Asian Dan

Ill remix by Trizzy aka A-Trak and XXXchange.
James Pants – Ka$h (Trizzy aka A-Trak + XXXchange Remix)

Cheers, Let The Music Play

squarepusher.net
Wow. That is all I got to say. There are quite a few pop moments on this album. The first track totally reminds me of the Andre 3000 produced John Legend’s track “Green Light”. Andre 3000 is very public about his love for Squarepusher. Once again good job Mr. Jenkinson. For some reason I feel like the next Daft Punk album will be moving in this direction. The Daft duo are also big fans of Squarepusher, they put “Do You Know Squarepusher?” on a playlist they curated last year.
PS. I totally forgot that Asian Dan is 1 years old. It’s birthday was 3 days ago on the 14th, I just have been busy with school I totally forgot. Thank You all for reading and supporting Asian Dan. I cannot believe how far this blog has come in a year. I have met and made so many friends on the interwebs as well in the real world 🙂 Thank You to all the artists that have made mixes for Asian Dan like NT89, Luca C, Jean Nipon, Luck On Strike, Neon Coyote and Astrolabe. Let’s all support these artists! Thanks for all the artists that have done interviews as well!! Cheers! Some big changes are finally coming soon!! So stay tuned! Once again Thank You all!!!! 🙂

DatA’s Supreme Mix
1 – DATA – BLOOD THEME (INTRO VERSION)
2 – TEPR – MINUIT JACUZZI (DATA REMIX)
3 – CHAZ JANKEL – WITHOUT YOU
4 – DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 – BLACK HISTORY MONTH (ALAN BRAXE & FRED FALKE REMIX)
5 – CHANGE – PARADISE
6 – SHAPEMODE (FEAT. SNAX & JAMIE LIDELL) – LOVE’S TOO MUCH
7 – DATA – ELECTRIC FEVER
8 – JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE – SEXYBACK
9 – THE BEATLES – TWIST AND SHOUT
10 – GARY’S GANG – DO IT AT THE DISCO
11 – LES RYTHMES DIGITALES – FROM : DISCO TO : DISCO
12 – FATBOY SLIM – DON’T LET THE MAN (JUSTICE REMIX)
13 – LIPPS INC – HOW LONG
14 – SLY & THE FAMILY STONE – DANCE TO THE MUSIC
15 – BREAKBOT – HAPPY RABBIT
16 – KENNA – SAY GOODBYE TO LOVE
17 – CHROMEO – ME AND MY MAN (WHITEY REMIX)
18 – DISCODEINE – RING MODULATION
19 – METRO AREA – SOFT HOOP

David Rubato is one of the most exciting producers to come out in quite a while. He adds a level of class and musicality to the ever growing genre of electronic dance music. He channels such greats as Jean Michel Jarre and Giorgio Moroder, mad scientists that twisted and turned knobs to dial in the perfect blend of sine and square waves. Circuit is one of my favorite dance tracks of the past few years. Amazing bass part and squelching synth. I cannot wait to hear more from Mr. Rubato.

Siriusmo is leading the way in the kraut dance scene and his remix of Mr. Rubato’s Circuit is further proof of his production magic. The psuedo French suave monologue kind of gets annoying

[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202008/david_rubato_-_circuit_siriusmo_mix.mp3]
David Rubato – Circuit (Siriusmo Remix)

www.myspace.com/davidrubato

Asian Dan Interview: David Rubato
Where does the name David Rubato comes from ?

My parents named me David after Oistrakh and i picked up Rubato while joking with friends on my piano style being all about voicings.

What are your biggest influences, musical or otherwise?

My inner drive to move forward.

Could you describe your production style ? What is your main way of composition? Is the groove, bassline/drums, the first and most crucial element you work on?

I compose and produce by going back and forth between associative thinking to accumulate ideas–of objects, goals, techniques, principles etc.–and applying them with methodical attention to every detail, as I consider that all aspects and elements are decisive. I find it somehow similar to solving a puzzle: clusters happen but there’s no strict processing order. My work is done when each second of the record induces in me the exact feelings i’m after. This MO developped itself over time, partially in reaction to the early remixes i did, for Spencer&Hill and NyLon, which I don’t like at all.

Circuit is one of my favorite dance tracks I have heard in quite a few years, I know it was all a live recording with real bass and you twisting knobs on a modular synth 🙂 what was your main inspiration behind that track?

Thanks. There were two main ideas, one of which you mentioned: experimenting with real time and looking for strong sensations.

Your music is crafted and composed like composers and producers from the 70s/early 80s, are you trying to bring back that level of musicality to dance music?

I get a kick out of challenging myself, working on my skills and creating what suits my tastes. It’s an inner adventure. Curiosity for music made thirty years ago is part of that process but I don’t think in terms of “what dance music needs” and I’m not trying to bring back anything.

What is it like to be part of the Institubes family?

It’s very interesting.

What do you think is the next “big thing” in music? I feel like dance music in particular is trying to clean itself up and polish its sound, shake off all the noise and distortion that Justice started, ha.

I don’t view dance music as a unique entity trying to do one thing more than another. Individuals act based on their unique interests and desires and all possible things are happening at the same time.

Future plans for David Rubato? Releases, tours?

More music, no touring for now.

David Rubato’s sheet music for Circuit 🙂

Midnight Juggernaut – Annie Mac 5 Minute Minimix
Peep the Ninjavids.Midnight Juggs x Glenjamn

Aw. What a sentimental/epic video. Good guys, good band.
Check out other Asian Dan x Cazals related posts.

