• Search
• Subscribe
• RSS

Stefan Eichinger, better known as the underground artist Lopazz, may be best known for dancefloor anthems like 2003's "I Need Ya" and releases on Get Physical, but it has been his soundtracks for films that he has become best known. His music brings a deep sense of history, thousands of hours of his own field recordings, and wildly eclectic sensibilities that few other techno artists seem able to muster.

The man is also insanely busy traveling around to make those field recordings, not to mention DJ'ing all over the world, and taking amazing photographs along the way. Catching up with him is almost like capturing lightning in a bottle, but I Voice recently had the pleasure of finally chatting with Eichinger about film, his work as Lopazz, and recollections of life on the road.

Tell us a little bit about your album Ambient Film Themes Vol. 1, why a collection of ambient music and film scores?
I've been producing film music since 1999 as well as ambient and alternative electronic music on my own label 800achtspur and other labels since 1994. In 2003, we released the first "best of" album called 18 Themes with scores and tracks taken from documentary-films for UNESCO and Along Mekong Productions (German and French TV). The new album on Get Physical Music Ambient Film Themes Vol. 1 shows the latest work we've done for TV. I love the eclectic stuff, I couldn't just do house or techno music. I've always been a fan of rock and rap, punk, funk, and pop-any kind of stuff that's far away from the current carnival-folk-housemusic is interesting to me.

You are currently working on is volume 3, correct?
Yes, Ambient Film Themes Vols.1 & 2 are funky but down tempo albums, mixed with organic sound elements that I recorded on the shootings, like singing monks, animal and city sounds, and so on.

On the 3rd album we want to be as analog as possible and as organic as possible - right now we are recording drums, percussion, organs and guitars in our recording-studio in Heidelberg. I am even using my old Studer Tape machine and all kinds of old school gear. Our old piano, the Ludwig Drumkit, and real African and Asian instruments recorded with M/S microphone-setups make a difference. You won´t find the character of all these instruments and players in a software ....Capturing moments and jams is one of my favourite methods. I like to go with the flow, feel it - jam, improvise...

How did you meet and end up working with Steffen "Casio Casino" Neuert for so long, you've done 45 movie soundtracks together thus far?
We met in 1992 and started playing in bands together, worked on the label-releases and became best friends. Usually we work together in my studio and since 2007 we share another studio-loft with Eddie Zarook (With whom I released several tracks and records with this year). It's a nice and relaxed collaboration. Wow! 17 years already...

You have just completed new scores for documentaries on Marco Polo and desertification? Those sound like very diverse and interesting subjects, how did you come to be involved as a composer?
The directors and filmmakers of Along Mekong Productions wanted to work with composers who could record and produce natural, analog sounds. This is exactly how I work - in my two studios I play with all kinds of instruments. Capturing moments and jams is one of my favourite methods. I like to go with the flow, feel it - jam, improvise - I am not a fan of programming MIDI files and machines. Of course, I like the digital stuff, too, but very often you need the real analog vibe for documentary-scores. Imagine a rice-terrace in Banaue or a lonesome Mongolian steppe - there is really no need for digital soundscapes in these situations!

Additionally, you mention shooting two films as well doing field recordings in South Africa & Ethiopia. First tell us a little bit about this experience and what kinds of documentaries you were working. Secondly, tell us about some of your impressions of Africa based on your time spent there.
We went to Africa for the 51st "Bread for the World" Campaign. We filmed different projects in South African townships and Ethiopian agriculture-activities, with the acclaimed director Dr. Elke Werry (Along Mekong Productions). Both projects have been wonderful and touching experiences. Ethiopia is the cradle of humankind! Everybody should go there and discover that beautiful country and its great people! I´ve been in wonderful countries and cities, such as Mongolia or Macau in China, it´s a pleasure to travel and discover their lifestyle, culture and sense of humour! The Konso people in Southern Ethiopia especially made my trip: they sang and danced while they were digging a huge water-channel. You could grab the hope and good vibes. I was so happy and felt honoured to be a part of that culture.

You also still make dance music, what are some of your recent tracks or remixes that people should really be checking out, in your opinion of course.
I´ve just released my new 12" with Eddie Zarook on Circle Music, "Studerrevox Taperecordings". We used samples captured from old reel-tapes and it was fun to go through the old archives, interviews and sound scapes. We cut them in to pieces and re-arranged them. The DJ and Press-Feedback is amazing, we are really happy about that release. A new 12" on the Yore-Records sub-label "SDF" is out now too - with a Don Williams Remix. With my label mate Alex Flatner, I just released a remix issue of "Perfect Circles" with remixes by Ken Ishii and Joey Beltram, and a remix-issue of "Make Up Your Mind" will be out on Cocoon Recordings soon.

What are some of the memorable places you have played recently on your tour?
I loved being in Canada, hosted by such wonderful people like James Boatman and the people at the Sound Wave Festival in British Columbia (where even a real wild bear showed up). Brazil is always a pleasure - dining with my good friend Marcos and playing at D´EDGE, and swimming and relaxing in Florianopolis is another favourite- I´ve been overwhelmed by the young and fresh crowd of Klub D in Nicosia / Cyprus. I am the biggest fan of Judy Griffith, she is one of the finest promoters I know - Fabric London is one of the best places you can imagine, oh dear - there are many wonderful places - I also love to play in New York at Water-Taxi-Beach with that amazing skyline in front, not to forget the friendly (and beautiful) Californian sunset ravers chilling on their airbeds. Portugal is probably the best place you can go to - Miguel Rendeiro and the guys from Connect invited me twice to Azurara - imagine: 45,000 peaceful ravers at the Atlantic Coast singing and dancing on the beach, the sun is rising and everything is just fine...

There is a rumor that you have an impressive collection of photographs. What have been some of your favorite subjects, it's been said that every great photograph has a great story behind it. Please share one with us.
The one you see is one of my favourite. Our township kids of Sinani Circus showed us their love and attention and I cannot wait to get back and make music with them!

Artist: LOPAZZ & Casio Casino Title: Ambient Film Themes Vol. 2 Label: Get Physical Music Tracklist 01 - Victoria Terminus 02 - Cold Pilgrimage 03 - King Khan 04 - Fast Cooking Food Hunting 05 - River Taxi 06 - Island Of Luck 07 - Desertification 08 - Marco Polo & Spaghetti 09 - Graves & Hills 10 - My Life In Steps 11 - Along The Silkroad 12 - Yellow & Fair 13 - Good Bye Civilization   www.myspace.com/lopazz www.lopazz.com www.physical-music.com