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Oliver Huntemann: Upcoming DJs Face Stark Reality (interview)

“During the first few weeks of the crisis promoters seemed to be more reserved but at the moment it seems normal again. I think the recession is going to prove more difficult for upcoming DJs as promoters will continue to book their headliners but instead of having two or three residents will instead book just one.”

18 years after he started his career as one of Germany’s first wave of techno/ trance stars Oliver Huntemann continues to thrive at the cutting edge dance music, consistently DJing and producing quality dance music whether it’ minimal, electro or pumping techno. Chatting to Skruff today to promote his (mainly stripped tech- house) new album H-3, he’s confident and clear, reflecting his long held vantage point from near the top of the global DJ tree.

“I know it sounds hard but I think getting through this recession is going to be a lot more difficult for upcoming DJs,” he suggests, “They’ll have to accept lower fees and it will be more difficult for them to get gigs.”

If I can offer any advice for new DJs, it’s this: “Play as often as possible, create your own style, start producing, work hard, take it seriously, be self-critical, be open minded, implement your ideas and have fun while doing this all.”

Despite his relatively upbeat prognosis for his more established DJ peers, he’s quick to point out that his expectations for commercial success with H-3 are dramatically different.

“Fuck, if I only made music for the money, I couldn’t do it these days, it’s impossible,” says Oliver.

“Which is sad, but sales of CDs, vinyl and downloads are so bad that’s how it is. I’m pretty sure that 98 percent of all artists out there; maybe more, cannot live from just making music any more. They all need other sources of income such as from playing live or DJing.”

“Music these days, especially electronic music, has become more and more of promo tool for an artist. But having said that, I still love delivering a good product in the shops.

For me vinyl is still important to give the artist and the label a face, I’m not a friend of digital labels just yet. H-3 will come as a double CD with 15 tracks, including the singlesm which have been released since the last album Fieber. The artwork will be very special and valuable. It’s the same with the vinyl edition. We have also decided to provide a DJ friendly triple vinyl set with a super precious cover. All for a very fair price,” he adds.

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): Starting with the new album: it’s called H-3: seems a very simple title: did you spend long thinking it up?

Oliver Huntemann: “Finding a name for an album is always tricky. The name has to be more unique and more personal than probably for a single. In this case of H-3 I was looking after a title for weeks after finishing the production. It´s not like always thinking about it but it’s kind of pressure when you don’t find something after a while. H-3 was actually a suggestion of mine for a new label name (which is now called Ideal) but my business partner Jan Langer and my girlfriend told me both that this would be a better name for the album. At least it’s so simple: Huntemann`s 3rd Album equals H-3.”

Skrufff: You mentioned in our last interview working regular Monday to Friday hours in the studio: what’s your usual approach when creating a track?

Oliver Huntemann: “It always starts with the kick. The bass drum is very important to me finding the basic patterns. After I fill it with few drums and a bass line. That’s the groove I can start with to go deeper into the production.”

Skrufff: How long do tracks and remixes typically take? How easy is it to know when you’ve finished?

Oliver Huntemann: “I try to keep the production process as short as possible to keep it a little ingenious and usually a track takes on average two to three days. From experience, the tracks that come out the quickest are the most successful ones. Ideally I start with an idea and the rest of the track follows in a flow. When I’m in this flow state, I know exactly at what point I have enough parts to start the arrangement and when the track is finished. Normally I don’t touch it after, just after I’ve tried it in the club and recognized that it needs some changes in the mix-down.”

Skrufff: How much do you see yourself as a brand these days?

Oliver Huntemann: “I personally don’t but I’m often asked how I create this ‘Huntemann sound’. It seems my music is some kind of a brand. I try to always make progress but don’t like to make too many steps forward at once. I reinvented my sound completely in 2004 and from that moment onwards I went forward step by step always researching to find the perfect beat. It’s not much of a bad thing if I become perceived as a brand with my music but at least I always do what I want to do – whether if it’s a brand or not.”

Skrufff: How much more important are factors like image: and performing in the DJ booth these days?

Oliver Huntemann: “I’m absolutely not the superstar DJ type who shines more with his performance in the DJ booth than through the selection of records and quality of mixing. I’m mostly more introverted and focused on building my set. It has happened on occasion that people have showed me their mobile phones with the invitation to smile. Firstly I like to catch the people with the dramatic power of my music. But when the mood of the party is special I sometimes start to dance and whip the crowd up with my conductor arms in the air poses.” (laughing).

Skrufff: How do you regards DJ requests: have you ever had problems from over-pushy- or drunk- clubbers?

Oliver Huntemann: “Of course. Once a drunken guest fell into the turntables, completely causing the needle to scratch across the record. The music stopped and the whole club started to hoot at him until he left the venue. But in general I don’t have big problems with such guys. Normally I act with firmness but in a friendly way, that works most of the time.”

Skrufff: The last time we chatted in 2006 you mentioned you were 38: how big a deal is it turning 40?

Oliver Huntemann: “Wow was it 2006? Time is passing. Turning 40 was not the big deal I was worried about. Strangely, nothing has really changed. I feel strong enough for new challenges (chuckling).”

Skrufff: How much do you consider yourself an artist, and how much do you possess a particular sense of purpose?

Oliver Huntemann: “I am an artist, of course. I call myself DJ and music producer but I’m not a musician. I follow a plan when I act as a businessman for my label but I don’t have a sense of purpose when I play a DJ set or create music. For me that’s something I can’t really describe, it feels like I’m guided. To be honest, I don’t really know how I reached the point where I am now - but it feels right.”

Oliver Huntemann’s new album H-3 is out now on Ideal Records.

http://www.myspace.com/huntemann

article by Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)

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