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MUFFLER
    DOA: Konsta, you look about 14 years old. How old are you really, and how long have you been writing / releasing music? Tell us about the early days.
I'm 25 now, maybe when I'm 40 I'll look like I’m 25!
I started to make music on Amiga computer when I was 10 years old. I also played bass guitar in couple bands. However it wasn't until 1999 that my first 12" was signed to Urban Takeover after Aphrodite & Micky Finn heard my demo, before this there was small CD release called "Muffler" in 1998 and some other stuff released on a compilation CD.
DOA: What is your proudest musical moment so far, and why?
If I have to pick up one I would say my latest release on Hospital called ‘Mermaids’ / ‘Waves Breaking’. Both tunes are quite personal to me and they seem to work well both at prime time DJ sets in a club and at home as listening music.
DOA: You often have quite unusual names for your tunes. Can you tell us about the new Hospital release, 'Mermaids' & 'Waves Breaking'? Why those names?
I often find it difficult to come up with a good name for a tune, especially a name that no one else has used yet. With ‘Mermaids’, I had the name in my head already before the tune was finished. With ‘Waves Breaking’ I had few different variations of the name and then stuck with this one. There's often a deeper meaning in my track names but that's something I let you figure out yourself.
DOA: You've lived in Helsinki, you've lived in London, you've lived in Estonia....You always seem to be busy with something or other. So what's up? Attention deficit disorder? Obsessive channel switcher? What will it take to settle Konsta down?
More like obsessive channel switcher I guess! A friend of mine once said I seem to like big changes, maybe it's true.
Living in other country is definitely good experience and also works as good inspiration for music producing. It's totally different to actually live in other country, get to know with local culture and everyday life etc. than just go for two weeks holiday with your mates and get pissed.
Moving from country to another inside EU is really easy, all you have to do is pack your stuff and move if you feel like it.
At the moment I feel quite comfortable living in Helsinki, but I think I will go to live in London again for few months at some point and would really like to check out Reykjavik in Iceland!
DOA: Many DJs and producers who come from the UK to Finland fall completely in love with the country and the people. Why do you think this is? What is it about the Finns & Finland that appeals so much?
It's surprising to me how many people from UK like Finland, but I have to say I also fell in love with London first time I visited it, feels like second home to me. I guess if you compare Helsinki to London first thing you notice is that Helsinki is smaller and cleaner, it's not as multicultural as London, but everybody speaks English and you can get along easily.
At the moment clubs in Helsinki are really good and with drum 'n bass, the crowds are maybe more open minded if you compare to most UK clubs. You can play all styles in your set, which I really like to do whenever it's possible.
Finnish people are pretty laidback and easy to speak with once you get a discussion going. It helps if you have some vodka with you, otherwise we are in the woods doing something on ourselves and not talking much.
DOA: Finland probably has one of the highest hit rates of great new producers. Why is this? Something in the water? Explain this hothouse secret and then give us a list of established names, kids to watch out for in future and good parties to go to.
There are only 5 million people living in whole country, but quite a lot of DnB producers. Guys who started releasing records about the same time as I did were Bluez, Dharma, Dice (now known as Tes La Rok for his dubstep productions) and Chris Champagne. Soon after came Kaleb, Contour, Physics, Resound, Fanu and more recently Laos. At the moment new producers Jontey, John Oil, Burma and Cubik have interesting stuff going and some of it is getting released soon.
There's also few drum 'n bass labels based in Finland, besides my label SighCo Recordings there's also Midnight Sun Recordings and new label from Kaleb & Contour called Prime Time.
There are a lot of good DnB nights going in Helsinki at the moment, there's a new venue with Funktion 1 sound system called Redrum where you can hear DnB monthly on midweek, also about every two months there's bigger DnB parties. I play as resident for Renegade events (www.renegade.fi) which usually cater for other styles of music at their events. Also the Laos guys organise a monthly club night called Standard at Rose Garden with international guests.
DOA: A few weeks ago, you and I went camping in the Finnish countryside - not something I would have expected to happen if you'd asked me a couple of years ago. Are there any extra-curricular activities you'd like to do with other d&b people? Paragliding with Optical? A yoga class with Kenny Ken? A round of crazy golf with Ray Keith?
Now that camping with Blu Mar Ten is done, paragliding sounds like natural next step, after not doing skateboarding for years I needed a new sports hobby anyway, so this could be it. Optical whenever you are ready, I’m ready!
DOA: Yesterday, I read an interview with a Korean film director, and he was asked why he made films. He answered, 'So I don't have to speak so much'. So the same question to you - Why do you make music?
So I don't have to speak so much!
DOA: If you could boil down all your music-making knowledge and experience to three points for someone who wanted to start producing music, what would those points be?
a) Study the basics of music theory
b) Learn to play piano / midi keyboard
c) Spend all the time you have on making tunes
DOA: You're always late. For everything. Why is that?
I was born late!
DOA: Aside from your production, you're one of the busiest DJs around. What tips can you give to people who would like to become professional / semi-professional DJs? Technique? Selection? Crowd control? What gigs you accept? Personal attitude? etc...
Whenever you have change to play out, do it, it's always different to play at a club than in your bedroom and more you do it, better you get. Also practise at home as much as you can.
I often hear new DJs say they find it difficult to get bookings in the beginning. Besides sending your demo mixes to promoters, my advice is to start organising your own parties, that's what I and many others did too.
The reason why I get booked to many different kind of events is because I can play different styles. Besides producing, I also want to be versatile with DJing, keeps it more interesting to me. For example if I go to play at Therapy Sessions it's going to be dark and heavy, if it's One Nation my selection is more jump up or if it's a liquid night I play more liquid selection. But mostly I love playing sets where I can play all styles in one set, especially if you play 2-3 hour set, it can get a bit boring if it's Neurofunk all the way.
DOA: You're playing at the next Hospital event on Aug 17th in London. What can people expect from you?
Been really busy in studio recently, doing an album which will be released later this year on my label SighCo, so a lot of new stuff from me, some exclusive VIP mixes of tunes you already know and fresh new stuff from other producers that I'm feeling at the moment.
Btw, I'm also doing a gig on 10th August Hospitality at Fabric in London, so if you can't make it to Herbal, see ya there!
DOA: Finally, something that is often said about you is that you have an old head on young shoulders. So any words of wisdom you'd like to share with the rest of us o venerable yogi?
Without music, life would be a mistake.
Words by: Chris Blu Mar Ten
'Mermaids' / 'Breaking Waves' is out now on Hospital Records
Buy Hospital Records vinyl from the DOA store!
Buy Hospital Records MP3s from DOA MP3!
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Dogs On Acid > Comments > MUFFLER
08-05-2007 09:32 PM
