Keymasters and Marshmellow Men: Interview with Chymera and Jody Wisternoff

Keymasters and Marshmellow Men: Interview with Chymera and Jody Wisternoff

22 July, 2008 | 3.50PM

• Written by: kavehsoroush
• Filed under: Music News: brandnewvibe recordings, chymera, jody wisternoff, kaveh soroush

The bottom tip of the sun had just kissed the Miami horizon, the groovy bassline to Francois Dubois’ remix of ‘Dark Star’ had just kicked into full gear, and the Sasha and Digweed boat party was officially under way. 

As bobbing heads sipped what seemed to be unending different flavors of vodkas and dance royalty rubbed elbows with the common folk, a chance meeting took place that would spark one of the summer’s hottest releases.

Talking with fellow producers, and being constantly interrupted by panting girls begging to pose with him, this was just another day in the life of Bristol’s Jody Wisternoff [pictured]. 

His hair slicked back into his now signature pony tail, tequila in hand, he posed in many a photo that day. 

And eventually, once the swell of fans died down, Jody met a couple fans who happened to have started a label the previous year in Washington DC - Russ Kaulback and Kaveh Soroush. 

The label - Brandnewvibe Recordings - had in a few short months garnered the support of many of the world’s top DJs, and already had a track shoot up to the top 10 of the Beatport overall 100 (Emjae’s ‘Can You Handle It’ [Audiojack Remix]). 

They had also had tracks featured on the Essential Selection/Essential Mixes/Ministry of Sound and Renaissance compilations. 

Russ and Kaveh had gone to Miami this year to promote their upcoming release schedule, but still had a track under contract that they were searching for the right person to remix. 

After some cheeky banter - at which Jody is an absolute master - talk turned to this track. 

When Jody learned the track was by Irish producer Chymera, his face lit up. 

“I love Chymera!” Suddenly in the matter of what seemed like a few short moments - without even hearing the track - it was evident that anyone that had that much interest in remixing a track by someone who they respected so much - would surely lead to great music. 

Russ and Kaveh looked at one another, then looked at Jody while the break to Nick Muir’s remix of Chaka Khan’s ‘Ain’t Nobody’ kicked in. 

Now you have to ask yourself here - are there such things as accidents?  Or does everything happen for a reason?

It may have been the wind, the several straight days of too much time under the sun with too much alcohol and not enough water, the lavender sky as the sun had just set, but whatever it was, there was magic in the air and it had to be caught. 

And so it was settled. Jody Wisternoff would remix the Chymera track once WMC was over and fate would decide the rest (if you believe in that sort of thing). 

So four months later DJs like Sasha, James Zabiela, Sander Kleinenberg, Hernan Cattaneo, Paolo Mojo, Nic Fanciulli, Eelke Kleijn, Nick Warren, Scope, Francois Dubois. Kosmas Epsilon, Shlomi Aber, and many many more seem to agree that some sort of magic was certainly captured from that night. 

Now in celebration of the release (July 22nd) Chymera and Jody Wisternoff have agreed to sit down for one of the most penetrating interviews of their career, one in which no dirty little secret is left uncovered.

Based on your current experiences/mannerisms/personality traits etc., if you had to guess, what would you say you were in your past life (assuming there was one) and why?

Chymera: I was a keg of fine beer from Poland. I seem to spend all my life trying to drink as much of it as possible.

JW: I don’t want to offend anyone out there, but I’ve got a strange feeling I might have been Elvis Presley, largely based on my appetite.

Assuming you both go up a wrung in the next life - what/who would you like to be and why?

Chymera: A monkey, in the middle of the rainforest. Hang on - do they have beer in the rainforest?

JW: I wouldn’t mind coming back as one of Bill Gates grandsons. No cashflow problems there, thats for sure.

Who would you hate to see in heaven (if such a place exists and assuming you get in)?

Chymera: Being a devout pastafarian, I believe that heaven contains beer volcanoes. I’d hate to see any teetotalers up there

JW: Idi Amin, he was a bit of a dick. Or maybe Tiesto (tongue firmly in cheek).

Who would you love to see in hell (again, assuming etc. etc.)?

Chymera: According to my beliefs, considering hell is full of stale beer, I’ll settle for anyone who can relieve the boredom.

JW: It would be pretty amusing bumping into Jesus in hell. It would make for an interesting MySpace blog anyway.

Do you believe in ghosts and if you do, whose ghost do you think lives in your music production/computer?

Chymera: if i did I would say an emperor from china.

JW: Id like to think that Bob Moog has come back to haunt my G5, and it would be pretty cool to have Jon Peel hanging out in my laptop RIP

If you had to choose which Ghostbuster to be - which one would you choose (as this clearly speaks volumes about who you are as a person)? (You may also opt to be the Gatekeeper/Keymaster/or even the puppy in the fridge - aka Zool - but Slimer is completely off limits!)

Chymera: I’d love to be the keymaster but it would depend on which lady is the gatekeeper.

JW: Either Egon Spengler (’cause he’s got a wicked name) or the Marshmallow man because I’d like his physique.

Whats your favorite film? If this is too difficult you can choose up to three in no particular order.

Chymera: Oldboy, Mulholland Drive, Amores Perros.

JW: Bladerunner, no doubt! Though probably more for the soundtrack. My favorite UK film of all time is Dead Mans Shoes, and Star Wars cannot go unmentioned.

This is a three part question:  1) What is your favorite thing to eat on the road? 2) What is your favorite drink of choice at a gig?  3) How many will you generally consume over the course of a full set?

Chymera: Depends on the country, but if in Germany I always like to eat some proper bratwurst (easy now). Otherwise just lots of whatever I can get, but not junk food.
2. You know by now.
3. As many as I’m given.

JW: 1. Sushi (mainly cos it’s shit in England).
2.  Patron (just call me P Diddy).
3.  As many as my bladder can handle. (Many...)

What’s the worst experience you ever had on tour/on the road, etc. (please don’t hold back here!)?

Chymera: Pff, not many to be honest. The waiting around I hate. Mmm, once I had a really sick stomach at a gig and there was not functioning toilet! Hell!

The gig was great though, regardless.

JW: Either the time an engine blew up on a flight between Sydney and Melbourne, or the time I fell down a man hole in Kuala Lampur. That really hurt!

what is your favorite part about traveling the world?

Chymera: Airports. I love airports.. Always have and always will, as long as they are decent ones.

Apart from that, the usual boring stuff - I like meeting new people and seeing different cultures.

Food and drink of different countries is always usually very good and a change from what you get at home.

JW: To be perfectly honest, the free d**gs and b**ches. NOT...I’m a married man now ;)

Most important interview question: What’s the thing you are most excited about that is happening on July 22nd 2008? (Hint: IThas something to do with something you guys are both involved in that will finally be avail to the public - hope I didn’t give anything away!)

Chymera: I told you before, I had NOTHING to do with that video tape. It was a body double I swear!

JW: On the 22nd I’m going to see this amazing comedian called Daniel Kitson. If you haven’t seen him already , do it. You’ll thank me later.

It’s also my granny’s birthday. Oh, and isn’t that track, what’s it called—‘Parelo’ or something—being unleashed?

Chymera: ‘Parelo’ will be released by Brandnewvibe Recordings on July 22nd featuring remixes from Jody Wisternoff, Kaveh Soroush & Charles Gudagafva, and Jim Pavloff.

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Interview by Kaveh Soroush

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