Jack The Box

This year something special happened.

The Particle People set out to do something a little more risky than normal (knowing us you would know we like to take these kinds of risks) *wink wink*

So,  it all started with an idea to throw a Berghain related after hrs in Detroit, we had no idea it would become what it has today.

Shortly after investigating and setting up this idea we realized it would be much more fun to have more friends involved…

With Minneapolis’s Particle People MPLS, San Francisco’s [KONTROL] and Detroit’s Beretta Music came on board and soon after Pittsburgh’s Humanaut Crew. We all knew at that moment that this was much more than a party but much more like a major production and event.

With tons of craziness, lots and lots of organization, full support from Paxahau, Metroplex, and others we were finally able to assemble a true Techno Voltron!

I honestly can not be more excited to announce what many people are calling The top after hrs for Saturday night, and very proud to be a part of something as monumental as this.

Dan Bell, Ben Klock, Levon Vincent, DVS1, all the dj’s from Particle People, [Kontrol], Beretta and Humanaut…  how can you not be excited?!

SO……

As an extra added bonus to this weeks Jack The Box,  I was able to sneak a few min from Dan Bell for a quick Q-A

*You’ve been in Berlin for nearly 10 years now. Safe to say this is where you will be for a while now? Any plans to return to the US?
When I’m not traveling I spend most of my time in New York.  I’ve been back and forth between the U.S. and Germany for some time now. It’s hard for me to say where I’ll be living in a few years – I like to keep my options open.

* What is it about Berlin that keeps you there?
It’s the center for electronic music.  I don’t think anybody would dispute that.  Also, it’s an easy city to live in… relatively stress free when compared to other cities it’s size.  The only bad point is the weather.  If Berlin was on the Mediterranean I would never leave.

* While on the discussion of Cities, What is your favorite US city to play and why? (its ok if you say Minneapolis) *wink wink*
I like to dj everywhere in the U.S…. some of the smaller cities have been the most fun.  Last weekend I did a 9 hour set at the Compound in San Francisco and there was still a good amount of people there until 8 or 9 in the morning who were totally up for it.  So for that reason I have to go with SF

*OK,  OK,  So Minneapolis inst the fave (I will have to change that in post, j/k)  One thing I have been wanting know for some time now is….

Seventh City: In your RA interview in May of 08 you mentioned a revival of the label and of DBX… Any chance that this will be coming back? if not..  why not?
I would like nothing more than to invest my time into making music and working on the labels and maybe sometime soon I will take a break from djing to do that.

* follow-up to question #4 -You seem to have a way with developing and exposing new artists, if there are no plans to resurrect Seventh City, Are there any plans to start another label?
There is no plans to start another label.  It will only be Accelerate, Elevate and Seventh City from here on out. None of those labels are finished – there will still be new releases coming from all of them.

*That has to be the best news I’ve heard this year!!  Any new up and coming artists we should keep an eye out for?
It’s funny but I find the guys who have been around forever are putting out the more interesting music be it Baby Ford, Delano Smith, KDJ, Shake etc.  There have been some exceptions but the a lot of “newer”  music is lacking that bite when compared to different eras.

* What excites you most about coming back to Detroit this year?
Seeing old friends and making new ones..

*We can NOT WAIT to hear what you have in store for us Thank you Dan for taking the time and chatting with us!

People – DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW in DETROIT!!!  Thank you for the support.

Words and post by Aaron Bliss

// CONNECT // Beatport :: Discogs :: Ostgut Ton / Berghain :: MDR

// CONNECT // Beatport :: Discogs :: Ostgut Ton / Berghain :: Klockworks

// CONNECT // Beatport :: Discogs :: Accelerate :: 7th City Records

// CONNECT // Beatport :: Discogs :: Novel Sound :: Deconstruct

:: Presale Tickets ::

Click to purchase Presales at ShowClix

:: Venue ::

Google

Maps

:: Sound ::

Line array spec sheet

Sub spec sheet

:: Lighting and Decoration ::

Max Macdougal

:: Promoters ::

[KONTROL]

