Latest Video
Interview with Kolja Trelle - Soman
Coming from a background full of techno music and DJing, he states that his music is "Industrial for clubs". And for the last few years he has proved it! The ::EBM.gr:: team met Kolja Trelle (Soman) backstage a few hours before his show at Wave Gotik Treffen in Leipzig. He took the time and kindly answered our questions:
EBM.gr: So, what are you planning to do tonight at the show?
K: This one is one of the biggest shows this year, so I will not be alone on stage but Lahannya will also be there, the vocalist-singer, she flew from London. And there are going to be four dancers as well. So it's going to be a crowded stage!
EBM.gr: Very nice! And you will perform tracks from your new CD?
K: Yes, basically this show is all about the new release, so for me it was really hard to decide which tracks to omit, which tracks to play, which old hits to take into the show, which not to play. So it's going to be like: half of the show new album tracks and the other half, old tracks.
EBM.gr: You have been to Greece. Tell us your impressions.
K: Yes, that was in Athens! I think it was in 2005 and it was with [:SITD:] and VNV Nation, at Club 22 and I think I was opening up as Soman. It was really nice! So, I know quite a few people from Athens and Greece. For example one of the dancers tonight is from Greece.
EBM.gr: Really?
K: Yes! She's called Zirconia.
EBM.gr: Oh, yes we know her! Yes! Eirini.
K: Yeah that's her! I didn't tell you that earlier because it is supposed to be a surprise!!! Yes and another girl, Sophia Mattheaki, she does the clothing for me and for some other people as well, like Lahannya... And there will be two dancers from Poland, so it is going to be like a European co-production! And that's what I really like about it!
EBM.gr: And afterwards, what are you planning? Are you going to have a tour?
K: No. So, for tonight it's going to be a DJ set after KiEw. The plans in general for this year are playing some big festival in UK, Infest for example, doing some DJ sets and for autumn I don't know yet...
EBM.gr: So, for a DJ set do you also plan also to come to Greece for a party and an event?
K: Yes!
EBM.gr: We sometimes organize parties, and sometimes Zirconia dances and Sophia also, so it will be like the same show!
K: It's like a family I know! So the thing is that I can change my set-up in accordance to how big the party is... If it's a big festival like this, OK it's a big show, it's the biggest show this year for me, and I 've been to other places several times when it's only been me and nothing else. So that was kind of a mixed thing between a DJ set and a live show. Basically the fact is it is always the same, the people are always dancing, so it does not make much difference.
EBM.gr: Do you use the Internet a lot? To listen to music, to read some music news, etc?
K: Yes. Right now I am using MySpace, for the most time, for the most part of all news, and all new tracks and stuff like that, 'cause I am rebuilding my whole page, so I am going to MySpace now and so the homepage is being rebuilt now and after that everything is settled at homepage. That will not take much, I don't know, 3 months or so...maybe it will take a while.
EBM.gr: And you usually read about the music news from Myspace, from other profiles?
K: No, you know it's just some information about Soman, and that's it. Some blog that I am going to play there, and there's a concert here, and a DJ set there, and there's a new track it sounds like this, blah blah blah. It's not a big deal. But it's cool enough to stay informed.
EBM.gr: And you mentioned you played in some concerts alone and maybe a DJ set. Mostly here in Germany for example?
K: It was with the VNV nation tour three years ago and I have been playing all over the world. So last year and this year it has been all over Europe.
EBM.gr: Do you intent to have a singer also?
K: Now I am having like three songs with vocals on them, I think they are quite nice. So that's "Eye to Eye", "Mask" from the new album, and "Tears" from a very old EP. But there are not going to be more vocals on my tracks because it is always some sort of an experiment. Vocals really work with my tracks because my tracks are either aggressive and strong and brutal and stuff like that. And it's always the question whether the vocals can withstand this pressure.
EBM.gr: Sometimes the contrast is nice! Aggressive music and female vocals...
