Interview with Matthias Baumann aka Cressida,“Where the power of words ends, the music begins.”
Following that credo, German producer Matthias Baumann was instantly amazed, as he - at a very young age in front of a piano – discovered, that only three little notes, put together in the right direction and played with a certain sound, are sufficient to evoke emotions. Even more, those same notes could trigger different emotions in different people, depending on so many different factors.
Take this still existing childlike exaltation, add a never ending curiousness for diverse and unique sounds and musical styles, mash it up with a distinct fondness for groove in every sense, and you got Cressida.
He counts many successful singles in the trance scene and great remixes for other fellow artists as well. His back catalogue is full of impressive material that proves his talent and of course his steady dedication to produce wonderful quality tracks that will pass the test of time and today considered as classics. The hard thing is to establish a particular sound that everybody will recognize easily as being yours and Cressida manage to do exactly this and for that reason he is regarded as one of the key players in the progressive trance genre. In addition he loves to communicate his music to club crowds worldwide through his djing performances. If it happens to attend one of his set you will not forget it easily. What is more Matthias has the vital role of A&R at the very happening and quickly expanding Tool Trance record label in Swiss that is part of Tool records that has series of successful singles at Beatport.
His latest project that is out now is dedicated to the victims of the disastrous earthquake in Japan and all the sales from the single will be offered to the Japanese red cross. I was so touched from his vision on that project that I recorded and send my voice for that single saying in Greek “I feel for Japan”. The end result is brilliant cause can even make you cry thanks to the touching epic trance melody and the many different people saying in their own languages that they feel for Japan. We are faraway but we feel so close with them even in a mental spiritual way.
I was really happy that Matthias accepted my request for an interview and he manages to find some free time to reply to it. It is definitely a long interview but totally worth it to read it, so don’t pass it quickly. When you finish reading it, certainly there will be answers that will offer you food for thought and discussion with your friends in a nice café or through your favorite social network.
Dimitri: I would like to start your story from its beginning. When and where you were born? Are you are coming from a family that has any kind of connection with music and maybe particularly electronic music? Do you have the support of your parents to pursue your musical career?
Cressida: Hey there, thx for the questions
I was born in May 1981 (yep I just turned 30 ) in Germany, in the beautiful city of Freiburg.
Music always played a big role in our family, my 2 brothers and me had piano lessons early on, I played some guitar as my father played that too – we basically grew up around a bunch of guitars and a nice piano as well as a drumset, so naturally I was spending some time as a kid annoying my environment with alot of acoustic noises – before I got my first keyboard with the age of 13, then the noises became more of an electronic nature ;)
I was born in May 1981 (yep I just turned 30 ) in Germany, in the beautiful city of Freiburg.
Music always played a big role in our family, my 2 brothers and me had piano lessons early on, I played some guitar as my father played that too – we basically grew up around a bunch of guitars and a nice piano as well as a drumset, so naturally I was spending some time as a kid annoying my environment with alot of acoustic noises – before I got my first keyboard with the age of 13, then the noises became more of an electronic nature ;)
Dimitri: When you were young what kind of music you were listening to? Is there a song or music from a movie soundtrack that has influence your decision to get into electronic dance music?
Cressida: My first big electronic influences were Moby and Enigma, as well as Jean Michel Jarre and Vangelis, even though that´s more classical. During the 90s when the whole ravescene was growing, I listenend to alot of that fast rave stuff naturally, but I was always more keen on emotional, melodic ambient / trip hop music like Enigma, Massive Attack, Portishead etc. I also listened to alot of classical music and soundtracks.
When I discovered trance, I realized that this is a kind if music where the emotional and the danceable styles are combined, so that became one of my favorite genres pretty quick
When I discovered trance, I realized that this is a kind if music where the emotional and the danceable styles are combined, so that became one of my favorite genres pretty quick
Dimitri: Is it possible to list for us the Top 5 djs or EDM producers that you value and respect most and you feel that their music and attitude in life and music business had the strongest impact in your production and dj sets?
Cressida: That is tough since there are so many inspiring producers out there. Let me list my Top 5 biggest influences that got me into producing in the first place:
1. Enigma
2. Moby
3. Faithless
4. Schiller
5. Fatboy Slim
1. Enigma
2. Moby
3. Faithless
4. Schiller
5. Fatboy Slim
There are more of course but these are probably the artists I listened to the most when I started producing myself.
