Benedikt Frey – The ‘Ransom Note’ Mix

 
Music

You should always expect the unexpected with Berlin-based producer and DJ Benedikt Frey. His sets are tension-inducing while his productions tend to have this cinematic feel to them, something he's honed even more in his most recent project Keys, alongside Chris Cox. 

These hypnotic creations have seen him make homes on countless labels since his first release almost a decade ago. From Live At Robert Johnson to Bahnsteig 23, Serious Trouble and his own Love Pain Sunshine & Rain imprint, he's wielded his own unique, intriguing sound. Soon he wil make his return to ESP Institute, the label he released his debut album 'Artificial' with, as well as Talabot's Hivern Discs, which follows his Out Of Here EP for the imprint in 2016. 

He's in charge of today's Ransom Note mix and fuses together sludgy electronics, 90s acid, trance and breakbeat to keep you locked in and locked on all the way to the end…

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you

Hey I'm Benedikt, since three years I'm a Berliner by choice, studied sound near Darmstadt calling myself an "official" producer of music and anything that moves on screen or stage now. My first holy grail was DJing though. Beside that I'm co-running three labels Serious Trouble, R-i-O & Lopasura with my partners in crime Menqui & Nadia D'Alò, with whom I also perform live as INIT.

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

It's a mixture of all the things I liked on MTV during the late 80s and 90s, pressed in a format of electronic (dance) music. It's hard to describe really since i'm hiding behind a few monikers/collabs and do a lot of different stuff. What holds it together (at least that's what people often tell me) is that aside from genres my music carries cinematic and trippy visions. That's really charming.

Where was the mix recorded?

In my living room aka studio.

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

I think sports where you need some audible motivation, for example "rückenfit mit manuel" on YouTube.

What should we be wearing?

Something you like to do sports in I guess.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

Definitely outside in nature with two working monitors đŸ˜‰

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

Anne F – "Obsession". This guy has a thousand different monikers and has released a lot of nice trancey stuff.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

Kemistry, Storm & Goldie Live in Brighton 1996 <3  

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

I'd have loved to share the decks with marcus intalex / trevino. he´s one of my favourite drum n bass producers who took some nice vibes into techno music as well.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

2x technics and an old vestax two channel mixer, I kept the turntables, just switched the mixer

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on? 

Sheesh, It's the end I think.

What were the first and last records you bought?

Among my first ones… 

Among my last ones…

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Loads of ice cream with fruits, cream and cookies hid somewhere inside

If it was an animal what would it be?

A blue rattlesnake

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

Nothing is impossible 

Upcoming in the world of Benedikt Frey?

A few things lined up: one EP on ESP Instiute, one EP as INIT on Serious Trouble, a second LP as INIT (most likely in 2020), a remix for The Imbeciles (a really nice punk band from the States) and one contribution on a V.A. compilation for Hivern Discs ++ 

Anything else we need to discuss?

Did I mention I'm also working on a solo live set? Hopefully finished with the work in autumn. Thanks for having me here, keep music alive. peace!


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