Humanaut

Beretta Music

Particle People MPLS

Black MPLS

Jack the Box is proud to announce the arrival of a new EP by not only one of our own but also from a label that is as home grown as the artist who wrote it…

Timefog 04 – DVS1 Flight to No Where EP (w/ Drumcell vs. Audio Injection rmx)

Hardwax described DVS1’s debut on Ben Klock’s Klockworks label as “Pure and crafty techno”. The EP stormed techno charts from Derrick May, Samuel Sessions, Luke Slater, James Ruskin, Stephan Goldman, Funktion, Dj Deep, Tommy Four Seven, Tamo Sumo, Martin Landsky, Efdemin, Dustin Zahn, Dario Zenker, Ryan Elliot, Insideout, Jonass Kopp, Par Grindvik, James Ruskin, Marcel Fengler, Kevin Gormann, Tobi Neumann, Monika Kruse, Dos Santos, Kevin Saunderson, Mike Shannon, Ben Klock, Rejected, Camea, the Oct09 “Best of Beatport” chart, and on and on! This Minneapolis-based artist’s Timefog release proves to be equally pure and crafty, with more powerful raw emotions explored at the edges of the spectrum. With projects in the works for Derrick May’s Transmat label as well, DVS1 is one to watch!

Falling –

 
An urgent, taut kick and rusty switchblade high hats snap to attention, sliding on titanium railways, as clanking, alien sonic flotsam rattles upward through your vertebrae. Cavernous toms pick up the cadence as the lights get lower. Flickering red lightbulbs overhead signal that liftoff is about to commence! Sure to be a hit with the likes of Ben Klock and Marcel Dettmann.

Falling (Drumcell and Audio Injections Finally Falling Mix) –

 
The DROID crew from Los Angeles delivers a remix from Drumcell and Audio Injection. Profound bass and a sleek polish shine the rusty robots into gleaming machines, firing in a dramatic, powerful, linear trajectory through a parallel universe.

Departure –

 
This is serious, deceptively simple big room techno at its finest, dry as dust. Taking a confident jump into faster BPMs, this is a track for people who still like to be pounded sometimes. Badly behaving robots drop like comets on a misaligned course into a pit of steamy bodies, heaving sweat, and nihilistic abandon as the synths growl their approval. Claps and saw blade cymbals punctuate the mayhem with authority, and the hook will certainly be one to remember…

Arrival (with break) –

 
The runway lights appear in the distance as gauges click into place. The fasten your seatbelt sign has miraculously been turned off as beautiful silhouettes increase the cabin pressure. A warm yet melancholic descending bassline and spacious breakdown welcome us back to a lucid, womb-like reality as euphoric pads linger in the dream of the escape.

Arrival (No Break) –

 
The same feel with no breakdown, for those who aren’t ready to land just yet!

Support is coming from all over!  Support from: Laurent Garnier, Par Grindvik, AlexiDelano, Chris Liebing, Luke Slater, Len Faki, Alland Byallo, Dustin Zahn, Paco Osuna, Slam, Jacob Hoffman, Aaron Bliss, Jesse Jakob, Butane, and on and on…..

Click the Link here and be sure to check out our interview with DVS1 and podcast featuring a number of DVS1’s amazing material!

Two of my most cherished people in this scene recently began a new journey into sound. Who are they?  Whats this all about? The fact is, they are no stranger to the local Minneapolis dance music Scene, Tanya and Travis Norman are long time supporters of the local scene here in Minneapolis and some people think this is project is long over due.

In addition to telling you about complicit I want to also share a little about the other artists joining us for the next installment of Black brought to you by the Particle People Mpls. Joining complicit live this December 26th 2009 we have sets from Christian James and David Avid, Jacob Hoffman, and one of my oldest, dearest, friends and mentor Kevin Irvin (aka Cat In the Hat circa mid 1990’s) We will revisit some of them in the near future BUT…

For now I want to focus on an introduction…

complicit

[kuhm-plis-it] –adjective- choosing to be involved in a questionable act, esp. with others…

I asked Tanya and Travis to tell us a little about them self and there new project..

