Introducing: Moomin

Introducing: Moomin

12 December, 2011 | 12.46AM

• Written by: ChristineKakaire
• Filed under: Music News: aim, introducing, moomin, smallville, white

2011 has been a strong year for artist albums across the spectrum of electronic genres, and many of those highlights have come from relative unknowns, like breakthrough deep house producer Sebastian ”Moomin” Genz.

Although he is Berlin-based, Genz has a distinct musical affinity with Hamburg’s lauded Smallville Records collective. His beautiful debut album The Story About You, released in October on Smallville, continues the label’s deep house narrative as penned by label alum Christopher Rau and Move D, and as established by founders Lawrence/Sten and Julius Steinhoff & Just von Ahlefeld aka Smallpeople.

Genz’ deep, textured and sample-driven releases for local Berlin labels WHITE MUSIC and Aim hinted at a restraint and maturity that was allowed to fully bloom within The Story About You. It’s an album that is subtle and engaging, possessing a pitch-perfect balance of deep house swing with a calm, reflective quality. We were intrigued to know more, so we chatted with Genz’ about the making of the album, and also got his thoughts on the current state of house music in Berlin, his background, and his musical influences. 

Well done for The Story About You! How does it feel to have people referring to it one of the year’s best albums?

It’s an overwhelming honour for me and I’d like to say “Thank you!” for everyone’s support.

Is it true that you are fairly new to production? If so, how and when did you get started?

I started buying records in 1992-93, and I spent all my pocket money on it. Also at that time, I started to listening to hip-hop. Through hip-hop, I got to DJing around 1995-96. Before the turn of the century, I made my first productions with a DOS program named FastTracker and a few years later, I used Reason. So I’m not that new to production, but I didn’t really take it as seriously until recently.

Generally speaking, Berlin is best known for its techno scene. How would you rate the local landscape for deeper house producers, labels and club nights?

As far as I can see Berlin is on a very good level. That’s because of the recovery of house music in general.

You included a couple of tracks from previous EPs on WHITE MUSIC and Aim on your album. How long ago was the idea of an album conceived?

Basically I was just making music for me because I had all these ideas in my mind that I wanted turn into reality. I knew that I would make a record on Aim and WHITE but I still had many tracks left. Julius Steinhoff and I knew each other for a while so I provided him with some tracks and in the end, Julius, Just and Pete/Lawrence came back with the idea to make an album at the beginning of this year.

Can you tell us a little about your background? Where did you grow up?

I grew up in Northern Germany. A few years ago, I moved to Berlin where I still live.

You have a very specific take on deep, instrumental house music. Are there artists, labels or DJs that have been an influence in defining that sound?

Definitely! Artists like DJ Shadow, Diamond D, Large Pro, Theo Parrish, and Omar S, to name just a few. And loads of jazz and funk records, as well!

What are your thoughts on the so-called house revival at the moment?

Well, I am quite happy with it. That’s the music I love. But everyone knows trends come and go.

What’s your usual working process? Do you know what kind of track you want to write before you sit down to make it, or is it more a process of experimentation, trial and error?

It depends. Sometimes I know what kind of track I want to write or into which direction I want to go. Sometimes it’s a process of experimentation which includes trial and error ...

Where do you record?

In my lovely home studio. I guess I am a lucky guy because none of my neighbours have ever complained about my loudness.

I read that you have an arsenal of vintage production software - Roland TR 606, 808, 909, Roland Alpha Juno, SP 1200, Korg Poly 61.  Do you currently have a favorite piece of equipment? How important are productions tools to you?

I like the individual sound of them, and how you can combine them together. The SP 1200, for example, is a sampler, which gives you the dirty/crisp 12-bit sound.
”Watermelon” and ”Raw like 97” were made on it.

Which one record do you wish you had made? And if a wrecking ball was headed for your house, which one record would you rescue before it hit?

Difficult to say. Maybe DJ Shadow’s Entroducing. Honestly, I would save my tapes. Every record is replaceable. My tapes hold moments that no one record ever can give me back.

If you weren’t a musician, what do you think you’d be doing with your life?

Good question. To be honest, I don’t know. Maybe an astronaut?

Tell us about your upcoming gigs and releases!

I will be part of the upcoming Laid release, and more stuff will follow. At the end of January, you can catch me at Panorama Bar. And don’t miss the 4th edition of our New Year’s Eve party named “Weisse Hasen”!

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