Solarstone Interviu, 29 Aprilie 2011

Written by iza Thursday, 28 April 2011 07:49

User Rating: / 17
PoorBest 

The follow up to the boundary breaking, IDMA nominated compilation adventure. Featuring tracks and remixes from progressive giants like Hybrid, Tilt & Medway and young guns like Mike Saint-Jules, Shingo Nakamura & Kasuza, Jahawi, Majera and Piotro.

Two years ago this month Solarstone released the compilation album 'Electronic Architecture'…
It was nominated for Best Comp at the 2010 IDMAs and won press plaudits for its imaginative concept, hailed by Tilllate as "a magical blend of music, art and design" and by DJ Mag as an "a genuine gem". Now the follow-up to this boundary breaking compilation adventure is near. As designated by its 'squared²' tag, it’s not a 'Pt.II', but an evolutionary next stage. EA² is ready to unfurl a landmark sound-design. Using super-immersive mixing techniques crossed with bespoke graphic aspects, on the 25th of April, its geometric/isometric futuristic sky cities rises again!




TA: We thank you for being by our side and ready to reveal us something about your new EA2 compilation, and this is one of the reasons we are interviewing you.

Rich: Thanks for the invitation

TA: Rich, maybe you are the single one entitled to make the introduction to your new EA album, and for those who do not know the EA concept, tell them how do you get here and what would be their lost if they would not listen such a compilation?

Rich: The Electronic Architecture series is a fight back against the mass produced land-fill rubbish that passes for compilation albums in our saturated profit-driven scene. The records are about weaving brilliant new music by innovative artists in an intelligent, creative way and presenting the result in an aesthetically beautiful package. Any true trance lover would be happier having listened to this music.

TA: How hard is it to make a selection for a compilation of this kind? How were the preparation for EA2 and how long have you worked on this?

Rich: The A&R mission took around 6 months, finding the music and working with many of the producers to get the tracks to the standard required for a project of this nature takes a while. The actual mixing was about a week on each disc.

TA: Which are your favourite pieces on this album? Why? And how constant could you be (about your preferences) to say that you prefer some tracks? Or after a while will you change your mind? Ha ha!

Rich: I love all of the tracks – really! I signed around 35 tracks for the album, and chose the tracks which worked best together in the mix. My current favourite is Elfsong ‘Eta Carinae’ which is coming out as a single on Solaris in a few weeks too, my previous favourite was Nick Stoynoff ‘Tokyo Nights’, but you’re right, it changes all the time.

TA: Tell us about the artists on this new album… There are known names with who you have worked/collaborate before, but also there are many new names. As an artist, how hard to please is the magician of this compilation?

Rich: I have a reputation as a bit of a perfectionist I guess, I have a very clear vision of how I want the albums to turn out, which is why I’m so hands-on with the production. All the tracks are supplied as stems so that I have all the elements of track with which to play in the mixing process. It’s kind of like producing a track, but on a bigger scale. The mixing process is what I love about Djing generally… of course when I Dj in a club it is much more simply done, but I really love the creativity of blending together different records to create something new – it gives me a massive buzz.

TA: One of these artists, Piotro is present on the compilation with two tracks. Is he the same Pit Stoner - a debutant artist at Molecule Recordins? Relate us more about him.

Rich: Piotro and Pit Stoner is not the same artist, at least I’d be very surprised if I was wrong on that one! We released a single by Pit Stoner on Molecule last year. Piotro – the guy behind two of the tracks on disc one is a very inventive producer, he makes this music which he calls ‘micro-prog’, it’s strange warped twisted progressive house – I love it.

TA: About “Big Wheel”- describe us its sound, tell us about its source of inspiration, and how do you succeed to button up all its details?

Rich: ‘Big Wheel’ is the lead single from EA2 – the release covers two sides of the Solarstone sound, the version on EA2 is a warm melodic progressive house track, it is gentle but very effective on a big club system! My Smashing Atoms version is much more big-room progressive trance, it is a new sound I’m experimenting with at the moment. I’ve recorded Smashing Atoms remixes recently for Tiesto pres. Allure and also the classic ‘Yeke Yeke’ by Mory Kante. It’s a harder, tougher sound for the dance floor.

