Echaskech – Exclusive interview

No this isn’t an interview with an old skool toy. It is in fact, an interview with the guys behind one of my most played albums on my iPod. “An album of original material superbly executed and guaranteed to appeal to both those who appreciate dance music’s heritage and folk who fancy some unpretentious, slightly filthy electronica ***** ” (iDJMagazine). After a storming success with their first album ‘Skechbook’, its about time we found out a bit more from Dom, Andy and Mark, got inside their musical minds and milked their future plans…

ASIP: Hi guys, how is your cold UK winter going!?
Echaskech: Well today it snowed, rained and then ’sunned’…Andy and I have separate studios in our flats…mine has a view of my garden where a resident squirrel had to take shelter under one of my evil, ceramic, machete wielding gnomes. It was a quite a distraction from the task in hand, writing our second album, which is going very well indeed. All three of us (Mach V, our muse and visual magician is always in the loop) seem to be experimenting with new ideas, but somehow we all seem to move in a similar ‘direction’. The new album is going to really blow some minds…we hope.

ASIP: So how did the three of you get together?
Echaskech: Briefly, Andy and I know each other from school. We have always written music, and 3 years ago we decided it was about time that we jammed. Its a technical business jamming with mainly electronic instruments, but thats what makes it unique. We liked the noise, so got ourselves a gig, in Brick Lane (1001). A friend put us in touch with Mark (Mach V) to accompany us with projections…we always planned for it to be AV from the start. We played and the reception was incredible…We got 2 more bookings straight away from that 1st gig!

ASIP: How did your signing to (one of my favourite labels!) Just Music come about?
Echaskech: In our 1st year, 2005, we supported Jon Hopkins at a gig, we both became mutual fans from that day. We hooked up for a Leo Abrahams gig at the Water Rats and he introduced me to the bosses of Just Music. We had a few other labels interested at the time, but Just Music fitted so perfectly. Leo Abrahams and Jon Hopkins both have new albums out next year too, and both are exceptional live.

ASIP: Dare I ask how or where the name Echaskech came from? Are you all expert Echaskecher’s!?
Echaskech: Well Mark’s great-grandfather unofficially invented the first guided pixel writer at the turn of the century, he was never credited for it and died peniless. My mother also invented audio books, but again, missed the boat as far as patents go. Neither facts have anything to do with our band name.

ASIP: You are involved in gigs at London’s Southbank, tell us a bit more about this.
Echaskech: Wow, yes! Concrete at the Hayward Gallery. 3rd Sunday of every month we curate a night that allows us to show off what marvelous taste in music and art we have by inviting top notch electronic acts and visual artists to perform. We had Erin Lang and Roger O’Donnel from the Cure there a couple of months ago!  It is free, and the next one is our Xmas special on the 20th December, you can find details on our web site, but I can tell you that we will be playing ourselves, live, followed by a very special act.

ASIP: Your music varies from lush ambient electronica to drum and bass, are there particular influences from each of you. How do you decide a tracks direction?
Echaskech: It is all driven by emotion really. If you experience a broad range of emotions and want to express  (or invoke) them then the music is a reflection of that emotion. I think it would be very difficult to emote such a broad spectrum of feelings at one bpm or in one genre. I think we have even strayed into folk at one point. For the new album, expect darkness, warmth, euphoria expressed with, again, 4/4s, ambient, dub and a whole lot of grinding bass.

ASIP: Thats quite a range of sounds, what instruments do you all play?
Echaskech: Andy and I are primarily producers, so its all about sound design, noise and rhythms from machines. However we were both classically trained and both played violin, and piano, poorly. I also play drums and Mark plays guitar.

ASIP: What’s the best venue you have had the pleasure of rocking?!
Echaskech: We played Luminaire with James Holden and Nathan Fake a short while ago. That has a sound system to die for! Apart from that, what really gets us heavy trousered is festival sound stages. Our act is built for big sytems and large projections and lighting.

ASIP: I saw you perform at a nice little intimate gig in Hammersmith, do you enjoy these types of gigs too?
Echaskech: Intimate is fine, but just by the nature of the venues, usually comes with a poor sound system, which is tough to work. However, we aren’t well known enough to fill or get booked for big venues, so its usually what we have to do! Festivals are perfect because its just a question of programming… if you stick us on a big system we will do our level best to rock your legs to jelly.

ASIP: How important do you see the visual aspect of your live shows? Is it going to progress?
Echaskech: Well, like I said, its very important indeed. But having said that, if the music doesn’t stand up on its own then there is no point. Its not so much icing on the cake, but wine with a meal. Its a different animal, but makes the whole thing work on another level.

