Skatebård: The Ransom Note Mix

 
Music

Stepping up to the prestigious Ransom Note mix series we have one of our favourite Scandinavian Disc Jockeys, Skatebård. The Norwegian electronic music scene seems to be awash with talent these days between the likes of the Sex Tags crew, Todd Terje, Bjorn Torske, Prins Thomas, Telephones, Röyksopp and the Full Pupp crew. There is certainly a distinct sound now running downstream from a country which wasn't previously known for its reputation in the world of Electronic music. Skatebård has been releasing music for the last fifteen years. His sound is a blend of Italo, House, Electro, Disco and beyond. His latest album, CDIII, landed in October of last year however his musical output is vast with releases on Full Pupp, Sex Tags, Untz Untz and KM Editions. This mix has come direct from the booth at Leitmotiv, Strasbourg, and sees Mr Bård deliver an hour of energetic Italo, House and Techno. Listen and read the interview below: 


Please introduce yourself. Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I am Skatebård, currently in Norway where I live. All my life I’ve been a music freak of many styles, and these days I’m lucky enough to be doing it for a living.

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?

I see a lot of the colour red, meaning I try to make music that is “warm” in a way.

The album came out recently, what’s the response been like?

It’s been good, some fine reviews from both Norway and the world, though the best response has been from friends and fans who actually like it.

You are from Bergen right, same place as Telephones, whats the music scene like in Bergen and in Norway more generally? 

That’s right, or actually I’m originally from a smaller village a bit up the coast, but I’ve been living in Bergen for 15 years. I think it’s more a “music” scene here in general, more than a “club” scene, and that’s good, I just as much hang out with people that are into pop, or metal or jazz as much as people who are into techno or house…I can miss the techno discussions though, pop music I’m not normally wild about.

You travel quite a lot, where are your favourite places to play?

Haven’t been everywhere yet, a lot in Europe and I love medium-sized towns or cities everywhere, like maybe even more that the metropoles. End of 2015 I was lucky enough to go to Australia, that was really unique for me.

 
• Where was the mix recorded?

Recorded at a party, pretty late at night: Recorded live at Leitmotiv, Strasbourg, France, December 11th, 2015

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

On your walkman or phone, while having a walk. Or at your preparty before a night out on the town.

• What should we be wearing? 

Joggesko! (That means running shoes).

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

Radio studios!

• Which track in the mix is your current favourite? 

Perhaps the first one, the Bastedos edit.

• What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time? 

Oh… I think it has to be one in the X-Mix series, either the Dave Clarke or the Kevin Saunderson one… OR actually Freddy Fresh’s BBC Essential Mix from 1998.

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

First one was pretty, pretty bad! Two very cheap belt drive decks and a KAM mixer with two channels and no EQ. 

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

Oh, that depends! In bigger clubs, if I play between other DJs I perhaps just kind of blend in, in both ends. If I finish a whole night I like to finish with something special… In this case, I started after Ceephax Acid Crew had played a live set that ended with some crazy gabber, almost, at like 170 mbpm, so I just had to throw something on.

• What were the first and last records you bought?

The very first one I didn’t buy, but win in a lottery when I was four: Charles Mingus – Blues & Roots. Last one: Boban Petrovic – Aroz.

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

Salty, dried sheepmeat.

• If it was an animal what would it be?

A living one, I guess.

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

In that case Ableton could warp it for me… No, sometimes I just have to throw in tracks on the 1-beat, it’s ok.

• Upcoming in the world of… 

Couple of 12-inches!

• Anything else we need to discuss?

Yes, do we need a photo of my face or can we use any of my sleeves? I could send you both.


Follow Skatebård on Facebook HERE.       

Top Photo courtesy of Ivan Kraanen.