@ Pulse Radio

Macrospective is the new mix compilation from Macro Recordings due out 12th September.  The label, owned by Stefan Goldmann and Finn Johannsen, is known for pushing the boundaries of regular techno and to demonstrate its back catalogue as well as their inventive approach to the scene, this is a double mix with a twist.  The pair have selected exactly the same tracks for each of  their mixes, but compiled the tracks in an alternative way- a method that highlights their individual talents as well as different parts of the tracks themselves.  So when Pulse caught up with Finn and Stefan, we decided it’d be rude not to try and replicate their idea in interview form.  Here’s what the pair had to say in answer to the same questions in a different order- Stefan’s turn first!

Pulse:  Tell us a bit about your history as a producer/DJ.  Stefan Goldmann:  Around the year 2000 I had some basic equipment together and quickly learned to program nice House beats. I spent some years deepening my skills and knowledge, working with different labels. When I felt comfortable enough to do my own thing and not needing an A&R to tell me what can be released and what not, it was time for Macro.

Talk to us about the new Macrospective CD mix and how it all came about.  Label compilations are boring. DJ mix CDs are boring. We wanted to do both in a way that excites us AND that reveals deep mystic truths to the listeners. I think our label catalogue isn’t boring. We love it. Even those who know it all might still find it interesting to listen how two DJs work it to get the best mix out of it. It is a contest with no winner or loser – I believe the material allows for several interpretations. That’s what we prove. I can’t recall anyone having done that before. That’s why we did it. Actually, we could have got all our DJs on it – that’s actually an idea: the Macrospective DVD with 10 mixes. But just with the two of us you get an insight of what drives us as DJs and A&Rs, too. It’s more compact and concentrated. Clarity is important.

You’re known as someone who likes to push the boundaries of concepts and techno itself. Where are you trying to push it to?  To where no one else has bothered to push them yet.

What was the inspiration behind setting Macro recordings up and who runs what at the label?  To me, that my ideas of what I wanted to do grew beyond what most A&Rs considered acceptable for their labels. I needed to eliminate the discussions and headaches. So one summer night, while having a beer in the park, Finn and I just where like: can we do it? Ok, let’s just do it.  Now I make the tea, while Finn puts paper in the copier – meanwhile our mysterious boss, who is hidden from the public, sits in a mailbox in the Caymans and reaps all the money.

What’s getting you most excited in your musical life right now?  That Finn is an official releasing artist now. And that everything is new and amazing. My whole life as a musician is changing. I’m happy I have a constant flow of ideas what to work on and how to make it work. Everything is shifting away from the traditional structures to new structures. While many are in panic, I’ve never before felt so free to pursue the music I want to do, to ignore what others believe is necessary to oblige to and to find new ways to support it all.

Pulse: Talk to us about the new Macrospective CD mix and how it all came about.  Finn Johannsen: We found that it might be time to take a look back on what we did so far and to thank our artists for their contributions, but at the same time the usual formats for label retrospectives did not appeal to us. Stefan and me work together so well because we are very different persons and we are very different as DJs, too. Thus we came up with this concept because we thought it would reflect all that. When we compared the results it quickly became apparent that the experiment was successful.

What’s getting you most excited in your musical life right now? Music I had not heard before and which I find interesting basically excites me the same as when I carried my first money to the store to purchase records at the age of 6 or so. And I’m confident that it will never stop. And all the possibilities!

Tell us a bit about your history in music.  Pretty much all I do for a living is closely connected to music. I buy music since the 70’s, I play music since the 80’s, I write about music since the 90’s. In the last ten years I co-founded Macro to release music, and I took up working at Hard Wax to sell music. Music Music Music.

What was the inspiration behind setting Macro recordings up and who runs what at the label? It was out of discontent mainly. We felt the complaint is not as productive as the act. Since then what we do and who does what is constantly in flux. We have friends that help, collaborators we collaborate with, and we establish missions to accomplish with every new week.

You’re known as someone who likes to push the boundaries of concepts and techno itself. Where are you trying to push it to?  We just try to push things forward, no matter in which direction. And since we do that, with every closing door several other doors opened. And now our imagination is running wild.

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