TA: And what about “Touchstone”, Orkidea remix. Orkidea (TapioHakanen) is one of the artists you have been collaborating with for a while. How did you get to know each other?

Rich: We met a few years ago when we played together in Helsinki and became good friends; we record a new track together each year when we Dj together – it’s become something of an annual event! We share the same taste in ‘classic’ trance and I love his remix of ‘Touchstone’ – although I did add some extra bits to it for the version on the EA2 album.

TA: What kind of music do you get on this compilation? How unpredictable is it this EA second edition?

Rich: It’s just quality progressive house, trance, and breaks music. It’s not unpredictable if you know what Solarstone is all about. I’ve never been one to pigeon-hole myself in terms of genres, I just love electronic dance music in all its styles really and like to try and embrace a good variety of them – so long as the mix works, that’s what it’s all about to me. 2 discs of 138bpm uplifting trance would be, to me, very boring and flat-lining. It shows a real lack of imagination to release that kind of genre specific mix album.

10. TA: Is there a promoting tour for EA2? What countries have you already listed?

Rich: Of course, my bookings agents’ twenty4seven are scheduling the tour right now. It is kicking off in Brazil on May 5th, then on to Tokyo on the 14th.

TA: Even if we are far away of those days, you have to remember them… How do you get into EDM? How did everything start?

Rich: It was a natural progression, I loved acid house, disco and Chicago house music and just followed the scene from there, I got into producing at around the age of 17 – in an indie-dance band named Emission and released my first single in 1992. Seems such a long time ago but I’m as passionate now about it now as I ever was – probably more so because these days I know what I’m doing and the tools available allow me to innovate.

TA: The EDM scene without Solarstone… it is very hard to imagine it… But what Solarstone would do without music, without talent, and without such passion?

Rich: Haha.. Gosh, I think without music perhaps I would run a nice pub / restaurant in the countryside, serving great Michelin starred food and playing old e.d.m mix tapes in the background

TA: Rich please reveal us, what does an artist need to work at such a level and to launch so many exemplar productions? How demanding are you with yourself and with your work (in everything you do)?

Rich: I just do what I do really… I am my own biggest critic. I have a very small circle of trusted people around me who I play my music to before releasing it, but even then I have to trust my own judgement on it first and foremost. For every track that gets released there are 5 which do not – I just don’t see the point in releasing anything which I am not 100% happy with and confident in. There is enough average-at-best music out there – why add to it. Sometimes the people around me don’t like something I do – mainly because the Solarstone sound is quite broad. One person prefers the uplifting ‘classic Solarstone’ sound; another prefers the cooler progressive stuff. So long as it gives me goose-bumps on the back of my neck at some point when I am producing it, it gets released.

TA: Your vocal tracks sound extraordinary (these are exceptional). Why are these so special? (At least in my opinion and this will remain between us - I am not a fan of vocal pieces, but yours are giving me thrills. These are perfect!!!)

Rich: Thanks! Vocal tracks are so difficult to complete – because they are very personal. The lyrics have to really mean something for me to work with them. Also the vocal has to sound natural and clear in the mix. So many artists release songs that mean nothing and are pointless, with lyrics that are thrown together just because they rhyme. It is just ridiculous. If you’re not a gifted lyricist, don’t write lyrics – get someone who is a gifted lyricist to write them! I write lyrics a lot but most of them are rubbish, I think only 6 or 7 of my lyrics have ever been released on my tracks… but I’m getting better! I’m more of a melody writer really. I try to work with gifted singer \ songwriters like Julie Scott or Bill McGruddy for example – artists who really have something to say and a personality – and who can also perform live.

TA: “Seven Cities”, “Last Summer Fields”, “4ever”, and many other treasures of the past that cannot be forgotten! The time will also pass over “Touchstone”, and certainly, when we will say Solarstone we will immediately remember and “Touchstone”. Try to imagine 10 years have passed over this piece! Tell us what have inspired you, which were your feelings and all about what this piece needed to reach this way to our ears!

