Fri, 15 Apr 2011 / Post a comment
I will never forget March 27th 2010: Martux_m was still playing and he was making the crowd crazy. Then I see a stout man, with a heavy leather jacket and a briefcase… he remains aloof, with his back to the public and checking if he had everything he needed. After a few minutes he turns over: short hair, black and with a great pair of sunglasses… it was him! He remained 15 minutes close to the central screen, with his arms folded, his sunglasses and his jacket, looking impassive to the jumping audience. The top of the evening was when he took off his glasses and approached the console: no one could stop him. Jazz, Fusion, Techno, Rock all in one night, the night I realized that the criticism couldn’t avoid to call him the “The Miles Davis of electronics”.
Born in 1969, son of the “Motor City” and of the movement that then led to the rise of Detroit techno, Carl Craig, thanks to his ability at keyboards, enters immediatly in the world of good music.
I find it pointless to list all his works, all amazing, however, it is important to mention “Landcruising”, the first album released under his own name, “More Songs About Food And Revolutionary Art” that enchanted the critics and became one of the pillars of our Musical DNA (even if someone still perhaps doesnt know it); finally, “ReComposed, ” an album released by Deutsche Grammophon (one of the most prestigious classical music labels). The album, that is a review of some works by Maurice Ravel and Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky (two composers lived in the nineteenth century and the first half of the twentieth century), is signed by Carl Craig and Moritz von Oswald and, in my opinion, it is one of the most interesting works ever written.
But let’s go to the reason why today we are on this page: The Planet E! The label was founded in 1991 by the artist, in order to work with freedom to his ideas. The label is now one of the most innovative independent labels and it produces artists such as Kenny Larkin, Niko Marks and Monty Luke, for example (the web site planet-e.net is fantastic, check it out).
What’s up 20 years later? Lots of great parties to celebrate the label! Talking about Italy, Craig chose the “Elita Festival” in Milan to present his new project. What Carl Craig wants to do around the world it’s to meet the artists who accompanied him in the past 20 years, and, through fantastic back to back, he wants to re-present the Planet E history. Are you wondering who will be chosen for the evening in Milan? … we’re gonna say it now: Seth Troxler! So this year, 15th of April, we know where to go!
“WELCOME TO DETROIT. THIS IS PLANET E!”.
Hi and welcome on Soundwall!
Let’s start from the central point of this interview. How was the Planet E born and what does it rapresent for you?
Planet-E was born from my desire for indepedence and it represents complete Independence.
For the Back to Back on April 15th in Milan you chose Seth Troxler. Why? How did you meet?
I didn’t know seth in detroit. I only met him in europe and he cracks me up that guy.
Please tell us something more about the “Planet E 20? project.
It’s me celebrating 20 years of planet-e, by releasing records – including remixes of old records from friends of the label, new albums , compilations, and also taking planet-e on tour for the first time ever around the world.
In 2008 you played with the Innerzone Orchestra at the Auditorium of Rome, a live we’ll never forget. How was this project born?
Innerzone was born from my first record as innerzone called big in a bassbin, after i met Francisco Mora Catlett who inspired me on the jazz side, i explored working with other live musicains for innerzone projects. Innerzone for me represents the ideal of electronic live music with a twist.
Where does your love for music come from? What was there before the Music institude and Derrick May?
My love of music comes from something deep inside of me. Before derrick the thing that maybe was the biggest influence was my brother who is older than i am and listened to loud ass music with him.
It’s been more than 20 years since the beginning of your career, how do you see your past as artist and what are the things you think you have to do now?
My past as an artist has been almost like gorilla warfare doing remixes, helping to keep my business in business. Than my career coming is to explore within myself how to make my music better.
“ReComposed” is a very particular album that combines different genres. What can you tell us about this project? How was working with Moritz von Oswald?
Working with moritz was great, the idea to do it was through moritz and of course it was another musical journey for me that involved music that ive always been interested in which is classical music, it gave me an opportunity to experiment more.
All generations arrive to say, about music, that all was invented and done, and then they are contradicted by the evolution of music. It happened in the 50's, in the 70's and right now personally I do not know how we could do something really new, although I know something will happen. What do you think about the current electronic scene? where are we going?
I’m not a fortune teller
I imagine you are very busy with the “Planet E 20? tour right now, but have you got some projects for the future, some collaborations or maybe a new album?
Yes, there has been the new music plan for quite a while. Of course I’m always collaborating but it’s a very spontaneous thing, so the discussion is something that gets very old for me if it doesnt happen immediately.
Usually, when someone composes music is inspired by something like a necessity, a dream, an idea … What does inspire you to do always something new and what is the purpose of your music, if I can use the word “purpose”?
I’m inspired by experimenting with sounds that aren’t usual so sitting in front of a modualr synthesizer and just messing around…
If I can, I’d like to ask you something about your past, when you were a child.
Tell us about your relationship with the music you played in church. What did you learn there when you were a child? Are there connections with the music you compose today?
Yeah i can’t really say that i learnt so much that i heard in Church because my music isnt gospel based at all.
Regarding your personality: seeing new places, playing for different audiences that change from venue to venue, facinging troubles of your job… How do you think all these things changed you?
I think it just gave me more sophisticated outlook of the world.
