INTERVIEW with the DJ and producer Steve Brian about his album Calera Remixed

In 2010 the young German producer Steve Brian released his debut album CALERA on the famous label imprint; Euphonic Records. This amazing sampler presented Steve as one of the most promising talents in the scene. It was proof of his versatility, exceptional production skills, and his ability to mingle emotional melodies with Balearic vocals. Good things take time as they say, and so it took almost two years until we can now finally present the highly anticipated remix edition of this album: CALERA REMIXED.

Steve Brian and Tool Records rounded up a bunch of capable producers, who were given the opportunity to create a brand-new interpretation of Steve´s beautiful debut album. Dan Stone, Estiva, Cressida, Thomas Datt, SHato & Paul Rockseek, Sequentia, Wellenrausch, Solace & Solitude, Mar She, and label head Reminder, and Steve Brian himself, with his “Ocean Influence” remixes. They all chipped in different new angles to the original album tracks. If you are slightly familiar with the sound of Tool Records, needless to say the new album oozes quality.

The first single “VUELTAS”, taken from the new remix album, has seen the light with remixes by Dan Stone, Thomas Datt and Solace & Solitude, and has already made the rounds of the club world just to wet your taste for the rest of the album. The second single release is one of Steve Brian´s most famous tracks; the highly celebrated progressive Trancer “YAYA“, featuring new remixes by Estiva and Cressida.

After numerous successful single releases over the last two years, Tool Records is very proud to present this album release, and to showcase such an amazing list of talented producers in one epic bundle.

The release of this excellent album is the perfect occasion to request an interview with Steve Brian, and with a little help from Jens from Alliance Music headquarters, we managed to get it ready for your eyes only. Just press play to listen to his top album, and while you enjoy his magical compositions, have fun reading his very interesting answers.

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

Dimitri: First of all, I would like to know if you come from a family background that has any connection with arts, and particularly with music. If you do, do you think that your family environment was supportive of your decision to get into the world of music production and DJ’ing?

Steve Brian: A few years after starting to make music I found out that my uncle had also earlier written some songs by himself. Who knows, maybe I can use them in the future to mix them with my electronic music. Then there is also my sister who has a very good voice. With her, I will certainly make a song this year. However, generally the decision to make music was regardless of my family.

Dimitri: Can you please give us the five most important figures such as DJs, producers, and other artists that you feel have influenced you more in your decision to get into EDM, and maybe we can listen for their influence on you in the album?

Steve Brian: Yes definitively! Chicane in particular has inspired me a lot. Especially what typifies the typical summer sound, he stands quite far in front. Also at about the same time, ATB, York, Kyau & Albert, and of course Paul van Dyk in particular, with his "Out there and Back" album have inspired me.

Dimitri: Did you pass through a formal music training course or are you self taught? Do you think that an EDM producer will benefit if he attends a formal training course?

Steve Brian: For myself, I can say that in the past Markus Pilar (Marksun), had given me a basic course in Steinberg Cubase. In a constant process we have taught ourselves a lot by ourselves. Nowadays generally, there are already so many tutorials that it is very easy in time to get in DAW's. In the beginning, such a training course would have been helpful for me absolutely, but not any more.

Dimitri: You with your friend Markus, started your music careers back in 2001, and you set up the successful project Marksun & Brian. How and why did you decide to form this project, and why did you decide to go and split up, and go on your own and start a solo career?

Steve Brian: In 2001 we decided to create this project because we wanted DJ skills and also our production was going in the same direction. It all fitted very well, and we had a lot of creative and amusing studio sessions, as well as some brilliant gigs. In 2008, Markus decided to go in another more House music direction. Because my heart at this time was more for the melodies & progressive trance, I ventured to step into my own solo career in 2009.

Dimitri: In 2010 you had the opportunity to release your first artist album at Euphonic Records called CALERA. Do you feel satisfied with the end result, and what kind of comments did you get from your fans and other DJ’s for this album?

