By ThinkInElectronic / Friday, January 09, 2015 / No comments /
Dark Disco With Das Kapital
INTERVIEW
DAS KAPITAL
When Dark Disco was released on Corderoy’s CDRY imprint earlier this year, the leftfield approach that fused elements of electro, house, breakbeat and a myriad of other influences to create the inimitable Dark Disco left Corderoy with enviable support from the likes of Tiesto, Sick Individuals, Paul Oakenfold, Micky Slim and Bart Claessen.
Catching the eye of producers across the board, the gnarly bassline and foray into uncharted territory left Dark Disco as a prime candidate for the remix treatment; but a pioneering sound demands a pioneering touch and who better to step up to the challenge than 23-year-old South African electro master, Das Kapital.
Named as one South Africa’s top 35 coolest people under 35 by GQ, Das Kapital has started his career on the right foot and his re-imagining of the Dark Disco sound continues his eclectic approach to dance music. Keeping the instantly recognisable Dark Disco sample, Das Kapital takes the already warped bassline, strips it back and then twists things up further, resulting in a track that demands perhaps an even darker, sweatier dancefloor than the original and with early support from Moska, Far Too Loud and Wuki – this one looks set to go the distance.
Hello Kyle. A warm welcome from us at Think In Electronic, before we start how are you doing and what are you doing right now?
I'm well thank you. It's been a ridiculous time on tour these last 2 months, but I'm back in studio and it's shaping up to be a busy and exciting 2015.
What have you been up to since our last chat?
A lot! Probably too much to remember offhand. I've played a killer show in Zimbabwe, and been through a lot of great new submissions to the label with Tim (the other half of Do Work).
It's been a wicked end to 2014, with Sónar Cape Town, Rocking The Daisies and a vicious tour to cap off the year, but I'm happy to say I'm back writing original music again - I have 2 EPs in the works, a new remix due out for Top Billin mid-Jan, and a load of Do Work Records released lined up for the first quarter of 2015 - everything is sounding strong.
We've seen so many of your sets and we've learnt to throw all expectation out the window because rarely do they ever cross the same territory in terms of style and feel. What's your secret to dabbling in so many areas yet keeping that distinct 'Das Kapital' feel throughout?
It sounds clichéd, but to me, it's about creating and intertwining grooves. BPM and genre don't matter as much if you can select and mix tracks that have their own energy. I try to keep my sets interesting and forward thinking, so I don't worry about what's "big" or what's "underground" too much - if you can dance to it, it's worth playing.
You've recently started your own label, Do Work as a platform for upcoming artists in South Africa. Have you been pleased with the level of talent brewing locally?
Yes! Every day, even more so! A lot of the artists under the Do Work banner are very inexperienced but exhibit raw talent, so the move has been to nurture and direct that talent in the right direction.
A lot of really strong releases are on the way, across the genre spectrum, and I'm happy to say our artists have already garnered strong support on both major radio and in DJs sets around the world.
It's a great time to be an electronic artist in South Africa, especially if you're working with us :)
We can't ignore the fact that electronic dance music has blown up in South Africa within the last 5 years. Having been at the forefront of this explosion locally do you think this growth is sustainable or will it eventually flatten out when the market becomes too saturated?
The mainstream "boom" we are experiencing can't last forever. However, club culture will never die out. The move is to create communities that fans and listeners can be a part of, and feel engaged by, so that when people start steering away from what they're being fed by radio and major labels - it is bound to happen - they'll still be left with the artists and music they truly love.
You've played a ton of gigs this year, Mad Decent Block Party, Ultra, Grietfest and recently Sonar to name but a few. What has been your absolute favourite thus far?
My favourite shows of 2014 were definitely Neverland Zimbabwe (because the scene is so new and hungry there) and Sónar Cape Town. There is something to be said of an event with the production done right, and both those gigs were an exercise in precise planning and meticulous execution - plus I had a ton of fun.
You've recently put out a cracking remix of Corderoy's 'Dark Disco'. Can you tell us about your mental process when selecting what to remix? Is it based solely off requests or songs you truly want to put your own spin on?
Normally, a remix is something you're asked to do by the label because they want your particular spin on a track.
However, with "Dark Disco", I asked to remix it. When I received the now widely supported original mix on promo, I fell in love with the bassline, and really wanted to give it my own spin. We hit up Corderoy's management and the rest is history.
When I'm remixing, I try to take an idea from the original, whether it be an element or a feeling, and reinterpret it in my own way - it often ends up much darker.
We all know how fast trends come and go in dance music. Going into 2015 what are some genres, sounds or artists that have been bubbling under that you feel are going to be big by this time next year?
It's always tough to call something like this. It would make sense that the poppy club music we are tentatively calling "Deep House" will start to tail off soon, as the sound is well overdone
Fidget will make a comeback, but in a much more tasteful way then it was done originally (at least it will be tasteful initially), and Techno and "real" House are going to thrive this year.
Artist-wise, the big guys will get bigger, but I expect some really long overdue talent will slink up from just within left-field.
Also, because I'm confident, keep an eye out for Do Work Records' EPs, Albums and Singles. For real.
We just wrapped up 2014 so let’s review 2014 with some Rapid Fire best of 2014:
1. Best track:
C.E.O - Loud [WNCL]
2. Best remix:
Prodigy - Omen (Mike Cervello & CESQEAUX Remix) [Bootleg]
3. Best album:
ScHoolboy Q - Oxymoron
4. Best compilation album:
Shogun Audio - 10 Years Of Shogun
5. Best producer:
MNEK
6. Best remixer:
Taiki Nulight
7. Best music video:
DJ Snake & Lil Jon - Turn Down For What [Columbia]
8. Best gig:
See the above paragraphs
9. Best invention:
To hit South Africa? Uber.