First off, thanks so much for inviting us to these pages! Minneapolis is fortunate to now have a blog along these lines and you all are making sure that this online channel lives up to the same standards of quality that the events consistently deliver.

What inspires you?

One of many things that inspire us is the potential for exploring new forms of communication.  On one level there is the traditional synergy of musicians creating together in the moment that is the same type of interplay you see in any band or musical act.  Yet since we control a single system we express a single idea, which gets divided in our performance primarily by frequency range.   It is almost as though we are both right and left hand seated at the piano and reading the same piece of music.

We enjoy supporting and experiencing other talent as often as possible, especially our local innovators, and we are excited to now make a contribution of our own.

A motivating force for us both us is musical sound design, and learning our tools to the point where we can create the ideas we hear in our head.   The learning process itself is enjoyable, especially when experimentation leads to unpredictable results, or takes us in a new direction.  We often allow our sound shaping efforts to guide us and inform our decisions on how a track should progress.

What brought about this new project?

As far as the initial circumstances that lead to our attempting this project, the most recent Movement Festival in Detroit was pretty much a turning point for us.  We witnessed a handful of moments where we felt the artists were connecting with the crowd in such a potent way – we knew we wanted to tap into this type of energy.

 

Tanya – Tell us a little about your back ground in music…

“Even though I have only been seriously active in music production for a year now, a classically trained background in music has made the whole learning process easier.  I started piano when I was 5, picked up flute at 10, and studied strings, woodwinds and brass instruments all through high school and college.  I have my undergrad degree in music and a diploma in audio engineering.  I also worked as a freelance audio engineer for several years, managed a music store, and currently am a director at a local multimedia college.

What tools and technologies have inspired you?

Ableton Live has had quite an impact on me, both technically and creatively.  I studied ReBirth and Digital Performer back in the day, then got into Pro Tools and Reason.  Ableton has made the most sense to me because of the way it’s designed for musicians and the flexibility it offers.  After a few months of digging into it and reading manuals and magazines, I was hooked.

For years I have seen you on the dance floor, what moved you into realm of performing?

Before I started producing I spent years as a listener and avid supporter of electronic music.  Watching and learning every move the pro’s make while seeing the reaction of the audience was the most moving experience I ever had in music.  Humbled and in awe of the amazing techniques and skilled craftsmanship I was witnessing, I became aware of a growing desire to trying production on my own.

And who better to act as teacher and mentor than my husband, who comes from a wealth of background and education in production, engineering and performance as a DJ.  I owe a lot of my knowledge in production to him.  Luckily, we get excited about the same styles of music, so it made sense for us to start a project together.   We’ll both admit that the musical communication process was not altogether obvious at first – it took a little while to figure out our workflow and how to present our ideas.  It really was an altogether new level of communication for us.

Who/What Inspires you?

A lot of different artists inspire me.  There is such great local talent in Minneapolis that every weekend I get to go out and hear amazing music.  I love the deep stuff, the techno stuff and the house stuff.  My music is a reflection of my feelings and an interpretation of my mood.”

Travis – Tell us a little about yourself…

This is an intriguing time in my life, one filled with change, and I am thrilled to be making music at such a furious pace and with a goal in mind of somehow documenting in sound the many new ideas and challenges which currently demand my attention.   I find the process of music production cathartic, a chance to funnel the day’s ups or downs into an essence of experience that (hopefully) others can identify with.

On the flip of that though, I also enjoy crafting our songs around the simple sense of release available through the mighty 4 / 4 kick drum.  For me there is a balance, where as a listener your body is responding to these primal and insistent rhythmic arrangements, literally triggering physiological responses to all the stimuli, and yet your brain is enveloped in the tonality and melody, occasionally even giving rise to a place where things come together – your questions answered, your goals defined, and your personal path forward now illuminated with clarity in your mind’s eye – these have been the among the most memorable experiences for me on the dancefloor.  I want to create soundscapes that allow for this type of whole person harmony to unfold.

What is it about complicit that excites you?

Although I have a decade plus worth of experience in handling turntables and samplers in bands as well as an album out as a solo electronic artist, complicit is so exciting for me because I now get to share those cherished late nights of preparation and performance with the person closest to me.