Rich: Oh thank you so much… well those tracks are all formed from a tiny seed of an melodic idea, then nurtured over time and built slowly. ‘4ever’ for example came to me one day in December 2007, I was driving through the snow and the melody together with the backing vocal idea just popped into my head from nowhere... I sang it into my voice recorder and named it ‘snowy idea’ . Seven Cities was something I literally dreamed about then laid down in a day. It’s such a simple track, just 3 chords and a little melody, but it’s very emotional. ‘Late Summer Fields’ was based on a poem I wrote when I met my wife, Alucard sent me an instrumental track over which the lyrics just fit perfectly. It’s little coincidences and lucky chances which bring a lot of these tracks together. ‘Touchstone’ was the same.

16. TA: How do you create your productions? Where do you find the resources to recite the world how art is produced? Which is the source of imaginations where do you send your fans? From where does a piece in your case?

Rich: It can come from anywhere, the rain on the window pane, a happy memory or a broken heart. If it comes from something real, it makes a good piece of music. I don’t force it. I write on the piano or the guitar, and lay down the melodies and chords that way. If I have no actual musical inspiration I just do some of the other stuff in my job, such assorting out remixes for tracks on my labels, website design or whatever. There’s always something that needs doing!

TA: What materials are you working on at your studio? A third EA edition, maybe a new artist album or something else?

Rich: I’ve just finished a run of remixes for some great artists; the next project is an ambient edition of EA2 which is coming out in July. I’ve started work on the next Solarstone album too, and I also have a new project named Federation together with Ben Lost which is coming out through Perfecto Flouro. The next Solarstone single is going to be ‘Zeitgeist’ with some fabulous mixes by Dennis Sheperd plus my own Smashing Atoms version.

TA: We remain at the idea of your studio…can you tell us what equipment/instruments are indispensable for you?

Rich: Hmmm… only really my piano and guitars. The rest are all dispensable, they are just tools really.

TA: What do you love most about your being artist life? How fulfilled are you about it?

Rich: I’m never fulfilled or happy with it, it’s a constant struggle to be content with it to be honest; I’m always ripping everything apart trying to find better ways to do things. It’s a bit of a curse in a way, my friends would tell you it’s not healthy I guess!

TA: If you have more to say to your fans and to trance community, please, do it!

Rich: I’d just say thanks for sticking with my over the years and your kind words and messages make all the difference. To know that a piece of my music has touched someone is a real source of inspiration and encouragement in a difficult environment.

TA: Thank you very much for the time you have offered us. It was a really pleasure for me to be the messenger of perfection … Good luck and success for the future!

Thanks – and the same to you!
Rich

http://soundcloud.com/solarstone
http://www.solarstone.co.uk
http://www.solaris-recordings.com

TA: Multumesc ca esti alaturi de noi si pregatit sa ne dezvalui cate ceva despre noua ta compilatie EA2, acesta fiind unul din motivele pentru care facem acest interviu!

Rich: Multumesc pentru invitatie

TA: Rich, poate esti cel mai in masura sa ne faci introducerea noului album EA2, iar pentru cine nu cunoaste conceptul EA, spune-le cum ai ajuns aici si ce ar pierde daca nu ar asculta asa ceva!

Rich: Seriile Electronic Architecture sunt o replica la gunoaiele de masa produse si care trec drept albume compilatii pe scena noastra saturata si bazata pe profit. Inregistrarile reprezinta o imbinare dintre stralucirea noii muzici prin artistii inovativi, intr-un mod inteligent, creativ si pezentarea rezultatului intr-un ambalaj minunat din punct de vedere estetic. Orice iubitor adevarat de trance va fi mai fericit ascultand aceasta muzica.

TA: Cat de greu este sa faci o selectie pentru o astfel de compilatie? Cum au decurs pregatirile pentru EA2 si cat timp ai lucrat la aceasta a doua editie?

Rich: Misiunea A&R a durat aproximativ 6 luni, descoperirea muzicii si colaborarea cu multi dintre producatori pentru a aduce track-urile la standardul cerut de un astfel de proiect iti ia ceva vreme. Mixing-ul in sine a durat aproximativ o saptamana pentru fiecare disc.

