Talamasca (Mind Control Records)
date interview: 2007-06-29
Checkout the interview at our E-Magazine:
http://www.teknasia.com/article.php?id_article=412
Hello Talamasca, please can you tell us more about yourself?
Well, it is a weird way to begin...so let's try.... more about myself.... pffff.....not that much to say...33 years old, I live in Paris, I am happy in the life, I am a father of a wonderfull boy who is 5 and half years old, and a second kid is expected for september. I am the owner of the label called "Mind Control Records", I give my album to everyone who wants it for free on my website (www.mindcontrolrecords.com) and I still enjoy the two things I do for living : making music in the week, and playing it in the week end....and I don't know what to say more...
When and how did you get in contact with the music?
AHAHA....it's a strange way to ask...but anyway, I did get "in contact" with the music when I was in the stomach of my mum, she told me she was listening all day long in a loop the track from "Pink floyd" called "one of these days"....listen to it and you won't be surprised that I am a "psytrance" producer...even if I really hate the world " trance"...but this is another subject...and then, when I was born, my mum put me as soon as it was possible to piano lessons, which I didn't enjoy at the beginning, but finally, I am soooo happy she did it! And I can say that from my youngest time, I've always wanted to be a musician...then, in contact with "trance", which is another story, it was in 1993 when one of my friends came back from England with a Juno reactor record, "high protons energy"....PFFFFFF! this was THE track that put me in contact with "trance"
What was the determinative experience which lead you to the Psytrance scene?
Beside this Juno reaktor track I talked about, there was a huge difference between parties of trance, which was in that time called "goa trance", and the rest of the electronic scene...I found that the people in trance parties were more friendly, and beside this, they were here really for party, not to be seen or because there was nothing else to do that week end, like it was, from my point of view, in clubs or some techno parties...I loved the energy of the music and decided to change my style..I was in that time a techno dj, more obsessed by the technics of mixing than the music itself...trance revealed me that it was possible to make real music with electronic instruments...this was the beginning of Talamasca, because from this time, I knew that my future was to make my own music...
Do you have any musician qualification besides the electronic dance music?
As mentionned before, I used to play the piano for few years, and even from that time I enjoyed more to compose myself some melodies than to play the ones of someone else...but I don't believe that all my melodies come from this piano lessons...it is just more easy forme to play them on the keyboard, but anyone who have a good ear and some good ideas, and that is the power of electronioc music, can find good melodies with the mouse...I believe that it is more because I used to listen a lot of classical music that talamasca sounds like this...not because I used to play some...but it is true that it is a gain of time...but honnestly, I can't play piano anymore...my left hand forgot how to play... I don't need it on my synth... but I will teach piano to my kid, so I'll come back to it.
Where and what was your first party experience where you could present your music?
Mmmm...the first time I heard my own track in a party, I was not the one who played it...it was during the GAIA 5 (I think...maybe 6?) party with astral projection, chakra, and there was Dj Zoo-B from Krembo records, he played some month ago in the REX club with me, and when he came to my place I put him the track to listen..he loved it and told me that he will close his set with it... in the GAIA, which was the biggest party in France, and this one was maybe the biggest... anyway, it was a big success and Zoo-B bought it for his label, the track was called "tribal journey", it was made in 1995 and it was my first big success..this track made me play in many countries and was a big hit ...in that time.... if you listen to it now, specially if you are new in this style and want to know where we come from, how was the music 10 or 15 years ago, you'll be so surprised by the evolution of this music... it is like pictures... you look at yourself in the mirror, you don't see any change... you look at a picture of ten years ago, and realise that yes... there was some changes... some evolution...electronic music is the same... we evolve with the technology, and the technology level is always increasing more and more, faster and faster ! so do we...
