Weval: The Ransom Note Mix

 
Music

In 2013 a duo began to surface on the radar, associations and releases on Atomnation and Kompakt began to reinforce their status. The pair from the Netherlands, Harm Coolen & Merijn Scholte Albers, make up the Weval project which is about to release its debut album for Kompakt. They met in 2010 and describe their relationship and its outcomes as "organic". Their musical backgrounds vary and have led to a clash of ideas and concepts which is prevalent throughout their work. We caught up with the pair and asked them to record a mix. Read the interview and listen to the mix below: 

 


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

We are Harm & Merijn,  living in Amsterdam, making electronic music under the name Weval.

What does your music sound like?

It's hard to describe music, especially your own. To give it a try: at the moment we like old drums, for electronic understandings quite organic stuff, most of the time with synthesizers and lot's of melodic elements. 

So, the new album is forthcoming right? Has it been a while in the making? 

We worked more than a year on this debut LP, just finished it. We made it in our previous studio at a attic of an old primary school building. On the 10th of June it will be released on Kompakt Records.

How did the Weval project find its way to be? 

It all happend very organically with no expectations. Just making music for fun during the time we were studying, and now somehow we can call this our job. It's a crazy luxury to focus completely on music. We never expected this, so we just take this chance to push ourselves creatively and try to make something nice from it!

And do you guys enjoy working together?

Yes, very much. We're glad we don't do this as an individual. Practically, it's nice to travel together and experience all this as friends. Musically, we started in the first place because some kind of creative interaction, so for us it's a natural way of working together.

Where was the mix recorded?

Last week at Harm's house. With this mix we wanted to show the kind of stuff we play when we are DJ'ing. The sun was shining really bright for the first day this year, but we ended up staying inside finishing this. Luckily we have a small balcony. 

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

On your bicycle cycling through the city, or at a party with a small group of friends. 

What should we be wearing?

Whatever feels good. 

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

Format: a very long mix that devolves from ambient to r&b, classical music, electronics and all other kinds of stuff. Already brewing on this one. Dream location to make it: In a tree house with a lot of daylight with a panoramic view of green nature around.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

John Maus – Keep Pushing On

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

We don't have one favourite at the moment. 

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

We were playing in The Block last Christmas, a great club in Tel Aviv. The guy before us played the most awesome set. Not pushing anything, the BPM steady around 105. We couldn't stop dancing. Especially when he played Night Flow from Massimiliano Pagliara, which we stole from him and ended up in this mix. His name is Asaf Samuel. 

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

Old Denon CD players that mixed like shit! But it was great. Right now we've got Technics turntables but not really set up to DJ. 

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

We would say both are even important.. But OK, ending with a shitty track is worser than starting with a weird one, then you still have the chance to make it up with the rest of the set. 

What were the first and last records you bought?

During our childhood Harm's first records where commercial singles, 'Captain Jack' was the first one. In Merijn's case it were cool soundtracks like the one from Fight Club đŸ˜‰ When Harm started buying vinyl, one of the first records was Cobblestone Jazz – Dump Truck. The last one we bought an EP from Flavian Berger.  

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

Variations of street food.

If it was an animal what would it be?

Dumbo Octopus.

Anything else we need to discuss?

Thanks for hosting the mix! We hope you enjoy it. 


Follow Weval on Facebook HERE and Soundcloud HERE.

The new single 'I Don't Know' is out NOW. Catch them at Oval Space HERE.