TA: Care sunt piesele tale preferate de pe acest album? De ce? Si cat de statornic poti fi pentru a spune ca iti plac anumite piese, pentru ca peste un timp sa nu te razgandesti? haha

Rich: Iubesc - cu adevarat - toate piesele! Am insemnat aproximativ 35 de piese pentru album si am ales track-urile care se potriveau cel mai bine mix-ului. Favoritul meu prezent este Elfsong - 'Eta Carinae', care va fi lansat individual pe Solaris in cateva saptamani, preferata mea anterioara a fost Nick Stoynoff - ‘Tokyo Nights’, dar ai dreptate, preferatele mele se schimba tot timpul.

TA: Spune-ne despre artistii de pe acest album. Nume cunoscute si cu care ai mai colaborat, dar si multe nume noi. Ca artist, cat de greu este sa-l multumesti pe magicianul acestei compilatii?

Rich: Cred ca am reputatia de a fi perfectionist, am o viziune foarte clara despre cum vreau sa devina albumele, de aceea sunt atat de implicat in procesul de productie. Toate track-urile sunt livrate ca linie de baza, astfel incat am toate toate elementele trackului cu care sa ma joc in timpul procesului de mixare. Este ca si cum produci o piesa, dar la o scara mai mare. Procesul de mixare este ceea ce imi place, in general, din a fi DJ... bineinteles, cand mixez intr-un club este mult mai simplu, dar iubesc creativitatea de a 'amesteca' impreuna diferite inregistrari pentru a realiza ceva nou - asta imi ofera o uriasa stare de euforie.

TA: Unul dintre acestia, Piotro este prezent pe compilatie cu doua piese. Este acelasi Pit Stoner - artistul debutant la Molecule Recordings? Spune-ne mai multe despre el.

Rich: Piotro si Pit Stoner nu sunt unul si acelasi artist, cel putin, as fi foarte surprins daca am gresit cu acesta! Am lansat un single semnat Pit Stoner pe Molecule Recordings, anul trecut. Piotro - tipul din spatele a doua piese de pe CD1 este un producator foarte ingenios, el face aceasta muzica pe care o numeste 'micro-prog', este un fel de progressive house ciudat deformat - imi place mult!

TA: Despre 'Big Whell' - descrie-ne soundul si povesteste-ne despre inspiratia acesteia si cum ai ajuns s-o finalizezi?

Rich: 'Big Wheel' este primul single de pe EA2 - release-ul acopera cele doua aspecte ale soundului Solarstone, versiunea EA2 este un track progressive house cu o linie melodica placuta, este bland, dar foarte eficient intr-un club mare! Versiunea Smashing Atoms este mai mult big-room progressive trance, este un sound nou pe care-l experimentez acum. Am inregistrat recent remix-uri Smashing Atoms pentru Tiesto pres. Allure si, de asemenea, clasicul 'Yeye Yeke' - Mory Kante. Este un sound mai dur, mai greu pentru ringul de dans.

TA: Despre 'Touchstone', Orkidea remix. Orkidea (Tapio Hakanen) este unul dintre artistii cu care colaborezi de ceva vreme. Cum ati ajuns sa va cunoasteti?

Rich: Ne-am intalnit acum cativa ani, cand am mixat impreuna la Helsinki si am devenit buni prieteni; inregistram impreuna cate un track in fiecare an - asta a devenit ceva asemanator unui eveniment anual! Noi impartasim acelasi gust de trance clasic si imi place foarte mult remix-ul lui pentru 'Touchstone' - desi am adaugat cativa biti in plus pentru a ajunge in versiunea de pe albumul EA2.

TA: Ce fel de muzica ai prins pe aceasta compilatie? Cat de imprevizibila este aceasta a doua editie EA?

