[Interview] Donnacha Costello exclusive for MNML.nl

all interviews.
User avatar
Ben
mnml mmbr
mnml mmbr
Posts: 200
Joined: Tue May 18, 2004 4:49 pm
Location: Waregem, BELGIUM
Contact:

[Interview] Donnacha Costello exclusive for MNML.nl

Post by Ben »

Though Donnacha Costello first began producing music back in 1989, it wasn't until late 2000 that he globally emerged as a truly remarkable producer. Long recognized as one of Dublin, Ireland's most talented producers, Costello may have began his musical career in 1989, but he first began to dabble in minimal electronic music around 1996 after completing his philosophy degree and immersing himself in the concepts of Steve Reich and John Cage. In fact, his inspiration led him away from Dublin to New York City, where he took his minimal take on electronic music a step farther, integrating the dub aesthetics and crackle sounds practiced by artists such as Pole. In 1999, he started his own label, Minimise, where he released a trio of EPs before catching the eye of mammoth German experimental techno label Force Inc., who asked him to record an album for their label. Embracing new software-driven production technologies, Costello spent summer 2000 creating the music that would appear later that year on the Growing Up in Public album. Benefiting from the massive reach and prestige of Force Inc., the Dublin artist catapulted from little-known cult status to one of the most exciting up-and-coming producers in the experimental techno realm.

Image


You’re from Ireland, Dublin, city of old pubs, where the folks are singing the traditional lyrics, whilst drinking loads of Ale…Wasn’t it difficult for you 2 “express” your music in your hometown, were there enough facilities? ‘Cos with all respect, but Dublin, hasn’t got a scene like Berlin, London, Brussels,….

You’d be surprised how many electronic producers there are in Dublin. Per Capita, it must be one of the highest concentrations in Europe. From what I can tell, ‘scenes’ don’t really exist anywhere. One imagines this incredible ‘scene’ in Berlin for example but in fact it’s just hundreds of disparate producers living in the same city. It’s not as cohesive as you might think. However it’s probably fair to say that electronic music seems to sit more naturally with Germans rather than the Irish.

As for being able to express my self musically in Dublin, it’s pretty impossible but thankfully there’s a good airport here, (laughs)



You’ve got a philosophy degree, is music for you a medium to express your vision concerning the “big questions” in life?

Well, it would be nice to actually have a vision concerning the ‘big questions’. Unfortunately, I find them as perplexing as ever. I think it’s also worth mentioning that what bothers most people is not really the big questions like ‘how did the universe get here’ or even ‘where is here?’ but the small ones like ‘why can’t I have a car like that?’ or ‘am I attractive enough?’. Music certainly helps me express something but what that is is quite abstract. In truth, I think I am expressing my ‘self’, asserting my uniqueness.


You started your music career in the mid-nineties, what/who convinced you 2 fully focus on music? After all you just graduated….

Ever since I was child I wanted to be a musician and little else, so everything was kind of just getting in the way. Since 2001, I kind of backed off a little bit but I’m back to just doing music again now since January this year and even though it tortures me in many ways, music is what makes me happiest.


‘Bout your label, in 1999 you founded with David Donahue & Mark Clarke ”MINIMISE “ How did you 3 get in contact which each other?

Well, I actually started the label myself. David and mark have had various degrees of involvement over the years. Right now, David is very involved and is a huge help in running the label whereas Mark isn’t involved at all. We all met through one mutual friend – the inimitable Emmet Edmonds. He’s a bit of a guru, I’m hoping he’ll do a record for us next year.


And for most people who want to set up their own label, what sort of things should you make sure you have in the beginning?

The most important thing is to have a good distributor. It is hard enough these days to get a distributor to take you on but it is even harder to find a good one. I’ve been blessed with KOMPAKT. They’re so great to work with and are doing a really super job with minimise.


How do you think of Minimise in the techno continuum? What sounds different to you from what’s come before? How do you feel ‘bout that?