ASIP: You are often compared with big-guns such as the Chemical Brothers and Orbital. Do you agree with these comparisons?
Echaskech: Why not? We aren’t too precious about being categorised or compared to others. We are influenced by such a massive spectrum of acts musically, many of which don’t play or we have never seen live. However, as a live act we are very much in the same mould as Underworld, Orbital or The Chems, we are passionate about playing live in interesting and engaging ways, without necessarily resorting to bringing in a house band for live ‘appeal’.

ASIP: Your musical influences on your myspace page read like my itunes library! Whats hot on your iPod at the moment?
Echaskech: Mark, Andy and I are always exchanging tips and influences, like: Bad Loop, Radiohead, Planet Boelex, Jon Hopkins, Orbital, Modeselektor, Sunosis, Radioactiveman, Mariel Ito…err… hang on (checks iPod)…Skream, Sigur Ros, Quest, Plastikman, Erin Lang, James Yuill, Tunng, Bon Iver, Cornelius, Fleet Foxes, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Trentemøller, Simian Mobile Disco, Quinoline Yellow and Disrupt. Phew.

ASIP: Whats the best musical experience each of you have ever been to?
Dom – Underworld at Somerset House, so beautiful, hot summer night, totally rocked.
Mark – Too many to choose from! Err, this year’s Highlight was most definitely Mum at The Big Chill Eastnor Castle Festival.
Andy – My Bloody Valentine, Roundhouse.

ASIP: What up and coming bands/artists have got you excited at the moment?
Echaskech: Jon Hopkins (or is he already up and come?), James Yuill, Planet Boelex, Beak, Disrupt.

ASIP: You are producing quite a few remixes at the moment, have you any future plans to collaborate with any other artists?
Echaskech: We are working with James Yuill on some stuff, which will hopefully see the light of day in the new year.

ASIP: So you have a new album in the pipeline and some remix collaborations – busy times ahead! Will you be playing any festivals next year?
Echaskech: Yes, we will. Although we are not allowed to say when or where yet

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Big thanks to Dom, Andy and Mark for the interview. Now get your ass down to Concrete on the 20th December to see Echaskech live along with very special guests!

http://www.echaskech.co.uk – For Free live performance downloads, gallery and press
http://www.myspace.com/echaskech – Current remixes and exclusives.

If you like what you hear, take a while to explore some of the artists/bands mentioned in this interview for your path to further musical happiness.

Jon Hopkins, Orbital, Leo Abrahams, Bad Loop, Planet Boelex, Modeselektor, Sunosis, Radioactiveman, Mariel Ito, Skream, Sigur Ros, Plastikman, Erin Lang, James Yuill, Tunng, Bon Iver, Cornelius, Fleet Foxes, Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Beak.

The Big Chill – tickets on sale

Last week i got news of Orbital playing at the Big Chill next year. wahoo. Tickets go on sale today and a very early line-up has been announced:

Alice Russell
Basement Jaxx
Calexico
Favela Chic
Horse Meat Disco
John Hegley
Ludovico Einaudi
Norman Jay
Orbital
Pharoah Sanders
Sean Hughes
Summer of Dub
Wonky Pop

Lets hope for a few more announcements soon

See more here:
www.bigchill.net/festival/info/line-up

Buy your tickets here:
www.bigchill.net/festival/info/tickets

Exciting news

Now i didnt want to push down my interview with Ulrich Schnauss from the top of my blog, but i will keep this short and sweet because i am f@cking excited. Orbital will be reforming to appear at the Big Chill festival next year. This is one of the acts i have always missed out on and thought i had missed for good. Until now. You can be sure it will be a fun filled set of Orbital classics. See you there!

Exclusive Ulrich Schnauss Interview

There was only ever going to be one person to help break the ASIP Q&A virginity. I was lucky enough to get the chance to put a few questions Ulrich’s way and here’s what he had to say:

ASIP: Many of your tracks are featured on chillout/ambient mixes. What would be your ideal setting for a chillout mix?
ULRICH: I quite like “industrial romantic” settings – maybe having a good PA set up somewhere in Hamburg’s harbour area?

ASIP: Your music sounds like it’s produced on a balcony overlooking the most beautiful sea soundscape. Is this far from the truth then?!
ULRICH: I do realize that many people seem to think that my music’s very positive or even optimistic – personally i don’t really see it that way though. I try to create tracks that are beautiful as a reaction against reality – certainly not as a reflection of it. The “beautiful sea soundscape” might be the imagery or feeling I’m trying to evoke with my music – the actual source of inspiration might actually be the opposite of that.

ASIP: Your latest album had much more vocals than the last two. Is this the direction you are heading?
ULRICH: I really enjoyed working with Judith’s vocals while recording “Isolated Place” – something we definitely wanted to explore a bit further on “Goodbye” – however, the new record I started working on this summer will be mainly instrumental.

ASIP: My favourite part of your music is the amount of layers which you combine to work together perfectly. How long does a regular Ulrich Schnauss track take to produce?
ULRICH: The songs on “Goodbye” took the longest time to construct – probably an average of 1 or 2 months per song – with mixing being the most time consuming part of it.

