Alongside his remarkable contribution to the series, we sat down with STEVE REDHEAD who shared his thoughts about his career, inspirations & aspirations!
- Hi Steve, thanks for answering our paradoxical questions! With over a quarter of century in the scene, what could you say have changed in electronics in this period of time? ?
The biggest change is the computer. Now everybody can make a track with just a computer. That was impossible 25 years ago. A lot of cash and a big studio was needed. For every aspect of the track a machine was necessary, for synths, for compression, for reverb, a 24 or 32 channel mix table.
The internet changed a lot too. Social media has become too important. The music is less important. The image is much more important nowadays. 25 years ago you had bookings because of the tracks you made. Today you have bookings because of the amount of followers youhave. That’s a very sad evolution. But I am sure that will change. This music model can’t continue. One day people will realize that it’s the music that counts in the end.
- I guess you also experienced a change in generations of Techno fans. Do you feel the crowd interacting with electronic music the same way as back in the days ?
Back in the days the only way to have interaction with the people was in the clubs. There was no facebook or instagram. So the only way you could experience and hear what people thought, was on the road. There was also no beatport etc.
So if you wanted to hear new music you had to go to a record shop or go to the club.
I think the new generation of techno fans are more open minded then back in the days. Nowadays you can mix something special into the set. 25 years ago everybody wanted hardgroove from the beginning till the end.
- Brussels is for sure a must visit spot in the Techno circuit. Any special venue you would recommend there?
Brussels is the capital of music in Belgium.There is where it happens.
Off course the Fuse stays my favourite club in Brussels. I visited it the first time in 1995. That was an eye opener and that was the moment I really got into techno. 30 years later this club is still the place to be. I played there recently in may and I must say it still rocks. This club is and stays an icon in our music scene.
- Some months ago we read from an article relating the experience of several DJs such as Laurent Garnier that a DJ’s lifestyle is pretty tough to handle sometimes. We know passion helps a lot, but can we say that making a career out of your passion is exhausting sometimes ?
The DJ lifestyle is quite hard sometimes. The flights, the playtimes, the stress that comes with it, is very demanding of your body. I combine it with a normal job and family life since years and I must say it’s really tough. I didn’t want to depend fully on music anymore as it gave me a lot of stress. Musically I am free now. I can do whatever I want. But the downside is, that in the weekend you live in the night and in the week I live in the day. This is very demanding and hard. But I don’t want it otherwise anymore.
- Do you have a precise moment in your career that you’ll never forget, or that was a key moment for you ?
The moment I got my first solo vinyl in my hands. That was an amazing moment. It was beginning 2000 when I released my first vinyl on Skunkworks. A sublabel of Zync with labelboss Johan Bacto. For the first time you have something of your own music on vinyl, that was a dream come true.
- You played all around the globe, from Netherlands to Japan, in Slovenia or in Spain, do you adapt your sets regarding to the culture you’re going to face and its taste in electronic music ?
Not really, I always have the idea that people know why they booked me and what I bring. Throughout the years I realized that I am at my best when I do my own thing and not adapt too much. And I do see myself also a bit as an ambassador of the music I make and play. When I play it’s an opportunity to let people know that this music exists.
- You released your new EP 3 months ago on Shdw’s imprint, Mutual Rytm and we really like the result! What made you feel it was the right time for this new EP and we are curious to know what kind of setup did you use for this EP ?
I met SHDW for the first time at Ostend Beach festival in 2021.
He convinced me to make some oldskoolish redhead stuff again. In the beginning I refused but after a while I came to the conclusion that it was the right thing to do. It felt like closing the circle and coming home again to my old style from the 2000’s. So after a few months I started with it. In the beginning I didn’t have the feeling anymore. So it took a while. After some time I made Mutual rytm 11 and the reaction was great. I immediately started on a new one and that was MR25. Aiming again for that oldskool sound mixed with some nowadays stuff. I also wanted a track with more melodies inside. Because this has always been my trademark.
- As a DJ, you must come across loads of promos. What do you think about the current production in the techno circuits? Is there enough sense of creativity or innovation according to you?
Indeed I receive a lot of promos. Some of them are really good. I think there is a lot of quality in good techno at the moment. A couple of years ago I had to search for hours when I was selecting my tracks for a set. Nowadays I always have way to many tracks in my crate.
Some people of the new generation really inspire me to walk other paths in production. I must say lately I am heavily influenced by the new generation. I think the new generation uses stuff in other ways then we always have done. This opens endless possibilities in making a track.
- How did you record the podcast for Paradox ? Can you pick a record from the mix and tell us why you like it or how you found it ?
For the podcast I searched for all my favourite tracks of the moment and I added 2 of myself in it.
One track that stands out for me is Hertz Collission – Cvitta della machine. It’s the B-side of his recent release. This track has everything that a techno tracks needs. Groove, darkness and a good arrangement. I played it at my recent gigs and everybody loved it. This track keeps me dancing from the beginning till the end. Hertz Collission sends me on regular base his new stuff as I love his tracks.
- Do you have any connection with the techno scene in France? What do you think about it?
It’s been a while since I played in France. But I have played many times in France. From north to south, Montpellier, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg and for example in Rex club in Paris.
I always love to come play in France. It’s the same but yet different then the scene in Belgium. And it’s very easy for me as we speak the same language.
- The world of electronic music is based on debates nowadays, is it better on vinyl or mp3 in terms of mixing, can a dj be only someone that creates a set based on other’s productions or does he have to produce too… Does this mean that electronic music has become something to gossip about? Do we care too much about what’s around and not only about the music?
Yeah, maybe the focus should be a little more on the music and less on the other things. But that’s caused again by social media. It’s much easier to express an opinion nowadays and share it with the whole world.
- What artists/labels are holding your attention this year?
Off course I am focused on Mutual rytm. This label has made “normal” techno popular again against the stream of hard techno. I love almost all releases and I have heard the new ones and I must say I love them. They will be spinned in my sets the coming months.
From artist side, like I said I love the stuff of Hertz Collission. Another artist I like very much is Regent. He is also on Mutual Rytm.
- Can you give us a glimpse about your future projects?
I hired an acoustician and renewed my new studio.
That took quite some time so I had a bit of delay.
I am working on a lot of new tracks at the moment, including some remixes for the next months.
I try to make also something new for Mutual rytm. We will see what happens.
And then in February I will make a tutorial in the studio with Sinee.
Thanks a lot Steve, we hope to see you very soon somewhere, keep the good vibe on!
Love and respect