Deurun Records: Black Alley Coco Interview

Deurun Records: Black Alley Coco Interview

5 November, 2010 | 10.32AM

• Written by: deurun
• Filed under: Music News : ashley beedle, black alley, coco, deurun records, enzyme black, suonho, timo garcia

Black Alley is the latest moniker for Berlin based musiclover, record collector and dj/remixer/producer Thomas Pudell.It is like a box where he now throws all his stuff in - may it be collaborations, own productions, remixes or edits; even some old tracks might get some new clothes…

1.Hi Thomas, thanks for the time taken to have a little chat with us. How are you doing at the moment?

Actually i’m pretty busy in the Studio working on Remixes and some new stuff, so i’m fine, thank you!!

2.What has influenced your artist side, and what do you try to bring into your productions?  Was there a particular artist or album that inspired you to start making your own music?

The biggest influence on my taste was the record collection of my father - all Jazz and Motown stuff. As a result there was no specific artist or album but more of a certain feel and attitude that always stayed with me. It is the same feel i’m looking for in my tracks and remixes, no matter how electronic i do get. I never saw myself as an artist - i’m no classic trained musician - or even wanted to become a DJ/Producer… it was all about painting for me when i was young. So this whole thing somehow happened to me and builded up gradually as a career.

3.Where did the name Black Alley come from?

Inspiration for the name range from Mickey Spillane and Will Eisner to how you feel sometimes when you work alone in the Studio for ages… pick what you fancy!

4.In terms of lifestyle and music, so many cities are trying to be like Berlin. We really want to know, what exactly is it about Berlin’s that makes it so special?

The most special thing about Berlin is, everybody wants to live there!! No seriously, it is still one of the cheapest places to live and that way you can easier afford to do your own thing as in London or Tokio. And should i really mention about Clublife and who you can meet at the bakery… ??!!

5.Do you go into the studio with a certain idea of what you’re trying to do? How you made ‘’Coco’’?

Sometimes i know exactly what i want to do - but possibly end up with something completely different - and sometimes i do get inspired by a sound, a rhythm, a synth, a new piece of gear or simply something i’ve heard on the radio or in a club. You never know what really get your creative juices running… but from a certain point the song tells you what is required and what not. In the case of “Coco” there was a sampled loop first what triggered the whole track, but it is not there anymore. I might use it for another track!!

6.Who’s the woman on cover art?

It is from a photo of some street art i took in London. The wall it was on isn’t there anymore, but to me the pic became the face and the soul of “Coco”. In fact the track became a person, came to life. I do really like the idea to give the original painting a longer life this way.

7.How do you find Quiet Fish’s remix of ‘’Coco’’?

He really treated my little Coco with respect and did a fantastic job!

8.What is your approach when you’re given a track to remix?

It really depends if it is a full song or recorded with real instruments or just a track and of course what the label is looking for… sometimes it is enough to transfer an already good composition into a different genre - e.g. make it more danceable, with a fair chance to still recognize the original. But going extreme can be fun too!

9.How much of your own production do you incorporate into your sets?

As an old Dj, i’m still playing more than 80% of other peoples music when i’m behind the decks. I’m used to do it this way as there is so much good stuff out there. But of course i do use my own edits or loop and cut up tunes to make them a bit my own.

10.What do you think the unique idea behind Deurun is?

These guys really have open ears and don’t stick to only one kind of sound. I have to say i’m really impressed how they take care of their artists and the way they communicate with them - not so very common with most of those netlabels these days. But what makes them stand out the most is, they have a vision and work very, very hard each and every day to make it become reality!

11.How much attention do you pay to what’s going on in the scene?

There is no such thing as a specific scene for me. I’m interested in many kinds of styles and discover new tunes everyday - no matter if old or new, no matter if house or not. So i guess i’m pretty aware what’s going on…

12.And last one, what does music mean to you?

It’s the biggest part of my life!

Coco is supported by: Ashley Beedle, Timo Garcia, Enzyme Black, Suonho

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