Working alongside Tanya in this manner has been fun for so many reasons, not the least of which is just bearing witness to this new blossoming of her talent.  I am always hesitant to present my ways of working on music as anything other than one approach out of a nearly infinite array, and so am always striving to supplement my “mentoring” with other resources like the epic Ableton Users Groups Minneapolis is so fortunate to host.  The coolest part is that Tanya has reached the point of required familiarity with the “rules” and is now able to break them in interesting ways.  Meanwhile, I get ready access to creative opinions and techniques outside of my own bag of tricks and ways of looking at things.

We are counting down to our debut show at Black, we can’t wait!

As an extra added bonus Jacob Hoffman sent us a mix and a little insight on who Jacob is…

Jacob Hoffman is a triple aquarius.  Those that know him best will tell you stories about a life of emphasized question marks, without letting the story get too complicated.  Though many bear fruit with just a piece, Jacob is an advocate of the whole pie, italics and all.  With roots in Minneapolis, sharing the speakers with the likes of Andy Fargo, Bruno Pronsato, The Push, Particle People, Centrific, and all that challenge convention, Jacob has honed a quirky, moody style of house on the decks, and wears his sense of humor on his sleeves.  Recently relocated to sunny Brooklyn, New York, dig in the heels, my friend.

What? He’s just kidding?

 

Mark Henning – Get Me To The Moon (Agaric Remix)

Dachshund – Taxidermy (Someone Else Remix)

Vera & Frederico Molinari – It Ain’t Music

Kris Wadsworth – State And Griswold

2000 And One – Burnin Dub

Audio Werner – Onandon

DJ T. – Gorilla Hug

Tim Xavier & Miro Pajic – The Persian Eye (Ambivalent Remix)

Sidney Frost – Superfling

Plastic FM – Anonymous (Matt Star Remix)

Zev – Forget The World (f/ Beckford)

Quasimoto – Green Power

As part of an on going effort here at “Jack The Box” to expose what amazing things are happening in the Midwest, our next Interview and Jackcastcast is no exception. In honor of his birthday and his recent release on Klock Works (Time Fog release out in the coming weeks) we took the time to have a few questions with The DVS1.  If you are from the area you know who he is and if you’ve been to a techno show recently then the odds are you have heard him since his music is making it into the bags of many respected DJs around the world.

A party promoter, club owner, sound designer, DJ, and producer, I can’t help but proud of our very own DVS1. Please Join the Particle People Mpls and Hush this Saturday, November 28th 2009 for a special night of music and celebration with Aaron Bliss, Jesse Jakob, Math Static on visuals and DVS1 .

As an extra special treat we have an exclusive podcast! Now, this is no ordinary podcast; but a very special blend of original and unreleased cuts from the man himself. In this podcast you will hear forthcoming music from TimeFog, Transmat, Klock Works, and Others.

_______________________________________________

What are your feelings of the Midwest dance music scene? Specifically Minneapolis…

Obviously I’m biased because it’s my home! The Midwest is great and specifically Minneapolis in my eyes is the sleeping giant, the city that has so much talent that most people just overlook and I’m not saying that      just to pump our ego’s, most  other’s who come here to perform/play say the same thing about our energy, our venues and our opportunities, sure we don’t have everything…but what we do have is pretty good!!

As far as our party scene, it goes just like most other cities…Things always go up and down and go through phases of change.  Currently it feels pretty good; we have a healthy dose of club nights and a decent amount of underground spots!  We still get away with throwing all night parties and we play our music as loud as we want…All in all I think we’re all right.

Lately a lot of Minneapolis people have been gaining attention outside of our city.  There have been a few people branching out and putting out original production and it feels like we have a little momentum going right now with our locals!

Your first release on Klockworks (klockworks 05) seems to going well. How has that experience been for you?
It’s been interesting!  I never set out to make music for release; I really just made things for myself and spent time creating the couple live sets that I have done.  From doing those live sets things have really spawned into a lot of opportunities. I have to say I’ve always been a DJ first.   My love and passion is for playing vinyl and I’m really just now gaining  a new admiration for the production side of things. I would say as a DJ I feel pretty fluent and able to show my emotions. As a producer, I’m still learning how to speak and how to express myself.

