Stonebridge interview: ‘Music Takes Me’

Stonebridge interview: ‘Music Takes Me’

28 August, 2007 | 8.16AM

• Section: Music News
• Written by: Terry Church

Stonebridge is back with a new single ‘You Don’t Know’ taken from his recent album ‘Music Takes Me’. Beatportal caught up with the veteran house producer in Stockholm, Sweden to find out more about his LP and his artist values.

What’s the idea behind ‘Music Takes Me’?

“Having done remixes for years and years, I got the opportunity to do an artist album in 2002 and it really changed my view on things.

“And this is a natural progression with the same concept of using different singers on each track, but I have pushed my sound forward a bit and tried to make a more solid album this time.”

‘Music Takes Me’ is very much a vocal-led house record, why do you love vocals so much?

“I believe songs will last forever and tracks will be forgotten once they’re played out.

“It’s not that I only love vocals, but more the emotional impact a song has, compared to an instrumental.

“Saying that, I do play a more instrumental sound as a DJ, but an album is something you listen to at home or in your car so I didn’t try to re-create a club vibe on it.”

Which do you love more, DJing or producing? Why?

“For me it has to be equal thirds of remixes, productions and DJing.

“If I cut one out, the system is not working.

“I discovered this in the mid-1990s after Robin S took off.

“I thought it would be a great idea to just remix back to back and not do anything else.

“After a few years I was persuaded to play at Ministry of Sound in London and man, was that an eye opener!

“The scene had gone one way and I another. So since then I have pretty much kept to that formula.”

How do you think you’ve changed over the years as a producer?

“I have some core values that I won’t change, but I have pushed my sound quite a lot in the last year.

“One reason is the technology that is available now in terms of soft synths and automation - you can really push things a lot more now.

“Another reason is that I tour every weekend and get inspiration from clubs all over the world and even if I think I do the same thing over and over, I don’t - new sounds sneak in and beats change to work with the current sound out there.”

So if the current sound keeps changing, where do you see house developing in the next 12 months?

“As a guy that has been around for a while, I have seen cycles repeat over and over.

“It starts with a darker sound taking over clubland and when it can’t get any darker or minimal, people want more and someone comes up with a new hot sound that everybody copies until they’re bored with it and the whole thing repeats again.

“What beats me is that no one writes original songs, but they instead dig in the vaults for some old worn out hook that they sample.

“As it gets picked up by a bigger label, they either have to clear it, re-vocal it or in some cases add a forced vocal just to please radio stations.

“Wouldn’t it be smarter to do the vocal from the go?

“Hopefully, this will be something that more producers realize because once we create new music, the music industry might take dance music more seriously again.

“Saying that though, I think the downloads will take over quicker than we think and it gives us more freedom to do what we want and to operate quicker without having to rely on major labels so I have a positive view on the future.”

What projects are you working on now?

“After finishing the album, I felt it was time for remixes again and I have to admit I might have taken on a bit too much.

“The five latest are; Debbie Harry ‘Two Times Blue’, Kim Russo ‘Keep On Moving’, David Jordan ‘Place In My Heart’, Brian Cross ‘Sunny Rain’ and Sia ‘The Girl You Lost To Cocaine’.

“I’m also working on remixes for the Hott 22 guys and the K Klass classic ‘Let Me Show You’.”

What’s achievement are you most proud of?

“Even though the Robin S remix put me on the map, I have to say I’m most proud of my two albums since they are done by me from the ground up and it’s an amazing feeling to see smiling faces when I play my music out.”

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