You will find in this category each week, an interview or a biograhpy of a Dj or artist which is breaking the news. All styles are on the “menu” of this category: minimal, house, electro, techno or even trance in some cases.
The topic will be supplemented by other Djs following the latest electronic music news.
Myths abound in the north when it comes to techno ground zero, and they refuse to go away. Oliver Huntemann is one of a handful of children of the north who, for what seems like an eternity, add an element of credence to the mythology. He does not, of course, live in a snowy forest or at the edge of the polar oceans. The sun does, on occasion, shine down on Hamburg. Nevertheless, there is a tendenc...y towards hypothermic reduction in the rigourous efficiency of the Huntemann oeuvre. Images of cold storage warehouses, desolate heavy plant sites and blueish flesh are not entirely misplaced.... Today, we have the chance to offer you an exclusive interview with this German producer notably because of the release of his new album in November: “Paranoia”. It followed notably the interviews of other famous German producers like Marc Marc Romboy, Extrawelt, M.A.N.D.Y., Thomas Schumacher, Butch or Solee. First, I wanted to thank Oliver who answered our questions.
"Hello Oliver,
Honestly it’s a real honor to interview you, because you’ve done so many amazing tracks, notably under your pseudo Rekorder with your friend Stephan Bodzin that we will interview soon. You are for me one of the best German DJs with Stephan and Marc Romboy.
In a few weeks, you will release your new solo album "Paranoia", 2 years after "H-3", notably with 2 excellent tracks, that we heard on your Facebook fan page : "Phantom" and "Magnet". Could you please explain us how this project was born?
> I just had the feeling it's time for telling a story again and not only producing single tracks and doing remixes. Ideas grew and that's been a sign for me of getting focused and locked in the studio for a while. The work on and for a long-player is a particular chance for an artist to surrender to something. I don't need to reduce myself to just two dance floor tracks and have the opportunity to give another side of mine more space too. In the case of Paranoia that went up to the point of making downbeats and orchestral sound-collages. I was kind of surprised when the album was finished, as I was still in the mood for creating more tracks. It all worked very well and I had many more ideas. But it's important to say stop at a particular point if you don't want to work on a never-ending story.
Why this title for your album?
> I already started working on the album with the intention getting more extreme than before, combining stronger contrasts. The theme Paranoia contains this a lot and soon it grew to a concept. It's not that the tracks became darker than previous stuff of mine but the inner conflicts, the suspense as soon as the highs and lows of a 'paranoia' provide a wide and interesting range to make music of. It was big fun working on tracks such as "In Times Of Trouble", which manages to work peak time in the club completely without beats. It's dramaturgy has to build in a very different way than beat-based tracks. Luckily I personally have been spared from paranoid states so far. I just liked the ideal of converting it into an album concept.
Could you please give us one or two exclusive things about it? There are notably featuring from the legend Robert Owens and one with Ane Trolle who has previously worked with Trentemoller for the psychedelic track "Moan".
> I'm very happy that one of my all-time heroes, Robert Owens, found the time to work on the track Hope. He's a fantastic singer and super cool guy. Also Ane Trolle from Scandinavia was a goal. She used to work for Trentemoeller's first album and has a voice which fits perfect to the dark attitude of Wahnfried, which I've sent her to sing on.
At the end, I've been informed that there will be a free bonus DVD with an accompanying set of videos. Could you please give us more details?
> I always meet a lot of different artists during my travels and I thought it might be a good idea asking some of my favourite video producers to put their hands on tracks of mine. They all were excited and started working. The result are thirteen top videos and short movies made by international artists such as Manuel Nogueira from Sao Paulo, Seb Rekorder from Brussels, Boris Nikolov from Sofia and many others.
More precisely, what will be your next release? I can image there will be some singles before the release of the album. Right?
> I will not release any singles this time. Paranoia is a concept which belongs together. There will be a 2x12" vinyl version, the CD plus DVD and a digital release. That's it. I think about a remix package later on but nothing's in the pipe-line yet.
After you give us these infos about your music news we would like to go back to your musical roots. Could you briefly tell us how did you become DJ and producer?
> I was attracted by electronic music in the early 1980s when Electro-Funk and break-dancing moved over from the US to Europe. I was really deep into this scene, did breakdancing and after djing. Collecting the Streetsound "Electro" series was very important to me and shaped me a lot. I still own the whole collection and will never sell it. My most influential vinyl might be "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force. This track has been always in my dj-box and I still play it at nights, when the vibe is very special - timeless! It seems that my whole life is about music. As I mentioned before it all started 1980 with being a break-dancer and playing dj-sets at school-parties. After finishing school I joined the German Navy and also worked as a journalist for some time, but it was never really what I wanted to do, or at least it did not feel that right. Music has just always been important to me. I guess I just needed a bit more time to realize that being a professional dj and producer is the best for me. I started initially with organizing some parties in my hometown. I was djing here and there and really enjoying it. Then Confused Recordings was born in 1995. I begun to produce music on a full-time basis and soon after booking requests from all over the world started coming. It was a nice feeling and it still is.