Dimitri: Did you start first producing or as a dj? Do you believe that is possible for a dj to make a name and get recognition without having productions and club hits under his belt?
Cressida: I started producing with the age of 14 in 1995 and didn´t DJ before 2000, so my main focus always lay on studio productions. I believe this is a good way because if you are able to produce the music that you are playing, you are percieving & understanding that music alot different than non-producers.
These days, the natural way to get out there and play in the trance & house scene on a larger scale are big productions. It is very hard to make a name of yourself just by Deejaying because everybody is doing it and to be frank, it´s not a hard thing to learn how to blend tracks into each other smoothly.
Dimitri: Under which circumstances you launched the progressive act Cressida? How did you met with Roland Geringer and what are the best and worst memory that you recall for the years that you had this project together?
Cressida: I met Roland during my first studies in Munich, in 2003. We went to a University where you can either study audio engineering or multimedia design, and we realized that we were the only electronic musicians around a bunch of rockers and some hiphop junkies. Naturally we shared tracks, and then decided to produce together. We first developed an uplifting project called “Callisto”, but I was always bored by the standard uplifting sound so one night, I put together a progressive track that we finished in the studio together, called “Certainty”. The sound was so different to anything else we had produced so far so we decided to come up with a second project for more laidback progressive trance sounds – “Cressida” was born.
Best studio memory: Producing a remix for the Oceanlab – Satellite remixcontest for 15 hours straight during one night, keeping us awake with Wodka Redbull – which was probably also the cause that we didn´t win in the end... :-p (despite the fact that we sent it out a day after the deadline.)
Worst studio memory: Being scared to death by a huge ass spider that just jumped on my monitor while I was concentrating on a track. I probably lost one year of my life there :-p
The fun part: Roli was as scared of that creatures of hell as I was, so in the end his girlfriend had to come down and catch the abomination of doom for us ! A sad day for manhood.
Dimitri: When you decide to split with Roland and is there any hope to see you back in the studio and dj booth together touring the world and rocking the clubs?
Cressida: I never really decided to split, it was more of an ongoing process since he was always more busy with his jobs. I continued to go to university after my first degree and he started a normal working routine, so I always had more time for music. I also moved to another city so we had to split our studio naturally. Therefore I continued as Cressida on my own for a while, but he always contributes as my best critic, webmaster, etc. He is also getting back into producing these days.
When it comes to bookings, we just decided that I am the main DJ to represent Cressida, as it´s easier to promote that and I just have more time for traveling.
Still, Roland is one of my best friends and always will be a part of Cressida, as he still has a big influence on the project – even with some distance
Dimitri: How did you manage to attract the attention of Kyau and Albert and become part of Euphonic one of the best independent and high quality trance label in Germany?
Cressida: The same way as you attract the attention of any label – by sending demos. We also met Ralph Kyau at a party long before he signed us, but I think it was important to show him that there ares likeable & down to earth people behind all the emails ...:)
Dimitri: With Euphonic you had the amazing 6AM release that was voted at Beatport as the best track of 2008 by beating many other releases. How did you felt when you saw your track to become so successful? Did you expect that and do you have any funny story to tell us from the recording period of that track?
Cressida: That was indeed totally unexpected. I produced the track one night and finished it around – of course – 6AM in the morning. The original is pretty basic, it´s all about the chord progression – I remember sitting there, totally tired, headphones on, playing the melody for 30 minutes in a loop. Then I was like “hm, this never gets annoying. Probably a good mello. Let´s send it to euphonic”
But I never expected them to sign it as it was so laidback and progressive. But like I said, it´s all about the melody and Ralph & Steven instantly saw potential & inspiration for a clubbier version which they put in their amazing remix – the rest is history
Dimitri: You have released so far many successful personal productions and you have done remixes for many well known artists. Can you choose for us your 3 favorites productions and remixes and give us a small comment about each of them?
Cressida: Sure. My own favorite Cressida track has got to be “Slightly Agravic”. I produced it with Roland during many funny studio sessions and we released it on the label Selective Progressive back in 2006. Unfortunately the release more or less drowned, thanx to bad marketing & promo (no wonder this label doesn´t exist anymore). We are planning a rework of this track though, so watch out
Favorite remix: Nile – Isis (Cressida Remix) – also one of those more unknown mixes, but it had alot of big support and got us the attention of Lost Language who asked us for two remixes after this – It´s just so energetic and has this rolling groove – very timeless production!
