1. Hi there mate, how's everything ? What's new in the world of Fabio Stein ?
Fabio Stein: Hey there! Everything is good, after a very hectic year in the studio. So many things are happening at the moment, precisely within the last two months, that I don't even know where to start... but I'll try!
My first ever mix CD was released last month: "Riot! In Ibiza 2009"; my label, 40 Degrees, is getting close to its third release and its first two releases (produced by yours truly) got a massive support including seven Radio 1 and one ASOT airplays, and one of them even made it into John O'Callaghan's "Subculture" CD, on Armada; my next release is coming out on the mighty Spinnin' (Reset) label within the next few days, including two tracks that I've been keeping as a secret for so long, "Agent Of Chaos" and "Stroboscopic".
Besides that, there are so many collaborations and remixes happening, and I'm confident to say that I maintained my sound fresh and interesting in all of these releases. They're so many to just name-drop them... have a search at your favourite digital shop and you'll see what I'm talking about!
2. Tell me a few words about You as an artist and also as a person after all
Fabio Stein: I would love to say that I'm a weird guy who lives in a tree, wears a shoe for a hat, and has a weird tattoo on his butt... but I'm just a regular guy! As an artist and person I love what I do and I can only hope to do it more. Djing is the thing I love the most in my life, by very far, I get depressed if I don't DJ for too long... But whenever my ears are aching, I just go to my second studio (the kitchen); or have a poker night with my mates.
3. So, You are based in London and South East, any clubs You attending on weekly basis ?
Fabio Stein: Yep, I'm down here in South Bermondsey, right next to the Riot! studios. I don't go out that often if I'm not djing, because most of the people I know around here are either DJs, producers or people who have some involvement with the scene... and those are the worst clubbing partners you can get, as they're always in the VIP area talking business, while I have to go down to the dancefloor on my own. But I do love The Gallery @ MoS (although Turnmills was soooo much better) or Riot! @ Matter.
4. What is all about with "Riot! In Ibiza 2009" ? You and Amber D, You guys working on anything else ?
Fabio Stein: "Riot! In Ibiza 2009" is my first ever mix-CD, and I didn't spare any effort to make it as special as I could. So I picked out my all time favourite Riot! tracks, some brand new ones and the first three releases from my 40 Degrees label, and mixed them all out in a the smoothest and progressive-building way possible. It was interesting to mix a CD for the best hard dance label in the world, using my trancer point of view. Amber is amazing, and I would love to join forces with her into a new project. It might be a little complicated, considering how our styles are soooo different from each other, but I'm always up for a challenge! In the other hand, I've been doing some work with her husband, Lee Haslam...
5. How would you describe and define the style of music that you create and perform nowadays ?
Fabio Stein: Good question... sometimes I don't even think it's trance any more... Don't get me wrong, I am a trancer at heart, but considering the current trend, I noticed that my music is going in such a different direction.
For the first time in my life, I'm 100% satisfied with my music... I'm split into two completely different personalities: the first one is called "Uprise" and it's my energetic uplifting trance (with a techy drive) alias, it's big and melodic, but still banging; on the other side, "Electrical" is all about dark, slow, funky/techy/groovy vibes, it can be slow, but I won't stop tweaking it if the bass is not tearing down the walls! I think the only meeting point between my two identities is the fact that they're made for dancefloors, and dancefloors only!
6. Explain the process as to when You are coming up with Your music concepts and ideas please.
Fabio Stein: Honestly, there's no process... I only write music when I'm inspired. I tried producing with templates just for the sake of releasing stuff and be active, but I just can't be bothered... I make music when I have something to express... otherwise, I won't be satisfied with the track, and I won't ever be able to finish it. What inspires me? Mostly djing, as I keep picturing me playing the tune while I work on it and I keep asking myself "what would make the people go insane?". But also, I get ideas from everywhere... my old Gameboy, an old-west movie, a strobe light, a Batman movie... well, you can see the pattern! If anything fails, vodka can always help!
7. What's going on with the label "40 Degrees" ? Is there an artist roster intact ? What are Your future goals and plans for this venture ?