I have said this to a few people already in regards to my first release and meeting Ben Klock.  I couldn’t have connected with a better person to give me insight and answers to my questions when it came to putting out music.   Ben Klock is not only an amazing DJ/producer, but he is a very down to earth guy who was open to my questions and was really good about helping me get this release for Klockworks ready!  He has a great ear and really helped me focus my ideas for the release.

Speaking about connections – the story surrounding your chance encounter with Ben Klock is a really fun story; would you like to share a little about that?
I’ll give you the short version…I’ve only done 3 live PA’s EVER.  1 over 3 years ago and the other happened to be the weekend that Ben Klock was playing in Minneapolis.  After he got done playing at Black, he was brought over to the underground party where I was about to perform.  I think he literally walked in as I was starting.  That night was magical for me, cause that was the 2nd live set I had ever done.  I had a great crowd, great sound and the vibe was on fire that night!!  After Ben heard the set, we started talking and it appeared that he genuinely liked what I was doing and my approach to making music.  We kept in touch afterward and the rest is history…Klockworks 05 stemmed from that live set he heard me perform that night…

Are you currently working on any new music projects?
Yes.  I just finished a release for the Timefog crew, its should be coming out soon.  (timefog04 flight to no where EP).  3 tracks of mine with a remix from Drumcell of the DROID crew in LA. (DIGITAL ONLY)

I’m also doing a very limited 7 inch record for a crew in Sweden.  I’m doing a remix of Van Rivers (of sublimal kid and van rivers from SWEDEN).  This release is being done in conjunction with a party I’m going to play for them and the pressings are for the people who attend the party. But you know I’m grabbing a STACK of em to bring home!

The next release I have slated is something I’m really proud of as well…I actually gave some of my early tracks to Derrick May last year before meeting Ben Klock and he sat on them for a long time.  After deciding to resurrect Transmat he offered me a release with 2 tracks that he was playing out…  I cant really explain the feeling of having a record come out on Transmat.  Derrick May and that entire era of DJ’s and record labels is what I grew up on and what became such a huge influence on what my style and taste is today…I’m seriously honored and humbled to be a part of the re-start of Transmat!  DVS1 love under pressure EP MS96 comes out VERY SOON!!

I’m also working on a follow up to the Klockworks release.  There are a few other projects on the horizon for people that I have been following for years, but for now they are top secret!!

Are you planning on touring soon in support of the new music?
I wish/hope!!!  All though things are starting to pop up and I’m getting some really unique opportunities from the record release with Klock.  I’m playing in Sweden November 14th and Berghain in Berlin on January 23rd.  I’m hoping to get another gig while over in Berlin!

Since this interview you recently returned from Sweden, tell us a little about your first official international gig, how was it?
It was great!  The people were really nice and the gig was good.  They lost the original space about 2 days before the party and at the last minute got another one.  Unfortunately they had to turn the sound down due to noise complaints early on at this new space…I still played for nearly 4 hours to a packed underground party though!

What are your expectations of Berlin and Berghain? (Or just pick Europe in general if you prefer)
Really I don’t have any expectations.  I can’t….  I keep going back and forth with how much I should expect, or how much I should prepare or how much I should tailor what I do with what I expect…In the end I think I really just need to go over there and do what I do best…ME.   That’s not meant to be Cocky, its really meant to try and convince myself of that being the right thing to do..J  If I cant convince myself of that I might just go crazy over thinking it!

One of the things we support on this Blog is gear!  I know, I know, Its so cliché, but hey, the fact is, people really do like to know.  What is your current DJ and music production set up?
For Djing…I prefer 2 tech 1210MK5G. (+-16). A Pioneer 800 Dj mixer and some type of Isolator strip (vestax DCR 1200pro 4 channel EQ).  I PLAY WAX!!!! So I just need a good mixer and a good set of DECKS!!

