Jonas Landwehr on Breaking From Techno, UKG Inspirations & the Emotional Depth of ‘Ur Luv/Next2U’ | Faux Poly Interviews

Jonas didn't always produce UK-influenced Electronica. He was deep in Germany's Techno scene before 2020, until lockdown prompted a creative U-turn. Drawn to the UK's experimental sounds, he forged a new sound of blown-out vocals, modular textures, and UKG swing rhythms.

Now, with his new double-sided Faux Poly EP, he's arrived at his most personal work to date. Here Jonas breaks down the making of UrLuv and Next2U, talking about his love of audio puzzles, the life changes that influenced the EP.

Hey Jonas, can you give us a little insight into where you’re from, your musical journey and your local scene?

Until the beginning of Covid, my musical journey was very focused on Techno, as this is also the main offering of the German electronic music scene. By distancing myself from the clubs I began to question my decision and realized that my private interest, what I listen to and find much more exciting, is not really to be found in Techno. My attention was quickly drawn to the UK and the combination of many styles and influences. Unfortunately, the local scene in Cologne is characterized by increasing specialization in Techno/Trance and a lack of musical diversity. I would be happy if more scenes came together here and supported each other rather than pushing each other away.

‘Next2U’ builds on vocal elements from ‘Till Things Ghost’ – what made you want to revisit and reshape this track?

I love vocals and working with them. I'm really fascinated by what's possible with vocals, from creating feelings to rhythm, texture – you can really bend vocals in all directions. ‘till things ghost’ was a really important project/EP for me. I think it's very valuable to have access to potential vocal samples that no one else has. In this case, I just wanted to get everything out of the recordings that I could.

Did you start with the track and find that the vocals fit naturally, or was your goal from the beginning to rework the vocals into something new?

Actually, I´ve had a project sitting on my laptop for quite a while. Next2U sounded completely different and had many versions – sometimes broken, sometimes 2-step, but nothing really fit. Months later I had this beat and was like "wait a minute, how would the vocals be on that?" and then it finally made sense.

‘Ur Luv’ has UKG-inspired percussion – what drew you to that rhythmic style for this track?

At the moment I feel very drawn to club music and I'm trying to put my stamp on it. This was already reflected in parts in my last projects, but I wanted to formulate it more clearly and in a more defined way. I find UKG really exciting and it feels right at the moment to use it as a personal canvas.

Did you experiment with any new production techniques or gear for this EP?

I am constantly looking for interesting sounds where you don't know exactly what it is and how it was made. Basslines and texture play a big role. I'm always trying new things and seeing where it takes me.

Was there a particular piece of gear that played a central role in shaping this track?

I would say besides VSTs, especially my modular synth and the Oberheim OB-6.

How do you find balance between hardware and your DAW?

I usually start an idea in the DAW. Once I have a rough sketch, I sit down with my hardware devices to give it more character, go into more depth and really make the track come alive.

Do your ideas typically start as jams on your live setup and hardware, or do you develop them in the studio first before adapting them for live performance?

Most of the time I go into the studio with a specific idea I want to create. Sometimes it has results and sometimes the idea changes through the process itself. I jam during the process but the kick-off for a track is rarely jam-based. For live sets, the tracks are then adapted to the possibilities or perhaps re-formulated.

How does this EP represent your evolution as an artist compared to your previous works?

I would say that this EP feels like a new home. I've always been into textures, basses and vocals – just in different contexts. But in terms of development, it sounds a lot like me.

Do you find inspiration from outside of music – film, art, or everyday experiences?

A lot of things play a role for me. The EP was created after a breakup in my life and to allow new things to come in. I often try to give moments a soundtrack or imagine moments when I would hear this track.

What advice would you give to upcoming producers who are looking to break into the scene?

Haha well, I'm still trying to figure it out myself…

Are there any pieces of gear you’d recommend to someone getting into the world of hardware?

I know it's a weird take (and expensive) but modular taught me a lot. The good thing about it is that you just have to read up a lot to understand and a lot of questions arise that usually don't arise when you have a finished device in front of you.