Contirbutor
Hi Martin, great to have the chance to speak with you today. For those who don’t know can you tell us about your journey as a producer? How did you get started and what motivated you to pursue a career in music?
When I first started, my interest in music was not that much into producing. I always collected records and listening to music was always a big thing among my friends. I had some smaller attempts of making music in my youth but these were not really ambitious. By instance I stumbled into a music store in Berlin with a friend who had a long talk to an employee there. In the meanwhile I tested all the Synth gear they had. From this day on I knew that I need to have all Synthesizers. Every time you turn the potis or patch something together you get something new. This is the fever I have.
You have just released your third studio album, ‘Planet Henri’, how does this differ to your previous collections?
“Plant Henri” is the most personal album i made until now. There is a different story to tell than it was when I produced “Prisma” and “Verigo”. Musically I wanted to cut all strings attached. I also tested a lot of gear and experimental sources for creating sounds.
Do you have a favourite track from the album?
No. I have always been a fan of the album format. I think all songs are stronger in the context of the others.
Is your approach different when working on an album compared to single releases?
Yes definately, working on an album is way more dificult for me. The process of conception is much longer. First of all you find a topic for your album, then the timbre, the right gear, and so on. Everything needs to fit. And in the end you have to kill your darlings because you can only put around 40 minutes on vinyl. Fantastic!
What software, hardware, and other tools do you typically use in your music production work?
My studio is a mess! Nothing is routed correctly. I have nothing you can call a workflow. I use everything reachable. For “Planet Henri” I was experimenting with my modular synth a lot, but I also use software synths or desktop synthesizers to make music. The only static Software I always use is Ableton.
What do you believe sets you apart as a music producer, and how do you continue to grow and develop in your craft?
You should see me laughing right now. Nobody sounds like me! I will keep on making music: alteration and evolution will be a natural process.
What advice would you give to aspiring DJs and producers who are looking to make their mark in the industry?
Never take advice from anyone.
Finally, how do you envision the future of electronic music, and what role do you see yourself playing in it?
Nobody knows the future. I just know there will be electronic music and it will be awesome. I still have a lot of ideas and I hope people will like my compositions- also in the future….
Pick up a copy of Planet Henri here