teshno

how are you?

im great, been listening two a few of my fave rock lps. momus 1st lp ‘circus maximus’ is blowing my mind brain. like this second.

what does detroit mean to you?

detroit and michigan are home for me. i was born in kalamazoo but grew up in suburban detroit. the age from 14- 21 where you really figure out who you are. i owe it to the city, its people. i gained the general mindset that i live with today.

to what extent is the city a help or hindrance to you as an artist?

i think growing up there was not only a help. a big problem with michigan as a whole is that once you’re an adult there are no jobs. no jobs, no money, no ability to survive on your craft, or the time to really give it your full go. however the struggle to get out of this situation is what makes so many great artist and not just musicians. michigan has some of the best universities in the world. but michigan’s #1 export is its youth and talent. mix this with a general attitude where no one really is into any hype, helps you develop as a artist and person. in detroit knowledge is power, its a city of people who are deep into their crafts studying meticulously for their chance to do something, not because of fame or fortune it’s just what you do. conversations are based around history and ideas everyone wants to change the world but no one has the channels to do so. so they leave or just get stuck in life shit. when everyone that’s around you does the same thing it makes for heavy competition and down play of the overall situation. which in hindsight breeds a certain type of person, and i’m really grateful to have been lucky enough to be in that and so blind while it was happening.

what drew you to electronic music?

my parent’s taste, they are big fans of house and have been since i was a child. i’ve said it before. then when i moved to the detroit area i started raving, and never stopped. i still am a raver, i just do it professionally now. i do have to say, there has been a mix up with my parents stories and what i was able to remember. my mom read a recent interview of mine and corrected me. my parents worked with brett dancer and not jay dunham, jay was just in the opposite dj crew of my step father whom were doing more chicago house and hip hop things.

where do your sounds come from?

i think my sound comes from my taste i listen to tons of other music lots of indie rock, some jazz and soul. i’ve been listening to dance music in all its forms since i was about 8. but maybe it’s the perverse sexuality i try to hide inside myself or my feminine touch. i can’t really tell you could maybe get better idea from my friends.

to what extent does your music represent you or detroit? how do you chose who to collaborate with and why?

i think my music is me, my life, my experiences, my feeling, my thought of how i think people would like to experience music and what direction i want music to go. as far as collabs go its 90% my best friends in the world and me fucking about, we’re all making tracks and it’s fun to sit around, have some drinks and do it together, otherwise it’s people i’ve meet, like, become friends with then we find it could be cool to work together, this is berlin, everyone’s around exchanging ideas.

i’m profiling you, patrice scott, intrusion, omar s, kyle hall, kris wadsworth – a new wave of detroit producers – why do you think so much good is coming from the city at the moment? how do you feel being heralded as part of the new wave? [i am obviously aware not all these artists are new generation, but the wave is happening nonetheless]

i think this is a funny question, people like patrice and omar aren’t new, these guys have been in the game for ages, just chilling perfecting their craft. there is a deep crew around the beatdown guys, kenny and theo. raw musical talent just around them not much known to the world. there are loads of other guys no one knows about, and who i think are the real detroit heroes, the people who are really detroit. mike, derek plastiko, keath wrothy, ryan elliott, mike geiger, kevin reynolds, mike servito, dtm, patrick russel, john johr, matt abbot, and so many i can’t name them all. these guys are from a forgotten generation and really without them kris, kyle, or my crew (crosson, curtiss, reeves) and i wouldn’t be here. to be heralded as being this new wave is a bit funny to me, because were such a small portion of the whole. i was lucky enough to grow up with the spectral and minus crew and get turned on to things outside of detroit. and for them to help me break internationally. kyle is a real gem i think he’s 18, going to a creative arts high school, its beautiful because being young and black and into dance music especially house in america is rare, you’re kind of looked at as a freak or gay, and its magical for me to see things changing. i don’t know his story but he might be the last real detroit producer. in the end we’re all just hit a patch of luck and have been lucky enough to have friends or people around us to make our dreams seem accessible. kyle with omar, kris with jimmy edgar. myself with the spectral and minus families.

what part has wolf and lamb played in your success?

i’ve released one thing on wolf and lamb, so musically it’s done a small part but on other levels and on levels as a person, our relationship has been hugely influential. i’m working closely with them as kind of an a&r with lee, ryan & shaun, and if anything it’s been a way for people to notice our crew’s generally ideology. zev and gadi are really family, and with me releasing on so many labels, all of which are run by friends – whose ideology i also agree with – but with wolf and lamb, its much closer to my heart and how i look at dance music and i think people see and relate with that, their general idea of who i am.

what makes you, you?

what makes me me, is like asking what make a horse a horse, i would say good parents, great friends, woman, acid, and just life yo.

does your music get you girls…

i gets laid son, not so much from my music, but i’m really funny [not to mention modest] i think girls like that. however if i like a girl there’s an 80% chance she’s not falling for it. so i’m left a cold, bitter man.

how does your favourite music make you feel?

it makes me feel human.

when were you last impressed?

everyday, life just constantly blows my mind.

and depressed?

constantly but i hide it because who wants to hang out with debbie downer, seriously get it together people, no one’s happy so don’t bring down your fucking friends.

what would you spend your last $100 on?

records and probably food. i’ve spent my last cent on both many times

what question do you wish i’d asked you?

i would love for there to be a question where a girl who thinks i’m a cool guy could contact me and we could go on dates.

are you misunderstood?

yeah i think people think i’m a arrogant prick. i mean i’m a prick, but i’m not arrogant.

i read you farted on lee curtiss’ head and a bit of shit came out. did he ever get you back?

i’ll leave that to lee to answer [see lee's answer], but we thought it was funny. if i did shit on his face it would be a whole different story

what you got coming up?

well i just did this thing with matt dear on spectral “hurt”, as well as “trust” with tiefschwartz, i guess guys both names say a bit about me. i also just finished a remix of fever ray for turbo. i’m working on some art projects and just trying to make something i think is worth listening to. besides that i’m going to burning man to find myself.

(this question comes from bearweasel [viva/murmur/bloop]) for a young man, you wear a ‘tache with the confidence of a seasoned pro – are we to assume you older than you say you are???

with the ‘tache come the dick swing that how you want. Also, ive been raving for almost 10 years, and when you live like me friend, the years just come running around the eyes.

xx

seth