I was speaking to Daniel and Luca C. from Cazals and told them that Asian Dan might as well become the official Cazals fan page. They are a fantastic band and released a fantastic album this year, one of my favourite. Anyways here is the next installment in the Cazals band profiles, introducing Martin the bassist and producer of Cazals who also goes under his electronic moniker, Dubka.Here are 2 great Dubka remixes, very pop and 80s. He did a great job nailing those classic 80s drum and synth samples. Catchy stuff
[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202008/Late%20of%20the%20Pier%20-%20Space%20&%20The%20Woods%20(Dubka%20Remix).mp3]
Late of the Pier – Space & Woods (Dubka Remix)
[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202008/Pin%20Me%20Down%20-%20Cryptic%20(Dubka%20remix).mp3]
Pin Me Down – Cryptic (Dubka Remix)

www.myspace.com/dubkaisdead

Asian Dan Interviews: Dubka
1. Who is Dubka? What is your first musical memory?

I’m Dubka, I’m a musician and producer. My first musical memory is lying on the floor in front of my dads hi-fi speakers, listening to “The Longest Time” by Billy Joel. I remember the feeling of the bass in my chest and all the amazing contrapuntal vocals.

2. What are your biggest influences, musical or otherwise?

I’ve always loved Francis Bacon’s painting and just the way he saw the world and thought about art. Mark Rothko is another influence, which leads me to Morton Feldman and John Cage. I find some of the things these people wrote just as inspirational as their art. Sometimes more so. Musically, I love Stravinsky, Yellow Magic Orchestra, The Strokes, Bartok, Ligeti, Penderecki, Talking Heads, Daft Punk, Laura Branigan, Prince, John Carpenter, Devo, Ariel Pink, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Eurythmics, Stan Bush, Tel Jeroen… I could go on all day.

3. Who are your favorite Producers/DJs?

I think Daft Punk are so far ahead of everyone in so many ways, it’s impossible not to admire them. And I kind of see Oizo as the ring leader of all the new French guys. Nile Rodgers is great, the Persian guy who did the best Chaka Khan stuff, Brian Eno especially with Talking Heads, Phillipe Zdar, Prince, the guy who did MGMT sounds great. I’m sure there’s more but I can’t think right now. I’m more into music than production.

4. What are your top 5 tracks you put on to dance?

Well, like most people, it changes all the time but right now I would say:
Once In a Lifetime – Talking Heads
Lucky Star – Madonna
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Cyndi Lauper
Savin’ The Day – Alessi Brothers
Dare – Stan Bush
[audio:http://diestruktur.com/asianmandan/music/Sept%202008/04%20-%20Stan%20Bush%20-%20Dare.mp3]

5. What to you is a perfectly produced track? Any examples?

That’s a tough one. I don’t think there’s any such thing as perfection. Production is almost like dressing someone. When you see them naked, you might instantly think of something that would accentuate how that person looks, highlight their qualities and hide their flaws. Maybe they look amazing naked. Some people could make a bin bag look good and it doesn’t really matter what you do with them, if anything. So, if you follow my analogy, I think it’s all very subjective and at the end of the day you just end up with one vision, not perfection.

6. What are some difference between producing tracks as Dubka vs. producing Cazals?

I don’t think there are any similarities! The first is me pacing up and down, lying on the floor, not speaking and looking for exactly what it is I want to do and how I see the track. The latter is a compromise of everyone’s artistic vision, technical ability, ego and all the rest of it. If I want to try something, I have to convince the others of my intentions. And then working with Cazals differs from working with another band because I’m much closer to the whole thing. Luckily they’re usually quite tolerant when I tell them I’m right and they’re wrong. Haha!

7. Does your bass playing influence your Dubka production style? I have been playing bass for 10 years and feel that the bassline is the crucial link between the drums and melodies especially in dance/electronic music.

I’m sure it does. Bass was my first instrument so I guess I must relate most things musical to that in some way. I find the interaction between bass and drums and drums and melody really important. They’re like the book-ends of the track that hold everything else in place. Also, playing drums, keyboards and guitar gives me a better understanding of how they interact and how to arrange them and that in turn helps explaining ideas and communicating with other musicians.

8. How do you feel about DJs and electronic producers stepping behind the mixing board like Erol Alkan producing the Mystery Jets and Late of the Pier?

I was skeptical at first but when you think about it, it’s all just a matter of good taste and how you motivate people. Erol is a cool guy and I think he’s done a really great job with the bands I’ve heard him work with. As far as I know, he mixed those records as well, which is very impressive. SebastiAn said he’s working with Peaches and Uffie too but I guess that isn’t such a huge departure, apart from the communication and the compromise.

9. Dubka’s future plans? Cazals future plans?

I’m not sure what’s happening with Cazals. There are a few more gigs to honour this year, then who know’s? As for myself, I’ve just finished a remix for Hearts Revolution which I wish I could show you but it should be released soon. Oh, and I’m just starting one for Sebastien Tellier. I’ve been talking about revisiting an old project of mine with some friends called The Plastic Society (www.myspace.com/wearetheplasticsociety). I always have problems with my own music because I find showing it to others can somehow affect how I view it and that makes it difficult for me to judge exactly what it is I want to do, which I find very important. There’s music in my computer that nobody has heard and maybe never will but I’m talking about it more these days so I’m working on what’s going to become of it. Maybe you’ll see a Dubka album, who know’s?

A new direction for Mr. West that I definitely enjoy. He seems to be embracing his dark pop side including Auto Tune/Vocoder vocals and minimalist production. I gotta say he has a pretty decent voice.