Interview: Ryan Crosson on production, Berlin and Popkomm

Interview: Ryan Crosson on production, Berlin and Popkomm

9 October, 2008 | 8.01PM

• Written by: Matthewbaker
• Filed under: Music News: popkomm, ryan crosson

Berlin is the focus of the electronic music world this weekend with the seminal Popkomm event playing host to an array of top-end talent right across the city.

In preparation for the Dumb Unit Edge City Invitational at Club-Rechenzentrum, Matthew Baker talks to Ryan Crosson about moving to Berlin, his latest works and what exactly this weekend is all about.

You have a lot of new stuff coming out after a a relative dormant period of your own productions. Can you tell me about some of your new things? And how has Berlin affected your production in both ideas and motivation?

Well, the Wagon Repair came out the week of September 29th. 

I’m very thankful that Todd, Matt and the rest of the Wagon Repair crew supported the combination of tracks on the EP.

They (the tracks) are much less busy than stuff I’ve worked on in the past. 

Up next will be split EP with my friend Cesar Merveille on a label called Remade. 

Cesar came up with an amazing jazz bootleg for the A-side and I add a nice housey track for the B.

After that, an EP on Alphahouse will finally come out. 

It’s a deeper record, less busy again. 

Troy Pierce and Seth Troxler have been good supporters of the title track, ‘Under the Willow’.

After a few release delays I’m just happy to have it out.

I’ve also finished a remix for Minus but am not sure if and when it’s coming out.

Berlin has been great for ideas because you have access to great clubs and the best artists on a weekly basis. 

Initially when we moved here I was very motivated but found myself working on music not because I wanted to but because I felt I had to. 

I was writing tracks to satisfy a certain label’s sound and it really stifled my creativity. 

Once I cleared my head of that nonsense, things opened up and I was able properly work again. 

This summer at Club der Visionaire was a unique experience for Seth, Shaun Reeves and me. 

We were given all day on Tuesdays, called Soul Shower, to play whatever we wished. 

About 90% of the time we started with a mix of soul, funk, rock and hip hop and gradually moved into house during the evenings. 

That break from electronic music directly after the weekend was a fantastic way for us to relax and listen styles of music out of the apartment that we don’t normally play. 

I think regular visitors to CDV were happy as well that we were offering something different.  Hopefully we can continue it again next year.

How have things changed for Lee, Seth and yourself since you moved ? Do you still exchange ideas? And are you planning anything else as Vision Quest?

Unfortunately, Lee was not able to stay in Berlin permanently.

He’ll be back soon though for a short tour. 

Lee doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his productions; he’s quite genius, and if he gets back over here it will provide him with an opportunity to showcase his work to more people. 

Seth has really come into his own over here. 

He’s one of the best DJs around and he’s an extremely personable guy. 

His Circus Company release was bomb and he’s got a few more on Crosstown Rebels and Wagon Repair. 

Both are great, especially the Par Grindvik remix on Crosstown. 

The three of us are in contact all the time. 

More Vision Quest works are planned and we want to getting going on it once Lee is back in November.

You, more than most artists, straddle the line between techno and house. Where are your allegiances these days and how do you prepare for crowds that have varied expectations ?

A few times over the past six months I’ve actually played a little bit harder than normal. 

Depending on the DJ that plays before me and how the crowd responds can alter how I start a set. 

If people look a bit bored I may make a drastic change to just try and shake things up a bit. 

The spring/summer house kick was fun but I’m looking for a change. 

In the end, you have to do your best by playing the tracks you like while keep people moving, smiling, and enjoying themselves.

What’s something that’s exciting you in the music scene right now ?

I really like that I’m constantly meeting artists who are generally nice people with good hearts and supportive of one another to communicate ideas and begin collaborations. 

The internet makes it so easy to communicate via email or Skype and also makes sharing files, loops and tracks a breeze. 

Obviously collaborating over the internet doesn’t work for everyone but I think if you find some like-minded people it could make for an interesting experience. 

Seth and I met the guys from dOP last weekend and we’re hoping to work together in the near future.

What’s something that annoys you?

A lot of things annoy me, I’m a salty person. 

But I’d have to say the thing that bothers me most is when you’re out somewhere and you meet some other DJ or artist and that person blows you off and can’t even give you a proper, “Nice to meet you”. 

It’s like they judge you before you even open your mouth. 

I understand some DJ’s meet a ton of people and can be constantly annoyed but how hard is it to just say, “Thanks” or “Hi, how are you?”

Maybe once you hit a certain age and start losing your hair you’re entitled to be a total asshole to whoever you want. 

I’m still waiting for the memo. 

Jeremy Caulfield tells me that you are very inspired by Spaghetti Westerns and Bollywood? Can you tell me about that and how this influences your music ?

Are you sure Jeremy said me? 

Last time I was over to his studio he had a large poster of Aishwarya Rai above his computer screen. 

He’s been trying to make me watch some of her films like Sarkar Raj and Bunty aur Babli but I haven’t really made an effort. 

I do enjoy Westerns. 

When I was younger my Dad and I would watch movies a lot. Some of the Westerns that were quite common were The Magnificent Seven (Western remake of The Samurai Seven), The Undefeated and Pale Rider.

I don’t feel that either of these movie genres influence my music, but perhaps Jeremy could be trying to indirectly hint at the direction he wants to take Dumb Unit. 

His Canadian accent has been changing constantly and now that I think about it more, he could be intentionally trying to change it to a more Southern U.S. drawl.

What can we expect from the upcoming Dumb-Unit and friends party at Popkomm?

Hopefully a lot of chaos! 

The lineup is great because we are all friends and some good chemistry should be in the air. 

I’m interested to hear Mark Henning liv, and the Camea and Jeremy Caufield back-to-back set should cap off the party nicely. 

I hope people decide to come out to Club Rechenzentrum as I’ve heard good things although never attended.

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Popkomm _Berlin_11.10.08
Dumb-unit _ Edge City Invitational

Line-up /
Jeremy P Caulfield, Someone Else, Mark Henning (Live), Camea, Ryan Crosson, Pinksilver DJ Team Australia (MarkoJux & Lance Harrison)

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