Artist: Christian Smith
Album: Omakase
Label: Tronic
Release Date: 08/04/2013
Laurent Garnier loves it, Adam Beyer loves it, Spotlight loves it… and we have a good feeling after April 8th the rest of the clubbing world will be all over Omakase too. Here is a release for the techno tragics which resides comfortably and exclusively in the dark, laser-swept dance pits of clubland.
Omakase builds in momentum and depth throughout the twelve-track trip, using well paced swells and ebbs of texture and constantly forward pushing percussion to create a high level of anticipation and energy. Though never straying from the dance floor, the album has variation in your ‘rave moods' covered: the funky walking bass line of House This House, the dark brooding atmosphere of Within Myself, the peak time punches of Indulge Me, or the hypnotic synth arpeggiating its way up and down a major chord in the progressive sounding Tower. The ideas sound simple and are oft repeated (it is techno, after all) but, like any good artist, it's the task of the techno producer to make all the hard work and excruciating attention to textural and sonic detail sound and effortless and unadorned.
In his own words, Smith is not trying to reinvent the wheel with this album. What he has done is create an hour and a half of high quality techno that will leak its way into DJ sets far beyond his own reach for years to come.
Here's what Christian Smith had to say to Spotlight about the album, the week before its global release...
1. Can you tell us a bit about the process of making this album? How do you work in the studio and how long did it take to make?
"I used to spend 5 days a week every day in the studio, but in the last few years I found that to be counter productive. I found that the more time I spent in the studio the less creative I was, so in the past few years when I go to the studio I try to make it a long session and work loads within a certain time frame. After playing the tunes out and fixing them, I take breaks from the studio, sometimes even a couple of weeks. It seems to work very well for me because now, every time I go to the studio I'm very inspired and motivated. I normally manage to finish one track or a remix in a 12-hour session. Then maybe 2 hours of fine tuning and it's done."
2. Is the final product what you envisaged from the start, or is it a surprise to you as the creative process develops?
“Omakase” is a straightforward album for the floor, I didn't try to re-invent the wheel or make music that is outside my comfort zone. As much as I appreciate albums with a big variety, in techno this does not make much sense to me, so I made an album focusing on the different styles within techno - some musical tracks, minimal, peak-time, groovy etc. I think and hope that I managed to make a well-balanced club album."
3. Do you test out tracks in your DJ sets before their release, and if so, how have the album tracks been going down?
"That's one of best benefits of me playing all over the world, not only do I get to make people dance and happy, but I also get to test my new tracks that I just finished in the studio. I always test my tunes on the floor. I play them a few times to see what is missing or what is too loud etc. Then I go back to the studio and make final adjustments and edits to the track. It is indeed really helpful to play the tunes out when they are not finished and later again once they are mastered, before deciding if they are good enough to release commercially."
4. Given that dance music is most often listened to within DJ sets, is it still important for producers to make albums? If so, why?
"I think it's a way to break out of the mould – it's easy to just do single releases and play out on weekends, but it's more challenging to make a coherent dance album. I also get to show different sides of styles of techno that I enjoy. I really don't understand how some DJs and producers do the same thing over and over? I would get so bored doing this."
5. Will you be playing some of “Omakase” for us in Ibiza this summer?
"I have a few shows lined-up, from my own Tronic Party at Sankey's to playing for Richie Hawtin at Enter at Space etc. I live in Mallorca so I only have a 20min flight to Ibiza. Easy!"
