Home Interviews Interview with Moonbeam about their album “The Secret” out now on Moonbeam digital
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Interview with Moonbeam about their album “The Secret” out now on Moonbeam digital

 Driving. Atmospheric. Epic. Russian techno-trance-progressive duo Moonbeam have had their music described in myriad ways, though what's certain is that there is ecstatic swooning on a dancefloor when their tunes are dropped. Comprising of brothers Vitaly and Pavel Khvaleev, the DJs/producers Moonbeam released their third full-length studio album The Secret (Moonbeam Digital) on November 8th, 2011, worldwide.
Following their previous studio albums - 2010's Around The World (Black Hole) and 2008's Consumption (Soundz) - the bar was set high for The Secret. An artistic journey, The Secret is haunting, downright sensuous, minimal, and at times highly charged. Throughout it all, the album is brilliant in its cinematic scope and willingness to inhabit the realm where dreams and consciousness bleed into one.
After conducting an interview with Moonbeam about their All Around The World album at Black Hole it was clear to me that these two very creative individuals are more than just producers and djs. Those words are very limiting for everything they usually do to promote their music. They produce their own music videos and trailers for albums and singles. Their creative capabilities are so vast that the two brothers that rock the deep atmospheric world of high quality electronic dance music produce music videos for other artists as well that aspire to have in their visual side of their music that Moonbeam touch.

It was more than natural for me to conduct an interview with them with the hope that I will be at the end of it ready to reveal to the whole world the solution behind The Secret of this album.

Interview is written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Radio/Club Dj/Music Journalist

Dimitri: First of all I would like to get your comment about the dj mag Top 100 djs list. You are once again really high in this dj list. What is your opinion about this list and do you believe that the results are about djs who can entertain well the crowd in the clubs & festivals or is more about djs who are mainly producers and the public knows them mainly from their tracks?

Moonbeam: Well, we are in Top 100 list again and it’s pleasantly for us, of course.
As for the other part of the question, we think that results are about both djs and producers.

Because almost every DJ in Top 100 has producer skills, as well as any producer has the ability to DJ. And this is a very important thing.

Dimitri: After the album Around the World released on Black Hole recordings your latest album The Secret is released on your own record company Moonbeam Digital. Is it possible to tell us why you decided to go totally independent and release the album and other artists work in your personal label?
Moonbeam: We have long time thought about where we can release our album. We're talking about it with Black Hole Recordings and Be Yourself Music, but in the end, after all conversations, we decided to release "The Secret" on our own label. Freedom in the choice of singles, remixes and creating of music videos  - that's the main reason why we chose exactly Moonbeam Digital.

Dimitri: You released on Moonbeam Digital great tracks by many new and exciting artists and projects. Is it possible to tell us if there is a specific motto and specific mission statement behind your record company and if you are happy about the success of the label so far?

Moonbeam: No, there is no something special. The main credo of Moonbeam Digital is to release good and quality stuff.  And what about success, yes, we're very proud that our label already has big list of releases (including full-length albums by many artists). But, despite all the advances, the best is still ahead :)


Dimitri: Can you please choose from all the releases of the label so far the Top 3 that you personally love and are your favorites?

Moonbeam:
1. Moonbeam feat Avis Vox - Hate is the Killer
2. Avis Vox - Doors Opened Inside
3. Blackfeel Wite - Toscana (Album)

Dimitri: So let’s now move on in your album The Secret. First of all why you named the album in this way and what secret is exactly hidden within?

Moonbeam: Well, we can’t say what secret it is, because it wouldn't be interesting listen to ‘The Secret’. But if you're really interested you will discover the secret of this album only after full listening.
Dimitri: How long it took you to complete this album and was an easy or a difficult process? Can you tell us if there is a funny or serious incident that happened while you produce the album and you will remember forever?
Moonbeam: The most interesting thing is to record tracks with vocalists. For example, Blackfeel Wite for a long time could not write an interesting lyric for the track and when there was only one day left before album complete, he came to us in the studio and we record a great track 'In Your Eyes', which we consider to be one of the best in the album.
Dimitri: Is it possible to compare the two albums Around the World and The Secret and outline the differences and similarities between these two fantastic albums?
Moonbeam: You know, it’s hard to compare these albums – they are too different. And each of them has something special and carries different meanings.
Dimitri: Of course there are always technology freaks who read this interview and would like to know if you have done any upgrades in your studio lately  and if the studio that you produced The Secret  is different with the one that you produce the previous album?

Moonbeam: First of all in the album, we started to use the full force of Alesis Andromeda.

As for the difference with producing, this time we begin our tracks with the main melody, which later develop, then create a catchy groove. But sometimes after spending a couple hours of searching and construction of special tools, be it in Reaktor by Native Instruments or Alesis Andromeda, a track can be started with an experimental ambient noise, as it was in the track 'Hills Folded In Mist'.

 
Dimitri: Can you choose your favorite software and hardware that you always like to use in your productions and remixes?
Moonbeam: We use a MacBook Pro with installed Cubase. Electronic percussion Alesis Control Pad, midi keyboard Edirol PCR, Korg Kaoss Pad KP3 connected to IPad, with the established apps like: iElectribe, iMS20 by Korg, Filtatron by Moog, Space, and sometimes use the Reactable.

Dimitri: Is it possible to give us a short comment about each track of the album:

Moonbeam: All tracks from the album it's like a organic whole. It's such a great feeling which passes through each track. All 12 tracks have their emotions that we always feel when writing music.

