Terminal V Podcast 093 || SWART
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SWART grew up in the Belgium scene, which has always been at the forefront of high-energy sounds from rave to techno. Years after first parting as a teenager, he is now established as a tehaon talent in his own right with a sound that is trance-infused and hypnotic. He’s dropped plenty of it on the likes of VAGUE and Selected (Berlin), and it is all written on Ableton. He’s such a wizard with it, he recently hosted a first-ever masterclass to share all aspects of his creative process.
This summer he’ll be busy playing the likes of Pisiboat, Extrema Outdoor, Duro Festival, Fuse, Bootshaus and more, and promises lots of new music is on the way. Before that he’s dropped a signature mix and let us in on his early roots into the scene, his views of AI, what gear he favours and plenty more.
Tell us about the music scene you grew up around and that first got you into electronic music. Does your sound still reflect those roots?
I grew up with the Belgian music scene which has always been very alive and active. I’ve been going to events since I was 15-16 and have explored many many genres.
It was in 2017 at Dour Festival that I really came to appreciate techno and saw a future for it for myself as an artist. The scene and my sound are always evolving but I’ll always stay true to the music that has inspired me all these years.
What is your signature, what is the one aspect of a track that is key to get right? For example, is it the bass, the melodies, the drums or something else?
I’d say my signature sound lately has been trance inspired tracks with big melodies and rolling basses. I’ve always been a big fan of the ‘hypnotic’ trance sound.
It’s hard to say what makes a track ‘right’. I think it’s the perfect balance between all elements or certain unique sounds.
What is your favourite bit of production or DJing gear or software and why?
For production its 100% ableton, I’ve been using it for 10+ years and can not live without it haha for DJ’ing its a Xone. I fkn love the simplicity of a Xone 92.
Do you think AI is good for creativity in music, or a bad thing?
Personally I don’t really try to bother thinking about it. It will always lack a certain human feeling which makes music, music. I’m not against it but I’m also not a fan.
I guess we’ll have to see how it evolves. From a creative POV it could be interesting to get out of creative slumps tho, a ‘fast track to creativity’ if you will.
Tell us about your mix, the aim you had with it, and what you wanted it to say.
I didn’t really have a direction, I always try to go with the flow with any mix and see where the music takes me but I’m very happy with the result.
There’s a bunch of unreleased tracks in there that are coming out in the next few weeks / months, keep an ear out 😉
What gear did you use, is that important to you in any way whether in the booth or studio?
I used some shitty CDJ 900s, they drift, are static in waveform and have very few options (no hot cues for example), and a Xone 92 🙂
Although the CDJ’s are old and very out of date, they are great exercise. You have to babysit them at all times because the bpm drifts every now and then, unlike the newer CDJ models which basically always stay in sync if you beatmatch correctly
I think the idea of playing on a setup that’s not quite perfect prepares you very well for when you do play on the perfect club setup / in a club.
What are you working on for the rest of the year?
A LOT of music, I have an EP coming out on Tham’s label, Driller, in June/July.. Later this year I’m also releasing on Milo Spykers label, Accelerator.
With my own label I have Techno Manifesto Pt. III coming up which I’m very excited about 🙂 Release date will be somewhere late may early june most likely.
Also got some fun gigs coming up like Pisiboat, Extrema Outdoor, Duro Festival, Fuse, Bootshaus & more
kristan j caryl