Here at EssentialReload we are happy to share our new Podcast with you all. An innovative Live set from one of our favourite artists – German based Jin Choi. We’ve been admiring this artist’s style for quite some time and are delighted to share this exclusive Live set with you. We’ve also asked Jin some questions that we had which are inspired by his set; giving you an insight into why we’ve had our ears on this artist’s music style and philosophy. Jin Choi is a musician, producer and live artist based in Cologne, Germany. In his music he equally focuses on groove and melodic structures, which are based on Techno, Minimal and Dub House. The sound fuses electronic and naturalistic sounds, which are twisted, bended and whirled for an always bubbling and breathing rhythmic experience. Functionality does not necessarily stand in the spotlight in his tracks - his music is supposed to touch emotionally and to move the head and the body as well.
1) Could you give us an insight into what you have been up to recently?
I moved to Berlin at the end of the last year and met wonderful people here like Beaner, Walker Barnard, Sammy Dee, Sammy Goossen, Jay Haze and many more (Jay moved to South America in January, which is a shame, but good for him I guess). This city and these nice and people can give really give an artistic and creative push. So I enjoy social living and sharing experiences a lot. I am a very social person, so meeting nice people is something that I like very much.
2) How and where did you record the mix?
I recorded the mix exclusively for you in my studio. It includes all my recent tracks and releases and four unreleased tracks, which features Beaner on vocals. It is the second last track in the set. I don’t play much at the time being, because it really can be so exhausting travelling and having too many shows. I also have a “tough day job” that I have to care much about. And I slightly prefer producing before playing shows. So my focus is on production. This set was done with Ableton Live. I use it for live sets and productions as well. But I also know how to operate Logic.
3) I can feel an enormous ‘jazzy’ influence in your music, for example the piano/keys certainly caught my attention throughout this set. Can you tell us where that influence comes from and why?
I have phases, where I explore certain things. This seems to be my piano phase! Hehe… No, I just like “classic” and classy instrumentations and sounds. I try to make music that is timeless. Piano is a very classy instrument… And this Jazz vibe found its way into my music not by purpose. I love Jazz, but I actually don’t listen very much to it at home. I record and improvise a lot, when I produce my tracks. And I always try to find phrases and musical motives, which are not too obvious. Much of my ideas work across 8 to 16 Bars. I even recently released a track, where the melodic idea has a span of 1 minute, which for techno is quite long (In the mirror on Lessizmore). Than I have also percussive elements, that have an odd periodicity of 3-5 Bars. Running odd versus even over longer periodicities can cause interesting interactions of the musical phrases. And if you don’t quantize everything and play and record a lot, than it automatically gets this jazzy vibe… Maybe I also have to point out, that I play guitar since 20 years and I generally know music and music theory… And I am also starting to get better on piano, although I have to say, that my piano playing is very lousy! Yet I play everything myself and don’t programm the pianos. But I am very happy with my piano improvisation on the last track of this set. A buddy of mine even thought it was a Thelonious Monk sample. This is a joke for sure, but I was really proud
)…4) With so many options around music production tools nowadays and the whole analog/digital choice I would like you to tell us what your position is related to that and as a consequence what your production tool set is.
All instruments, all VSTs and all analogue gear are just tools. And a tool is always as good as the artist that uses it. I personally love analogue gear very much, but I also love ease of use of digital and native work-flows. I have some outboard gear, but not much. And I am thinking about analogue summing. But as I said, it is more important to know how to handle stuff. If your productions sound crappy digital, you will not sound better analogue. So care about skills and more important: Creativity! Especially young producers always wanna talk about Plug-ins and tools. This is not the right angle I think. It is more important too care about musical questions. There is maybe just one important thing that I learned about gear: BUY THE BEST MONTORS YOU CAN AFFORD! Monitors are your main tool! If your monitor is shitty, you can’t hear the difference of Plug-ins or tools and of what you are doing. It is a simple principle. And a good preamp and microphone, if you record a lot! Besides that I can really say that I am very happy with my UAD-2 card and the Softube plug-ins.
5) I have come across some of your comments where you strongly defend the position on ‘not sensationalising music’, can you explain what you mean by that and why?
First, I generally like deep and consistent music, that’s not driven by spectacular arrangements or “effects” and gimmicks. Second, I am a little bit annoyed by the way (dance) music gets produce more and more. The scene and the people get more and more hype oriented, and functionality seems to be more important than creativity… Third, I think the people don’t take musical risks anymore, which is a pity. This also refers to Djaying. Everything is getting streamlined more and more…
6) Can you tell us what projects you have going and what we should expect from you in the near future?
I just finished and released an EP on Archipel and Lessizmore. Than I have an EP in the pipeline for Contexterrior, which will feature Beaner on Vocals. Then there is another EP in work with my good friend Daso for Systematic; and I also made a very nice Track with Walker Barnard, that gets nice feedback and interest. Damian Lazarus and I also plan for a Crosstown Rebel release. Last but not least I will make a track with Jonathan Illel of dOP and my wife singing a duet! This will be interesting… hehe… So there are quite some things in the pipeline…
7) When you are not in the studio what makes you tick and how do you enjoy spending your spare time?</strong>
I spend my spare time in the studio, and music makes me tick the most besides spending time with my daughter. She is wonderful and also has a very nice voice. I don’t want to push her to make music, but I am waiting for the day, when she wants to record something in the studio! But as she is just 5 years old, this might take some time…
By Isis Salvaterra and Hannah Briley
Check It Out on the freshly updated EssentialReload website : http://essentialreload.co.uk
Enjoy!