To be involved in the electronic music scene for 20 years is no mean feat, but to stay relevant throughout that time is the real challenge. German producer, DJ and label head Robert Babicz, though, has had no trouble in remaining at the top of the pile.Through a varied series of singles, albums and monikers, Babicz has joined the dots between experimental electronica, dance floor aligned tech house and trippy, envelope nudging acid.
March this year saw the release of his fourth studio album, Immortal Changes - a typically diverse record which goes from involved and ambient to big and bouncy at whim - whilst this month sees him launch his second label, Babiczstyle. As someone who is notoriously interested in the finer details of sound design, Babicz's new label is surely going to be one worth keeping an ear out for.
As such, we caught up with him by email to find out more ahead of his first Ibiza date for Warung at Privilege next Wednesday July 21st...
What have you learnt about music and yourself in your long career?
I learned the importance of emotions and how to put them into music.
I understand you have a fascination with making sound, tweaking and rewiring machines to get new things out of them - where does that come from? When and why did it start?
I was never happy with my mixdowns in the first 10 years of my career, at one point I decided it must stop and I have to learn what I can do to be on the top. Then step by step I learned everything by myself.
And what is it about making freaky sounds you like so much? Why is it important to making music?
It makes the music more interesting, it's like cooking food with extra spice.
How do you then go about turning these abstract sounds into a track with soul, narrative, meaning? What's the process?
I am very intuitive in the studio, don't think so much about how to do things, I mostly play around and slowly it grows till I find the right theme I was searching for, then it's very easy, my inner voice tells me everything.
How important is it to fully engage with the music you make, rather than just looping shit in Ableton?
It's everything, it's about life and all your thoughts of the moment put together into music. For my it's like a magic ritual to make music, my mind gets into this state of flow. Dynamics give you much more colour to work with... music without it would be just like Deadmau5, only loud or off?! Do we really want that?...
And what influences your music? Other music; people; art; emotions?
All things that happen in my life - the flowers that get dirty from staying on the road; people I see at airports; people I talk to... nearly everything is influencing me. As a kid I was sci-fi fan, it's still working on me, this freedom of thought. I love movies; I love other music from classic to experimental noise.
But most important are how humans interact with each other, every weekend - while I play my sets - I see how much I love our species again and again. Without music our lives would be a syntax error!
And you're a keen engineer I understand? You prize dynamics in music highly - why is that so important?
Dynamics give you much more colour to work with... music without it would be just like Deadmau5, only loud or off?! Do we really want that? We want music to have all kind of emotions in different dynamic stages. Think about that music were you have possibilities to have things going on from 0-1.000.000 or just over compressed music with 0-100. What is better?
So you're starting a new label - why now? What brought the decision about? Why not just revive your first label, Shortcut Recordings?
It's simply the time for BABICZSTYLE, the right moment. I want a complete personal model of a label, as I do the music, mastering, I do the pictures, and I do the videos myself. Also on the label I will just release me and collaborations with friends, so I will have full control.
And can you describe your style (ie what is Babiczstyle)?
For me its emo-tech in the best possible soundpicture I can do.
What will be the label's outlook and aims? How will you make an identity?
Look at the logo, hear the music, I think it's clear that the label has a face ;-)
How will you decide who releases on the label; what sort of music/feel/emotions are you looking for?
Like I said, I will only release myself and collabs with friends, from Gui Boratto to Charlie May over to Martin Eyerer and so on and on..... I am not limited; I just want to make the music that I would buy myself.
Is it important for you to keep vinyl alive? Will the label release vinyl? If so, what do you like about the medium/what are its advantages? If not, why not?
I will do 12" from every release, as there are still many people loving this way of having music. For myself, I am not sure, I am not a DJ myself and don't buy records so much. The sound of a good record is still very nice, and will be forever.
Acid is still alive, like it always was. I play acid in every set and have for 20 years. It's just the way you put it in... everything is possible....
You've always been a prolific producer - where do you get so many ideas and inspirations? What triggers you wanting to write a track? Are they planned, ad hoc, results of a night out, certain emotion, bad day, good day etc?
I ask myself a lot why I do all this, and to be honest I don't know- I have to do it. It's like I can't stop doing it, I am obsessed. Maybe a demon is living in me! I am not interested in money or fame at all, I just love sounds and music, and I've dedicated my life to this.
And similarly what do you want people to feel or think when listening to your music? What are you trying to achieve?
Let's say I do the soundtrack to my own live and to my dreams. And if the people get inspirations for their own live thru my music, I am happy. You know what makes me extremely happy is seeing people on the dancefloor closing their eyes and dancing like there is no end... forgetting that they are at a party and just feeling the sound. You start feeling the eternity! I love these moments......
You have tons of aliases - why start so many? Are they outlets for different sorts of music; how do you decide what sound fits with what moniker; does it ever get confusing?
I think mostly stopped all the names, only Babicz and Rob Acid are left. And Rob Acid is for the harder acid techno stuff.
Will there ever be any more Rob Acid? Does acid have a place in 2010's soundsphere do you think?
Acid is still alive, like it always was. I play acid in every set and have for 20 years. It's just the way you put it in... everything is possible.
You're playing in Ibiza again this season - can you tell us where and how the booking came about?
I will play two gigs at Warung at Privilege, and it brings two things together that I like: Ibiza and Brazil.....
How do you like playing on the island? How much does it differ to other gigs around the world?
It's this special feeling that you only get on an island, surrounded by the sea. Like being on the last party on planet earth.
Do you get the same out of it as you did when you first went and played? Does it still excite you as much? Why, why not?
As always I love every gig, I am maybe a pro these days, but I still jitter every time I am on the stage, even if you don't see it in my face, I am near dying, but after 10 minutes of playing I let it go and then there is just music and me and the people.
I understand you're doing a mix for Warung, too - what's the idea with that?
The idea is to make a free Babiczstyle CD as a gift to every clubber on Ibiza, and Warung things this is a very cool idea and support this!
What else are you working on in 2010?
I will visit many friends to make the collabs for my label, I travel every weekend somewhere on this beautiful planet, I want to learn more about photography and video.
Plan is to release a new Babiczstyle every 6 weeks, so enough work today... Besides that, mastering and remixes and live gigs!
robertbabicz.de
facebook.com/robertbabicz
myspace.com/robertbabicz
Source: Ibiza-Voice
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