To make things short: Favorite own productions Nr 2 & 3 :
the vocal tracks “Heart on my sleeve” and “Lovely Lies”
Favorite Remixes Nr 2 & 3:
Steve Brian – La Gomera (Cressida Remix) & Zinfandel – Abydos (Cressida Remix)
the vocal tracks “Heart on my sleeve” and “Lovely Lies”
Favorite Remixes Nr 2 & 3:
Steve Brian – La Gomera (Cressida Remix) & Zinfandel – Abydos (Cressida Remix)
Dimitri: Do you have professional training in music or are you self-taught? Do you think is very important for a young producer to attend music composition classes or you feel as many people that formal training kills creativity and innovation and nowadays its easier to learn to produce with amateur video tutorials from you tube?
Cressida: When I started, it was all self-taught. In the beginning, I mainly listened to alot of trance & house and tried to recreate the professional sound as good as possible. I learned producing with hardware equipment and I think that knowledge still helps with all the software these days as you understand basic things like routing alot better. Then I went to audio engineering school where the focus lied on acoustic studio recording, but I also learned alot about compressors, synthesis and so on.
Even though I think with enough dedication you can teach yourself to produce on a professional scale, things like these studies and a musical background from piano lessons etc make producing alot easier and more “insightful” (is that a word at all? :-p).
Especially when it comes to finding your own style. One thing I recognize these days is that so many people are able to produce with professional sounds as all the software and samples have become much more accessible. Hence, there is a lot of plagiarism going on in the scene, as most people produce on a good technical level, but the main motivation stems from the fact that everybody hopes to be the next big thing in the scene. I´d say 80-90 % of todays productions lack one important thing that I am always looking for in music: Soul. It´s still out there, but it got alot harder to find it.
Dimitri: Please take on a virtual tour in your home studio and let us know the kind of hardware that you use. Do you have a favorite music composition software that you love to use and you can recommended to other artists as well as reliable and with vast creative possibilities?
Cressida: I have always been a cubase fan as I started producing with that software when I was 14. I also know my way around logic a bit as I learned that during my audio engineering studies, and I have to use it in Reminders studio where I work pretty often these days.
When it comes to plugins, I am a huge admirer of native instruments and spectrasonics. They just put out quality tools that provide producers with a vast array of sounds and possibilities.
Dimitri: You joined the Tool records family and you act as an A&R for the label. Firstly, tell us your opinion about Tool records and if there is a special motto behind the label and how the whole collaboration came about with Michel Lüchinger that is the owner of the label and you did some top tunez together.
Cressida: Michel is a great friend and as I moved to Switzerland this year, we had the opportunity to work together more closely. He always wanted to create his own imprint and he just started tool records when I moved closer to his studio, so naturally I started helping him out with texting, contacts and demo-listening
The main label Tool Records is reserved for quality clubhouse music, as
Michel has always produced alot of house music (as Josh Green, Green & Falkner or for Djs like Pat Farrell).
Tool Trance focuses on trancemusic with a focus on clubby tunes with an emotional edge and – of course – soul
Dimitri: What kind of tracks are you searching at the moment to release at Tool records and how many demos you receive each week? From those demos do you feel more hopeful for the future of EDM and particularly trance or is very hard to find bright producers with great fresh ideas and sound?
Cressida: It totally varies, sometimes up to 100 demos land in my inbox a week, sometimes it´s only 10 - 20. Like I said before, there is alot of plagiarism going on right now, as alot of producers try to be the next Arty for instance and just copy that sound. But sometimes there are pleasant surprises, such as Shato & Paul Rockseek or Kamil Esten, who showed that you can still have your own original sound, even though you have to stick to certain EDM rules to make the tracks work in the clubs. So that´s basically what I am looking for: High quality tracks that work in the clubs but have an honest emotional side as well as an individual edge.
Dimitri: Are there any future plans to release a whole Cressida album or are you in favour of just releasing singles?
Cressida: It has always been a big dream to release a full Cressida album, but the sad truth is, that albums don´t perform that well if you aren´t one of the really big acts. So many good albums just drowned, like the Steve Brian album on euphonic which was just plain amazing. The scene has become so fast moving that people seem to be overstrained with 10-12 tracks which are released at the same time by the same producer – unless your name is really big. So for now I´ll concentrate on strong single tracks, and time will tell about a Cressida album – but rest assured, the idea is always present
Dimitri: Do you have an all-time favorite trance album that you aspire your album to reach its high level?