At the beginning, did your family understand what you did for a living? And now are they proud of what you achieved along the years?
> You won't believe but my Mum is still asking me from time to time, if I don't want to get a serious job - whatever this is. She's still afraid I get lost sometime. My Dad is fine with it as long as I'm happy. In the end both are proud when they see my schedule and my music works. I heard them once talking to friends about my tour and where I'm supposed to play all over the world. That sounded more than proud. On the other side I know, I can count on my parents. They are always behind me and that still gives me security and power to do what I do.
Besides your production schedule, you have worked tirelessly to bring your imprint "Ideal Audio label" to fruition since 2008, such as a new chapter after more than 15 years : Confused Recordings plus a host of sub and sister labels. How do you manage all these tasks? You need to have a good team to help you I can imagine! When we interviewed Marc Romboy some weeks ago, he was mainly help by his father. What about you?
> Most of these labels are history. I'm focused on Ideal Audio only, which is enough work if you do it right. I have a network I'm working with. First of all I have to mention Jan Langer, who is running the admin part in the office. He's also behind some other labels such as Herzblut with Bodzin and Monaberry with the Super Flu guys. Then we have our assistant Ina. She supports Jan and me wherever she's needed plus we're working with agencies all over the world for marketing strategies if we have releases coming.
Are there one or two German artists you would like to introduce us, that has maybe been signed under your imprint recently or that you would like to sign?
> Of course, there is artist who deserves to be introduced. His name is André Winter and he's my co-producer since seven years. He got the skills, fantastic ears and magic hands for the mixer. One of the most underrated artists so far but I'm sure he will get bigger attention soon. He already delivered part 1 of a new single series of 3 and it's a bomb. To be released end of the year on Ideal! Another artist I expect bigger things from soon is Sebrok from Berlin. A very talented producer and DJ. His last record on Ideal was produced alongside Tassilo from Pan-Pot and is one of my 2011 favourites so far.
You work under your name Oliver Huntemann but you have also other fantastic projects like Rekorder (with Stephan Bodzin) [I have all the tracks of Rekorder, best vinyl series ever], but also H-Man (with Stephan Bodzin once again). Is Stephan your best musical friend, and what is your relationship with him? How do you work tracks together?
> Stephan and I used to work together for fifteen years but we actually don't work for about six or seven years now. Each of us is concentrating on different things. We had a great and successful time but there's a point when you have to realize there might be new ways getting better for yourself. Stephan is a great artist and we are still in touch sometimes, talking about the good old days...
As we said previously you made your own productions, but you are also well-known for your remixes like the ones for Depeche Mode, Underworld, Rex the Dog, Extrawelt and the Chemical Brothers. What do you prefer: your own productions or remixing the ones of others?
> That depends. Normally I like more doing own stuff, because I can create something completely new. But there are some tracks, which are that special and interesting I badly want to put my hands on.
Oliver, the interview will be published on a website mainly read by French people. So, what do you know about the French electronic music scene? Are there some artists that you personally know or especially love their music?
> I'm very well connected to France and the French scene. I play a lot in France and some of my favourite artists are from France. The audiences in clubs like Rex and Showcase are outstanding. It's a bit like a homerun, I don't know why. I think that grew over the years. There is a reason I recorded the PLAY! 02 at Rex in Paris.
Besides music, what are your hobbies?
> I didn't keep much from my Navy times but one is still important to me: the sea! I love to spend time on the Baltic Sea while the wind blows. It´s so relaxing to be out of everything and joining the water, the sun and the silence on my sailing boat.
Oliver, before we conclude this interview we have a few more questions. Sometimes one word is enough!
The track you advice us to listen to in your discography?
> Please chose your own, I hate to decide...
An artist you would like to work with one day?
> Art Department
3 words to define your music?
> Powerful, dark & sexy.
Are you using vinyl or mp3 for your mix?
> Traktor Scratch Pro with vinyl control. The best of both worlds.
The software you use to produce?
> Logic
One privilege, being DJ, gives you access to?
> Standing in the dj both, playing music.
Your favorite track these days?
> “Black Mail” by André Winter (unreleased)
Some words about the website I manage: Actualités Electroniques?
> Actualités Electroniques means one of the best websites for electronic music to me. I follow the site since a while and I'm a fan of how many interesting news and background information is published. Plus the navigation is easy to handle. Would be great having more sites like Actualités Electroniques on the net
Oliver, thank you very, very much for the time you devoted to Actualités Electroniques and particularly for this full and exclusive interview. We will wait for sure for your next productions and your album for sure. A bientôt!
> Merci, it was a pleasure!”
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