In a couple of weeks, newborn Parisian imprint Third Try Records will be releasing their alluring debut instalment ‘Moon Dancer’ EP, courtesy of Studio Barnhus co-founder and Pampa regular Axel Boman. No short of ideas to complement this eagerly-awaited first delivery, label mastermind Victor Willaert also decided to release a limited run of carefully designed objects aimed at enhancing your everyday listening experience.
We took the chance to find out more about TTR’s ethos and vision, as the design student, DJ and promoter gives insight on his meeting with the Swede house herald and reveals further details on the nature of these fancy audiophile-dedicated items.
Interviewed by Baptiste Girou
"At Third Try Records we enjoy good things done right. We work on optimizing the conditions for a quality listening experience via physical objects"
What’s with the name Third Try Records? You know what we say, “third time’s a charm”!
Yes, you got it! I’ve been involved in a few musical projects: solo, collaborative and this one in team shape with talented French people and the great artist Axel is.
What pushed you to start up this adventure?
I’ve been buying records for many years, I got the chance to organise parties in Paris along with my crew (SEML) featuring a lot of great artists like Young Marco, Andras Fox, Bell Towers, Suzanne Kraft, Marcellus Pittman and many other killers in the same vein. This year I have had enough time to think about a great start for my label but to be sincere, it’s the fruit of a long process.
What’s the ethos of the label?
At Third Try Records we enjoy good things done right. We work on optimising the conditions for a quality listening experience via physical objects.
In crafting wax, furnitures and specific items, we aim to offer a singular listening experience for all music listeners and selectors, at home, in the club and in the records shops.
"I left Axel full freedom in terms of production, with just one rule: to let his artistic feelings guide him and not care about the musical format/style or places where the music shall be listened at."
Axel Boman is a widely reputed producer and DJ – co-founder of Studio Barnhus, a regular on DJ Koze’s Pampa Records… and the list goes on. What was your first interaction like?
This will be surprising to you but I just wrote down a detailed email explaining the project to Axel and focused on the artistic views, vinyl art, photography and design things.
The dialogue rapidly clicked between ex and current art students. I left Axel full freedom in terms of production, with just one rule: to let his artistic feelings guide him and not care about the musical format/style or places where the music shall be listened at.. let’s just make what you like the most!
What most appeals to you about Axel’s music?
Axel’s music makes me think about patience (Mogadishu Dubb), peacefulness (Sunrise Over Slussen) and the happy lifestyle from Stockholm (ABBA 002). Even though the night comes early there, Swedish are the best!
What’s your favourite record of his?
You mean, besides this one? I think I can’t give you less than 3, but you’ll excuse me:
‘Barcelona‘, ‘The Best Ever Made Ever‘ & ‘Son Of A Plumber‘. ‘Fantastic Piano‘ is in a league of its own…
How was the making of ‘Moon Dancer’? I guess it helps to work with such an accomplished and dedicated artist.
For sure, I don’t need to lay it on thick about how much of a great composer Axel is. For the first release, he was the perfect guy to work with. We’ve just spoken a lot and shared our feelings about music and other more general points. He shares a lot of his experience with me and I thank him again for that.
"I’m creating 3 or 4 objects on the topic of music: a special storage and playing surface, a transparent record stabilizer and a new/old wallet for your Sunday afternoon."
I can’t play a record without looking at the artwork... And I think it has to be the same for furnitures, storage and specific items when it comes to records."
I heard you have a few exclusive objects in the making as well. What’s with these?
Yes, as I’m a student in an Art school in Paris, I’ve been able to run this project as my object design master degree. I’m creating 3 or 4 objects on the topic of music: a special storage and playing surface, a transparent record stabilizer and a new/old wallet for your Sunday afternoon… more info and photos soon on the label’s pages.
It’s quite a heavy task for such a young label! How did you come up with such a complete, wide-angle vision?
The answer easily boils down to just a few names and talents: Lobster Theremin (The fantastic Distribution team) / Laura De Lucia (The Photographer) / Thomas.B (The illustrator) and my family/girlfriend (The supporting crew).
This interest for design obviously has to do with the fact you’re studying at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. Do you see the audio and visual sides as two indivisible things?
Once again you’re right, I can’t play a record without looking at the artwork… do you see what I mean? And I think it has to be the same for furnitures, storage and specific items when it comes to records. I want to push the home-listening musical experience to its best.
"I want to push the home-listening musical experience to its best."
What can we expect from the label next? Already working on the follow-up?
I’m working on the second release, with a French guy this time. It will be a 5 or 6-track EP, which should be out sometime in the winter. His music is a real space-time travel from earth to… somewhere – and that with his very singular style.
Do you have a wish for the future?
Regarding the French and Parisian scene, the motivation is clearly there but the scene’s a little too selfish sometimes. Not so much co-production and not enough sharing. We aim for the opposite. Maybe open a place where diverse musical and artistic talents could collaborate…
Moon Dancer EP is released via Third Try Records on May 31st, order a copy from Juno.
TRACKLIST
A1. 2 Good 2 B Tru
B1. Sunrise Over Slussen
B2. Moon Dancer
Discover more about Axel Boman and Third Try Records on Inverted Audio.
Axel BomanThird Try Records31 May 2016House