Its time for something new and that really matters to come at the forefront and make your club life more exciting, and your everyday life more bearable. Put your headphones on and close your eyes for a while. Trust us; you are in the safe hands of Basil O’Glue and Styller. They are the owners of Saturate Audio, and with their extensive experience within dark and cold studios and behind the DJ decks, they ensure that this record label is not a case of ‘just another record label’. Basil O’Glue from Greece, with releases on high profile record labels; Afterglow, Black Hole and Coldharbour recordings to name a few, and Styller from Slovakia with releases on great imprints such as Coldharbour, Mystique Dream and more, have established their own distinctive and distinguishable deep, dark and hypnotic trance sound. Saturate Audio has as a goal, to service the eclectic global trance audience with releases that move in that eclectic high quality dark and mysterious progressive trance sound. A sound you can enjoy at home, as much as in the middle of a sweaty underground trance party. The key that opens the hidden mysteries of Saturate Audio is that word that seems to fade gradually as EDM becomes more and more mainstream, and is accepted by the masses by sacrificing its edge and creativity. Saturate Audio is a pure underground deep dark progressive trance label with its soul in the very heart of the music. Its releases attempt to bring back that lost edge that made us all love trance in the first place. With support already from the big players including Armin van Buuren & Markus Schulz, the label seems to have found its niche within the trance scene which seems to strike back and demand innovation and evolution. Saturated Audio started its journey with great EP’s from the label owners themselves, Danilo Ercole, Mathew Petterson, Omahua and more.
Saturate Audio has the key; it’s up to you to unlock the secrets…
Saturate Audio owners Basil O Glue & Styller reveal everything that you wish to know about the label in the very detailed and informative interview which follows.
Interview was written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Radio/DJ & Music Journalist
Dimitri: If I can first ask you to introduce yourselves to our readers by telling us when and why you took the decision to get involved with music production and DJ’ing, and why trance music?
Basil: Well, I started collecting my favourite vinyl and listening to trance music, around 2002. Back then I bought my first MK2 and a mixer and I started DJ’ing as a bedroom DJ. I am the kind of person that always wanted to know “how to do it”... So I started slowly experimenting with some software, and after a few years, I have somehow reached the sound I like.
Styller: As a young boy I had been listening to a lot of music from Vangelis, Jarre, Oldfield and similar, which led me to electronic music. My parents bought me my first synthesizer when I was 7, at the age of 9 I had been messing with Fast tracker. But it took a lot of time ‘till I started to do it more seriously. Trance has caught my attention thanks to commercial music on German TV stations around 1998.
Dimitri: Do you have in your mind particular producers, composers or DJ’s while you produce your music, and can you explain in what way you are influenced by their styles and tastes in music?
Basil: Actually no, I don’t have in my mind any artist in particular, but I do have in my mind the old school trance feeling. My influences are the biggest progressive trance artists back then, like Leama & Moor, Perry O'Neil, Airwave, and many others.
Styller: I strongly agree with Basil, I’d just add names such as Sander Kleinenberg, Matthew Dekay, Oliver Klein, Humate; they’ve all been producing superb and timeless tracks back then. Perry gives me goose bumps to this day.
Dimitri: Can you pick from your back catalogue your Top 5 releases/remixes for other artists so far apart your Saturate Audio releases, and give us a short comment about them.
Basil: In my opinion the Angular Momentum EP on Coldharbour is my most successful work so far.
I've seen a lot of recognition because of this EP. The remix I did for “In a Green Valley” By Markus Schulz. It's probably my favourite remix. He is the big boss of progressive trance, so I am very happy that I did a remix for him! Also the remix I did for Wellenrausch – Shape of Berlin. I really enjoyed doing this, and I also liked the result a lot.
Elfsong – Eta Carinae (Celluloid remix), my other alias with my friend Christopher Vassilakis, is definitely one of my favourite remixes so far.