In the studio it’s just REASON 4.0 with a full keyboard and a UC33 controller.  I try and use reason as organically as possible recording live mix downs and live manipulation, nothing is preprogrammed or laid out as far as programming.  Unfortunately I had to get rid of a lot of my analog gear from back in the day… All though I recently picked up a MINT emu sp12 sampler.  I’m thinking about going on a binge of sampling old disco and soul cuts and making some twisted old techno jack tracks… (That’s my Midwest roots!)

How can people find out more about hush/dvs1/your events and all the other things you do…
www.hushsound.com
I’ve always procrastinated on my website, but I finally have it up.  It’s in the early stages now, but I am adding content and already have a bunch of mixes posted from myself and almost all the DJ sets from my guests at the future classic parties I’ve been throwing.  I’m also about to start a monthly question section on the website for people to interact and talk about music on a deeper level.  I first saw Jeff Mills do this on his AXIS site and I used to really appreciate the comments people had.

Other than that…you can find me on myspace.com/thedeviousonempls or facebook under DVS1.

Interview by Aaron Bliss

Right click and save here for Direct JackCast Download

Be sure to Join us all at Black this Saturday Nov 28th, 2009 to Celebrate our friends Sharie, and Zak’s Birthday. Join Aaron Bliss, Jesse Jakob, Math Static and DVS1 himself for an amazing night of great music, lights, and sound.

Back in April The Particle People were visited by Ben Klock. While on a short visit to the US (NYC and Minneapolis only) with a special night at BLACK we were able to find out why he was on the tip of everyone’s tongue. He was modest, nice and simply blew the dance floor away with an amazing mix of new and classic techno and house. This set was a perfect example of the raw gritty underground sound of US (mostly Midwest) and German dance music coming from Berlin at the moment, most noticeably a little club you may have heard of recently called Berghain.

While in Minneapolis Ben not only was able to see what the Midwest was about, Ben even took home a little piece of Minneapolis by signing our very own DVS1 for KlockWorks005. While here he interviewed for Tanya Norman from IPR and recently with us at Jack The Box for a followup. What Follows is the followup interview and below is the original interview from Tanya and Ben Klock from April.

To top it all off we were also able to get hold of a recording of that night for JackCast002 Ben Klock Live@BLACK…

 

Right Click and save here for Direct Download

You recently visited  Minneapolis, What were your impressions of the American Techno scene before coming and what are your impressions now? Specifically  Minneapolis …
Well I have to say before I had the impression that it’s a very small scene there and this was approved. But in the end it’s more about quality than quantity. And there were some people who were really into it – especially in Minneapolis. And it was great fun playing there, because people seemed to really appreciate.

Your latest release on Klockworks (klockworks 005) is from one of our own locals and is very exciting for us.  Is klockworks005 the first release from artists other than you?
Yes it’s the first release from someone else. So it’s something special for me too. I was really impressed by Zak (DVS1). He is minimalistic in it’s original sense. And very energetic. I loved his short but intense performance he did at that party in Minneapolis. And I’m glad I didn’t go straight home after my set and had the chance to meet this guy. I will bring him over to play at Berghain in February.

Do you plan on bringing more artists into the Klockworks roster?
Always depends on the music. If I find something that really fits into the concept that I have in mind for Klockworks then maybe there will be other artists. In fact I’m just planning something with a new artist but it’s to early to tell more.

Do you plan on visiting the  US  in 2010?
I’m not sure about that yet. We’ll see.

You are known for playing a very wide range of records. I remember hearing a number of classics in your set from your visit.  What is your favorite dance floor track, the one you almost never leave home without?
Yes I like mixing old and new stuff. But it always changes. I can’t tell you the one favorite classic. There are too many great records. But if you ask me which one never left the bag since I bought it in 1995 it’s Tyree on Dance Mania: Nuthin Wrong.

Are you currently working on any new music projects that we should keep an eye out for?
I’ve only been doing remixes since my album came out in February this year. Brand new in the stores is a remix for Function on Sandwell District.
And then there will be a record on Deeply Rooted House, distributed by PlanetE with two older tracks of mine coming out before the end of this year.