Steve Brian: It was my intention to aim to make the album a commercial hit, but also to hand on my quite personal sound to the people who have the same summer music tastes like me; the sun, the beach and the sea. In my opinion I have managed this, and I am very content with it. In particularly the Chicane albums "Far from the Maddening Crowds" and "Behind of the Sun" have made their stamp and inspired me. Nowadays, there is hardly anywhere to find that kind of sound, and I wanted to continue this sound with my album.

Dimitri: You managed to establish your own distinctive and very unique “Steve Brian” sound very early. Is it possible to define for us the “Steve Brian” sound which every one is talking about?

Steve Brian:  Whether I can define my sound :-)? Ok, I think it’s always very difficult; now as with my album, I'm trying to include lots of elements which sound happy and give a kind of summer feeling. Sometimes these are a quieter lounge remixes, and sometimes they are perfect for clubs or festivals. This is just the music I like.

Dimitri: The most important feature of your tracks is the fantastic original melodies that you produce. Where do you get the inspiration for your melodies and your tracks from?

Steve Brian:  First, many thanks for the great compliment; I am glad to hear this! I like to travel very much, I like to look at other towns, I cycle a lot, and I’m close to nature, and I love to relax on beaches. These are all of positive recollections which stick in my mind and which inspire me and go into my production processes. Particularly in relation to my album CALERA; it relates to "La Gomera", the beautiful Canary Island to which I feel drawn to every year, and I love to fly back to over and over again.

Dimitri: You are about to release the CALERA REMIXED album on Tool Records/Alliance Music. Did you personally choose the artists that did the remixes, or did they take the initiative on their own to remix their favorite track?

Steve Brian:  Yes, I completely left it to the Artists as to which song they would like to remix. I think if they did not really like to remix a track, or is not interesting for them, at the end the final product does not turn out so well.

Dimitri: Sometimes a very good track can become a lot better with the right remix, and a very bad track can become a hit because of a good remix. In your mind do you have any remix from any style of music that you like a lot, and you believe that it’s far better than the original?

Steve Brian: Definitively! Just in the charts "Dakota - Gypsy Room" - the Duderstadt remix is an absolute bomb. Or not to forget "Paul Oakenfold - Southern Sun". Who does not know of the "Tiesto Remix"? For me both are good examples of remixes - they are a little better than the original.

                   New: Steve Brian - CALERA Remixed (Artist Album) by tooltrance

Dimitri: It would be great if you can offer your opinion about each single track of this remix album and give us any background information about each remix:

Steve Brian:Steve Brian Calera Reminder Remix
From the outset I think the sound of Reminder is really great! He has decided to go with the title ‘Calera’ and he has really forged a well-arranged club mix from it.
I am pleased to have already played this remix in the clubs :-)

Steve Brian Vueltas Thomas Datt Remix
A long time ago I hoped to have something from Thomas Datt, and also have bought some vinyl with singles or remixes from him. The reason was that I always liked his melodies very much and this is exactly what he has created with the Vueltas Remix.

Steve Brian Vueltas Dan Stone Remix
Today I hardly ever see good uplifting productions, but Dan Stone's remix is one of these exceptions. At festivals, this mix is definitely a recommendation.

Steve Brian Vueltas Solace & Solitude Remix
This great mix reminds me partially of a former production, for example
"Kuffdam & Plant - Summerdream". It has really become a dreamlike remix.

Steve Brian Vueltas Kamil Esten Remix
As a single, VUELTAS was already published with 3 great mixes. But as a surprise, the still unpublished Kamil Esten Remix was included in the album. So please enjoy another really great Remix of VUELTAS.

Steve Brian Yaya Estiva Remix
With Estiva's remix of YAYA it was packed into a new garment. It’s very interesting and sounds absolutely brilliant, and full of energy. Perfectly for the club.

Steve Brian Yaya Cressida Remix
Exactly the typical sound I've come to expect from Cressida. Nice crisp and unbelievable chords, as we all know of him. Clean work!

Steve Brian Jenny Shato & Paul Rockseek Remix
To be honest, I am almost a SHato & Paul Rockseek Fan :-) Both the guys lash out really great productions. Their music is rich, varied and never same-sounding, but always with their typical ‘SHato & Paul Rockseek Sound’. Just with this Remix they have proved their flexibility. Maybe even Paul Kalkbrenner would like this mix :) Many thanks guys!

