Israel brings us one of the records of the summer
Alex Bass aka Colorless is fast becoming a formidable name in Global House Music. A former part of the duo Sharp & Smooth, by the age of 22 Alex had worked with some of the most influential producers on the scene including Danny Tenaglia, Cevin Fisher, Oscar G and Rui De Silva. Key labels have been queuing up to sign his new productions, with releases on 405 recordings, Black Hole, Aramada, Twisted, Spinnin Records, Vendetta, Nervous Records, Stereo Recordings, Line Out, Star 69 and many more. Alex was then asked to take up the A&R role for Tigereye Recordings, signing tracks by Belocca, Phunk Investigation and Kobbe to name a few. Late 2011, Alex launched his solo project Colorless who have since remixed one of House Music’s all time anthems Adamski ‘Killer’ and Michael Gray, Jon Pearn, Rob Roar & Cassandra Fox’s ‘Lights Down Low’.
His new single Tiny Piano was hailed as one of the biggest records of the recent Amsterdam dance Event, hitting No.3 in DMC’s ADE Hot Tips for 2012. With a hot song currently being written for the track, the single has already raised major label interest, on the instrumental version alone. The Colorless sound is already being classed as unique, with an array of tastemaker DJ fans, this is a sound already being heard in all four corners of the world. With further tracks and remixes coming out on his own label, as well as Phonetic, Armada and Pink Rabbit…this guy is one to watch. And DMC gets the exclusive.
Words : Dan Prince
Welcome to DMCWORLD Alex. You are part of a cool generation of Israeli producers setting dancefloors alight at the moment. Tell us about life growing up and how you fell in love with music?
“As a teenager I worked for several clubs promoting some of the major Tel Aviv parties, it’s here I was introduced to house music and fell in love with it’s sexy moody vibes. No other musical genre has given me the feeling that house does, even now 90% of my ipod tracklist are house tracks. It was only when I heard “Rui Da Silva ft. Cass Fox – Touch Me” that I decided to start making my own music.”
Where is home today?
“Israel, I’m too scared of flying to be anywhere else.”
What were the early clubs and DJs you were encountering back in the day?
“Even till this day, no club has delivered the crazy feeling that ‘Lilinblum 25’ & ‘Dome’ did back then, the DJ’s that did some serious dance floor damage for me were Tochner & Asi Kojak.”
Why did you want to become a producer – what did your family think of your choice?
“As I mentioned before, I wanted to become a producer after I heard tracks like Goldtrix ‘Trippin’ and Rui Da Silva ft. Cass Fox – the magical euphoric feeling and vibe were stronger then any drug. My family don’t know too much about what I do, I might give them the heads up if a big record goes off, but to be honest I don’t really like to say too much.”
Cool answer. What was your first break into the music world?
“Me and good friend of my David Mimram started an electronic duo called Sharp & Smooth, we were lucky enough to sign our first tracks to legendary labels Twisted America, Stereo Productions and Nervous. We also did some tracks that really blew up with DJ Chus and remixed Danny Tenaglia, Boy George and Cevin Fisher.”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
1. Colorless – Tiny Piano [Phonetic Reocrdings]
2. Roi Tochner – Never Give U Up [White Label]
3. Hard Rock Sofa – Quasar [Axtone Records]
4. Adamski – Killer Phonetic recordings) (Rob Roar & KutOff Terrce Attack Mix)
5. Colorless Ft. Emma – Its Love (Trippin) (Sam Walker & Teej Remix) [Pukka Up]
6. Denzal Park – Nammos (Original Mix) [CR2]
7. Firebeatz – Where’s Your Head At (Original Mix) [Spinnin]
8. Tristan Garner – Punx [Xtra Life Records]
9. Sander van Doorn – Chasin’ [Doorn Records]
10. Colorless Ft. Eli – Still No Love [Phonetic Recordings]
Your tune ‘Tiny Piano’ caused mayhem at ADE last year, when did you make the track, did you know you were sitting on a monster?
“After I played it to my girlfriend, her face immediately told me it was something a little bit special.”
How crazy did the bidding get?
“Rob Roar and Phonetic spotted it straight away and signed it as soon as they heard it. Pretty much every label that heard it at ADE, want to sign it. I’ve had lots of labels contact me, All very exciting stuff! We’re just finishing a song for it too, sounding amazing and really does take it to another level.”
Rumour has it that you are working on something even more special tune wise at the moment, care to reveal what the track is…
“As well as the big room tracks, I’m really into deep house. I’ve started doing some fresh underground stuff under a new moniker “D33P”. I have two originals finished under this name and the third is on the way.”
You have had releases on the likes of 405 Recordings, Black Hole, Twisted, Tiger Records and Nervous – what tune are you most proudest of?
“‘Tiny Piano’ and the follow up ‘Still No Love’ that I’ve done with a great vocalist called Eli. I’ve always been a massive fan of Phonetic, it’s a real honour to have my productions coming out on the label.”
Which producers from around the world are you giving high fives to at the moment?
“With local producers I’m really into Tochner’s sound, I also love what David Mimram is doing lately. When it comes to the big wide world I really like Axwell, Rob Roar and Hard Rock Sofa (these guys are killin’ it at the moment). And from the deep house genre I’mm really into Maceo Plex.”
How did your remix of Adamski’s Killer come about?
“After Rob Roar at Phonetic heard ‘Tiny Piano’, he asked if I’d like to remix ‘Killer’, it’s one of the biggest house tracks of all time, I jumped at the chance. The mix will be released in May 2012, Rob and I have been playing it out and it’s getting really big reactions”
Who would you say your musical influences are?
“I get influences from everything that happen in my life, the good and the bad things. When I’m feelin moody or something bad has hapened, I know that day something will come out in the studio, I just get lost in the zone.”
Tell us about your studio set up?
“I‘ve just finished building a really solid studio, prior to this I had been producing in smaller room with a computer and AKG headphones, I use fl studio for everything from building the track to the mixing and mastering it. I don’t want to get too complex, I like to put stuff down quickly from the initial idea and get it straight into production.”
What advice would you give to the thousands of aspiring producers wanting to be in your shoes right now?
“Believe in yourself even if the others don’t, the only person that can and will make it happen is you, with a small dose of god’s help as well.”
Not many people know this, but Alex Bass is really good at…
“Hair designing, I worked on renowned local salon shop for four years…”
What is your guilty pleasure song?
“Damien Rice – ‘Can´t Take My Eyes Off You’.”
A big year ahead – what is coming next studio wise…
“More from my side project “D33P”, really feeling this kind of music right now. A new original Colorless production called ‘Random Haters’ and a Compilation for Phonetic.”
…And what events are you looking forward to this summer?
“Some really cool gigz around Israel, for now… until I conquer my fear of flying!”
http://www.phoneticrecordings.com