Necessity is the mother of reinvention, as they don’t say.
From funky house chart smashes as Rune through anonymous techno 12-inches as Tattoorecs to his current incarnation, Rune Reilly Kölsch has never stood still for long amidst the ever-shifting electronic music landscape. Perhaps his eclecticism is not surprising, having been born in Copenhagen’s autonomous bohemian district Christianshavn to a German artist mother and an Irish singer-songwriter father. One thing’s for sure: his new direction has seen him enjoy a higher level of acclaim and fanaticism than ever before...
Our man Connor Coates recently sat down with the Irish/Danish producer to talk about how he put together his new exclusive mix for Balance...
• Being asked to make a mixed album for the Balance series is kind of a big deal, what was your first reaction and thought when Balance approached you and asked you to do the third edition of the labels ‘Balance Presents’ series?
It is indeed a very big deal, and such an honour to become part of the Balance “family”. I’ve always found the series very inspiring, and for me it’s a major step to do a mix for them. I was one big question mark when my manager told me. They could have gone with anyone, but they chose me to do a mix for them. That’s amazing.
• The first song of the album is a classic - ‘Galaxy 2 Galaxy - Journey Of The Dragons’. What made you choose that song for the album and why did decide to start the album of with it? Was there a specific reason?
That track is a game changer for me. The first time I heard it, was on the legendary x-mix 2 cd from Laurent Garnier in ‘92. At the time I didn’t have access to much electronic music, and when I heard how beautiful that track was, I was sold. It’s not often that musicality and emotions blend well with computers, but in this case it’s just so fantastic. This track was one of the main reasons I lost my heart to techno.
• You said in an interview a few months back that you locked yourself out of the studio to get inspiration again for your own productions- What was the key inspiration for you?
There is no key inspiration for me. I get it from everywhere. It could be anything from a great meal with friends, to a sign in an airport to the wrapper of a chocolate bar. Inspiration is such diffuse concept. It can’t be forced, and it just seems to sneak up on you in the weirdest moments. All I know is that when I’m the most tired after touring for 4 days straight, that’s when it comes out. These days I try to harness some of my old memories for the new Kölsch album, as it’s very much about the defining moments in my life.
• Did you have a certain approach and a way to picking what tracks you wanted to put on the album?
Definitely. I wanted it to be very melodic and full of life. I love a balance between vocals, melodies and energy in a dj set, as I think it is important to incorporate all. It was very important to me that the tracks reflected what I actually play out. The mix had to be interesting all the way through, so I added some classics and exclusives as well.
• You have said “I tested out the mix a few times, and for me the best way to listen to it is while traveling in a plane or car.”…. I have done exactly that, I think it is perfect listening when driving home from a gig at night, it gives you that relaxing, after-the-music feeling but also with a bit of groove and funk. Was this something you were consciously thinking about when making the album, the environment that it would be played in?
That is exactly what a mix cd is all about for me. It can never be exactly the same as in the club, so it was clear for me that it should work in different environments. I used to listen to sets all week long when I was younger. I had the xmix-2 Laurent Garnier set on my walkman for years, and it was fantastic to walk through life with your own soundtrack. I really wanted to pass this tradition of mine on, so the set had to be special.
It had to be the friend you need to walk you home.
• The album is filled with great vocals, synths, melodies, riffs and with tracks from Danny Daze, Joris Voorn & Radiohead to name a few. When you were choosing songs for the album, were there any songs which you loved and really wanted to put in but they just didn’t make the cut?
There are always a few tracks that don’t make it on there, but surprisingly it wasn’t the ones that I had anticipated. I’m so happy that we could get Radiohead on the mix, as I thought that would be impossible. I’d say around 2-3 tracks didn’t make it, and in the greater scheme of things, that is nothing.
• On the album you included two exclusives, one being your amazing remix of - ‘Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars’. How was it to remix such an iconic band?
It was crazy. How often in life are you asked to de-commercialize the biggest band in the world. I just really wanted to get my hands on this song and mould it in to something completely different. I wanted it to be the opposite of the original. A melancholic journey about longing for someone who is not there anymore. Remixing songs are often about how you set the mood, and this became very different.
• Once you start to listen to the album, it pulls you in and once you start, you can’t stop listening - but now that the album is finished, looking back do you think you would change any of the tracks?
Wouldn’t change a thing. :-)
Balance presents Kölsch is out now...
Check out more from DJ Connor Coates on Soundcloud, Facebook and Twitter…
