Tuesday, 23 June 2009 10:02

Respected and acknowledged around the World as one of the three Detroit Techno innovators, Kevin Saunderson is a legend in his own right, who helped to reshape the future of Dance music, as we know it today! With over 20 years in the music industry he is an expert in his craft and it is pretty self evident to his listeners.

In recent news he dropped an album entitled History Elevate earlier this month on June 9th and he has performed at this years Movement Festival in Detroit and was simply incredible which is why we had to reach the techno legend for comment.

"That's one thing that's consistent about Detroit - music. "

Considering the length of your career in the music industry, and the numerous well known artist that you have worked with; what would you say is the biggest difference between the way Electronic Dance Music is today as opposed to the era of the '90s?
Well the biggest difference is the technology. It's just taken a step forward where younger kids have caught on more and you have more producers. We are also in a digital world now where everything back then was analog and tapes and DAT, etc. It's been a progression.

As far as the scene, for me personally it was better back then but you can still find many great clubs and events today. It's just that there's so much going on that everyone can't be successful at it because everybody is trying to get parties and put out music. It's all not gonna sit well all the time. Back then there was less but more quality. As time went on, there was more music but less quality sounds. Still, there are still great songs and a great movement. It's still progressing.

For those who have never visited Detroit, can you describe the lifestyle there as well as the music scene?
Detroit is a city that was booming in the 50's and 60's. It's a city that holds over a million people. Back then it was at the top of it's game. There was a riot and once it happened things changed in Detroit. Now, the city has gone through a progression where all these great companies and the buildings they used are gone. It's affected the way the city has been able to develop. In the downtown area it's hard to find a lot of stuff like grocery stores. People come there to work; it's vibrant and then they leave. It's more difficult now because of the economy and the auto industry. A lot of people moved here to work in the auto industry and they lost their jobs. The city never really bounced back from the riots, so it's really a depressed city that' trying to rebuild but at the time where the economy is poor. I do see some positive things, but in saying that, you will see a lot old classic buildings and wonder why they are still there vacant for years and years.

Musically, Detroit has been on it for years. From Motown to techno to artists like Madonna, Eminem and Kid Rock. There's a slew of talent that comes form this city or the surroundings. That's one thing that's consistent about Detroit - music.

Can you give us an overview of what to expect on your upcoming tracks, and when they will be released?
Right now we have the project that's out now called History Elevate. It's an impression of the history of the remix and tracks I've done over the years that have been remixed. It's a very special project because I've worked with a lot of different groups and others that I would have loved to put on this project. We have one CD that's remixes I did from back in the day to now and the other disc where producers that I like remix my tracks and provide another impression of my work. The remix as we know it today was modified by me back in the day. I reshaped the remix by not using a band's music and using my own music with a sample of the original track. My Wee Papa Girls remix really sprung the remix as we know it today.

" ... our music wasn't black enough for R&B and they tried to turn us into that. "

What qualities in your tracks signify the most about who you are?
I think the qualities include the mood, my energy and sometimes the bass. I've come up with different signatures, so it's hard to say. If you think about the signatures of my Inner City sound that many people sample a riff from, to the deep bass on Reese's Just Want Another Chance where the drum n' bass DJs were first inspired from, I have many different signatures. It just seems like the sounds I come up with have been popular over the years and influential.

How does the music that you were exposed growing up impact your current works?
It really impacted me when I first started creating music. I lived in NYC, so I listened to a lot of disco. I always knew I liked the 4/4,so in saying that, when I moved to Detroit I started hearing Prince, Parliament Funkadelic, Earth Wind & Fire, Kraftwerk and New Order. So I had all these influences and the electronic and disco sides grabbed me the most. When you gel them together I guess my influences come from there. I don't just make instrumental music. I've done vocal music and soulful music because I was inspired that way.

What has been the hardest part of arriving at this point in your career and all of your accomplishments?
The hardest part is when you are away from your family and away for a month. Apart from that, when I first began to influence my mother to give me money to buy equipment. It was a dream of mine, not a dream of her's. Parents have a dream of what they want there children to be and this was more of a dream of mine to make music, not my mother's. The hardest part was getting started and having the tools to explore what you can do. I think another hard thing was dealing with record companies when I created Inner City. When I got on my second album there was a conflict of what style of music or type of songs we should be writing, especially in America. That was a difficult thing because in America radio was really segregated by genre. We were given to the R&B department but our music wasn't black enough for R&B and they tried to turn us into that. They didn't understand what we were doing.

Can you tell us a bit about your music equipment, and software?
Today I don't have the super studio like I had back in the day because it's not a necessity. I'm really minimal compared to what I had. I carry a Mac, I use Logic, Ableton, Pro Tools and tons of other plug-ins. I still have a Waldorf Wave and that's the majority of it. I have a studio built in my house and I do everything right there.

Are there any other artists whom you feel have had a major influence on electronic music?
Most definitely - Derrick May, Juan Atkins, Marshall Jefferson, Daft Punk, Laurent Garnier and Carl Craig. Those are some of the cats that had a major influence.

Can you name five tracks that you playing frequently in your sets and what type of energy they bring to the dance floor?
The records each have a in between a house and techno groove - 128 tempo. They are groovy and funky and build into some cool sounds. They all work well in my sets and slam

Are there any countries or venues that you have not performed in yet, but would like the chance to?
I haven't performed in India, Egypt or Africa. It would be interesting to just go there and experience visiting and playing.

Where do you see electronic dance music going in the next five years?
That will be determined by the technology, but I think young kids will be influenced by producers. I think clubs are stable and those that are around now will be around. Festivals will continue. I think musically people will dance forever. Electronic music revolves around technology that only advances. It might be a different format but in the end it will still be around.

Source: 365Mag