[Music & Interview]: The Chronics

 

 

 

Hi Marc, nice to have you for our interview feature. Let’s start with the very beginning of your life: where were you born and raised? When did you discover music as a hobby (being a music listener) and when did you decide that you want to be part of?

Hi Jurgen 🙂 First of all thank you for having me on NovaFuture Blog. I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Geneva in Switzerland. I discovered music at a very young age because of my parents who would listen to music 24/7. At 8 years old, I inherited an old CD player from my father and ever since, I made it a thing to dig into his CD collection. From Gainsbourg on my father’s side, to The Beatles on my mother’s side, I always had something cool to listen to.

After listening to all kinds of classics, I finally discovered true love for electronic music starting with Eurodance in the year 2000. At this point, I fell deeply in Love with this fast music full of emotion. I got into Techno whilst at a couple of events in Geneva and it was at this moment, I knew that it was the music which make me vibrate the most.

My choice was concretized after a couples of months in Berlin listening to all the greats and being submerge by all this culture related to electronic music. I finally found a place where you can be yourself without being judge. Since then, Electronic Music was a way for me to escape the system and to forget about all your problems. When I had the chance to get my first salary, I spent all of it into my first music equipment that I directly set up in my best friend garage where I started to play for my friends mainly for before and after party.

 

 

Could you please tell us something about your artist name? What does it mean and how did you choose it?

Ahahaha, I was sure you would ask this question…. well my artist name is basically based on my first Soundcloud name. At the time I created it I was deeply into the « The Chronics 2001» mixtape from Dr. Dre. so, I was like why not. I didn’t take it too seriously and I had my first gig, my second gig and at the end I kept it this way. 4:20 for Life.

 

 

What are your inspirations and influences as a recording artist and as a dj?

I would say that my main influences have come from the Eurodance era, which is based on synths full of emotions and fast rhythms. I am also really into all these organic sounds that feel like they come from a living machine, which gives the track a real dynamic and depth.

 

 

You play regularly in Switzerland and invite people to play with you at Folklor (Lausanne). How do you see the scene there? How would you compare it with other countries?

First of all you have to know that Switzerland is mainly separate in three parts: the French one, the Italian one and the Swiss German one. Concerning the French part of Switzerland, I would say that the scene is born from rave parties hosted in squat many years ago and at this time few clubs were hosting techno events. But since a couple of years techno has been the new thing in our area. We now have electronic music events every weekends in different clubs and during the summer, we got almost every weekend rave parties.

Since 3 years, we have plenty of motivated persons who are getting more and more involved in the scene and who are trying to make things move. The only problem we have regarding our scene is coming from the persons who are doing that only for the hype; pretending to be authentic music lover and make some for a cause but at the end they are only fake persons and this kinda person doesn’t last. The scene here is not comparable to any others because of its lack of maturity but our scene is mainly based on Rave Parties and the spirit of raving remains strong and you can see that there is more motivation regarding a rave party than commercial techno events. Keep it real!

 

 

We talked about inspirations but how do you work on new tracks? What is different when you get a remix request?

I finally found my final (LOL) set up (there is no final set up ahaha; that’s why “ LOL“) which is composed of an analog rhythm, my modular and a moog Sub 37. I always start a new track by creating a sound on my synths/modular and as soon as I find something that triggers my emotions, I keep it and build a track around it.

Regarding remixes, it is Christmas every time I received a stems pack. You open it and I discover what is inside. Sometimes it is some pretty good material well exported with nice and well processed parts at the good volume and sometimes it s not… (Laugh) but in any case remixes are for me a way to re interpret someone feelings. I used the stems and process them into many effects to change the way it sounds but trying to keep whats make the original sonority as much as possible. After all the sound processing, I start to build a track which is telling a total different story than the original.

 

 

You are also part of the duo. We want to keep the name secret but would like to know how you work together as a duo and when you came up with this idea.

The duo is a story of two people who share the exact same energy. It comes naturally that I have to work and collaborate with this special person and after a year of collaboration we ended up with something innovative, which represents us. Living in two different countries does not help a lot so we have to travel to work together. However, we remain an efficient team and have a productive sharing system, and our shared love for music has created a harmonious and efficient comradely.

