comfortably between genres.
At what age dance music first appear on your radar and how?
Dance music became relevant around the age of 9, when we had our first school dances. It was our first opportunity to get close to girls. The stuff that was really hot at the time was Modern Talking, A-Ha, Nena. Proper electronic music came much later, I must have been 17.
What was the first GREAT club and AMAZING DJ you saw growing up?
My first really mindblowing club experience was the Mayday rave in Berlin in 1993. I danced from start to finish, the energy was just unbelievable. Every act blew my mind. I was into gabber and hardcore at the time and the first dj that really blew my mind was DJ Gizmo, a really technical and energetic gabber dj. Many, many years later I met him in person when he ripped me off by selling me a broken Nordlead synth in a parking lot. Kind of a letdown for someone who was like a childhood hero to me, haha.
When did you start to think that a career in music was what you wanted?
When I was selected to participate in the Red Bull Music Academy in Sao Paulo in 2002. That’s what two weeks of exposure to likeminded music fanatic does to you. I knew that music was the only way forward from that moment out.
What did your family think?
They were always supportive of any of my life choices. I am lucky in the way that they trusted my judgement and let me do my thing without interfering in any way whatsoever.
2009 was obviously THE year of your track ‘Roar’ on Get Physical. Had you any idea on completion just how big the tracks was destined to be?
Not at all, it was just a dj tool I cooked up for myself in 10 minutes before a gig at Club 11. Little did I know…
What are the 5 big tunes in your box this weekend? Please give us a few words on each…
Recondite – Warg
I think it’s his best track since Cleric. Total drug music with the best snare drum I have heard in ages.
Stephan Bodzin – Wir
Somehow I had totally missed out on what I think is Bodzin’s best track ever. So much of today’s emo music sounds like sad, melodramatic crap if you really think about it, “Wir” on the other hand delivers emotion in such a sophisticated and authentic way, it blows me away.
Patrice Baumel – Surge
It is not often that I play my own productions – I’m usually sick of them by the time they get released. But I am really happy about “Surge”, it sounds really dominant and slays dancefloors everywhere.
Guy J – Bungalow
The groove of this track is simply incredible and the production details hit it out of the park. “Bungalow” is a sonic treat and a very classy record.
Dominik Eulberg – Der Tanz der Glühwürmchen (Rone Remix)
A classic that has crept back into my sets recently. Emotech of the highest order which I reserve for the late hours of my set to bring everybody back together after a stretch of more driving and mindbending records. Super reactions every time.
What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in your life and how did you overcome it?
The biggest mistake I have made repeatedly is to not do things, to not learn the piano as a kid, to not go to the gym, to waste years before following my passion to make music, to pass on opportunities out of laziness or fear. The only way forward is to pick yourself up and do something to break the passiveness. I have never regretted doing something and failing at it. You always learn and get stronger.
Which famous person would you most like to see play you in a film?
I would pick Wes Bentley. He is the video tape guy from American Beauty. I can totally identify with the subtleness, depth and substance of that character.
What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?
Probably to leave everything behind at the age of 19 and start over fresh in another country. In hindsight that was the best move I could have made at the time.
What accomplishment in your life are you most proud of?
Having only quality people in my life – a beautiful wife, an awesome family, the best friends, working with inspiring people professionally, not having any enemies or holding grudges against anyone. Good people are everything.
Loved the look of your trip to Ireland last week! What was the drink all about?
We were with a mad group of Irish back at a house after the party and watching the UFC fight with their local hero, Conor McGregor. Half a pint of whiskey was the appropriate preparation to grease the cogs before things kicked off. Utterly brilliant night, I count the Irish amongst my favourite people in the world, hands down.
You are part of the Amsterdam club history thanks to residencies at Club 11 and the magnificent Trouw. What’s this we are hearing about a new residency called Midnight Sun at De Marktkantine…?
Marktkantine is an awesome big room club in Amsterdam. On a good night the place explodes in a major way. Since 1000+ capacity venues are my favourite places to play I really wanted to do something with them. The residency is a great fit, I get to invite some of the biggest names in dance music and work with an amazing crew – the Marktkantine guys and girls are super friendly and hospitable. For anyone visiting Amsterdam, don’t skip this place, it will go down in the history books as one of Amsterdam’s finest.1
What is the best and worst thing about living in Amsterdam?
Best: Best-connected airport in the world. Enjoying small town life while having big city opportunities. Ethnic and cultural diversity. People are generally happy and relaxed. The place has a great atmosphere and I always enjoy coming home after travelling.
Worst: Lack of real nature, although there are pockets of beauty. And it can be a bit overrun by mass tourism, although that is also a blessing for city, so I shouldn’t complain.
An up and coming producer to watch out for this year…
I have two Dutch locals I would like to nominate for this. Mattheis and Malbetrieb.
And finally – what is next on the studio tip from Patrice Bäumel?
A new album for Kompakt. I just started, so I have no idea where it’s going to go but I definitely want to make something that translates to the dancefloor.
TITLE: BALANCE PRESENTS PATRICE BÄUMEL
RELEASE DATES: UK/EUROPE (APRIL 15th) / NTH AMERICA (APRIL 29th)
www.balancemusic.com.au
Tracklist:
01. Patrice Bäumel – Intro ***
02. Heathered Pearls – Ringing Temple (Decreased Version)
w/ Jon Hopkins – Journey
03. Kurt Baggaley – Former Self
w/ Christopher Bissonnette – Jour Et Nuit
04. Nils Frahm – Familiar
05. Throwing Snow – Clasp
w/ Vessels – Elliptic (Barkers & Baumecker Remix)
w/ Doubtingthomas – Casa De Bas Bun
06. M83 – Couleurs
07. Plastikman – Disconnect
08. Minilogue – Ahck (Jichael Mackson Remix)
w/ Bee Mask – The Story of Keys and Locks
09. DJ Hell – Hells Kitchen (Playgroup Remix)
10. Underworld – Bird 1 (Patrice Bäumel Remix) ***
11. Guy J – Moderate
12. M83 – You Appearing
13. Barry Jamieson – Stars (Charlie May Low-g Remix)
14. Jesse Somfay – Lying In A Bed Of Myst
w/ Stephan Bodzin – Wir (Max Cooper Remix)
15. El_Txef_A – Mugarrirantz (Dave DK Remix)
16. Throwing Snow – Lumen
w/ FKA Twigs – Glass & Patron
w/ Kangding Ray – L’envol
17. Patrice Bäumel – Departure ***
***Denotes exclusive track
