Perfectly Cut
A brilliant new album Christian, ‘Directors Cut’ out on Tronic – can you talk us through your work track by track…
‘Higienopolis’
“It’s the opening track of the album and, as it should, it has a proper introduction before it gets going. It’s very musical and I took lots of inspiration from early Detroit music that I grew up with. The track name shares the name with the neighbourhood I live in, in Sao Paulo. Ironically it’s called higienopolis because it was the first borough to have a proper sewage system in Sao Paulo a long, long time ago.”
‘Omniscience’
“It got this name because, to me, the track sounds very big. Not big in a commercial or dancefloor way, but big in terms of presence and melodic structure.”
‘Pressure Point’
“This is what you get when I produce house music! I really like this track and play it out all the time. It’s deep, it’s driving, techy, and it has balls.”
‘Interlude’
“Well, it’s an interlude! A short 2 min thing where I used a lot of analog keyboards to get my sounds. The main string is a roland jupiter 8 – a keyboard I really love!”
‘Beluga’
This is the first single of the album and I am very pleased with it. It’s uplifting without going over the top and I have been getting amazing reactions when I’ve have played it out. It’s name from my love of beluga caviar 😉
‘I Wanna Step Away’
This is one of my favourite tracks on the album. its very simple and does not have too many parts, but all the sounds are very warm and it creates havoc on the floor
‘Tribute to Principle’
“I somewhat copied and reprogrammed the bassline from an old seminal Jamie Principle (a house legend) track from 1987. I made it into a more ambient electro track using a random arppeggiator. I called this track “tribute to principal” because even though jamie principal made the original track and bassline and it became huge (with other copies), he never got much credit for it.”
‘Break it Down’
this is the sound i became known for with total departure. even though the album is geared more towards musical and techy tracks, i had to include one of my old specialties. Peaktime affairs in a similar vain to Len Faki etc. if the floor doesn’t react to this track you really have a problem.”
‘Indecent Exposure’
“This was released a few months back, but I put it on the album because it ‘s typical of my current sound. Energetic, funky, and not “hard.”
‘Milky Way’
“This is exactly how I envisioned a perfect album track. It’s hypnotic, pleasant, but still maintains a good level of energy. It’s nice to listen to at home or in the car, but also to play in a set.”
Cool. You have moved your suitcases around the world considerably since being born in Sweden. Germany, America, Spain and Brazil have all seen your slippers under your bed – do you think relocating to so many countries coupled with your extensive global DJing work has helped model your sound? Which part of the world has been the biggest contributor – I hear Sao Paulo is buzzing right now?
“I have indeed lived in a few places. I think, however, that the most important period of my life in terms of musical inspiration was when i was 8-12 years old and soaked up all the mixtapes my bolder brother and sister brought back from now legendary Frankfurt clubs such as Dorian Grey and Vogue. Back then young djs such as Sven Vath were playing late disco, Italo disco, early electro, and new romantic music such as Human League or Thompson Twins. Moving around the world and living in different places is also inspiring of course, but i think what you listen to in your early part if life stay with you the most. For me that was 1982-1984. I now live in Sao Paulo and i love life here. It’s a beautiful country and the pace of life here is great. The scene is very big in Brazil as well, but big does not always mean good. There are a few cool clubs in Sao Paulo such as Clash and Hot Hot, but sadly people think that David Guetta is underground and cool and DJs such as Luciano or Loco Dice play at half empty clubs. This will inevitably change though. I am working on it.”
What do your family think of all this moving around? Do you ever see them?
“It’s natural for me. I grew up with my father being an airline pilot, so we always travelled a lot. I was a Swede growing up in Germany, so I was always a foreigner. I have learnt a lot living in all these nice places and wouldn’t change my experience for anything. I make a point to see my family as much as possible. Even though i live in Brazil now and my family is spread around Europe I see them a few times a year. Not too bad. But family is very important to me! Thank god for video skype!”
How would you describe your DJing style now compared to five years ago?
“The most obvious change is that my BPM’s have dropped a lot and I do not play hard techno anymore. I still play peaktime energetic music, but not abrasive music. I play everything between house and techno and I mix around 128bpm. No need to go faster. I love the fact that house and techno are the same speed now and I really like lots of the chunky house music out there at the moment. This makes it possible to play much more interesting sets.”
What are your favourite clubs around the world to play in?
“Right now i really love Loft in Barcelona (I have been playing there for years and it’s always going off big time). Ageha in Tokyo is a very large venue for about 2500 poeple, but it still feels like you are in an intimate club. The crowd just goes bananas there and the sound is impeccable. Zouk in Singapore, playing there is like driving a Bentley, everything is perfect. Matter in London is the new superclub of the world and I have had some amazing gigs there since it opened its doors.”