Tell me about your artist name please, what is behind it?
ahaha... So.... it is connected to a book, but this was not the reason of my choice...I didn t know the book was famous...but I was looking for a name that sounds french, but who was unknown...and Lestat was...I couldn t called myself Dj Cedric in that time, because there was already one...and I didn't want to
become the "cedric from paris" or any bullshit like this... so I found Dj Lestat... then, in the same book, there was a group of people, Talamasca, who had some "mind powers" like telepathy, psychokynesy, these kind of things... and because for a looong time now I have like a hobby to learn magic, I speak here about illusions, tricks, not paranormal.. I don t believe in paranormal... but as long as the goal of the mentalist is to make people believe something paranormal is happening, I found it was a good idea...and beside this, I love this name...it also means animal mask in latin language... and I like this meaning also... so at the end, it was a perfect name for me... and after I told you this, try to guess why my label is called "Mind Control" ... if you want to know more about mentalism, I suggest that you look in some video sites such as youtube, and search for "Derren brown" , he is from far the master of this style of magic, and all my friends around me use this kind of tricks..I always practice them... and I think that one of these days, I will find a way to "mix" my two hobbies together... mentalism and music..... to be continued...
What technical equipment/software do you use for producing?
I used to work a lot with audio softwares. Scope for the audio card, but I recently changed it for a Motu 24 I/O with cubase for the program... and I use PC... but I just updated my studio now with some more analog machines... I have now a very good analog mixer that I recommand, the Toft audio ATB16, really warm sound... those who found that I have a good and fat bassline will be surprised... I was shocked when I put my bassline for the first time in it... much warmer! The next tracks are coming soon... beside this, I have an Eventide H8000, which is I believe the best effect machine ever done... for synthetizers, I have a Virus TI, and a lot of plugins... a pair of Dynaudio BM16 for the speakers. This is my studio... nothing more ...
What is your philosophy in the studio? (method of working)
This one is easy : TO MAKE THE PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD PARTY ! TO MAKE THEM DANCE ! if possible with a smile...
Do you have any plans for a new album/compillation in the future?
I am now making for the first time a new project, with one of the XSI guys... the youngest one, Bart... all of them are talented, but he is able to come to my place every day, so we are doing now an album... we still don't know how we will call ourselves... but some tracks are already began and it is a very good combination... Duvdev got his Erez, i got my Bart... ahaha!
Then, about Talamasca, I just released now a double cd, the one that EVERYBODY CAN DOWNLOAD FOR FREE ON THE WEBSITE (www.mindcontrolrecords.com), so I am still thinking of the concept of the next one...
What's news at Mind Control Records?
The label is going fine... but it is true that I don't release a lot of music... mainly because I don't have a lot of time, between my family, the studio, my live acts, it is hard to search, and find some good music, then it is even harder to release it... as everybody know, the market is going down because most of the people download music in stead of buying it... it is a fact.. I don't complain here, and to proove it, again, go to my website and download my album for free! But what I can do with my own tracks is one thing... but I can not give the music of someone else, unless I buy it... but how can I buy something if the goal is to give it ? we will see... I think I will continue to release cds, mostly albums of artists... and make some compilations, once or twice a year, to promote the mind control artists, that I will send to all our mayling list that we are making with my album downloads... and it is a huge list... so to resume, the future of mind control is first to promote the artists by releasing their albums, and also to promote our artists by finding them some parties where to play... and the best way is to give the music... if the next compilation that I will make will be send in one day to more than 25000 people all over the planet, those who downloaded my albums, so those who like this style of music and who trust my taste, those who already go to the party where I play, then, this is the best possible promotion.
Next party, where you will play?
Next one is in Moscow, next saturday... then, the festivals season begins for me in england, for the 07/07/07 festival... then everyweek here and there, and I will close the season with the freedom festival in august...
When can we expect to see you in a french party?
Not soon... unfortunatly... and believe me, I regret this more than you... it is cool to play every week in a different country, I know I am lucky, but sometime, I would like to see in my own country what I see everywhere else! with my friends from here.... it happens quite a while, I played last year for three month in the club "trabendo" in Paris... it was cool, I enjoyed, but i don't like to play everytime in the same place, so we stopped doing it... I have
no idea of the next one, but I am planning to make myself something big after the holidays...we'll see...
A last word for the team Teknasia?
Forgive my english mistakes, and go to download my cd!!
Thanks for the interview and good luck for the next.