One of the things we love to talk about on this Blog is gear. Some people are gear enthusiasts and some are minimalists.  What is your current preferred DJ and music production set up?
I’m sorry to disappoint you if you expect a large analog production park. For my productions I’m using Logic Pro on a Mac and lot’s of digital plug Ins. That’s all I need at the moment. For me it’s more about music than loving machines. My DJ set up is two turntables and two Pioneer CDJs 1000 and a Soundbite loop player.

Thank you Ben!  Interview by Aaron Bliss for Jack the Box.

Below is the interview by Tanya Norman the night Ben Klock Played in Minneapolis.

Particle People Bring Ben Klock To First Ave VIP Room by Tanya Norman

On April 4, 2009 local promoters Particle People welcomed Ben Klock to the First Ave VIP Room. Coming to the USA all the way from Berghain Club in Berlin, this respected producer and deejay was here to promote his new album One and EP Before One out now on BeatPort and where vinyl is sold. Ben was kind enough to grant Tanya Norman an interview opportunity, allowing a glimpse inside his world of Berlin techno and sharing insight into why sometimes less is more…

TN: Who inspires you?  Mentors in music?

BK: I don’t know where to begin.  I’ve been making music all my life.  I listened to all kinds of music.  In the 80’s I loved Prince.  In the beginning of the 90’s I was beginning to look for new sounds.  There are some heroes: old US guys, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Robert Hood.  Basically, that’s where it comes from.

TN: What kind of technology and tools do you use?  Describe your studio.

BK:  It’s not that interesting. [laughs] I changed to complete digital. I really like total recall recording.  When I worked on my album I worked on different tracks at the same time.  I don’t want to have to reconnect cables…..with digital you can really do a lot of things.  I use Logic, a little Ableton… usually a Logic user.  And some plug-ins.

TN: Your current record label, Ostgut Ton, how long have you been with them?

BK: Since I’ve been a resident DJ at Berghain, about 3 years. Ostgut Ton is the label of Berghain. The venue they had before the Berghain was called Ostgut, that is why the label is called Ostgut Ton.

TN: You’ve been deejaying for over 10 years now?

BK: For a little over 10 years.  The international bookings started about 4 years ago, coinciding with the beginning of my residency at Berghain.

TN: Did you play any instruments as a child?

BK: When I was a kid I played piano. Before I became a DJ I also played in a band and did some songwriting, playing guitar and singing…

TN:  Did you find those experiences helpful with your current productions?

BK: Yes and no.  Sometimes it is not helpful when you are too educated in music and you want to make a good techno track…you don’t want it cluttered with too many solo parts, well, iIdon’t want it… [laughs]
See the full Interview at…
http://www.ipr.edu/blog/2009/04/particle-people-bring-ben-klock-to-first-ave-vip-room/

Be sure to see Tanya’s post for video and pictures from the night as well as visit Particle People on RA for more pictures here…

http://www.residentadvisor.net/photo-gallery.aspx?set=6248

and on http://www.myspace.com/particlepeoplempls

Oliver Ho visited The Particle People recently, and as a special gift he gave us a recording of his live set from the night. A rare treat for most, this is an amazing example  of what he has to offer. Not only a special podcast but also a few questions before and after the visit to Minneapolis.

 

What are/were your impressions of the Midwest dance music scene? specifically Minneapolis.
Prior to coming to Minneapolis I really hadn’t got a good impression of the Midwest, I had done a few raves in the late 90’s early 2000 which were pretty bad, kiddy ravers who really didn’t give a shit what they were listening to. I always found that quite strange, especially the carpet kids, who were just too high to care, no matter how many drugs I am on I always want quality music. Having said that, I don’t want to say that the Midwest didn’t have something to offer, it was just my personal experience.. Minneapolis was a pleasant surprise, a lovely bunch of enthusiastic people who love music/art and partying. I really enjoyed playing there and I think the Particle People have created something special there, further proof of this comes from the fact that Speedy J. decided to take his Umfeld project there for the Spark Festival, certainly a stamp of approval…

Are you currently working on any new projects?
I am working on new Raudive material, its coming out quite deep and funky at the moment, sometimes bleepy, and sometimes very organic, depending what mood I am in. I would like to record a Raudive album next year, I have an idea of 4 -  15 minute tracks, or 1  – 60 minute track that can be divided into 4, something quite conceptual..
I am also working on Zov Zov, an ambient industrial project. I hope to release some of this in 2010..