10. Best annoying track:
Hmmmm. I'll get back to you (pop sucks at the moment).
Any last messages for your fans?
Yeah, I love you guys for your continuous support. I can't wait to share all the new music with you, from me, and the artists Do Work is so tenderly pushing forward. 2015 is going to be a lot of fun.
As stay wonderful. I mean that.
I'm well thank you. It's been a ridiculous time on tour these last 2 months, but I'm back in studio and it's shaping up to be a busy and exciting 2015.
What have you been up to since our last chat?
A lot! Probably too much to remember offhand. I've played a killer show in Zimbabwe, and been through a lot of great new submissions to the label with Tim (the other half of Do Work).
It's been a wicked end to 2014, with Sónar Cape Town, Rocking The Daisies and a vicious tour to cap off the year, but I'm happy to say I'm back writing original music again - I have 2 EPs in the works, a new remix due out for Top Billin mid-Jan, and a load of Do Work Records released lined up for the first quarter of 2015 - everything is sounding strong.
We've seen so many of your sets and we've learnt to throw all expectation out the window because rarely do they ever cross the same territory in terms of style and feel. What's your secret to dabbling in so many areas yet keeping that distinct 'Das Kapital' feel throughout?
It sounds clichéd, but to me, it's about creating and intertwining grooves. BPM and genre don't matter as much if you can select and mix tracks that have their own energy. I try to keep my sets interesting and forward thinking, so I don't worry about what's "big" or what's "underground" too much - if you can dance to it, it's worth playing.
You've recently started your own label, Do Work as a platform for upcoming artists in South Africa. Have you been pleased with the level of talent brewing locally?
Yes! Every day, even more so! A lot of the artists under the Do Work banner are very inexperienced but exhibit raw talent, so the move has been to nurture and direct that talent in the right direction.
A lot of really strong releases are on the way, across the genre spectrum, and I'm happy to say our artists have already garnered strong support on both major radio and in DJs sets around the world.
It's a great time to be an electronic artist in South Africa, especially if you're working with us :)
We can't ignore the fact that electronic dance music has blown up in South Africa within the last 5 years. Having been at the forefront of this explosion locally do you think this growth is sustainable or will it eventually flatten out when the market becomes too saturated?
The mainstream "boom" we are experiencing can't last forever. However, club culture will never die out. The move is to create communities that fans and listeners can be a part of, and feel engaged by, so that when people start steering away from what they're being fed by radio and major labels - it is bound to happen - they'll still be left with the artists and music they truly love.
You've played a ton of gigs this year, Mad Decent Block Party, Ultra, Grietfest and recently Sonar to name but a few. What has been your absolute favourite thus far?
My favourite shows of 2014 were definitely Neverland Zimbabwe (because the scene is so new and hungry there) and Sónar Cape Town. There is something to be said of an event with the production done right, and both those gigs were an exercise in precise planning and meticulous execution - plus I had a ton of fun.
You've recently put out a cracking remix of Corderoy's 'Dark Disco'. Can you tell us about your mental process when selecting what to remix? Is it based solely off requests or songs you truly want to put your own spin on?
Normally, a remix is something you're asked to do by the label because they want your particular spin on a track.
However, with "Dark Disco", I asked to remix it. When I received the now widely supported original mix on promo, I fell in love with the bassline, and really wanted to give it my own spin. We hit up Corderoy's management and the rest is history.
When I'm remixing, I try to take an idea from the original, whether it be an element or a feeling, and reinterpret it in my own way - it often ends up much darker.
We all know how fast trends come and go in dance music. Going into 2015 what are some genres, sounds or artists that have been bubbling under that you feel are going to be big by this time next year?
It's always tough to call something like this. It would make sense that the poppy club music we are tentatively calling "Deep House" will start to tail off soon, as the sound is well overdone
Fidget will make a comeback, but in a much more tasteful way then it was done originally (at least it will be tasteful initially), and Techno and "real" House are going to thrive this year.
Artist-wise, the big guys will get bigger, but I expect some really long overdue talent will slink up from just within left-field.
Also, because I'm confident, keep an eye out for Do Work Records' EPs, Albums and Singles. For real.
We just wrapped up 2014 so let’s review 2014 with some Rapid Fire best of 2014:
1. Best track:
C.E.O - Loud [WNCL]
2. Best remix:
Prodigy - Omen (Mike Cervello & CESQEAUX Remix) [Bootleg]
3. Best album:
ScHoolboy Q - Oxymoron
4. Best compilation album:
Shogun Audio - 10 Years Of Shogun
5. Best producer:
MNEK
6. Best remixer:
Taiki Nulight
7. Best music video:
DJ Snake & Lil Jon - Turn Down For What [Columbia]
8. Best gig:
See the above paragraphs
9. Best invention:
To hit South Africa? Uber.
10. Best annoying track:
Hmmmm. I'll get back to you (pop sucks at the moment).
Any last messages for your fans?
Yeah, I love you guys for your continuous support. I can't wait to share all the new music with you, from me, and the artists Do Work is so tenderly pushing forward. 2015 is going to be a lot of fun.
As stay wonderful. I mean that.
Beatport: http://bit.ly/DarkDiscoRemix
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment
Let us know what you think