What are the big 10 tunes you are spinning at the moment?
1. Carl Craig – ‘At Les (Christian Smith’s Tronic Treatment Remix)’ – Tronic
2. Wehbba – ‘The Speech’ – Tronic
3. Harry Choo Choo Romero -‘Phuture’ – Ovum
4. Deetron – Collide – ‘Green’
5. Umek – ‘Lanicor (Christian Smith Remake)’ – 1605
6. Christian Smith – ‘Green Chili’ – Clash Music
7. Wehbba – ‘Another Light’ – Tronic
8. Cuy & Edu – ‘La Coincidencia (John Selway Mysterious Remix)’ – Tronic
9. Slam – Mafaking – ‘Drumcode’
10. Laurent Garnier – ‘Crispy Bacon’ – Fcom
What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?
“If you want to make sure something is taken care of, do it yourself!”
Who were the artists that you were listening to growing up?
“Newcleus, SOS Band, D-Train, Atlantic Star, BDP, Human League, The The, Anne Clarke, Tears For Fears, Grace Jones, Manuel Gottsching, Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, Marshal Jefferson, Adonis, Falrey Jackmaster Funk and many many more.”
Do you ever holiday?
“I took a holiday last year to the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand. It was amazing!!! But honestly speaking, as I travel around 200 days a year, I like to stay home when I have time off. As they say there is no place like home, and this is something i have learnt to appreciate over the years being an international DJ.”
You have booked Warung in Brazil for a party – which DJs do you invite to spin and why?
“Tough question. I would book a variety of DJs and together make up for a great party. Probably Laurent Garnier (playing an old school techno set), Arthur Baker (playing an early 80’s set), Daft Punk live (for good honest modern house), and myself!”
Greatest festival you have ever played at and where are you looking forward to spinning this Summer?
“I think the first time I played at Exit Festival in Serbia. I was honored to be playing with legends that I really respected. One of the Slam DJ’s records’ did not show up, so I got a 3 hour slot on the mainfloor. I had to pinch myself to believe it was actually happening and I had three hours to rock house on the rammed packed mainfloor.”
What is/was the best and worst thing about living in…
“Brazil…The best – people, food and women. The worst – bureaucracy and traffic.
Spain…The best – weather, the culture and food. The worst – Too many tourists.
USA (New York)…The best – being so cosmopolitan, food and culture. The worst – New Yorkers, they think they are the best and they’re not.
Germany…The best – efficiency, airports and the 80s club scene in Frankfurt. The worst – it’s not the most international country on earth is it?”
2009 was an amazing year for you studio wise after 2008 which saw the success of your ‘Total Departure’ tune on Adam Beyer’s Drumcode label. Last year witnessed your Air Miles collaboration with Reset Robot, ‘Indecent Exposure’and your pitch perfect remix of the classic Trancesetter track ‘The Search’ amongst others. Where did all this resurgence of brilliance explode from?
“Well I have always been busy, but I think that I had it too easy in the beginning. I was just doing what I loved and had a packed schedule Now the scene has changed a lot and has become really competitive. It no longer enough to just be a good DJ and good producer. You need to have PR people, constantly strategize your career etc. So I decided to do all these things and take my career more seriously from a business perspective as well. I guess it worked out great, and there is still so much more music to come. I am super motivated and very ambitious and I am very happy with the music I am currently producing. The game is on!”
What one record would you never sell?
“I am not that sentimental with vinyl. It just takes up space and it’s a pain in the ass to move with 10,000+ vinyls. So I sold them all a few years ago before I moved to Spain from the New York. I do miss playing records from time to time, but I prefer to look forward and adapt with technology rather than dwell on the past.”
Who is the best Techno DJ of all time?
“There is no such thing. It’s likes saying who is the best rock band in the world. Some DJ’s have their primes and are amazing, then others come up and replace them. I would say i respect DJs that are still current and in the game. DJs such as Richie Hawtin, Sven Vath and Carl Cox all managed to stay on top of their game. Does this make them the ‘best’ techno DJ? I don’t think so, but they must be doing something right.”
Nice answer. And finally what is coming next from the studio from Mr Smith?
“My album ‘Director’s Cut’ was just released last month, but I am already full-time in the studio working like a dog. I have remixed one of my all time favorite tracks from Carl Craig ‘At Les’ which is coming out in early June on Tronic and is looking to become a big record. I have also just finished a remix for Plastikman, and am currently working on remixes for Laurent Garnier, Darren Emerson, and some others. I am also making original tracks as well of course and you will see upcoming records on Bedrock, Tronic, and Size before the end of the year. No rest for the wicked!”
