Interview: Mike Shannon’s ‘Memory Tree’

Interview: Mike Shannon’s ‘Memory Tree’

29 August, 2008 | 7.45PM

• Section: Music News Topics: Beatport Blog
• Written by: Amanda Connon-Unda

After ten years of producing his own music (first in Canada and then Europe), and heading up his own Cynosure Record Label, Mike Shannon is now a proud family man and uniquely talented DJ and producer living in Berlin.

His latest techno album entitled ‘Memory Tree’ is a significant one, both for its musical merit (the album being dark, soulful, club-friendly and emotive), and for its personal significance, since it reveals a bit more about Mike Shannon and where he’s at.

Beatport caught up with Mike Shannon to speak further about his ‘Memory Tree’.

You’ve been cultivating your own record label, throwing events in the past, and producing music for over 10 years.

What has your magic recipe been to achieving happiness and equilibrium as well as success in this industry?

I’ve been happiest when I didn’t have to compromise much and didn’t have to bend my integrity

I catch myself playing music that I think that I have to play to suite a particular event it usually isn’t quite so good, but when I play what I’m into, everything clicks. 

Sometimes you lose a few [people] but the ones who are into it can vibe that you’re into it also. 

When you pretend to be into something that you’re not, it really shows.

Have you ever had a hard time in your work when you thought you might have to switch careers and get out of making music for money?

Yeah, there have been some hard times over the years. 

Things weren’t always rolling as they are now, and I’ve had to work a few shit jobs in my days.

But ever since I’ve been outside of Canada my career became much easier to manage. 

The hardest times I can remember were when I was 19 and I had to get a job with a demolition company in Waterloo, Ontario. 

I was working like a slave and physically getting destroyed in the process.

However, the tension release was excellent. 

Nothing brings the stress down better for me than destroying things.

Has fatherhood changed your perception or your approach to the music industry?

I think the biggest change has been the way I look at the future. 

I never really used to think too much about things too far in advance.

I had a kind of month-to-month perspective.

I was never really ‘the man with the plan’ - I just went with the flow. 

But now I’ve really been developing other ways I can take my skills out of the DJ booth and more into the studio. 

I ran into a friend of mine who has been balancing a DJ/production career and a family while remaining in Canada and he gave me some great advice: 

“Always look into how this network can help you secure your family and always have a plan B just in case you go deaf.” Haha.

Tell us a bit about some of the ideas that influenced your titles on the ‘Memory Tree EP’.

‘Memory Tree’ is a concept that my brother translated into a video project years ago.

A memory tree is a collection of works that connect you to specific memories and feelings.

For me, a “memory tree” is another way to say “album” - whether a photo album or a musical album.

‘Beyond Incubation’ - This song was written after I had found out that my girlfriend was pregnant. 

I really wanted to express the miracle of the journey that a human embryo goes through.

It was something I never thought too much about until the news arrived.

‘Mercury Mile’ - The title of this track is related to its long liquid-like intro.

‘Wolf Module’ - A track title relating to a specific synth (Roland System 100 modular) that a friend lent me during the production of this record

friend being the Wolf in the equation.

‘Enero’ means the month of January in Spanish… the month that I wrote this track and the month that both my father and my brother (whom this album is dedicated too) were born.

‘The Love Fry’ is nothing more than the name of the main synth line patch that dominates the first half of the song. 

‘Uno Para el Sol’ was a track that I wrote the first summer I moved to Berlin… it was my summer track that simply means “one for the sun”.

‘Dr.X.’ was inspired by a special trip to the doctors that I had during my nervous pre-daddy days.

‘Regalos de Pandora’ means ‘Gifts from Pandora’ and relates to all the new things that were happening in my life and the new things that were about to happen.

Everything seemed like it was landing on my lap - as if somehow too good to be true. 

This song title relates to the Greek myth of Pandora’s Box… when Pandora opened the box, all the evil of the world was released.

‘Closed Question’ - With this song I was trying hard to encompass as much of the ‘Memory Tree’ as possible in one track, to give the album resolve and closure.

Mike Shannon - ‘Memory Seed’

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