 

 

You are the head of the label Bipolar Disorder which we supported already from a very early stage. Your artist & track selection is very nice. Please tell us something about the history of the label. How do you select tracks/artists for your releases? What is your concept? Most of the releases are digital-only – just 3 vinyl releases are available now. Do you think vinyl is still something that has its value in the scene?

The label was created in January 2016 with the aim of promoting and giving the best tools to local artists who wants to release their music. I would say that I consider more Bipolar Disorder Rec. as a big family of people who are on the same vibe more than a typical label. The concept behind the track selection, without sounding selfish, is based on music we love. There are no special criteria, we focus on the energy and the emotions we wish to share. We rarely accept demos; we always look for artists with potential and based on that we try to work with the artist on the development of an EP.

Regarding the vinyl question, I would say that this format is for me a unique piece of art expressing itself through different support such as audio and visual art. As a physical object vinyl is something you can easily do a collection of and which aims to last forever. I have a lot of respect for artists who spent ages digging for the perfect gems but on the contrary I m a bit tired of DJ’s playing vinyl only for the hype with the famous words; « Hey Mate vinyl’s sounds 10 time better than digital tracks… blablabla ». Vinyl is something you will keep with you forever and that you will pass to your grandchildren like “yeah that was what I was listening at your age” (with a huge smile on your face).

 

 

You provide an exclusive mix with stuff from your own roster. What is your intention and why did you select these tracks (from over 19 releases)?

I have built this podcast with the aim of showing what Bipolar Disorder Rec. was capable of. The podcast start with some chill tracks setting up a deep ambience and minutes after minutes the emotions will rise and the the BPM will increase to something more rhythmic and more trancy until it reaches its full power and at this time the tension decrease and we go for something deeper with these kind of tracks which will let you in a good feeling fulfilled of love and happiness. I tried my best to play as much as possible releases we had on the label but it is not an easy task; I’m sorry for those I forgot to play.

 

 

What are you all time favourite records/tracks (name them and please also tell us why)?

01. Played A Live by Safri Duo
I was 10 years old when this track was released. I think thats the track which convince me about the power of drums and the emotion you can put in synth. This mix between emotion and fast rythmic made me deeply found in love with the electronic music.

02. Pick It Up by Redman
This track put me always on a good and chill mood. Redman always has the flow and I always felt close to his way of thinking.

03. Si Tu Kiffes Pas by Booba
Booba at its beginning what else should we say?

04. Spacer Woman by Charlie
This track is for me the beginning of the electronic dance music it feels like a robot who’s feeling and talking like a human; the in between of electronic coldness and human feelings.

05. L’Hotel Particulier by Serge Gainsbourg
Used to listen to Serge Gainsbourg since year one, I got the chance to get through all his albums and for me this track makes me discover the power of a perfectly executed synth and all the changes in term of vibe you can bring with only one synth. (2min15)

06. Cheree by Suicide
I think that’s pretty much the track which make me fall in love with all these organic synths and breakable rhythmic.

07. Lagonda by Deepchord
This track is not that old but the work of Deepchord always astonished by its perfect vibe. There is so many thing going on that your brain is like completely travelling across the amount of information delivered by the track.

08. Parade (Dominik Eulberg Remix) by Rone
The first sunrise I had in Berlin was at an open air where Rone was playing; it was one of the first time I cried listening to music. The moment was perfect. Perfect music, Perfect people, perfect vibe everything was aligned to get this perfect moment which will be forever one of my best memories.

09. Computer Interface by Computor Rockers
“Break Beat is the future » – The Chronics 09.08.2019

 

 

Already the last question: what’s coming next? On your label? For you personally? Give a glimpse of the near future 😉

I have a couple of digital releases planned before the end of the year and I will have my first vinyl release end of 2019. Regarding the label, we will announce the next vinyl release end of this month.

The digital release of September will be special and I’m pretty sure you’re going enjoy it :).

Moreover, we started a new concept of releases, which will come up 3 to 4 times a year with a special and unique vibe quite different from the original material we usually release.

Regarding events, we are planning the 3 years anniversary of the Label in January 2020. The birthday party will be hold in 2 different cities during the weekend and we are still thinking about the perfect line-up. Stay tuned <3