Dimitri: In your album creatively you have added even a dubstep influence that seems to work really well and I notice more trance and progressive artists to incorporate in their breakdowns a hint of dubstep as well.  Do you enjoy getting the risk and experiment by  mixing variety of influences and  styles?

Moonbeam: Moonbeam always been known for mixing different styles. And of course, sometimes it is very risky to combine something initially different. But, fortunately, we have all turned out without any problems.

Dimitri: You have done some great remixes the last years for other artists as well. Is it possible to choose for us the top 3 remixes that you believe are your favorites and can you reveal to us if you turned down any offer to remix a particular artist or if a label had sent you back a remix and told you to change it or to make something different with it?

Moonbeam: Our most important remix is Rachael Starr - To Forever. We're still played it at our shows. All people likes this remix, moreover fans from Russia and Ukraine even sings the lyrics during performances. Also, we are in love with our bootleg remix of 30 Seconds To Mars & Kanye West - 'Hurricane'.  Also we want to focus on our official remix for Tiesto feat. BT - 'Love Comes Again'.

If we like the track, we would be pleased to remix it. Very rare label requests to change something in the remix, but such cases were before when we make a remixes for the Traum label.

Dimitri: What stands out in your case is of course that you produce some brilliant music videos as well and great trailers for self promotion. Can you please tell us from where do you get the inspiration to visualize your tracks with the specific music videos that for some are strange and very unique as well?

Moonbeam: The whole world is source of inspiration. Every moment, every hour of our lives gives us something special which we can use in our production.

Dimitri: How many people usually work to script, film and edit the videos? Is 100% your own work? Have you done any music videos for other artists as well that wanted to have that Moonbeam visual touch in their tracks?
Moonbeam: It is 100% our work. We have our own video studio and we make videos not only for themselves but for other artists too, such as Avis Vox, ASYS, and Sol Noir. Their track 'Superstring' viewed about 500 000 times.  Also we get requests from Black hole, Enhanced Music and others.

Dimitri: You performed so far in many countries and clubs. Can you please choose for us your Top 5 performances as live act or as Dj set and tell us if there is something that you will always remember from each of those performances?

Moonbeam: Hmm,  its hard to say about the best or the worst party ever or choose our Top 5. We always have a great time in France and  Japan. This is our favorites.
Dimitri: Are you going to embark on a special tour to support the release of the album? Can you name some of the places that you will perform and what exactly your performance involves in it musically and visually?
Moonbeam: Yeah, now we already toured many cities in Russia and Ukraine. In December we are going to Thailand and in 2012 we will visit some of the cities in Asia, Europe and USA.

Dimitri: The exciting year 2011 come to its end so it would be great to choose for us
a)your favorite new artist that came up in this year and created waves of excitement: Moonbeam: James Blake
b)your favorite EDM track and EDM album of 2011 except your tracks of course: Moonbeam: Apparat - The Devil's Walk (Album) and Xenia Beliayeva - Know Me

c)your favorite record label that you believe in 2011 have some of the best releases and artists? Moonbeam: Turbo  Recordings

Dimitri: Please tell us some info about your current radio shows, how your radio shows are going and if you believe that is essential for a dj/producer to have a radio show as well. Are you going to do any special celebrations for your radio shows in the way that Armin or Above & Beyond are doing for their shows? Can you choose your favorite episode of your radio show and explain why you will always remember this particular one?
Moonbeam: We have two radio shows: Moonbeam Music which is more focused on conceptual tech house and techno sound. Second radioshow is Moon Magic which is more commercial-oriented.
No, we didn't celebrate it yet, but it would be great to make something special when our radioshow reach 100 episodes.
Every episode are individual, and we can’t distinguish some favorites. Each episode is broadcast only 1 time per month, and we strive to make each episode more and more special.
Dimitri: Are you active users of online social networks like facebook, twitter, google plus, soundcloud, mixcloud ? Do you believe that an artist should try to be visible on them and if this help you to progress your career further?
Moonbeam: Oh yeah, we are very active users of those sites.

You can find us by this links:
http://www.facebook.com/MoonbeamRU

And yes, we think that each dj/producer should be in those kind of sites, ‘cause it helps to be more clothiers with fans and listeners.

Dimitri: There are many young and hopeful artists out there who try to get recognition and releases on many well known labels. As a final question can you give us the piece of wisdom of even better the 10 commandments that they should follow in order to become well known and follow your successful path?

Moonbeam: Well, first of all, be patient. This is very important on the road to success.
Secondly, be industrious and don’t dwell on anything. And the last - love what you do and fortune will smile you.


If you ask me if after this interview I manage to reveal what the Secret is about Moonbeam album I’m afraid that The Secret signifies something totally and utterly different to each one of us. As you can imagine there are so many secrets as the population of the earth.
Piece, Love and Unity!
Many thanks to Moonbeam that despite their hard schedule manage to find some time to share their Secrets and Truths with me within this interview.


The Secret tracklisting:

1-Moonbeam feat. Tomomi Ukumori–Secret
2-Moonbeam feat. Fisher - Love Your Face
3-Moonbeam–Ghost
4-Moonbeam feat. Blackfeel Wite–In Your Eyes
5-Moonbeam feat. Avis Vox–Disappearance
6-Moonbeam & Eitan Carmi feat. Matvey Emerson–Wanderer
7-Moonbeam & Spartaque–Mipmap
8-Moonbeam feat. Leusin–Daydream
9-Moonbeam feat. Loolacoma–Hills Folded In Mist
10-Moonbeam feat. Tomomi Ukumori–Sensitivity
11-Moonbeam feat. Pryce Oliver–Excess
12-Moonbeam–Hidden Place 

Additional info: