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If Mathias Kaden is more commonly known through his DJ’ing as ‘Mr. Minimal Samba’ his debut album ‘Studio 10’ will not be as easily categorised. The fresh faced 27 year old German has a chequered production history that includes many EP’s release on Vakant, collaborations  with techno genius Marek Hemmann & Turkey’s electronic hero Onur Ozer and a repertoire of remixes for artists including Anja Schneider, Noze & Trentemoller. Its difficult to label the album purely ‘minimal’ as it fuses a number of sounds and styles with samba grooves, heat infused jazz, the flair and temperament of Latino rhythms and hints of dubstep and minimal ambience in its fold. Utilising musicians to record a Lowry organ, Fender Rhodes, flugelhorn and violins indulges and expands upon a project he previously engaged in with the symphony orchestra from his hometown Gera and track collaborations with vocalists Gjaezon, Ian Simmonds and the ethereal Tomomi Ukumori adds weight to the array of content, suggesting an open minded approach to the devisal process.

The tracks themselves are filled with subliminal messages and more prolifically ‘State of Stasis’ goes slightly avant-garde in the message that vocalist’s Gjaezon’s lyrics communicate. Lowrey feat Florian Schumacher is filled with violins and clean piano notes that are perfectly composed as it pulses and paces along with a forthcoming groove. Panic Stricken is a hustling samba affair, dipped deeply in percussion and soulful rhythms. Chazz and Defender go off kilter with minimal clonking hollowed harmonies and Mascleta hustles along with a tribal sound in force. Kawaba and Re menor are more minimal ambient but still quite experimental with violins adding an eerie like element to the sound. Overall the album is a deeply layered listening experience.

Kaden is the perfect example of how electronic artists are currently removing the parameters of ‘genre’ and cross-pollinating into other styles to challenge boundaries and break new ground for the listener. Many producers simply arrive at the LP concept as they release singles that are commercially focused and bouncy for the dance-floor but don’t really communicate or showcase their artistic ability or merit. The ‘Long Player’ allows them to explore their musical aficionado, add a stamp of quality and individual identity, allowing them to stand out from the rest of the pack (and that pack is pretty big in 2009). With ‘Studio 10 this is done to a positive effect and overall delivers a mixed affair of styles and experimentalism but clearly communicate the artist within Mathias Kaden’s identity. This album is intended to be timeless and honest and what’s most important to me is to give each track a real song-characteristic...

What were you listening to growing up?
When I was young I was to listening music from Depeche Mode and the typical 80’s mainstream music like Michael Jackson or Phil Collins.

How did that impact on you as an artist and your album/music creation?
I don’t think there was much impact for my DJ career but maybe for my work as a producer. I always want to go one step further as I’m really interested in a lot of other music too.

If you weren’t t a DJ what would you be doing with your life now?
I think I would be already married and when my child would come home from school, we’d play soccer the whole evening.

What’s happening with you, Onur Ozer and Marek Hemmann at the moment? Any new projects you’d like to tell us about?
Both are very busy at the moment and for sure there are some plans for the future!

I’ve noticed this album differentiates in some way to your DJ sets could you tell us how you differentiate as an artist between DJ sets and albums etc?
Most of the people do know me as the DJ who always plays the never-ending groove. With “Studio 10” I wanted to show more of myself. The album is also kind of a review of my last 13 years as a DJ. I already released a lot of dance floor music but I felt it was time to show more of my musician side.
 
What inspired you in the making of this album?
I already had a lot of ideas about the album in my mind. The last couple of years as a DJ and producer really inspired me a lot though, I just needed some time to sit down and work it out.

There are quite a few styles on this album what was it you were seeking to communicate in the overall ethos and musical style behind it?
This album is intended to be timeless and honest and what’s most important to me is to give each track a real song-characteristic. Any style I went to, African, South American, German … It just should sound timeless. In these days where everybody seems only to sample and loop parts of other tracks, I wanted to create something completely different. It was very important for me to choose another approach to create music – closer to classic song production and composition

I recall the last time I met you were telling me about South America. How influential has South American rhythms/music and (African tribal rhythms) been on your work? Why are you drawn to these sounds?
I can’t really say why but I feel my heart opens when I’m listening to these sounds and rhythms. I’m totally in love with it. I have big respect for those with the perfect feeling for the groove and the vibe that’s within this kind of music!

How did the collaborations with the other artists on this album come about?
I’ve known Ian Simmonds and Gjaezon for a while, but Florian Schirmacher and Tomomi Ukumori I just met for the first time within the last months. It’s always been my dream to work with professional singers and musicians. They all brought their very own special vibe into my album! It has been a great time and I’m proud to have been able to work with all of them for Studio 10!
 
Did you use any unusual equipment in the making of this album?
I’m not using unusual equipment. I used a lot of old hardware, which is the base for my productions. For me it’s much easier to work with hardware instead of software and plug ins! All the percussion on the album is real and Michael Nagler and myself recorded them live.

You’ve got a project on the go called ‘freshblood’ and the klanglauf events are all about and what’s coming up with them?
The freshblood venue is not alive anymore but I’m still doing my Klanglauf parties since the last 7 years. Its happening once a Friday every 2 months. I invite friends and artists that I respect and we’re sharing the whole night together.Percussions are the roots of all music…for me it’s a very important detail in my music...

