Has Geneva changed over the years, in terms of the electronic music culture?
The scene now is completely different... Very different from how it was in the 1990s. Now we see hundreds of electronic musicians and many labels that are working with so many genres and sub-genres. Geneva has always been a centre of many things important but sort of neutral too! The old places have shut down giving way to newer spaces, for the music to grow. Now 15 years later, the city is hosting one of the biggest and most coveted festival in the field of electronic music, the Electron Festival.
Tell us about how you started out and what was Geneva like?
I bought my first sampler in 1988. I did not have any formal music education yet i love reading user-manuals very thoroughly. I wanted to make music on the machine instantly... I recall that the 'scene' was already becoming very eclectic in Europe. People were 'tripping' on Musique Concrete to Acid House and even EBM. Like many others, i got attracted and influenced by darker and industrial shades of electronica : Be it Industrial-Techo or Synth-Pop or Kosmiche Musik or Japan Noise or even Minimal forms : I think the late 80s and early 90s everything was very nascent, spreading wildly but mostly undefined. Most of the early-pioneers were alive and kicking! In Geneva, one could find the new records and news about electronic music, yet very few people were actually involved in producing electronic music. The scene was open to many new cultural inputs and sonic disruptions for sure... It has become more structured over time.
My journey literally started from " the tunnels-of-techno gradually over time into the clubs of the planet ". I taught myself to use samplers, synthesizers and eventually built a studio ( called Black Bunker ) which gives me and my friends space to set up instruments, jam and record. I gradually moved into experimental and ambient sound which lead me to work with artists of diverse nature. In 2002, I threw himself into a different world co-writing the music of Water Lilly - an electro-techno stream with glamorous pop and cosmic ambiances. Sound-design is an integral part of my work which defines my production in studio, performances and outdoor installations. I started a record label called Helvet Underground which has notched 29 albums over the last decade. featuring various singers, producers and musicians from contrasting backgrounds. I feel lucky to have created such associations : with Ghostape : AEROFLOT (electro-pop) with Goodbye Ivan : CORE with Da Saz and Audio Pervert : SUNISIT (IDM) featuring Cesare Pizzi, founder and keyboard of the famous electro-punk Young Gods. Over the last 15 years, I have branched out with my music to countries like India, China, France and Japan... Kept myself busy with releasing music on my label which is connected to many similar labels in Switzerland and EU region, and constantly trying to build projects involving other artists. The Various Projects in my Bio
What is your interest with India all about?
Was quite an accident actually! Mimetic, a genius music producer from Geneva, asked me to substitute him at a workshop in Delhi. June 2013 I was in New Delhi, in a completely new world, full never-heard sounds, initiating a sound-production workshop with Gati Studio (Dance Agency). It was indeed a very crazy time for me plus the 47 degree heat wave! A collaboration with Rakesh Sukesh, Dancer and choreographer resulted in further collaboration and insight. The place, it's energy and the people excited me to no end and I promised to be back the next year. Upon my return in 2014 I met various electronic music producers and people involved in the 'left-field' sound of New Delhi..
Since 2014, you have created various projects in India? How did that happen?
Helvet Underground latest release :
NINTENDARK ! Performance using classic Nintendo Video-Game Consoles.
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