Alexander Aurel’s sound crosses a wide musical spectrum, transcending the percussive, the melodic and the damn right groovy! With his new EP alongside Danny Serrano dropping this week on Leena, Ratha Gud grabs a chat with our favourite Frankfurter…
Hi Alexander, welcome to DMCworld! Where are you in the world right now?
Hey, thanks for having me! Right now I’m home in Frankfurt and busy working in my studio.
What was the first piece of music you heard today?
Haha – it was my girlfriend singing a ridiculous ear-worm–song.. I’m happy that I forgot what it was!
How would you describe your sound?
A good friend named it Power-Tech-House. I love energetic music that keeps everyone moving!
You’ve just released your amazing new collaboration with Danny Serrano, ‘Collapse’ on Leena Music, tell us a bit about the EP?
It’s my second release on Leena Music born of 3 tracks, ‘Collapse’ – together with Danny, ‘Jupiter’ – a track of my own and ‘Twin Peaks, which Danny has produced solo.
How did you first get together with Danny and will there be any more projects together in the future?
To be honest I’m more into to following my own feelings in the studio instead of discussing with a partner about details while producing. But I’m happy that I gave it a try and for the great results we’ve achieved on our collaboration. Danny got in contact with my sound because of a remix I made for his album track “Transitions” on My Favourite Freaks. He then approached me about making a project together. I’ve never worked with someone else to produce a track, but I’m in love with the result “Collapse”! And yeah, we have finished two more tracks, but we’re looking for the right label to sign them!
You’ve also released tracks on great labels such as Mobilee, Terminal M, 8bit, Frequenza and Leena Music among others, do you feel its important for an upcoming artist to appear on many different labels as opposed to sticking with just one?
I don’t think it’s important for an upcoming artist to release on my different labels – it’s a matter of producing different sound. I’m not the artist that sticks to one particular sound, so there is no chance to release everything just on one label.
Any plans to set up your own imprint in the future?
Yes, I’d love to start a label in the future to give other artists the chance to present their music to the world, as it’s great for me right now to have a platform(s).
How do you set about writing tracks and where do you get your inspiration from?
I just have to be in a good mood to produce a good track. If I’m forcing to make music some days, nothing good ever comes out in the end.
What piece of studio kit is essential to your sound?
At the moment I love to make basslines with the NI massive plugin!
Looking back, what piece of precious advice would you give to yourself when you were first starting out as a musician?
To start producing music 10 years earlier!
Where do you see yourself moving musically in the future?
Because I’m always hungry to discover new sounds, I really don’t know – let’s see how our music scene develops the next years!
How’s the Frankfurt scene at the moment, is there anyone new we should be looking out for in 2017?
We have great events here where I’m also resident at. Karotte is doing his As You Like It events here, where he is inviting one guest to play with us. This residency was definitely the turning point in my career! I met Monika Kruse at the party and all of a sudden we were playing a fantastic back to back set together. I took the opportunity to play her 2 unreleased tracks – a few weeks later Monika signed them to Terminal M.
Besides those events – I’m playing during summer at the Großstadtliebe-Openairs and the rest of the year at the Electric Grooves at the Tanz-Haus-West!
I have a fix slot there playing Sunday mourning at the Dora Floor when all the other floors close. I start at 8am and play till the end. This event there is really insane. Once I played there till 3pm and I still had a packed floor with fantastic energy on. Unbelievable – This is Frankfurt!
Where is your favourite place to play in the world and where can we see you playing?
There are so many good venues that I played and for sure there are even more to discover – but the best parties are those where a lot of friends are there with me!
Who are you current top 5 producers?
&Me
Dennis Cruz
Gorge
Simone Liberali
Victor Ruiz
Who are your biggest influencers?
A lot of people who are making great music influence me. I’m always looking to left and right and it can also be the artist playing before or after me.
We come to your house and raid your record collection, which embarrassing record do you need to chuck out the window as we arrive?
Haha, I don’t think I would ever spend one cent to embarrassing music.
Which record makes you say “Damn, I wish I’d made that”?
Laurent Garnier – The Man With The Red face
Any New Year’s resolutions, hopes or aspirations?
I stopped smoking two years ago. That was the only time I had some aspiration for NYE. So just continue doing what I love – music!
What’s coming up next from you?
Some new music for Material, another collaboration with Danny Serrano and there is another EP planned for My Favourite Freaks too.
Where is your favourite place to play in the world and where can we see you playing?
I had a lot of fun playing at the Rave On Snow or in Berlin at Kater, the Watergate or the Beats and Boats Event. There was also one big surprise gig in Georgia! Such a lovely festival at a breathtaking venue o the top of a mountain, with a spectacular view on whole Tbilisi. The best parties are those where a lot of friends are with me, so this can be anywhere in the world. Even in a small club in your hometown!
Alexander Aurel & Danny Serrano ‘Collapse’ will be released on Beatport Exclusive January 20th / Full release February 3rd 2017 on Leena Records.
https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderAurelOfficial
