HOUSE 23
ISSUE 88 / 20016
INTERVIEW:
CLAPTONE
We caught up with Claptone, one of the world’s most unique DJs, ahead of his show tonight at Ministry of Sound, to find
out what makes the man behind the mask tick. With a soulful sound rooted in house and disco, the golden-faced selector
is halfway through a golden summer tour encompassing major and minor cities the world over. Tune into the Clapcast on
iTunes for a regular dose of magic.
Cristina Trujillo | Guestlist
What was your first thought this
morning?
I slept well.
Tell me about the technology
/ music hardware you produce
with?
In my opinion what you make your
music with is not important at all.
It’s about your ideas and your skills
to translate what is in your head
into sound.
What you would change about
your life?
The beauty of life is that
unforseeable things happen all the
time, that you are not in charge
of your life completely is a very
important part of life. I embrace
that.
Why a Venetian mask, as opposed
to an African mask or Japanese
mask?
This mask was given to me I had
no choice. Why this mask is what
I ask myself why every day. But
instead of finding answers I just
feel more and more connected
with it the more I research about
it’s history. So why bother. In the
end this mask is an integral part of
me, it gives my existence meaning.
Do you think remixing is as
important as producing in
electronic music?
Is producing electronic music
important? I mean for me as a way
to find myself, find out who I really
am it’s a means to an end, but with
all the problems in this world I
won’t consider it to be important.
There is a difference between
writing my own material and doing
remixes though. With remixes you
use other people’s musical ideas
and invite them into your universe,
with original material you create
your own universe out of thin air.
But please think thin air as already
filled with countless sounds.
What have you got planned for
your show at MOS on June 4?
There are remixes for my recent
single Heartbeat by Mat.Joe and
Technasia which I might play as
well as my upcoming remixes
for New Order and Peter Björn
and John. And I also produced
some new secret weapons for my
Golden Summer tour which just
started. Really excited to play all
this out.
When can people tune into your
radio show and what can they
expect?
If they go to iTunes they can tune
into the Clapcast whenever they
feel like doing that. The clapcast
gives a sonic overview over the
Claptone sound. Funky, soulful,
spherical, magic house.
Fave old school DJ?
I am not one to worship any idols.
But let me give Kool DJ Herc credit
for inventing Hip Hop on the 11th
of August 1973 in New York.
What is your favourite word?
It depends on my mood and the
situation. Who can survive on one
word?
What’s your favourite track from
‘Charmer’?
I produced this album to have
people listen to it in one go. One
track without the other is not as
powerful as the whole album.
Where do they love you most?
On planet earth
What music did you grow up on?
I grew up on the sounds of the
forest.
What’s your summer looking like
in terms of festivals?
Let me in on all my plans for the
Golden Summer Tour: My schedule
includes performances at Amnesia,
Space, Pacha, Glastonbury, We Are
FSTVL, Big Festival, Mysteryland,
Spring Awakening, Parookaville,
Brunch Electronik. Dreambeach
Festival in countries as varied as
Japan, China, Canada, USA and
across Europe too.
What’s your proudest moment as
Claptone?
Pride is for fools.
Where do you draw the line
between Claptone and the man
behind the mask?
I wish I knew.
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