Mind Control Records: www.mindcontrolrecords.com
date interview: 2007-06-29
Checkout the interview at our E-Magazine:
http://www.teknasia.com/article.php?id_article=412
Hello Talamasca, please can you tell us more about yourself?
Well, it is a weird way to begin...so let's try.... more about myself.... pffff.....not that much to say...33 years old, I live in Paris, I am happy in the life, I am a father of a wonderfull boy who is 5 and half years old, and a second kid is expected for september. I am the owner of the label called "Mind Control Records", I give my album to everyone who wants it for free on my website (www.mindcontrolrecords.com) and I still enjoy the two things I do for living : making music in the week, and playing it in the week end....and I don't know what to say more...
When and how did you get in contact with the music?
AHAHA....it's a strange way to ask...but anyway, I did get "in contact" with the music when I was in the stomach of my mum, she told me she was listening all day long in a loop the track from "Pink floyd" called "one of these days"....listen to it and you won't be surprised that I am a "psytrance" producer...even if I really hate the world " trance"...but this is another subject...and then, when I was born, my mum put me as soon as it was possible to piano lessons, which I didn't enjoy at the beginning, but finally, I am soooo happy she did it! And I can say that from my youngest time, I've always wanted to be a musician...then, in contact with "trance", which is another story, it was in 1993 when one of my friends came back from England with a Juno reactor record, "high protons energy"....PFFFFFF! this was THE track that put me in contact with "trance"
What was the determinative experience which lead you to the Psytrance scene?
Beside this Juno reaktor track I talked about, there was a huge difference between parties of trance, which was in that time called "goa trance", and the rest of the electronic scene...I found that the people in trance parties were more friendly, and beside this, they were here really for party, not to be seen or because there was nothing else to do that week end, like it was, from my point of view, in clubs or some techno parties...I loved the energy of the music and decided to change my style..I was in that time a techno dj, more obsessed by the technics of mixing than the music itself...trance revealed me that it was possible to make real music with electronic instruments...this was the beginning of Talamasca, because from this time, I knew that my future was to make my own music...
Do you have any musician qualification besides the electronic dance music?
As mentionned before, I used to play the piano for few years, and even from that time I enjoyed more to compose myself some melodies than to play the ones of someone else...but I don't believe that all my melodies come from this piano lessons...it is just more easy forme to play them on the keyboard, but anyone who have a good ear and some good ideas, and that is the power of electronioc music, can find good melodies with the mouse...I believe that it is more because I used to listen a lot of classical music that talamasca sounds like this...not because I used to play some...but it is true that it is a gain of time...but honnestly, I can't play piano anymore...my left hand forgot how to play... I don't need it on my synth... but I will teach piano to my kid, so I'll come back to it.
Where and what was your first party experience where you could present your music?
Mmmm...the first time I heard my own track in a party, I was not the one who played it...it was during the GAIA 5 (I think...maybe 6?) party with astral projection, chakra, and there was Dj Zoo-B from Krembo records, he played some month ago in the REX club with me, and when he came to my place I put him the track to listen..he loved it and told me that he will close his set with it... in the GAIA, which was the biggest party in France, and this one was maybe the biggest... anyway, it was a big success and Zoo-B bought it for his label, the track was called "tribal journey", it was made in 1995 and it was my first big success..this track made me play in many countries and was a big hit ...in that time.... if you listen to it now, specially if you are new in this style and want to know where we come from, how was the music 10 or 15 years ago, you'll be so surprised by the evolution of this music... it is like pictures... you look at yourself in the mirror, you don't see any change... you look at a picture of ten years ago, and realise that yes... there was some changes... some evolution...electronic music is the same... we evolve with the technology, and the technology level is always increasing more and more, faster and faster ! so do we...