Rich: Este doar muzica de calitate, progressive house, trance si break-uri. Nu este imprevizibil daca stii ce inseamna Solarstone. Nu am fost niciodata ascuns intr-un colt cand a fost vorba de genuri, eu doar iubesc muzica dance electronica in toate stilurile sale si imi place sa cuprind o mare varietate dintre acestea - atata vreme cat mixul permite, asta inseamna totul pentru mine. Pentru mine doua discuri de 138 bpm uplifting trance ar fi foarte plictisitor si fara viata. Arata o adevarata lipsa de imaginatie pentru a lansa acel gen specific de album de mix.

TA: Turneu de promovare pentru EA2? Ce tari ai deja pe lista?

Rich: Desigur, twenty4seven - agentia mea de booking planifica chiar acum turneul. Voi fi in Brazilia, pe 7 mai, apoi la Tokyo - pe 14.

TA: Ne aflam putin cam departe de acele zile, dar trebuie sa iti amintesti... cum ai intrat in EDM? Cum a inceput totul?

Rich: A fost un progres natural, am indragit acid house, disco si house Chicago si urmand scena de-acolo, m-am apucat de productie pe la 17 ani - intr-o trupa indie-dance numita Emission si am lansat primul meu single in 1992. Pare asa mult timp de-atunci, dar sunt pasionat acum de asta mai mult ca niciodata - probabil cu atat mai mult, pentru ca in aceste zile stiu ce fac si am instrumentele existente care imi permit sa inovez.

TA: Scena EDM fara Solarstone, greu de imaginat... Dar ce ar face Solarstone fara muzica, fara talent si atata pasiune?

Rich: Haha... Doamne! Cred ca fara muzica, mi-as deschide un pub/restaurant dragut intr-o regiune rurala, servind mancaruri de prima clasa cotate cu stele Michelin si ascultand casete vechi EDM in fundal :).

TA: Rich, spune-ne, de ce anume are nevoie un artist pentru a lucra la un astfel de nivel si sa lanseze atat de multe productii exemplare? Cat de exigent esti cu tine si cu munca ta?

Rich: Eu fac doar ceea ce fac... eu sunt cel mai mare critic al meu. Am un cerc mic de oameni de incredere in jurul meu carora le interpretez muzica mea inainte sa o lansez, dar chiar si atunci trebuie sa am incredere si pun judecata mea inainte de toate. Pentru fiecare piesa lansata exista alte 5 nelansate - nu vad sensul lansarii a ceva de care nu sunt 100% multumit si increzator. Nu exista destul de multa muzica mediocra acolo - de ce sa mai adaug si eu? Uneori, oamenilor de langa mine nu le place ce fac - in principal, pentru ca soundul Solarstone este prea cuprinzator. Unii prefera upliftingul clasic Solarstone; altii prefera materialele progressive. Atat timp cat imi face pielea de gaina la un moment dat in timp ce produc, atunci este lansat.

TA: Piesele tale vocale suna extraordinar! De ce sunt atat de speciale?

Rich: Multumesc! Track-urile vocale sunt greu de finalizat - pentru ca sunt foarte personale. Versurile, ca sa lucrez cu ele, trebuie sa reprezinte cu adevarat ceva pentru mine. De asemenea, vocea trebuie sa sune natural si clar in mix. Atat de multi artisti lanseaza piese care nu inseamna nimic si sunt inutile, cu versuri care sunt aruncate acolo doar pentru a rima. Asta este pur si simplu ridicol! Daca nu esti un textier talentat, nu scrie versuri - adu pe cineva care este un textier talentat sa le scrie! Scriu multe versuri, dar multe dintre ele sunt gunoaie, cred ca 6 sau 7 din creatiile mele au fost lansate pe track-urile mele .. dar devin din ce in ce mai bun! Sunt mai mult un scriitor de melodii. Incer sa lucrez cu cantareti/compozitori supradotati precum Julie Scott sau Bill McGruddy, de exemplu - artisti care au intr-adevar ceva de spus si o personalitate - si care, de asemenea, pot interpreta live.

