Egoton: Trusting the Groove with "Groove Me"

Egoton is a Stuttgart-based producer whose name says it all. "Ego" for staying true to his own instincts. "Ton" for the music itself. With a background rooted in the vibrant club scene of 1990s Stuttgart and years of DJing before ever entering the studio, Engin Kayalar has spent years developing a sound that refuses to sit comfortably in one box. His debut release on Sounds Of Sirin, the "Groove Me" EP, brings together three tracks that each started with their own feeling and ended up belonging together. In this interview, he talks about why the groove always comes first, what analog warmth brings to a production, and how you know when to stop tweaking.

Q: Egoton is an artist name with a strong identity. Where does it come from, and what does it represent for you?

A: The name Egoton came to me at a time when I was mainly DJing and had just started producing music. I wanted a name that reflected the way I wanted to make music. For me, the "Ego" doesn't stand for arrogance. It stands for staying true to my own instincts. I never wanted to make music just to follow trends or meet expectations. I always wanted to develop my own sound. "Ton" connects everything back to music. To this day, Egoton represents making music the way it feels right to me.

Q: You are based in Stuttgart, which is not the most talked-about city in the electronic music conversation. How has growing up and working there shaped your relationship with music?

A: I first discovered electronic music in the mid-90s. Back then, Stuttgart had a really vibrant electronic music scene. Clubs like OZ, M1 and later Toy regularly hosted international DJs, so electronic music was definitely present. Because of that, I never experienced Stuttgart as a city that was disconnected from electronic music. Quite the opposite. Those years sparked my passion for electronic music and have stayed with me ever since.

Q: Your sound moves between organic house, melodic house and progressive influences. How did you arrive at that combination, and does it feel like a fixed identity or something still evolving?

A: For me, music has always been a journey. Not only does music evolve, but your own taste evolves as well. My journey started as a DJ. I played everything from techno to house, and over the years my taste naturally changed. I found myself drawn to music that combines groove, atmosphere and emotion. Interestingly, I never found it easy to put that sound into one category. I always knew what kind of music I loved, but not necessarily what to call it. That's why I still don't like putting my music into a box. Sometimes it's more progressive, sometimes more organic or melodic. For me, it's never about the genre. It's about whether a track has a soul. If the feeling is there, the label doesn't really matter.

Q: Groove and melody seem to be the two anchors of everything you make. Which one comes first when you start a new track?

A: Most of the time, everything starts with the groove. If the drums and bassline don't move me, the track usually doesn't go much further. The groove is the foundation. But the melody is just as important. It gives a track character, emotion and a soul. When groove and melody come together naturally, that's when something special happens.

Q: What does your production process actually look like? Do you have a particular way of working that feels like yours?

A: My production process almost always starts with the foundation of a track: kick, drums and bassline. If those elements don't work together, I usually don't continue developing the idea. I want them to already have the character I'm looking for. Over the years I've built my own project templates, which help me get into a creative flow much faster. Once the foundation is there, the groove, melodies and atmosphere develop naturally step by step.

Q: Are there any tools, instruments or plugins that are central to how you build a track?

A: Ableton has been at the center of my studio for many years. I like combining samples, synthesizers, analog hardware and digital tools. I enjoy both worlds, although I especially love the character and punch of analog sounds. That said, I try not to get lost in the technical side of things. It's more important for me to stay in a creative flow and keep my focus on the music rather than the gear.

Q: "Groove Me," "Aliens" and "Zwischen den Wellen" feel like three very different emotional spaces on the same release. Was that contrast intentional, or did it come together naturally?

A: It wasn't intentional at all. I never start a new track thinking about whether it will fit an EP or an album. That would only limit my creativity. Every track starts with its own feeling and develops independently. That's why "Groove Me," "Aliens" and "Zwischen den Wellen" sound so different. It was only afterwards that I realized they complement each other and work well together as one release.

Q: "Zwischen den Wellen" translates to "between the waves." What does that image mean to you, and where did the title come from?

A: For me, "Zwischen den Wellen" describes the feeling of letting yourself drift with a wave. The track creates the image of being right in the middle of that movement and simply flowing with it. Music often creates images and emotions in my mind. With this track, that feeling was there from the very beginning, and that's exactly what the title means to me.

Q: How do you know when a track is finished?

A: A track is finished for me when I still have ideas to change things, but consciously decide not to. At some point, every additional change would start changing the character of the track. That's the moment I know it's finished.

Q: What artists or records have shaped the way you think about electronic music?

A: In my early years, the releases on Cocoon Recordings and the electronic music scene of that time had a big influence on me. That's where my passion for electronic music really began. Over the years, many artists have inspired me. Some came and went, but one thing has always stayed the same: I've always felt more connected to the underground than to commercial music. That's where I found the music I truly connected with. Today I'm still inspired by other artists, but I don't try to sound like anyone else. In the end, I just want to make music that feels right to me. That's what Egoton is all about.

Q: What is next for you after this release?

A: The response to my music has shown me that I'm on the right path, and that motivates me to keep developing my sound. I'm already working on several new EPs, and there are some exciting projects in the pipeline. I'm looking forward to releasing more music step by step, and I think you'll be hearing a lot more from Egoton in the future.

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