K: Yes, that's the beauty and the beast!! Yes, if it works that way that's cool. For me the reason why I didn't ask any male singers is because of the beauty and the beast .. well male beauty....sorry!!! And there are not too many female vocalists who are into this industrial thing too much. And if there are, they are more into this shouting and aggressive thing. And then we don't have contrast.
EBM.gr: It sounds the same, no contrast.
K: Yes, right. Like, for example, Proyecto Mirage or Ambassador 21, bands like that, have female vocalists that are really very intense, they are aggressive too, but for me they wouldn't be worth it. And the good thing about Lahannya is that she is also a good vocalist. She also DJs in Slimelight, on the industrial floor. So you know what we are talking about!
EBM.gr: Yes, she has been to Athens for some events.
K: Yeah, and that's a rare combination I think.
EBM.gr: That means she also knows to listen to music and make things with music, it's very important.
K: Yes, she's a professional, so no time to question her "Can you really do this?" or "When can you do this?"...She just does it. And I have been working with other people not on a pro level and I could never finish anything...
EBM.gr: That can be a big problem for you
K: Yes, because the lack of reliability and stuff like that...
EBM.gr: And everything falls back...
K: Yes!
EBM.gr: What do you usually use to compose songs? What programs, what equipment?
K: I am using everything I can get hold of. So I am trying software like Logic, Nuendo, or Samplitude, not at the same time but at different stages. Each program is very good at some thing but another program specializes in something else. And some composition on Nuendo wouldn't lead into the direction [I wanted] if I made it on Logic. Because the way of thinking is just a bit different. So I am using a lot of different software, which was a big big problem in the beginning because coming from Logic I had a tough time getting used to all these different key commands...
EBM.gr: Some of them are very difficult!!!
K: Yes, it was like: "I know this must work, but how should I do it?". And now I am kind of capable of handling all this different software programs rather fluently so I am trying to produce a best of all worlds.
EBM.gr: That also means more creativity for you...
K: Well, it means also that there is much change. Because if I worked on my own tracks for weeks and weeks and weeks only with one simple program I would get bored. It would be like "Oh my Goodness, it's not getting further"....So yes, that's how I do it.
EBM.gr: In general, what kind of music do you usually listen to? Only this kind of music or have you got any influences from other bands?
K: I think I have my influences. My influences come from EBM, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb, old-school EBM, and obviously from techno, as well, maybe from trance, and goa, psy-trance stuff because I used to really like that a lot some years ago. And, of course, because of the profession, I also listen everything that goes on the dark scene, electronic music etc. And if I have a choice to listen to what I really want to, it can be anything only that it should be electronic music. But honestly there are many many times when I am really glad to switch off the music, because I am working on music all day long!
EBM.gr: (laughs) You are right! You usually get bored!
K: I get some sort of listening fatigue when I have to switch off the music just to get prepared for the next day and show up in the studio and really enjoy what you do. Otherwise it's....
EBM.gr: It's slightly unprofessional.
K: Yes.
EBM.gr: I know when you are a music producer it's very difficult when you listen to music all the time.... you have to close your ears for 3 or 4 hours and sleep or listen to something else and then in the morning you begin to work.
K: Yes, that is one thing and the second thing is experience of course. I think 50 to 60 percent the things I do are not out of the blue but out of experience, because I 've been mixing bass drums for years and years now, so I know how to do it. Or if I want to do effects on vocals I do have some sort of basic idea where I should you know...
EBM.gr: You do not search everything from scratch.
K: Yes, and that's just experience and the creative part of it, that's the thing you have to do... by not listening to music.....
EBM.gr: So, we don't want to spend more of your time, because you are preparing for the show tonight, thank you very very much, we hope to see you in Greece for a party with the girls!
K: Thank you very much!
--------------------------
You can view some pics from Soman's gig @ Wave Gotik Treffen here
Visit Soman @ Myspace : http://www.myspace.com/soman
Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