Finally I would pick the Mike Saint Jules – Crossing Planets (Basil O'Glue Remix). This one actually introduced me to Markus Schulz / Coldharbour
Styller: I really don't like my own productions, but I will try to answer your question. So when I need to choose probably 'All that remains' would be first. I worked on this track for a very long time and it’s very personal to me. I'm also very happy with remixes for Danilo Ercole's 'Quasar' and Deep Soul Duo 'Distant Forces'. In the 4th place is upcoming remix for Aaron Camz. Fifth would be 'What Happen Once', because it was my first release. It has lot of bugs, but I like the feeling of the record.
Dimitri: Lets now focus on Saturate Audio and the reasons behind the birth of this Record label. You have had many releases on various record labels in your career. I wonder if you were satisfied with those labels and if the labels asked you to change anything in your tracks in order to release them.
Basil & Styller: We didn't have any big problems with the majority of the labels that we have been worked with. All respected labels that are not 100% satisfied with a demo, ask for changes. It’s very normal. We do the same...
Dimitri: Are there any incidents or request from major established record labels that may disappoint you and say something about the state of the music industry today?
Basil: Everybody has noticed that trance music has changed during the last three to four years. Good or bad, this is how it is. Some trance labels, became housier if I can say that. It’s not that I am disappointed about that, it’s just not for me.
Styller: There were times when I completely stopped listening to and producing trance music, but I really like what it has turned into these days. When the electro wave hit, all the trance fans were swearing about it, while today electro elements are quite common in trance music. Same thing is about to happen with house, Trouse and dubstep elements. The basis of trance is there to stay. Back to the question, I’ve been disappointed about the some labels are heading, but hey, that’s progress and that’s how it’s supposed to be.
Dimitri: How did you hook up and under what circumstances did you take the decision to set up your record label?
Basil: Styller was the owner of Mistique Dream. I helped him with the last two releases, so when he told me that he is going to close his label, for some reasons, I asked him why don’t we run a label together? So the decision was made, and very quick!
Styller: To set things straight once again, Mistique Dream was a sublabel of Mistique Music, I’ve only been an A&R there. Only Saturate Audio is all our company.
To establish a label with Basil was one of the best decisions I could ever make. Our taste in music matches 99 out of 100 times, we both came from the advertising industry, we do most of the things (graphics, videos, mastering) ourselves.
The reason behind starting Saturate Audio was that we both felt we have a lot of talented producers around us; we want to help them get recognised and have a platform with no limitations for ourselves at the same time.
Dimitri: Is there a mission statement behind the label and all the releases?
Basil: Our "mission" is to keep the old school progressive trance feeling alive.
Styller: I’d define that differently. Our aim is to be releasing tunes with old school soul – huge, strong melodies, but with a contemporary sound.
Dimitri: Do you accept demos from other artists? If yes, what kind of tracks are you looking for, and have you received any demos already?
Basil & Styller: Of course we accept demos from everyone. The kind of tracks we would like is dark progressive trance. But it’s too early for us to have an "identity" as a label... We must keep the quality as high as possible.
Dimitri: Obvious question for many is the name of the label. Why did you call it Saturate Audio?
Basil: We had been looking for a name for some time. One time when I was chatting with Styller I was working on Photoshop and there I saw a filter named “Saturate”. I thought it might be a cool name, I suggested it and he thought it was great, so then we had a name.
Styller: It’s a great term. It is used in both artwork and music, among other things it expresses that we are a label of strong melodies.
Dimitri: The first release on your label is your track ‘Saturated’. Please can you tell us if you actually met to produce it or did you work on it from a distance and if you can describe that process for us?
Basil: These days, working a collab is much easier than 10 years ago. We didn't meet. Actually we have never met each other. It was all done via skype and sharing files.
Styller: A lot of people wrote to me that they feel 50% of Basil and 50% of Styller in the track, which is great, because we’ve spent a lot of time on this, plus collaboration over a distance isn’t as easy as it might seem. Our sound compatibility helped a lot.
Dimitri: The release includes a great remix by Abstract Vision & Elite Electronic. Why did you choose those particular producers for a remix and is there any chance you may have a release from them on your label?
Basil: I had a swap deal with the guys, so I decided to use it for our first release. We wanted some big radio support for our label at the beginning. So we thought Abstract Vision & Elite Electronic were great for some Armin support. As it was :)
Dimitri: Can you reveal the forthcoming releases that the fans of the labels should wait for and give us your criteria that you use for each to sign them?