Steve Brian San Sebastian Steve Brian Ocean Influence Mix
I had already produced this mix some months ago, and I am glad that it is published now, its a clubbier alternative to the more relaxed original.

Steve Brian Day Star Steve Brian Ocean Influence Mix
The only club remix on the album which was previously published. But it fits perfectly on the remix album. I find the break absolutely dreamlike!

Steve Brian Arure Steve Brian Ocean Influence Mix
The original is already filled with guitar elements, now with my remix, I have incorporated some even nicer guitars during the musical climax. A great summery mix.

Steve Brian Garajonay Mar She Timeless Remix
From the beginning I am an AnjunaDeep fan, and some time ago I had wished to have a deeper mix for the Garajonay track. Mar She has cleverly solved this remix job and I am very enthusiastic about this myself. You must hear the Mar She Timeless Remix at a sundown :)

Steve Brian La Playa Wellenrausch Remix
Since the Wellenrausch debut album EPOS, I like their sound exceptionally well. I am very happy that just for my miraculous Ambient track ‘La Playa’, they have agreed to deliver a spherical Wellenrausch remix. Wonderful!

Steve Brian Salida del Sol Steve Brian Ocean Influence Mix
Exactly the same as with the San Sebastian remix, I have had this mix ready for some time, and I am also very glad that this lovely mix is published now.

Steve Brian Salida del Sol  Sequentia Remix
Like Dan Stone, I like the uplifting sound of Sequentia. Both boys are very special artists for me, and inspire me over and over again with their great remixes and productions. They have accomplished their work simply and exactly and to the point.

                

Dimitri: Lately you produced many successful remixes for other artists. Can you choose your all-time favorite remix and maybe recall a funny story that happened while you were producing a remix? Have you ever got a remix back from a label that asked you to add or change the remix completely?

Steve Brian: Alright. My personal favorite of my Remixes is Lange "Live Forever". This remix came very well prepared and I only needed one day for the remix. Otherwise, I always need several days for remixing a track. Of course, there are sometimes wishes and changes with some remix productions, but its not really very often. A complete remix has changed what I did for Ronski Speed. So there is now a version that nobody has heard.

Dimitri: One of my favorite male prog vocal trancers is your track ‘Agulo’ - Fire Sign. Is it possible to give us some background information about the production of this track and if there is a chance to work with the same vocalist for a brand new Agulo track?

Steve Brian: The track is also my personal highlight concerning my vocal productions!

I found David Berkeley a few years ago on MySpace. I was listening to his original several times, and for a long time I thought about contacting him for cooperation. Luckily he said yes immediately, and everything has fitted perfectly. Also the other remixes for the track are all miraculous.

I have already been working on a new Agulo single. I had a lot to do over the last few months, including looking after other new productions, but the Agulo single stands next in the queue. By the way; I will still follow up as I have a collaboration with Cressida next. :)

Dimitri: You joined forces Tool Records/Alliance Music for the release of your CALERA REMIXED album. Why did you choose to change label for this project, and tell us your thoughts and opinion about the label Tool Records/Alliance and its great success.

Steve Brian: I think the work of Tool Records is professional and very commendable.  They are concerned a lot about the Artists and this is why I have decided to work together with them, and I am going to release my remix album there. It started last year with the Steve Brian & Cressida collaboration for "Cambodia", where I immediately noticed how it harmonizes well with Tool Records. My greetings to Michel and Jens!

Dimitri: You started back in the early 2000, and now we are in 2012. Is it possible to take us on a small virtual tour of your studio, and tell us your favorite piece of software or hardware? Also can you please make a comparison between your first studio, and the one that you are currently using to produce your anthems?

Steve Brian:  My pleasure. Since the beginning I’ve been working with Steinberg Cubase, and I like to use Access Virus B and Yamaha Motif. They are two very nice hardware Synths with a full sound.