Cressida: Not really. Most trance albums I listened to this and the last year were just too repetitive. You seldom come across an album that is really thought out and has a clear line throughout. One of the trance albums I really loved back in the days and still listen to alot is Above & Beyonds Tri-State because it has a great progression and is just highly emotional. When I listen to albums, it´s usually stuff from different genres, like Royksöpp, Robyn, Coldplay, several Soundtracks, etc.
Dimitri: Can you reveal to us the forthcoming releases that are coming out from your studio ready to top the trance charts of the download portals? Do you like producing instrumental or tracks with vocals? Do you have a favorite vocalist that you would like to work with her?
Cressida: I just finished a new vocal track with Roxanne Barton, together with Reminder, which will be released on tool trance. Also, there is another Cressida vocal track, this time with the talented Natalie Peris, forthcoming on euphonic. I also did two collabs recently, one with Ronski Speed and another one with Steve Brian. I am very happy with all of those tracks so I hope they will receive some support.
I don´t prefer instrumentals over vocal tracks or the other way around, whatever works best is fine
When it comes to vocalists, I really enjoy working with Roxanne Barton as she is a great friend too and a newcomer to the scene. I like the idea of helping her getting more recognition as I believe she is a great talent to look out for!
Dimitri: From the thousands of tracks that released each week on various download portals do you believe that the majority of them really deserve to have a release or you believe that there is a lot of average stuff coming out that copy ideas of already successful tunez?
Cressida: It is a fact that way too much stuff gets released as almost everyone can start a digital label these days. As anyone can download music software today, most of the EDM listeners also start producing at one point so there is no clear line between consumers and artists anymore. Don´t get me wrong here – I like the fact that so many young people are sitting at home being creative! That´s how we all started at some point. But there are way too many labels that just release ANYTHING that has a decent productionquality, no matter of the musical value. Therefore, as I said before, it just got harder to find special talents these days as alot of stuff just drowns in all the digital plagiarism out there.
Dimitri: Everyone is feeling really sad at the moment because of the recent disastrous earthquake in Japan. Is it possible to tell us your feelings when you first heard about the news and is Japan a country with great nightclubs that you love to perform there? Do you have any unforgettable clubbing or personal maybe memory from Japan?
Also Please tell us why you decided to produce a track that all the profits will be donated to the earthquake victims in Japan (and what exactly you require people to do in order to help you finishing this track)
Cressida: I have never been to Japan, but the news and the images were so shattering! I couldn´t and still can´t believe what´s happening there. I was following the news every day, praying that it will get better but it just got worse. Therefore I decided to create this charity track “Kibo” (which means “Hope”), to express my sad emotions but also to connect the people in different countries to show Japan that the whole world is compassionate. I asked people via facebook & youtube to send me their own voiceover, saying “I feel for Japan” in their native tongue. The response was great, I received almost 40 recordings and used the best ones in the final track. It will be out on Monday, June 20 and was already supported by Above & Beyond on Trance around the world, which I appreciate alot. All the income of the release will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross.
Dimitri: In which clubs and countries you had your best djing experiences and is there any occasion that you lose yourself totally and even left the booth to dance with the crowd?
Cressida: When I play in clubs, the music is all around me so I usually loose myself in it (even without alcohol/drugs, yes it is possible :-p)
I had alot of great experiences so far so it´s hard to say which one was the best. As I am not doing music fulltime, I don´t have the time to play every weekend, so usually each booking is a big event for me and not just a job. I embrace the whole experience, not only the set itself but the fact that I am able to visit another country and get in touch with the people of a new culture, language, religion and all that.
In the end, the best experience I always have is the fact that no matter how different people are, everybody is connected through the music as an universal language that adresses and evokes the same emotions in all of us.
Dimitri: Do you have in your mind a club or a country that you would love to perform and you didn’t had the chance to get a booking and you can even play without fees just for the life time experience?
Cressida: No fees? Are you Kidding me ??? ;D
Haha there are plenty. For example those famous clubs in Ibiza or Ministry of Sound in the UK. I also still lack some festival experience, I´d love to play at Energy, Sensation or the Luminosity events in the future.
Haha there are plenty. For example those famous clubs in Ibiza or Ministry of Sound in the UK. I also still lack some festival experience, I´d love to play at Energy, Sensation or the Luminosity events in the future.
Dimitri: One of my favorite questions to all the djs is that one about self-reflection and self-criticism. Out of 10 with what score do you rate the various elements of your dj performances and why?
a) your mixing skills:
b) your ability to choose the right track for the right occasion:
c) your friendly attitude towards the fans that are coming to shake your hand when you perform and after that?
a) your mixing skills:
b) your ability to choose the right track for the right occasion:
c) your friendly attitude towards the fans that are coming to shake your hand when you perform and after that?
Cressida: a) sober: 8, drunk: 2 :-p
b) hmmm so far that always worked out except for that one wedding where they asked for German folkmusic...so I´d say 8
c) without any false vanity – 10! I just love to socialize. And alot of times, after a set you´ll find me dancing in the crowd as that´s what I would do if I wouldn´t be a DJ –in the end we are all music lovers and clubbers!
b) hmmm so far that always worked out except for that one wedding where they asked for German folkmusic...so I´d say 8
c) without any false vanity – 10! I just love to socialize. And alot of times, after a set you´ll find me dancing in the crowd as that´s what I would do if I wouldn´t be a DJ –in the end we are all music lovers and clubbers!
Dimitri: Do you use actively internet and the social networks? Everyone nowadays talks about the facebook or twitter generation after the MTV generation. Do you believe in the importance of facebook or you feel is a bit exaggerated and overhyped from the media?
Cressida: Oh it is very important. I use facebook & twitter alot, mainly for music promotion but I always end up chatting there with friends even though I should work on other things :-p
I also love the fact that even though the trance scene is small, it is present all over the world, so you are always connected to your fans even though they live at the other side of the world.
Dimitri: For your latest release on Euphonic 'Heart On My Sleeve' you have on you tube a very beautiful music video? Do you believe that you tube is a very important promotional tool for artists and is this obliged you to produce music videos for each release?
Cressida: Thx, that is a completely self-made musicvideo which I did in Bangkok with Roxanne Barton and we are very proud of that. Youtube is very popular these days so if you connect the music with images it automatically draws more attention. I´d love to do so much more on my own channel (www.youtube.com/CressidaTV ) but it´s a very timeconsuming matter, so I won´t be able to do a video for every new track, but there are plenty of interesting plans already – so keep an eye on that channel!
Dimitri: What is your opinion about the explosion of radio shows hosted by well known djs and online radio stations? Do you have your own radio show and have you noticed that the radio show helped you to increase your fan base?
Cressida: I host a monthly show together with Dennis Sheperd called “Euphonic presents Cressida & Dennis Sheperd”, every first Monday of the month at 8pm CET on the www.di.fm trancechannel. Radioshows provide a good opportunity to showcase your own stuff as well as your current favorite tracks, but they suffer from the same problem as the productions these days – there is just too much same sounding stuff out there.
Dimitri: What other things you enjoy doing except of course producing music or listening demos to find the next BIG THING for Tool records?
Cressida: Like I said, I am not a fulltime musician. I am almost done with my psychology studies now and will work in a clinic in Switzerland as a therapist, beginning in August.
In my spare time I usually do music, if that isn´t the case I always enjoy a good movie or tv show, reading, sports, theatre, or just meeting friends (not only on facebook but in the real world! Yes, such a thing exists! :-p).
Dimitri: Please give us your message to the people who will read this interview and your advice to the djs and producers that aspire to become well known and get a release on labels like Euphonic or Tool records.
Cressida: First of all I´d like to thank everyone who has supported Cressidas music over the years and everyone who just enjoys listening to it! There is nothing better than knowing that people all over the world are touched by the creative things you do, so I am very grateful that the project got this far.
My plain advice for all the aspiring producers: Just keep doing it. If you stick to producing and have an honest passion for it, the necessary quality will come by itself and it always succeeds in the end. Be self-reflective and always critical, and never expect too much – and you´ll receive alot
Lastly, I´d like to thank everyone who has managed to read this far – way to go, dedicated fan! :D
Many thanks to Matthias for replying in a such wonderful way and making this interview one of the best that I did so far.
Many thanks to Elef & Jens at Afterglow & Tool records for their fantastic support in my radio shows.
Cressida - KIBO (I feel for Japan Project) will be out very soon on Tool Trance. Buy and support the Japanese Red Cross and the victims of that disastrous earthquake.
Additional info: www.toolrecords.net
