 Interview: Bill Youngman (February 2006)
Bill Youngman represents some of the most exciting new music among Tresor’s cadets of the new expression in techno music. Slated to release an exciting new 12” on Tresor in January 2006, we caught up with him during a recent visit to the Tresor office in Berlin.
Your track for the Tresor Compilation “It’s Not Over“ is called “Defective Delinquent” – anyone in particular in mind, or just the club itself?
For me, this track represents my full physical and mental interpretation of the Tresor ‘dungeon’ and the crowd that completed the energy of the evenings I spent there.
Darkened tones of slightly wobbly sub-frequencies rolling underneath the blaring ride cymbals and complemented by jittery analog synth lines: this sums up my personal feeling of the overall sound that for so many years pleasantly blasted through the basement sound system.
Give us an idea of how 2005 has been for you artistically.
This past year has been full on. Trying to push my live shows into new territories and continuing to push myself further creatively. I started doing more remixes this year as well as more sound designing. I’m finding a real joy in adding my input into other people’s visions and it’s a breath of fresh air away from working alone on solo compositions.
Your work with Neil Landstrumm has gained almost legendary status in the underground over the years. Is this a continuous working relationship? If so, what’s cookin’ in the pot for you two?
Neil and myself have always been putting our heads together, always with the aim at innovating/splicing new ideas together, and we try to get in the studio as often as possible. We really enjoy doing simultaneous live pa’s together as Neil’s bass and bleep sounds complement my more broken beat and microphone work. We never know what to expect from one another in a given live set and with this element the collaboration remains interesting. We have a couple new EP’s planned for 2006 and working on another ‘Destroyaz’ tour.
A typical B. Youngman live show is for us an unforgettable experience, both in extreme energy levels and brilliant spontaneous composition. How do you personally see your performances?
There’s nothing more satisfying that getting the floor moving! I always keep my options open in the live situation and bring enough gear/hands-on devices as to where the entire sound and mood can be changed in an instant. I find it to be more punk and I can let myself go as opposed to sitting in a staler studio situation. Nothing gives me a better buzz than putting my soul into the machines and the audience. Come out and check it.
You were very present during the Tresor Club last parties. Give us an idea of your experience from that time.
I can honestly say that every Tresor experience was excellent regardless of playing or visiting! I considered the club a second home and the variety of people and overall good energy throughout made each night memorable.
You’ve released on several different labels such as Null, Scandanavia, Mental-ind., Serotonin, Tresor – is this out of necessity or do you enjoy the freedom of choice?
I enjoy having different platforms for releasing my tracks and each label has a slightly different mentality regarding direction whilst giving the chance to exercise my creative freedom. I’ve always explored a wide variety of styles and every label has there own niche.
Your recent remix of Operator’s ‘exemption song’ is a true killer! Have you worked with him previously?
I never met Operator but Neil turned me on to his track and asked for a remix. I did a more breaky version and added some of my own vocals. It’s on the other side of the spectrum to what I normally compose and I enjoy the aspect of a challenge.
Do you always incorporate your voice-overs and MC raps in your live act?
Most of the time. I find the microphone work adds a bit of new life into the set. It’s all free-style on the spot babbling. I just do it when I feel the moments right. Good feedback from the crowd usually gets the rap flow rolling.
We in the office can’t stop dancing to your fantastic new Tresor EP produced by Cristian Vogel!
We are all really excited about this release. It’s a good display of my live show style including bits of spoken word and spacey soundscapes. It was made in Barcelona at Vogel’s studio. I was behind the machines and he sat in the control room to put his flare into the mixes. Tresor.222 coming in January 2006.
Check it.
More info: www.electrostep.com
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