Well, this year I really tried to bring the focus back on to a more machine driven sound. To emphasise feeling and groove and sounds with some weight behind them in opposition to the mass of ‘clicks and tricks’ records that have been around for the last few years. That kind of record [clicky, tricky] might be intricately sequenced and change direction about ten times in each track and so give the illusion of being innovative but I think it was a dead end and it’s totally played out. I think it’s better to use sounds with real energy and a certain ‘density’ to them. Regarding arrangement, I also think that groove and emotion are more important that ‘flash’ masquerading as sophistication. A few gestures by Matisse are infinitely more touching to me than the surrealism of Dali, even though Dali’s work can be photo-realistic.


How would you describe your own sound?

It’s hard for me to do that but I’ll try: emotive, machine driven, groovy, acidy, bleepy, analogue, looking back but facing forward.


Image Image Image


I’m a big fan of the “Colour Series” , every EP is like a chapter of an exciting book. The latest one was “Opal”, when does the “book” end?

Thanks, that’s a very complimentary analogy. The book ends later this year but there are still a few more chapters!


What will the future bring from Donnacha Costello? Any new EP’s or albums coming up?

I’m starting now to work on next year’s twelves and there has been an album of ambient music that was started with a friend which I’ve been meaning to finish. There should also be a new album on raster-noton under my ‘modul’ alias. I’m also getting the chance to work with a label I’ve wanted to work with for many years now but I can’t say which one.

Lemme guess, Warp?

Nope. That would be nice though! (laughs)


Some short questions:

Hardware or software?

For me: Hardware for sounds, sequencing and mixing, software for recording/editing [protools].

Kitlist [if you’re interested]

Roland TB-303
Roland TR-909
ARP Odyssey MK1
Akai MPC3000/2000
Nord Modular
Nord Micromodular
Ensoniq DP4
Mackie 24-8
G4 powerbook x 2 [Protools Free, Ableton LIVE, Max/MSP, Soundmaker, EMAIL :-)]

I’m also about to purchase two secret weapons for next year’s productions ;-)



Dublin or NYC?

Both have their strengths. New York is an inspirational city but my family and friends are here and they’re very important to me.


Hawtin or Mills?

Again, both have their strengths :-)


Freud or Kant? (laughs)

Buddha.

Ok I wanna know more of this Buddha kinda thing LOL

Seek without seeking, my friend (laughs)

Thanks for the support!!


Image


Some usefull links:

http://www.minimise.com
http://www.d1recordings.com/
http://www.kompakt-net.de/


INTERVIEW: Ben Clement, exclusive for www.mnml.nl
http://www.polarise.be
-Projecting A New Vision-
User avatar
'k''
mnml mmbr
mnml mmbr
Posts: 216
Joined: Wed Aug 11, 2004 8:20 pm
Location: cologne|germany
Contact:

Post by 'k'' »

nice!
"together is all alone" is one of my favorite albums ever..

thanks for this interview.. :!:
Studio Eins ist eine Division von Profan Schallplatten Köln.
User avatar
Leander_Techno
mnml mmbr
mnml mmbr
Posts: 271
Joined: Thu Jun 17, 2004 4:23 pm
Contact:

Post by Leander_Techno »

Tnx man, cool interview... Interesting to know what hardware/software he uses..
Creative use of technology is a form of Art
User avatar
Renton
mnml maxi
mnml maxi
Posts: 564
Joined: Tue Jul 27, 2004 11:26 pm
Location: amf / nl
Contact:

Post by Renton »

Wow, thanks for this interview. It's always nice to read more of the people behind the music you're really into. And I just really like that quote of Donnacha saying "looking back but facing forward"!
mark boon
mnml newbie
mnml newbie
Posts: 96
Joined: Mon Jun 28, 2004 2:50 am
Location: Rotterdam
Contact:

Post by mark boon »

thumbs up to Ben & Donnacha
ostgut
User avatar
-ix
mnml admn
mnml admn
Posts: 2794
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 1970 6:37 am
Location: Leiden NL
Contact:

Post by -ix »

Ben did it again! Great one!
User avatar
Essaj
mnml mmbr
mnml mmbr
Posts: 464
Joined: Thu Jun 24, 2004 7:10 pm
Location: utrecht

Post by Essaj »

cool interview....thanks!
fader
mnml maxi
mnml maxi
Posts: 1387
Joined: Fri May 21, 2004 8:04 pm
Location: bxl .be

Post by fader »

soon in Belgium! :lol: thanks for the interview!
Post Reply