With software Synths I trust in Native Instruments. I also work with Massive FM8 and from time to time with Battery 3. Sometimes I like to work with Audjoo Helix and Zebra 2.  I can truly recommend a UAD sound card, including some nice mastering plugins.

At the very beginning I was mostly using Freeware plugins, which were not really well suited. At this time I only made original productions, which nobody has heard in the end :)

Dimitri: When was the first time that you performed in front of a large crowd as a DJ, and what you remember most about your very first time?

Steve Brian:  I had my first appearance at popular events in Bielefeld and Hildesheim, Germany. At that time I was afraid at first about not finding the best mixes. I had a kind of stage-fright in front of a crowded club. Also DJ’ing at that time it was more difficult than now with technical facilities we have today; like Traktor, Ableton or the Pioneer CDJ2000, because only decks were used in clubs. However... now I like it!

Dimitri: What kind of moods are you trying to create in your DJ performances?

Steve Brian: I try to figure out what kind of mood is coming from them. I think about trying to connect with the crowd, which is very important for a good performance. A small point from me is that I would like to start to work more with instruments in the DJ booth. I could soon be using a nice KAOS Pad I think? :)

Dimitri: Do you actively use the internet and social networks like Facebook or Twitter? Do you believe that these tools are vital for your self promotion?

Steve Brian:  Yes as an artist you should use these social networks of course. I'm using Facebook and Twitter all the times. These services are simply essential to be connected with people around you so you stay in contact. It’s also useful to find something out that you're looking for, and of course very important for your own promotion.

Dimitri: What other things do you expect to be doing except producing music and DJ’ing? Are there any hobbies or sport you like do to pass your time?

Steve Brian:  At the moment I’m studying construction engineering with the main focus on statistics. Maybe someone will see me later as a teacher in statistics in a vocational school!

Otherwise, I really like to fill my free time with sports; mainly a lot of cycling and swimming. I also like to travel very much. Besides that, I collect a lot of inspiration and ideas for my music

            

Dimitri: Please give us as a final word, your advice for all the DJ’s and producers who aspire to become successful, and reach the same level in their productions like you have?

Steve Brian:
1. I think you should be able to handle any criticism, always look at it positively. In this way you can work on your skills and improve musically.

2. If one hangs on a song and it doesn't progress, allow it to rest for a while, and move on to another production.

3. As a DJ you should simply spend some time with vinyl. Simply give it a try out, then then comes the real feeling and sense of tact ;-)

Dimitri: Many thanks for accepting to do this interview

Steve Brian: Many thanks to you!!

Many thanks to Jens Hock at Alliance Music offices for his support and help in organising this interview

Many thanks to Paul at www.1mix.co.uk  radio for correcting the final version.

                                        

Steve Brian – Calera Remixed tracklist
1. Steve Brian – Calera (Reminder Remix)
 2. Steve Brian – Yaya (Estiva Remix)
 3. Steve Brian – Yaya (Cressida Remix)
 4. Steve Brian – Vueltas (Dan Stone Remix)
 5. Steve Brian – Vueltas (Thomas Datt Remix)
 6. Steve Brian – Vueltas (Solace & Solitude Remix)
 7. Steve Brian – Vueltas (Kamil Esten Remix)
 8. Steve Brian – Arure (Ocean Influence Mix)
 9. Steve Brian – Day Star (Ocean Influence Mix)
 10. Steve Brian – Jenny (SHato & Paul Rockseek Remix)
 11. Steve Brian – San Sebastian (Ocean Influence Mix)
 12. Steve Brian – Garajonay (Mar She Timeless Remix)
 13. Steve Brian – La Playa (Wellenrausch Mix)
 14. Steve Brian – Salida del Sol (Ocean Influence Mix)
 15. Steve Brian – Salida del Sol (Sequentia Remix)

Buy Steve Brian's - Calera Remixed at Beatport

Additional info:
http://onesheet.com/caleraremixed/
www.alliancemusic.de
http://www.facebook.com/toolrecords
http://www.facebook.com/stevebrianfans
http://www.twitter.com/stevebrianmusic
http://www.youtube.com/stevebrianmusic

Read this great interview on 1mix radio web site as well