You were learning Spanish the last time we spoke how is it coming along? Do you see your self putting out a Latin ep at any point in Spanish?
I’m still trying to learn Spanish ;-) But I don’t think that I’ll do a Latin ep ever... Maybe a German Latino ep, to show the world that we are also not so bad in creating rhythms ;-)

You are based in a lesser known part of Germany Gera can you tell me if you ever felt the need to move to Berlin which at the moment is the hub of all things electronic or will that be something you will consider in the future? 
I like Berlin a lot, it’s the best city that we have in Germany. But it’s not the city for me to live in. I prefer it much smaller and more private. My home in Gera is in the countryside and close to the forest. That’s what makes me happy!

 The following was commented on your website; ‘With his style of work, Mathias joins those, who refuse to produce and release music excessively. Thus, the necessity to make records that will remain long lasting is one of the guiding motifs of his profession’. In regard to this comment what is compromised in your eyes when a producer over-produces?
Over-producing for me means if someone puts out a release every week or equal. I think then you’ll lose the feeling for the music and the ideas for the vibe! Quality over quantity, less is more.
 
I read that you are influenced heavily by ‘different types of percussion elements’ could you talk us through why you have a love of percussion over say harmony?
Percussions are the roots of all music... for me it’s a very important detail in my music. I feel free when I listen to percussion. I love rhythm!

What’s in your studio? Do you play a musical instrument?
I have a lot in my studio, hardware gear and a lot of percussion instruments to play. My studio is quite big so I have a lot of space for all my tools to create my music. I can’t professionally play an instrument though I love to work with the 808 because its not as complicated as when you use plug ins or something else and the sound is still amazing!

You don’t play an instrument but you were the 'instrumentalist and performer' on this album can you tell us a bit more about how that worked?
For sure i´m the performer of this...but i´m not yet professional enough to play a real instrument... this is why i invited musican’s who know how to play the instruments... but the idea´s came from my side!

How did you get the musicians to understand what you wanted the album to sound like?
I had a lot of idea´s for all the songs and together with the musicans we create one perfect idea for each song in the album
 
With the rise in deep house producers coming out of Hamburg (Florian Kruse, Stimming), Mannheim (Cecille, Nick Curly, Johnny D etc) Has minimal reached her peak and is deep house replacing her as the sound that is ‘cool’ in Germany at the moment and on dance-floors around the world?
At first I don’t think that all these good producers are doing deep house, it’s more kinda new house.. In my opinion the real deep house is different. What’s cool what’s not...
The good thing in our scene is that everything is changing very fast. Whatever which style... my mission for the album was to produce timeless music and no music for a hype.

You collaborated with a number of singers on this album and presented 'messages' in the tracks.  What exactly are the messages in each track?
Intro Ducing has an old message from bob marley inside its lyrics ‚you know... music is music... you know" with the words in "Panic stricken" don´t be afraid to go for something ....go straight for it  ;-) and with gjaezon "State of stasis" you have to try to don´t get in in the black hearted stasis“...

"1981" with gjaezon the vocals are very oldschool, its an old message!!!!!... just close your eye´s and groove..is a memorian to the old times when music was not a fashion just a feeling ;-))...

The lyrics behind "kawaba" come from an old Japanese legend story about a princess called "kawaba" who fell in love with a normal guy but the love was not possible;-) it was a typical old story for Japan. Re menor: is a more romantic story the lyrics "walk with me... talk with me" are specially wrote for a woman.

Your pretty  fond of the TR808? as a producer how has it affected your productions?
When I put on this machine my heart opens! its the real groove and it´s reminds me of my roots and good times! I love to work with the 808 because its not as complicated as when you use plug ins or something else and the sound is still amazing! My 1981 song is a thanks to this machine and to the old times... when music was music with a sense!!

What’s coming up for you later this year? and what’s happening with Freude am Tanzen and Vakant?
First of all it’s this album. Then there are some new projects planned like a band project for the next summer!

What’s currently on your play list and which producers are standing out for you?
A young guy from Valencia called “AFFKT” or still Joris Voorn and also dOP from Paris for sure!

Studio 10 Album Tour
25 Sep. 2009 Studio 10 Album tour @ Blechtrommel - Hometown Gera (DE)
26 Sep. 2009 Studio 10 Album tour @ Watergate - Berlin (DE)
02 Oct. 2009 Studio 10 Album tour @ Centrum - Erfurt (DE)
03 Oct. 2009 Studio 10 Album tour @ Fuse - Brüssel (BE)
10 Oct. 2009 Studio 10 Album tour LIVE @ Paradiso - Amsterdam (NL)
16 Oct. 2009 Studio 10 Album tour @ Rex Club - Paris (FR)
17 Oct. 2009 Studio 10 Album tour @ Wuitz - Mumsdorf (DE)
23 Oct. 2009 Studio 10 Album tour @ TBC - Moskow (RU)
24 Oct. 2009 Hemmann & Kaden LIVE!!!!! @ FAT Night / Watergate - Berlin (DE)
30 Oct. 2009 Southamerica Tour - Buenos Aires (AR)

www.myspace.com/mathiaskaden | www.mathiaskaden.de | vakant.net | www.myspace.com/vakant