Tell me about your artist name please, what is behind it?
ahaha... So.... it is connected to a book, but this was not the reason of my choice...I didn t know the book was famous...but I was looking for a name that sounds french, but who was unknown...and Lestat was...I couldn t called myself Dj Cedric in that time, because there was already one...and I didn't want to
become the "cedric from paris" or any bullshit like this... so I found Dj Lestat... then, in the same book, there was a group of people, Talamasca, who had some "mind powers" like telepathy, psychokynesy, these kind of things... and because for a looong time now I have like a hobby to learn magic, I speak here about illusions, tricks, not paranormal.. I don t believe in paranormal... but as long as the goal of the mentalist is to make people believe something paranormal is happening, I found it was a good idea...and beside this, I love this name...it also means animal mask in latin language... and I like this meaning also... so at the end, it was a perfect name for me... and after I told you this, try to guess why my label is called "Mind Control" ... if you want to know more about mentalism, I suggest that you look in some video sites such as youtube, and search for "Derren brown" , he is from far the master of this style of magic, and all my friends around me use this kind of tricks..I always practice them... and I think that one of these days, I will find a way to "mix" my two hobbies together... mentalism and music..... to be continued...
What technical equipment/software do you use for producing?
I used to work a lot with audio softwares. Scope for the audio card, but I recently changed it for a Motu 24 I/O with cubase for the program... and I use PC... but I just updated my studio now with some more analog machines... I have now a very good analog mixer that I recommand, the Toft audio ATB16, really warm sound... those who found that I have a good and fat bassline will be surprised... I was shocked when I put my bassline for the first time in it... much warmer! The next tracks are coming soon... beside this, I have an Eventide H8000, which is I believe the best effect machine ever done... for synthetizers, I have a Virus TI, and a lot of plugins... a pair of Dynaudio BM16 for the speakers. This is my studio... nothing more ...
What is your philosophy in the studio? (method of working)
This one is easy : TO MAKE THE PEOPLE HAVE A GOOD PARTY ! TO MAKE THEM DANCE ! if possible with a smile...
Do you have any plans for a new album/compillation in the future?
I am now making for the first time a new project, with one of the XSI guys... the youngest one, Bart... all of them are talented, but he is able to come to my place every day, so we are doing now an album... we still don't know how we will call ourselves... but some tracks are already began and it is a very good combination... Duvdev got his Erez, i got my Bart... ahaha!
Then, about Talamasca, I just released now a double cd, the one that EVERYBODY CAN DOWNLOAD FOR FREE ON THE WEBSITE (www.mindcontrolrecords.com), so I am still thinking of the concept of the next one...
What's news at Mind Control Records?
The label is going fine... but it is true that I don't release a lot of music... mainly because I don't have a lot of time, between my family, the studio, my live acts, it is hard to search, and find some good music, then it is even harder to release it... as everybody know, the market is going down because most of the people download music in stead of buying it... it is a fact.. I don't complain here, and to proove it, again, go to my website and download my album for free! But what I can do with my own tracks is one thing... but I can not give the music of someone else, unless I buy it... but how can I buy something if the goal is to give it ? we will see... I think I will continue to release cds, mostly albums of artists... and make some compilations, once or twice a year, to promote the mind control artists, that I will send to all our mayling list that we are making with my album downloads... and it is a huge list... so to resume, the future of mind control is first to promote the artists by releasing their albums, and also to promote our artists by finding them some parties where to play... and the best way is to give the music... if the next compilation that I will make will be send in one day to more than 25000 people all over the planet, those who downloaded my albums, so those who like this style of music and who trust my taste, those who already go to the party where I play, then, this is the best possible promotion.
Next party, where you will play?
Next one is in Moscow, next saturday... then, the festivals season begins for me in england, for the 07/07/07 festival... then everyweek here and there, and I will close the season with the freedom festival in august...
When can we expect to see you in a french party?
Not soon... unfortunatly... and believe me, I regret this more than you... it is cool to play every week in a different country, I know I am lucky, but sometime, I would like to see in my own country what I see everywhere else! with my friends from here.... it happens quite a while, I played last year for three month in the club "trabendo" in Paris... it was cool, I enjoyed, but i don't like to play everytime in the same place, so we stopped doing it... I have
no idea of the next one, but I am planning to make myself something big after the holidays...we'll see...
A last word for the team Teknasia?
Forgive my english mistakes, and go to download my cd!!
Thanks for the interview and good luck for the next.Mind Control Records: www.mindcontrolrecords.com