Truth be told, nothing quite describes the sound of Envotion.
Consisting of Hugo Alberts, Laurens Alberts and Stijn Halfens, the Dutch trio has been sporting that signature sound since their founding year (2004). Easily one of the most unique acts in the current electronic music landscape, they touched down on leading labels such as Armada Electronic Elements, Anjunadeep and Extrema Records, remixed the likes of Alexey Sonar, Michael Cassette and Way Out West, and saw studio magicians such as Jody Wisternoff, C-Jay, 16 Bit Lolitas, Proff and Haxxy deliver on remix duty in return.
Their music takes the very best from ‘emotion’, ‘devotion’ and ‘motion’ and marks a journey best shared with friends and a smile. If you dig it, you’re Envoted. So welcome to the club.
The release of their second album Omega on Songspire is the perfect occasion to request an interview from them and we are glad that they replied to it. Enjoy their very informative answers.
1-From your releases so far please choose your absolute top 5 tracks and give us a short comment on why you feel these specific tracks are so special and defining of what Envotion stands for.
Envotion: 1.The last wave still has a very special place in our hearts. When you see the clip on youtube the track is complete.
2. Pragmatics from our last album. Pragmatics was very different before. And after mixing this track down to it's essence we knew what to do with the rest of the album.
3. Streetwise. Just have a look at the great vibe these people are having to know why this track has a special place in our hearts. https://www.instagram.com/p/B01eN1-ACjw/
4. Our remix for Michael Cassette - Pangea. It's our most listened to track and somehow it still has everything we stand for.
5. Our remix for Way out West - Tales of the Rabid monks. Even after all this time, we still like the way the track feels like R&B after the break.
2-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about your latest album Omega on Songspire. Please tell us how the idea of the album came about and is there any particular concept that runs through it?
Envotion: We had a few tracks (Where it all began and Omega) that -in the end- did not fit our last album, We Are. We also had 'We Come From The Stars' quite early and these three gave direction to a few experiments (read: tracks) later on. We have always been big fans of Bladerunner-like movies. This set the mood for the tracks of the album.
3-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce Omega and can u describe the production process of the album in simple steps?
Envotion: Some tracks are more than 10 years old :) Most important in our production process is that we do not have a deadline. If asked to remix a track in 1 month we kindly reject... The main musical idea usually happens quite fast Hugo usually makes that. But there are loads of little tweaks later on. Mixing also influences our tracks pretty much. It's always about getting to the essence of the track.
Sometimes we also take a wrong turn. This happened to 'We Come from the Stars'. We changed the masters on all streaming platforms just two days before the release because a follower reminded us of a better version :)
4-Dimitris: Did you had any particular difficulties accomplishing Omega or any specific production challenges that you had to overcome?
Envotion: Mixing is always the most challenging. Sometimes a track sounds great, but there are simply to many subjects in the mix. If you play it loud, it hurts your ears. Keeping just enough in, but at the same time reducing clutter is challenging in our style because we have quite a lot of layers. Especially in the 80's influenced high energy tracks.
In the end making the album only took us 4 years and for some tracks more than 10. So it was quite easy :)
5-Dimitris: Albums are always a very hard and difficult goal to achieve. Did you had moments that you lost your motivation for it and what thoughts have persuade you to continue till the end?
Envotion: Our goal is to have fun while making music. We have no deadline on being famous soon ;) That greatly helps. Also we are three. If one feels a bit lower in energy, we can elevate him.
6-Dimitris: Can you pick your top 3 tracks from the album and tell us for each one a short comment?
Envotion: 1: Where it all began. This is actually where it all began. And it is a very personal track. Also recording it live with Elke Smeets was magic.
2: Eidos, because this style was a bit new to us.
3: We Come From The Stars, the break is just mayhem. Looking forward to hearing this track on a big system.
7-Dimitris: Your singles include some top remixes. Can u talk a little bit about the remixers and how it was the experience to work with them.
Envotion: Jerome Isma Ae has delivered a simply stunning remix. He really improved the track. We analysed what he did in the studio and learned a lot :)
Jody is such a chill guy.. We have played with him before and what can I say... Listen to his music. It's friendly, soft, warm, open. This is his character too. We are honoured to have him on the remixes! By the way, Alexey Sonar made that happen. Credits go to him.
8- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Envotion: It's the never ending discussion :) In our opinion there is no better. Only better knowledge of the gear you use. We have a lot of analogue gear, but use software too.
Actually Laurens made his own synth which just got released. It's the gradient, from Constructs of Time. https://constructsoftime.com
Actually this synth was used a lot on the album!
9-Dimitris: Omega is releases on Songspire? Tell us your opinion about that particular label and your connection with them.
Envotion: We know Onno for a very long time. He even came to our studio once, which is on the other side of the country. That he took effort back then to travel that far still says a lot about him. He is a positive guy that has great taste!
10-Dimitris:How much time do you spend promoting yourself in your social media and you see this as essential tool for self promotion and getting bookings too? Which social media is the one that seems to work better for you?
Envotion: It's probably SUPER important. But we do not like to do it too much. At the same time it's the only way to let people see more about you, so we try :) Lately Insta is our main platform.
11-Dimitris: Are you going to perform the tracks in any form as live band or as DJs?
Envotion: We can DJ. But we'd have to get booked :)
We have performed in all major cities in Russia, but because of the war we cannot go there anymore.
12-Dimitris: Are you enjoying to visit music conferences such as ADE and what is your opinion about it?:
Envotion: ADE is a great way to meet people. the vibe in the city is great. Miami is in our dreams ;)
13-Dimitris: Please note for all the new talents that read this interview to get some inspiration from you any technical tips in relation to your DJing or music productions. Also any piece of personal or music business' advice that has helped you to progress even further and is worth telling to the new upcoming talents.
Envotion: Somebody one told us that it's 80% perseverance, 20% talent. Probably (in most cases) he was right. If you want to pursue a musical career: make music every day. And save everything in project versions. Store/save your mixdowns. No matter if full day of making music sucked. You'll see that after a few years (or sooner), you will use something from the mess you made :)
14-Dimitris: Is there a club classic that you would like to remix or rework in 2023? Do you attempt often to do your own bootlegs of classics?
Envotion: We are working on a 80's hit bootleg... Hope that one works out.
15-Dimitris: Do you believe that music genres or styles are still relevant today and is possible Omega to place in a particular one?
Envotion: Genres are relevant. It's the way we can give words to what something is other that in music. Trying to be a genre -because you think you need to- is not what we would do. Omega is something we made because we made music within a certain feeling. Maybe that became Cinematic Progressive? Would that be a new Genre next to 'melodic'?
16-Dimitris: Finally tell us if you are able to make a leaving out of your music business and if not what other jobs are you doing in order to make a decent leaving?
Envotion: LOL We make a life... We do not make music for the money. And if we did we would be very poor. All three have other jobs (Software engineer, Internet platform owner, film producer.)
Dimitris: Your message & wishes for Flux Bpm Online readers.
Envotion: You are Envoted!
Thanks so much to Envotion for their time to answer so beautifully this interview. We love you guys.
Thanks so much to Onno van Kemmenade from Songspire Records for organising this interview.
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