ASIP: One of my favourite remixes of yours is Justin Robertson’s Love Movement. This seems an odd collaboration, did he approach you? How did this remix evolve?!
ULRICH: It’s not a particularly exciting story – his management approached me and asked if I’d be interested in doing a mix – I like the early Lionrock stuff and a lot of the remixes he did in the early 90s, so I was happy to have the opportunity to work on that project.

ASIP: Many people first heard your releases on one of Nick Warrens GU compilation and he seems to be one of your biggest supporters. Are you friends at all?
ULRICH: Yes, we met a couple of times at parties in Bristol – he’s a good guy and I certainly appreciate his support.

ASIP: You have previously stated that you are looking to bring more into your live shows. How is your live act progressing so far?
ULRICH: I was unhappy in the past because what I was doing was only “live” to a very limited degree – mainly I have been playing backing tracks from the hard drive and adding some keyboard on top – Summer last year I started exploring Ableton Live which has become a very valuable tool. I’ve taken little loops from all parts of the respective songs and improvise with them nowadays – bit like doing a live remix or re-arrangement.

ASIP: Would you ever consider DJing as well as producing?
ULRICH: I was really excited about DJing in the 90s – i DJ’d drum and bass for a couple of years back then. A lot of people are trying to become producers so it’s not an easy field to enter – however, I’ve done a few things in that direction and hope there’ll be more in the future. Just recently I’ve mixed a single for British band Exit Calm and another single for Manchester singer/songwriter Daniel Land, together with a friend (Mark Peters of The Engineers).

ASIP: Are there any plans to revisit your Ethereal days in the near future?
ULRICH: I’ve been thinking about that a lot recently – drum and bass seems to be enjoying a bit of a (well deserved) revival and there’s tons of great new records being released at the moment – I’m particularly into the so called “liquid” stuff. If I have the time I’d love to start producing some dnb again.

ASIP: Bars, clubs, festivals or other…where do you most like playing?
ULRICH: Generally I enjoy playing with friends and like-minded bands the most – one of the best ones was a show at the Bowery Ballroom last year which also had Mahogany, Elika and Soundpool on the bill.

ASIP: You have played quite a few festivals in the UK now. What has been your best festival experience so far?!
ULRICH: Bestival was a good experience this year – though it was cold and extremely muddy somehow there seemed to be special energy at this gig. Festivals are always a good opportunity to check out bands and artists that you otherwise probably wouldn’t get to see – I played the Big Chill once and Andreas Vollenweider was on the bill – it was a wonderful moment to have an opportunity to attend his concert.

ASIP: What would you say to any aspiring Ulrich fans out there who wanted to start producing music like yours?
ULRICH: My “advice” would be: don’t try to produce music “like mine” – do what you want to do. For a long period of time (basically throughout the entire 90s) I’ve made the mistake of trying to fit into certain genres and cliques because I felt that was the only way I’d get anywhere – ironically I only started receiving some positive responses to my music when I gave up on that strategy and made the music I wanted to make.

ASIP:  So many people (me included!) want to explore more music similar to yours. Which artists or bands would you recommend?
ULRICH: There seem to be quite a few bands and projects in the U.S that consist of people who probably grew up listening to the same artists and work in a similar direction – it’s not an attempt at coming up with a complete list but i’d like to mention Mahogany, Auburn Lull, Lovesliescrushing, Elika, The Meeting Places, Sway, Airiel, Soundpool, A Shoreline Dream, The High Violets, Experimental Aircraft, Landing, Asobi Seksu, Francis7, The Daysleepers, Fleeting Joys, Skyward, The Turn-ons, Film school, Alcian Blue, Casino vs Japan… apologies to everyone i might have forgotten.

ASIP: If you could have been the man behind any track ever produced, which would it be?
ULRICH: I don’t necessarily feel that way – when I hear a great piece of music i’m happy for the person who’s made it and hope that they’ll be respected for it – it’s not about competition or thinking “what would it be like if I had done that”.

ASIP: What’s on the horizon for Ulrich Schnauss?
ULRICH: The two main projects are the next solo record and the new album I’m recording with the band that I’m playing keys in: Longview. Besides that I’m hoping to do more production hopefully a soundtrack at some point next year.

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Big thank you to Ulrich and his management Rocketgirl. For more info check Ulrich’s myspace page, and of course keep checking back here! Now spend the rest of your day checking out the bands mentioned in this interview:

Longview, Mahogany, Auburn Lull, Lovesliescrushing, Elika, The Meeting Places, Airiel, Soundpool, A Shoreline Dream, The High Violets, Experimental Aircraft, Landing, Asobi Seksu, Francis7, The Daysleepers, Fleeting Joys, Skyward, The Turn-ons, Film school, Alcian Blue, Casino vs Japan.