TA: 'Seven Cities', Last Summer Fileds', '4ever' si multe alte comori din trecut nu pot fi uitate! Va trece vremea si peste 'Touchstone' si, cu siguranta, cand vom spune Solarstone ne vom aminti imediat si de 'Touchstone'. Incearca sa-ti imaginezi ca au trecut 10 ani peste aceasta piesa! :) Spune-ne ce te-a inspirat, care au fost trairile, emotiile si despre tot ce a avut nevoie aceasta piesa ca sa ajunga in acest fel la urechile noastre!

Rich: Oh, multumesc mult...Ei bine, toate aceste piese sunt create pornind de la o micuta 'samanta' de idee melodica, apoi hranita in timp si construita incet. De exemplu, '4ever' mi-a aparut intr-o zi din luna decembrie 2007; conduceam prin zapada si melodia impreuna cu backing-ul vocal mi-a rasarit deodata in minte de nicaieri... Am cantat-o in recorder si am numit-o 'ideea de zapada' . 'Seven Cities' a fost ceva ce am visat literalmente in timp ce stateam intins intr-o zi. Este un track atat de simplu, doar 3 acorduri si o mica melodie, dar este foarte emotionanta. 'Late Summer Fields' este bazata pe un poem scris de mine pentru sotia mea, Alucard mi-a trimis track-ul instrumental la care versurile s-au potrivit perfect. Sunt mici coincidente si oportunitati care aduc aceste piese impreuna. Cu 'Touchstone' a fost la fel.

TA: Cum iti creezi productiile? Unde gasesti resursele pentru a povesti lumii cum se produce arta? Care este sursa imaginatiilor in care iti trimiti fanii? De unde incepe o piesa in cazul tau?

Rich: Poate veni de oriunde, ploaia pe un ochi de geam, o amintire fericita sau o inima franta. Daca provine din ceva real, iese o piesa buna. Nu o fortez. O scriu la pian sau chitara, in acest fel stabilesc melodiile si acordurile. Daca nu am nicio sursa de inspiratie muzicala fac alte chestii care tin de job-ul meu, precum sortarea remix-urilor pentru piesele de pe labelurile mele, design-ul site-ului sau altceva. Exista intotdeauna ceva de facut!

TA: Ce mai ai in studio in lucru? O a treia editie EA, poate un nou album de artist sau altceva?

Rich: Tocmai am terminat o serie de remixuri pentru cativa mari artisti; urmatorul proiect este o editie ambientala EA2, care va fi lansata in iulie. Am inceput sa lucrez si la urmatorul album Solarstone si, de asemenea, am un nou proiect numit Federation impreuna cu Ben Lost care va iesi prin intermediul Perfecto Flouro. Urmatorul single Solarstone va fi 'Zeitgeist' cu cateva mixuri fabuloase realizate de Dennis Sheperd, plus versiune mea Smashing Atoms.

TA: Ramanem in studioul tau... ne poti spune ce echipamente/instrumente iti sunt indispensabile?

Rich: Hmmm... cu adevarat, doar pianul si chitara. Celelalte sunt toate dispensabile, ele sunt doar unelte.

TA: Ce iubesti cel mai mult la viata ta de artist? Cat de implinit esti cu aceasta?

Rich: Nu ma simt niciodata multumit de ea, sa fiu sincer, este o lupta continua sa fii multumit de viata de artist; intotdeauna analizez totul in profunzime pentru a gasi cele mai bune moduri de a face anumite lucruri. Aduce, intr-un fel, putin cu un blestem, cred ca prietenii mei va vor spune ca nu este ceva sanatos!

TA: Daca mai ai ceva de spus fanilor si comunitatii trance, te rog, fa-o!

Rich: Le spun 'Multumesc', deoarece mi-au fost alaturi de-a lungul anilor si pentru cuvintele si mesajele frumoase care fac totul sa fie diferit. Sa stiu ca o piesa de-a mea a emotionat pe cineva este o adevarata sursa de inspiratie si ingurajare intr-un mediu plin de dificultati.

TA: Multumesc mult pentru timpul acordat. A fost o placere din partea mea .... Mult noroc si succes pe viitor!

Rich: Multumesc - si voua, de asemenea!
Rich

http://soundcloud.com/solarstone
http://www.solarstone.co.uk
http://www.solaris-recordings.com

| More...