Legowelt Talks
" ‘The Paranormal Soul’, Legowelt's new album begins with this Twin Peaks quote, a love-and-compassion outpouring from the usually efficacious Albert Rosenfield. It’s a reference you might expect from Danny Wolfers (aka Legowelt) after all; he seems to share the same skewed aesthetical exaggeration as Mr Lynch." So says our Tim in his recent review of said album.
Legowelt (aka Danny Wolfers) began producing music in the early 90s from his bedroom studio in Scheveningen Beach and now some 15 years later, has played live all over the world and released an almost countless amount of music under all manner of names from Dickie Smabers & The Moerwijk Crew to Nacho Patrol, Franz Falckenhaus, Jackmaster Corky, Smackos, Danny Wolfers, The Chicago Shags (with Orgue Electronique) and many more.This weekend, he lands in the capital to play at the quickly becoming an institution A Love From Outer Space's Christmas Special at Corsica Studios. Ahead of this rather momentous looking night we asked the supremely great producer in his own right Mr Timothy J. Fairplay to interview Mr Wolfers… here's the outcome:
You have just released your new album 'The Paranormal Soul'. Many of your previous albums have had an over-arching theme, either in the equipment used or in that they are an imagined soundtrack. Is 'The Paranormal Soul 'a 'straight up' dance album? And if so why did you choose to do that now?
Yes The Paranormal Soul is an album with a collection of tracks, no theme, no concept except the music itself, I am moving away from these exploitation concept albums things, I always hated the idea of a concept album and I was pretty much doing that sort off though they were more like imaginary soundtracks for movies I couldnt make or something. Just time for something different and concentrate more on the magic properties of music and take it to far off places beyond the mind that can't be conceptialized.
There seems to be a long list of musical references in your music, obviously Chicago House and Detroit Techno, but also, Cosmic/New age, italo, Synth film soundtracks, and Dub to name a few. Am I right in thinking that your music is born out of a love for the history of synthesized music?
Are you conscious of your influences while you work?
Music is often held up as firstly being a non representational abstract art form, however your music is very evocative, conjures up places, times and spaces. Even the most dance floor tracks have a cinematic quality to them, is this intentional?
I want to ask you in particular about Fabio Frizzi and Marcello Giombini.
Yeah the Italian soundtrack composers were very interesting in their melodies and what they did sometimes was pure magic…the greatest of course is Ennio Morricone. And also what is it that you like about 70's and 80's Italian exploitation cinema which seem to influence so much of your work?
You are known for the way you work – the equipment you use, the 'live' nature of your music. What is it that makes you continue to make music this way as pretty much everyone else moves towards an entirely digital
studio?
Recently on your website you have been negative about people making music only using laptops, and for not knowing how to program synthesizers. Do you see it as being negative how 'easy' it is for someone to put together a track these days – basically without needing a studio? Is dance music becoming too sterile?
I also dont think at all its negative for people making music easier. Of course there are zillions of people using sample loops cd's these days and just copy paste some prefab loops and being sterile unimaginitive
Do you think that techno has forgotten about deepness?
You came from the underground party scene of The Hague, do you think that electronic music is or has the power to be as subversive as it used to be?
You have recently been releasing music with Xosar, this is some of the most uplifting music I have heard from you, she seems to have really bought out the 'house' in you?
Yeah but that is because she is into the more darker sounds she also makes black metal and stuff and I show my positive house feel to counter these dark sounds.
I recently noticed an Actress track in one of your dj mixes, are there other producers you follow from the UK?
What is your opinion of the UK music scene?
And finally, you are coming to play at 'A Love From Outer Space'. Popular music has had an obsession with space which goes back to the beginnings of space travel, do you think that this obsession will dissipate as the human race gives up on the possibilities of space travel?
Check the recent XLR8R mix from Mr Wolfers
Legowelt plays A Love From Outer Space this Friday at Corsica Studios.
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