Every Thursday I look back to the past.
The things you find on the internet.. I recently came across this nice Japanese magazine from January 2005, containing an interview with Soulwax. Stuff from Japan always is interesting, so I had to buy it.
This picture of the band sitting on the ‘Any Minute Now‘ backdrop, was taken by Wataru Umehara. Since the magazine was published in 2005, I assume this picture was taken in 2004 but I can’t find any Japanese dates in that year. So It’s possible this photographer took the picture on any of the live dates in Europe.
I have asked Gemini to translate the article to English:
Q: First, please tell us about the release of Any Minute Now / Nite Versions. Why did you decide to release both a band album and a remix album simultaneously?
A: The reason is simple. We’ve been making music for a long time as Soulwax, and we’ve also been doing a lot of DJing as 2 Many DJs. When we make the band music, we always think about how it will sound in a club, and when we DJ, we use the skills we’ve developed as a band. Both activities are very important to us, and we felt it was the right time to show people that we can express ourselves equally well through both. We’ve been doing both for six years now, and the first three years of 2 Many DJs were basically a “side project,” but in the last three years, it’s become as important as Soulwax. We don’t want to choose one over the other.
Q: Your debut album was in 1996, so you’ve been active for nearly ten years. Has your approach to music changed over time?
A: Yes, it has changed a lot. Back then, all the equipment was analog, and we had to record live, but now everything is digital, so the process is different. Also, when we started, we thought we had to make “pop songs” that were less than three minutes long. But now, we can make whatever we want, and we’ve learned how to combine the elements of rock and dance music. We now have the freedom to make long tracks if we want to.
Q: Speaking of freedom, 2 Many DJs’ approach, which ignores genres and mixes everything from The Stooges to Destiny’s Child, is revolutionary. What inspired you to do that?
A: It was simply born out of our desire to DJ the music we genuinely like. We love rock, hip-hop, electro, everything. When we’re driving, we listen to Motorhead one minute, and the next, we’re listening to R&B. We thought, “Why can’t we do that when we DJ?” So we started doing it. We don’t like DJs who stick to one genre. We believe the true spirit of DJing is to play the music you like freely.
Q: Do you think the boundaries between genres are disappearing now?
A: Yes, definitely. Everyone now has access to the internet and can discover music from all genres. The “genre police” are gone! Haha. People can listen to a lot of different music, so they are more open-minded. We just create a party atmosphere by playing music that’s exciting, regardless of genre. The main point is to entertain the audience, and if we can do that by playing The Stooges, we will. And if we can do that by playing Chemical Brothers next, we will.
Q: When you’re making a DJ mix, what do you prioritize?
A: The main thing is to create a flow. We need to create a sense of movement. We want to start a party, keep it going, and then end it with a bang. As a DJ set, we’re not just playing a bunch of tracks we like one after another. We’re creating a story, a journey. The mixing itself is important, but the selection of tracks is even more critical. If you have the right tracks, the mix will sound great even if the transition isn’t perfect.
Q: Your latest single, “E Talking,” is a great mix of techno, rock, and electro. What was the concept behind it?
A: “E-Talking” is an anthem about the new generation and the internet. It’s a comment on how people communicate now. Everyone uses MSN Messenger, chat rooms, and email. We wanted to make a track that captured that feeling of being always connected, but maybe a little isolated at the same time. The lyrics are about communicating with an unknown person online. It’s a dark but also fun song.
Q: You often use unconventional instruments and sounds, such as the bass line in “E Talking,” which sounds like a dial-up modem. Do you intentionally look for such sounds?
A: Yes. We’re always trying to find interesting sounds. The bass line in “E Talking” is a combination of a synth and a guitar pedal called a ‘Moogerfooger.’ We also often record sounds from everyday life. For example, on the album, there’s a drum loop that we made by recording our old refrigerator humming. We always use unconventional methods to make the music sound unique.
Q: Finally, what are your goals for the future?
A: We want to keep doing what we’re doing. We want to keep playing as Soulwax and DJing as 2 Many DJs. We’re already working on the next Soulwax album. It will be different from the last one, maybe more minimal, but we’ll see. We never stop creating. We hope to come back to Japan soon.
Key People and Terms Driving Soulwax’s Sound
Flood
He is a producer/engineer who has worked with U2, Depeche Mode, New Order, and The Smashing Pumpkins. He is a very important person who introduced us to a lot of new techniques. He is a genius at capturing the best performance from an artist and shaping the sound. He produced Any Minute Now and also helped us a lot on Nite Versions. We have a very good relationship with him.
Trevor Jackson
He is a British DJ/producer and the owner of the label Output Recordings. He is very important in the UK club scene, and he has always supported us. He’s a true music lover, and he’s not afraid to push boundaries. His selection is always unique and interesting. He released our first single outside of Belgium. He is a mentor and a friend. His compilations Science Fiction Dancehall Classics and The Music Is Risen are essential listening.
DFA
The New York production duo of James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy. They are part of the new wave of dance-punk and electro-rock. We’ve worked with them a lot, and they’ve supported us since the beginning. They are known for their raw, analog sound and their focus on groove. They remixed “Too Many DJs” and made it sound huge in the clubs. They’ve been a big influence on the direction we’ve taken with Nite Versions. We are big fans of their sound.
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