Flug 8: The ‘Monday Is Ok’ Mix

 
Music

The next release on our very own Ransom Note Records comes courtesy of Frankfurt-based artist and long-term friend of the site Daniel 'Flug 8' Herrmann, whose previous work includes Krautrock-indebted releases on Disko B and Smaul, and collaborations with members of noise titans Einstürzende Neubauten. Out March 10th, Leuchtkraft is his third album as Flug 8, and the first in our new series of drone/ambient cassettes.

Daniel has taken the time to record a very special mix for our 'Monday Is OK' series. Leaning more towards the dancefloor than the home, it retains that hypnotic, stargazing quality that characterises his music as Flug 8. Listen below, and then read our Q&A with Daniel:


Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I am Daniel Herrmann, born in Germany and based in the Taunus Forest. I live and breathe for my pictures and music.

What does your music sound like?

I am often told that I have my own signature sound, often described as sounding very German, whatever that means… I kind of like that though, as these are my roots. However that isn't really anything I think much about. I just love to be in the moment of the creative process and flow with my inner visions.

Tell us about the Monday mixtape you’ve put together for us.

The mix actually arose in one day. The idea sprang from my world music archive from sounds that I have sampled and frequently update. From here on I started arranging and combining the sounds. The whole process went very fast, intuitively and unprejudiced.

If it were to be drawn what would it look like?

Visually, I feel like I travelled into the world on this one.

If it were a food what would it be?

Clearly a crossover kitchen with my German origin mostly working as the base, African culture in the middle section and some Asian crisps as the topping.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

I think really it is up to the individual mind to feel ready to receive music, regardless of the form. It always seems like a matter of day or current mood. Sometimes music opens up for directions we never knew existed in ourselves, and sometimes we feel comfort in listening to something we know. So with all the music I'm involved in, I guess you need to be open to giving in and letting your mind fly. I used parts of this mix in the opening phase of a DJ gig I did last week, and it worked out perfectly.

What should we be wearing?

Returning to the kitchen question, I'd say: Lederhosen at the bottom, colourful Dashiki shirt in the middle and an Asian conical hat at the top.

Hah, I should be going like this to the carnival next year.

Where was it recorded?

I usually produce my music at home in my studio in the basement as I have a lot of my instruments and recording equipment here. This mix however was done in my atelier in the upper floor as I was going though my picture archive for a print job at that time, and I just kind of let the samples inspire me at the same time. The workflow was so different I decided to finish the mix up there.

Are you on the same wavelength as the Boomtown Rats or do you actually like Mondays?

I like Mondays. I always feel like they are the mark of a new beginning.

Who got you hooked on electronic music?

My grandfather built electronic organs so they were a great platform to createmy  own soundscapes as a child. My teens were more influenced by rock and punk music, so I guess the electronic world really took off when I started studying arts and got more deeply involved with the German club scene and techno in general.

Who would you say are your biggest influences and what are you hoping to achieve with your music?

I'm inspired by a lot of different artists. Touring with the Red Hot Chili Peppers was a totally different experience from some of the fucked up clubs I've been to, but with an energy of people beyond your imagination. I think a lot of my photographic work has done a lot for my own music, in terms of opening my eyes to different realities. The personal meeting between me and different artists inspires me the most. Like the great times on the road with Console (another project of Acid Pauli) or my intense time with Superpitcher, but you know these people are not only talented. They are just lovely human beings. I guess most of all I just like to be able to continue what I am doing. Creating landscapes in my mind and flowing with life.

What were your original aspirations as a musician and how do you think you're shaping up?

My dad introduced me to Jean-Michel Jarre as a child, and it totally blew my mind. But bands like U2 meant a great deal to me as well. Later on bands like CAN, NEU! or Kraftwerk were something I'd dive into. I guess all of these bands have a lot of atmosphere, and that's probably a red line that combines my musical taste.

Some self help questions for a Monday: 

Am I excited to dive into the challenges that I have lined up for the week?

If I have something planned I am mostly very excited and can hardly wait to get going.

Am I looking forward to engaging with the people I am meeting or working with?

I am always looking forward to connect with people where there is an instant sympathy, but sometimes you cannot choose who you meet or bump into. I am not going to lie, it isn't always easy for me as I am partly introvert. I see it as a challenge to go out there every day, and try to make the best of it.

Am I going to my dream job?

What I do is not a job for me in this regard, but rather an improvement of my time here on earth.

Am I being compensated fairly for the value I bring to my job?

Who is these days? We are all heading towards a lower bottom and as long as nobody in charge is going to change some of these old structures, for the benefit of supporting the industry, things will only get harder. But this is obviously not only happening in the music industry, you can really see how a lot of people who have full-time jobs are struggling to pay for electricity or gas. If I think about the value my work is doing personally to me, it is a very rewarding job.

Do I feel energised, rested, and confident?

Yes like everyone sometimes more, sometimes less. But I care for my core, that's important.

If you were trapped on a desert island with one other person, who would you choose? How long would it be before you eat them?

I'd say Tom Hanks, he's got some serious skills in surviving. Not sure if I'd eat him though, he looked a little skinny at last.

Your doctor says you need more exercise… what do you take up?

I'm chopping wood quite often and love to hike. Nothing can beat the smell of fresh wood, and the air out here is outstanding. I guess my doc agrees with that.

If you could travel in time… where in time would you go? Why?

I'd like to go 1000 years into the future from now, just to kind of check up on new inventions.

What was the first electronic record you heard and how did it make you feel?

My father had a very unusual music taste and heard a lot of electronic music that I was exposed to as a child. Not sure what the first one was, but probably: Jean-Michel Jarre with "Magnetic Fields" or "Mensch Maschine" by Kraftwerk.

How does your brain work when making music? How does it work when you aren’t?

When I make music I try to switch off my brain in terms of thinking, but it does not always work. When I'm not creating music I take more time to reflect on things.

What were the first and last records you bought?

My first record was from EAV: "Banküberfall". That was actually my first record with 5 years. The last I bought a few weeks ago, it's been on my list forever: "Picture Music" by Klaus Schulze.

What are you obsessed with at the moment?

Recording an new album.

What's your answer to everything?

Echt?


Leuchtkraft is out 10th March on Ransom Note Records, digital and limited edition cassette, pre-order on Bandcamp.

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