Interview with Jerome Isma-Ae

Interview with Jerome Isma-Ae

15 September, 2008 | 10.19AM

• Written by: BeatportElef
• Filed under: Music News: jee productions, jerome isma-ae

Beatportal got the chance to chat with Jerome Isma-Ae, whose been in the game for nearly 15 years, with his first release on the Delirium label back in 1994.

Since then he has moved on to found his own label, Jee Productions, and has made a name for himself as a world-class remixer and progressive DJ and producer. 

Check out the full interview after the jump.

2008 seems to be a very successful year for you with lots of great remixes. What’s precipitated this?

A lot of international DJs play my productions, so they’ve become quite popular. I think word has spread and that’s´why I get a lot of remix requests from a bunch of labels and DJs.

You have a very unique style when you remix a track. What’s your secret formula?

The selection of the right sounds is very important. I use my homemade soundkits (drums,synths, FX), and they let me work very fast and efficiently.

Nearly every remix you’ve done has entered the top 10 Beatport progressive charts. Would you count this as success?

Yes, I do! It shows me that some people really dig my tunes.

What does success look like to you?

Success for me means that you do your thing in a good enough way that people take notice.

Do you get more bookings because of the current success of your remixes/productions?

Definitely. Many DJs around the globe play my tunes and promoters pay attention through the reaction of the crowd.

It´s a very good promotion tool for my own DJ career.

Meanwhile you’ve also done remixes for trance artists. Do you enjoy remixing that genre? Do you ever fear losing credibility in the progressive world?

I like to remix any song that has a good, solid substance and I don´t care about the genre.

You did many remixes but haven’t really produced much of your own this year. How do you keep it fresh and new-sounding?

Because of all the remix requests in the last months, I couldn’t find the time to work on my own stuff.

But my focus will be back on single releases in the next year.

To keep the sound fresh, it´s good to listen to all different kinds of music.

It gives me impressions and new ideas.

Besides producing, you also DJ and run your own label, Jee Productions. Tell us more about it.

Marcel Krieg and I started the project “Future Funk” in 1993.

We released techno tunes on Delirium Records and later house tunes on Strictly Rhythm and Sony Music.

We were touring around the world as a DJ team.

After a while I wanted to create a different sound, so I started Jee Productions in 2003.

The sound of Jee Productions became quite popular and so I’ve been touring and DJing for around four years with my new custom made sound.

You are based in Munich, the city of labels like Great Stuff, Kosmo Records and artists like Tom Novy, Jean-Claude Ades, Lützenkirchen, andTomcraft. How is the relationship between all of you?

We are all good friends and every 100 years or so we do something in the studio together, ha ha.

What does a week look like in Jerome’s life?

In the morning I do some kind of sport for about two hours every day (running, swimming, bicycling, gym).

Then, after lunch I do my studio and office work, and evenings are spent meeting friends for dinner, or doing muay thai training (2-3 times a week).

On the weekends I am busy travelling and DJing.

In my free time between studio work and DJing I like to drive to the mountains, which are only one hour away from Munich) with friends for up- and downhill racing.

Give us a little bit of info about your studio. Did you switch completely to digital recording?

Yes, all digital. Mac Quad 4 x 2.5 GHZ, Logic Pro, Tons of Plug Ins, I sold all my hardware years ago.

Sometimes I miss the sound of my Akai S 1000, MPC 60, Tubetech LCA 2B.

But for bigger productions I go to my friends Studio (Orange Sound Munich), and work with the SSL Axiom Mixer.

As an artist, what do you feel are your strengths and weaknesses?

I think one of my strengths is my long time experience in music production.

I started to make music in the elementary school, and did my first record when I was 18-years old.

So far I released almost 100 records (remixes not included) in different styles like discohouse, techno, trance, proggy, movie scoring, lounge, chill out.

My weakness is: Women and cars.

Is there any area you’d like to branch into?

The area I´d like to branch into would be remixing pop stars and making the music for a big Hollywood movie.

What’s coming up next?

Coming up next: remixes, remixes, remixes… and the follow up of my last single ‘Phantom’.

Please answer in one word:

Last time you have been drunk? August

Best toilet you ever visited? Hmm

Worst hotel you checked in? Forgot

Worst flight? Suppressed

Worst gig? None

Last system crash? 2003

McCain or Obama? Obama

Winehouse or Duffy? Both

Winter or summer? Summer

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