Basil: Our criteria are some quality sounds, some cool atmospheres, nice melodies, all the things that can make a track really good. What we would like to hear is some progressive trance from the demos we receive. Not uplifting, not tech. We have planned releases until the end of the year. There is a very nice EP by Omauha, three old school progressive trance tracks. (Old school yet modern). All upcoming releases are very promising; Purple Stories – Close Your Eyes is the next release, with a Basil O'Glue remix. The original has already been supported by Markus Schulz. So we think it would be a strong release
Dimitri: Is possible to give us examples of tracks that you will never choose to release on Saturated Audio?
Basil: I think a vocal track will never be released on our label, but you can’t ever say never. Maybe we will receive a huge demo with vocals and we won’t say no...
Styller: Well, there definitely won’t ever be a billion times recycled uplifting trance on our label, the kind I’m being forced to listen to for over 15 years now.
Dimitri: Are there any particular sounds or samples from other producers that you think are over used and you dislike them. In contrast, can you pick your favourite sound or sample that you love to use in your tracks which is maybe a signature element for you.
Basil: Yes indeed. There are many sounds that nowadays are over used. First one that comes to my mind is the Sylenth VST. However, I am not that familiar with VST's, as I am working with software that doesn’t support them.
Styller: Haha, Basil doesn’t like the Deadmau5 pluck; I hate that sort of Tech trance lead used in every third track these days.
Dimitri: Can you please describe your studio set up and if there is any software or hardware that you aspire to add in the near future, or are you 100% satisfied with what you’ve got?
Basil: I don't have any hardware, only an midi keyboard – controller, I use Propellerhead's Reason. To be honest, am not 100% satisfied, I am missing some mastering tools. But I am very used to Reason, so I don't think I will move to any other software
Styller: I’m satisfied with my current setup. I’m using a computer with two screens, a few Midi controllers, virus ti2 and Cubase.
Dimitri: How much does it costs for you to run the label, and are you going to become millionaires with Saturated Audio. In other words; is a record label something that can give you substantial revenue to enable you to survive - just from the sales or licensing of your releases?
Basil & Styller: It doesn't cost that much at the moment. We do almost everything ourselves. The kind of music we would like to release is considered underground. That means we don’t have many sales. So I am pretty sure, we won’t become millionaires from the label.
Dimitri: When you run a label how many hours do you spend every day running it, and would you like to describe for us the process of running a small independent label?
Dimitri: When you run a label how many hours do you spend every day running it, and would you like to describe for us the process of running a small independent label?
Basil: I spend daily like, 1-2 hours; listening to demos, helping our artists, promoting at social media etc. Styller will describe the steps as he is more involved with the directing stuff.
Styller: My duties are to run the company, some art work, even mastering when necessary. It takes about one day of the week, but I haven’t finished the website yet… All the strategic decisions are made together though + we can supplement each other in every case.
Dimitri: Last question should be about the state of trance today. Do you feel that there is any cutting edge and creativity to it now or is everything becoming stale and mainstream? Can Saturate Audio bring the trance spirit back?
Basil: It’s a big topic these days, that trance isn't trance anymore etc. In my opinion, of course old school trance isn't the same any more. This is very normal, it can’t be the same, everything changes through time, nothing remains the same. If trance was the same as 10 years ago, then nobody would keep listening to it.
Some producers move to more housier sounds, others to more techno sounds. I am changing as well; I think I am moving more to the progressive sounds. I can’t promise that we will bring the trance spirit back, because I think the trance spirit is here and was here since trance music started existing. In slightly different sub genres, but trance is still here.
Styller: We are doing our best to pick tracks that meet criteria mentioned by Basil for our catalogue. Trance music is currently in a phase when it’s not as popular as it used to be, but it gets innovated and cleared up. Therefore I believe that within 3-5 years it will come back to light in its authentic form.
Many thanks to Basil O’Glue & Styller for this fantastic interview. We would like to wish for their dreams and aspirations for this top label to come true.
Many thanks to Paul at 1mix Radio for proofing the final version of this interview
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