Actualites Electroniques - Your daily dose of electronic music  
 
Actualites Electroniques
 
     
 
 
 

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.

 
Techno
07
Troy Pierce - Interview

Thanks to one of the most productive German label: M_nus, we got an exclusive interview with the massive producer Troy Pierce. Growing up in the quiet farm town of Muncie, Indiana four hours drive from Chicago and Detroit, it was hard for Troy Pierce to ignore the rich sounds emanating from these House and Techno strongholds. He was among the first to pick up on DJs like Derrick Carter, Jeff Mills and Richie Hawtin and was always out and about at parties in Detroit, Ohio and across the Midwest. Here is a little introduction about the man we will interview today. This interview follows notably the one of Emerson Todd and Thomas Schumacher who also lived in Berlin. First of all, I would like to thank Troy Pierce who answered our questions.

 “Hy Troy Pierce,

You and Jesse Siminski aka Heartthrob are currently touring with your live performance “Square One” which also inspired your newest release on M_nus of the same name. Could you please be more specific about this project? How did it happen?
>Jesse and I have been friends for a long time and we have worked on music in the past but this year we decided to get a proper release out. We took a few weeks off at the beginning of the year and went to Hawaii where Jesse’s parents live. We did a lot of surfing in the mornings and worked on music in the evening. Jesse and I have a similar aesthetic and share a lot of the same influences which I think you can hear in the music we end up making.

This project of live performance follows too a certain trend of visual performance that goes with sound performance of DJs. There is for sure the Daft Punk, but also Plastikman (who is also signed under M_nus), Etienne de Crecy and more recently Deadmau5 have done that. Do you think in the future a DJ performance will be a mix between sounds and visuals?
> I think for some Dj’s things are heading in that direction. As an artist you want to create an environment that gives the audience a unique experience. But also it’s not for everyone. Some people are still happy to play records and call it a night.

For 2011, what we expect from you? An album? New tracks as solo or duo? A compilation maybe?
> Jesse and I want to work on another record and I have some solo work to release soon as well.

Concerning the music you’ve done along the years, which track did you think help you to win credibility and opened you some doors?
> I think there were a few key releases that really helped, a remix I did for ellen alien got a lot of attention, the first Louderbach album was well received and I think this track I did “horse nation” which jesse later did a remix was a big one. Oh, and that 25 bitches thing…

After this first part about your music, literally speaking, we would like to get back to your origins. Could you please tell us in a few words, how did you become a DJ and producer in the U.S. especially before you moved to New York (1994), and then to Berlin.
> Before I moved to New York I was living in Indiana and going to a lot of the parties in the Midwest - Detroit/Chicago/Colombus/Cincinnati . At the time I wasn’t playing records or making music, I left that to my friends. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and hear amazing music that became the foundation for my path as an dj/producer.

Have you ever had the chance to come back to your hometown Muncie for a party? Indeed, I’ve read you’ve done a tour in the U.S. with M_nus crew.
>I can’t imagine there being a party in Muncie that I would play.. It’s like population 70,000 and the last thing on their mind is techno… maybe if I was a country singer my dad could get me a gig at the state fair.

After you lived in the U.S. you relocated to Germany in Berlin (2002). Why did you choose to go to Berlin?
> Rich and Magda had moved here. I visited Magda after she moved here in the summer and really liked it. We had a record coming out in April so I decided to move the January before that was released. Seems to have worked out quite well.

Berlin is certainly the hottest town for techno and minimal sounds. I’ve interviewed some days ago Emerson Todd, “the biggest talent in town” as Thomas Schumacher said, who we also interviewed. Do you know them? What are your relationships with other DJs in Berlin? I think you are close to Magda for instance.
> Berlin is a funny place, so many artist/producers live here but I don’t really hang out so much. Bruno Pronsato, Dave Sumner (Function) Heartthrob… I hang out with those guys, have dinner or whatever. I stay home a lot I  guess.

A lot of people say the U.S. electronic scene is not very developed. What do you think about this statement? Why do you think it’s like that?
> The U.S. is a very big place. There are some areas that are more developed than others. There are good parties there and plenty of people who are into the dance music. You have to be fair and look at each scene/city individually. You also can’t compare it to Germany or even Europe.

I went to your website (if I’m right): http://www.rsrsr.com/ but I couldn’t enter it. Why this weird website?
> Marc is in charge of that… There is really nothing to enter.


Before we conclude this interview, is there anything you would like to add?
> Never take accidental encounters for granted

 

Troy Pierce, to conclude this interview, we have a few more questions to better know you. Sometimes one word is enough!

The song you advice us to listen in your discography?
> Louderbach – Clear Remix

An artist you would like to work with, one day?
> Sally Mann (http://www.gagosian.com/artists/sally-mann/)

3 words to define your music?
>Dark & Spooky with a splash of Funk

Are you using vinyl or mp3 for your mix?
> I use waves/Mp3 with traktor.

One word about France?
> Chez Omar (Paris) Best steak I have ever had in my life.

The software you use to produce?
> I use ableton along with a decent amount of hardware, outboard effects and sequencers. 808, 101, Dp4+, MachineDrum, SixTrack, MAQ16/3, DarkEnergy…..

Your best souvenir of this summer: a place where you played for instance or an anecdote?
> I took my mom on tour with me in Japan. We had a great time, I made her eat a lot of (for her) weird food. She was a good sport but exhausted after 10 days.

The best club in the U.S. (name and city)?
> Spy Bar - Chicago
 
Somewhere you would like to mix one day: in club or in the nature!?
> Beaches are always nice, Thailand or Maldives.

A great place to get out in Berlin (restaurant, coffee, anything else)?
> Bistro 13 (aka the kitchen in my apartment) they make the best egg white omelets, chana masala and amazing coffee. Open 24 hours also!

Your favorite track these days?
> It’s really hard to name tracks… I always like music from Madato, Danny Benedettini, Maetrik, Heartthrob.

Troy Pierce, thank you very much for the time you devoted to Actualités Electroniques and particularly for this interview. We will wait for sure for your next productions. We hope to see you at Social Club in a few days. See ya!

Dj Aroy

MORE INFO TROY PIERCE
http://www.facebook.com/troypierce
https://twitter.com/TroyPierceMinus
http://www.rsrsr.com/
http://www.myspace.com/troypierceminus

MORE INFO ABOUT MINUS
http://www.m-nus.com
http://www.facebook.com/MinusOfficialPage

BONUS - Troy Pierce - Chalitas lip gloss
 
Written by Dj Aroy
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FEBRUARY 2013

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