What is your current DJ and music production set up?
I use a mix of CDs, vinyl and Ableton live, I think they all have something to offer, I try to accept the technological advances while still retaining what has come before, its all about balance..

_____________________________________________________

A pre party interview by our own Tanya Norman is available here

_____________________________________________________

Right Click Here for Direct Download.

Interview By Aaron Bliss Art work by J. Matthews

Oliver Ho: Sign of Tomorrow by Tanya Norman

Any international DJ that plays in Minneapolis for the first time and drops “Sign “☮” the Times ” by Prince into a modern techno set quickly becomes a favorite of mine.  Local event promoters Particle People, (Jesse Jakob and Aaron Bliss) celebrated their one year anniversary by inviting London deejay and music producer, Oliver Ho, to be their guest. Sure enough, I have a new favorite.

As I walked through Gallery 13, admiring colorful oil paintings and striking collages hung on the wall by local artists, I remembered why I enjoy coming to events like this.  Minneapolis has been a favorite spot for many visiting deejays and with the help of several local promoters throughout the years (Hush, Klikmusik, Convergence, Intellephunk) fans have been given a chance to hear a variety of different styles of techno and electronic music.  Watching the colored lights on the  mixer glowing in this dark venue along with the nicely stacked speaker system producing thousands of watts of sound gave the listener the opportunity not only to hear, but to feel the music.  Literally.  And the sounds we heard from veteran producer Oliver Ho that evening gave us a glimpse of the future.

“I always wait to see what the vibe is like, and the atmosphere…I like giving something to people they might not have heard before.”

The advancement of music technology has greatly influenced Oliver’s music.  Being an active Ableton Live user enables him to play very diverse selections of music and to be more in control.  Compared to years past of using DAT, reel to reel machines and outboard gear he currently takes advantage of modern tools to create several styles of music, not just electronic.  “The amazing thing about software is that it has made music very democratic.  Anyone getting into production and using top technology has to have patience and not go too fast. With computers, I like the ability to re-edit music and work on it slowly over a period of time.”

Tracks from his new tech-minimal project, Raudive (pronounced raw-deev), have gotten the attention of other well known artists / deejays, showing up in sets from Daniel Bell to Ricardo Villalobos. Oliver noted, “What was happening a lot in the late nineties was techno music was becoming very narrow minded, so this was a chance for me as an artist and a producer to experiment with different ideas; I thought it was apt to use a different name for that.  It means I can make music inspired by house, experimental, different things..it’s a way for me to be diverse and using a name for that will let people know that there is a change of gear.”

Due in part to the different styles of music Oliver produces, it has worked well for him to collaborate with numerous record labels, such as Blueprint Records, Klang Elektronik and Poker Flat.  Certainly, Oliver has experienced the trials and tribulations of running a record label and found that it can be a difficult task.  His relationships with various labels have afforded him the opportunity to now concentrate solely on his music.  “The biggest challenge of running a label is being on top of it and not allowing people to take advantage of you.  There has to be a balance between making money and making music.”

As I peered over Oliver’s shoulders watching his quick hands mix, equalize and add effects to multiple tracks while he kept a close and engaging bond with the dance floor, I reflected on why I choose to come to these events.  For me its a chance to hear new sounds, have new experiences, and be surrounded by an open minded community of music lovers.  Mission accomplished.

The boys at BLACK have done it! The Website is live. Take a look for new mixes, pictures, and flyers. We are still adding new content this week so be sure to keep an eye out for all the goods!

http://www.blackmpls.com

enjoy!

GET “BLACK LISTED” HERE!

sign up for the list and get notified of news, shows, and guest list promos.

* Email
	* Sign-Up here for the Email News Letter and be notified of Updates to Jack The Box,Guest list offers, and PodCasts!

JACK THE BOX