Fabio Stein: "40 Degrees" is my first label, and I'm happy to say I'm 100% responsible for the concept, logo/artwork, most of the music... well, almost everything, except the actual name and distribution! Being a sub-label from Riot! Recordings, Scott and Ben handles all the boring part with digital shops, licensing and other bureaucracies. The name came out from a poll we held in the biggest trance portal in South America (Energy BR - 2002-2009), where the users could submit their ideas and vote for their favourite one. The winner was Fernando Santana from Belem, who has earned a life-time supply of promos! I have decided to let the Brazilian trancers choose the name because the goal of this label is to show the controversial and eclectic Brazilian perspective on trance, to the European market. There are several Brazilian artists remixing and providing tracks for the label, from involving progressive to euphoric trance, from banging to stripped down tech trance: DJ Jack, Danny Loko, Danilo Ercole, Geezk, Klauss, Ben Nicky, James Kitcher, Alex Losy and many more to come!
8. You are a man with the plan. Share with us any further details about the way You are going to cope with this digital era.
Fabio Stein: The digital age brought us one thing that is good and bad at the same time: everyone can release music today. No need to spend money, just put your tracks in a digital shop and you're done. So there are always thousands and thousands of new tracks everyday... your 3-months-old tune is worth nothing today, and you need to release something new as soon as possible. Many producers will see this as an opportunity to sort out one lucky template, and just produce copies of the same track over and over like an industrial printer. I see this as an opportunity to not worry too much about dipping my toes into something different and just come up with unusual tracks... now I have my own label to release this stuff anyway! I have also been engineering tracks for every kind of dance artist: house, trance, techno, hard dance, minimal, electro, drum'n'bass, breaks and even eurodance... I'm learning new and different things everyday, and I will eventually use this knowledge on my own music.
9. You are running Your weekly show, on several major radio stations worldwide, such as Sense.FM, DanceRadio, Slinky FM and so on. What is it called and what are Your future projects with it ?
Fabio Stein: Ehmmm... it's not weekly, it's still monthly! And yes, you're talking about "Full Pack". I would actually love to go weekly soon, but I need to master my English properly as I'm not a very eloquent guy, and I need at least to have the language on my side! I also want to be able to broadcast it live, where anything can go wrong! If I keep recording it, I will always try to tweak it until it sounds perfect in my head (typical producer's habit). The plan is to keep getting it to other radios, to get even more listeners... in the meanwhile, anyone can download/stream it as a podcast at Fabio Stein pres. FULL PACK
10. What can You tell me about the remix of "Geezk - Faraday Cage", who produced it and what label is the one getting the credit ?
Fabio Stein: Wow, you've already heard of it? I barely mastered the final version of it! This is one of my best produced remixes up-do-date and I'm so happy with the result, there's absolutely nothing I can do to make it sound better. Geezk, is a young brazilian also known as Jonny, and this is his first ever finished track... I helped him out with a few tips while he was producing it... and every producer knows how the first track is: it takes ages to make it sound good! But he delivered, and I was happy to sign it to 40 Degrees! It's going to be released on November 23rd, and it also comes with a remix from our busiest trance producer in Brazil: Danilo Ercole!
11. You and Claudia Cazacu made a track called "CazakiStein". Please share some thoughts about it, who came up with the idea ?
Fabio Stein: The name was all Claudia's idea and she nailed it! I had just arrived in London, didn't know many people, but we met for a few drinks and decided to work on a track. We didn't have a studio to work, so the guys at TrackItDown.net were so kind to let us use their office (after hours!) and speakers. The name fits perfectly, as it also sounds like Kazakhstan: a middle-eastern country with vast and exotic deserts... which is the sonic vibe of the track.
12. You have been all over the place, people knows who You are by now, label owners wants Your name signed... You are there. What's next ?
Fabio Stein: Get some decent management to get more and more gigs and... hummm... perhaps it's time for an artist album after all...
13. When it's Your next gig in London ? When I can see You playing live ?
Fabio Stein: I'm afraid my current agency is not doing a good job at all, as I don't have many future UK gigs scheduled in the next month. The next one in London will be on November 29th at the HarderFaster.net X-Mas charity event at Clerkenwell House.
14. Thank You very much for Your time mate, really appreciate that big time. Any last words for the ones reading this interview ?
Fabio Stein: Thanks for having me on the website, it was my pleasure to answer this interview! Thank you all for reading, I hope to catch up with all of you soon, in a club somewhere! Cheers! FS
Interview made by Cosmin Lukacs (TranceSound.net admin/founder)
Links:
Fabio Stein official website
Fabio Stein @ MySpace
Cosmin Lukacs official website
Cosmin Lukacs @ MySpace
Cypher PR official website
