Following our mixtape feature with Sascha Rydell, we continue our 8 Years Of Fachwerk series with this Fachwerk focussed podcast from Roman Lindau. In the interview below Roman discusses his contributions to the ‘8 Years Of Fachwerk‘ compilation and how he feels his tracks stand up alongside colleagues Mike Dehnert and Sascha Rydell. Roman also discusses his responsibilities at Fachwerk and why the label is so stringent to adopting fresh talent.
First off can you tell us about the mix you’ve recorded for Inverted Audio – The atmosphere you’ve created, the tracks you’ve selected and anything else you feel that we need to know about it?
The mix was recorded at my studio and it took me a while to select some tracks in order to show the variety of sounds that I like. From really groovy and funky to the more trippy, acid stuff, and the odd timeless bomb. Remix from DFA for Metro Area.
I always like to combine different grooves. I wanted to create a mix that could represent the atmosphere in a club, but also to be able to listen to it at home in preparation for the weekend.
How are you feeling about celebrating 8 Years Of Fachwerk?
I’m really proud! I’m proud to be an artist on a label that is not a passing fad. Up until today we haven’t needed any big names to be successful. A lot of Techno labels do it with the first release now. That was never our intention.
I’m happy to have a platform with long-time friends, where I’m free in releasing my own interpretation of Techno.
Over the years we’ve established a label that is constantly releasing its own characteristic underground sound and we are still alive. At this point I’d like to say a big thank you to the countless number of faithful fans around the world. I think that´s enough reasons to celebrate!
Tell me about your contributions to the 2×12″ release and ‘Before 8 Years Of Fachwerk‘?
I’m really happy with my tracks for both releases. On the “Before” EP I wanted to show my past influences and love of breaks, and for this reason I came up with the track I made.
I had a large contribution to the album. I feature on it with 4 club tracks that vary in sound from funky to dark.
How do you feel your tracks stand up alongside Mike’s and Sascha’s contributions?
On the album I’m well represented as I said before, but that was not the plan from the beginning.
There was no plan for how many tracks everyone would bring. It’s more a process of combining what fits together best. We met together often and listened to each other’s tracks to work out how we would put the album together. In the end I think we have a great album with a lot of tracks for everyone’s taste.
Where did you make the tracks and what were you thinking about when making them?
I made the tracks at my studio. When I work I don’t have a set plan. I just go with the flow and work with whatever sounds good! It’s like a journey I do every time….lost in space….lost in time.
How do all three of you (Sashca Rydell + Mike Dehnert) balance the workload of running the label? Are you responsible for a particular aspect?
We work as a team. Working together means more ideas and everyone motivates and pushes each other. In the past Mike always did most of the work. But over the years especially for a project like the celebration of 8 Years Of Fachwerk you have to share the workload. Mike is still the head. He deals with the financial side of things, as well as working with the distribution side.
I’m working in media, promotion and networking like Sascha. It’s a hard business today and we also had to learn how important it is to invest time for social media. Sometimes you can get the feeling its more important than the music itself.
Fachwerk predominantly release records from yourself, Mike and Sascha, however you broke the mould by releasing a record from Limo, and a split EP from Roberto and Envoy – How did these artists come to release on Fachwerk and why doesn’t the label release more music from other artists?
Mike met Limo one day in Italy. Limo sent Mike tracks and he was keen on some of them, especially the moody vocal tracks and in the end he was open to release it on Fachwerk.
Roberto is a friend of mine and I’m a big fan of his productions. One day Roberto sent me Rings Of Smoke with the vocal from Envoy and it was on fire. Sascha was also infected :-) We discussed it together and then Mike decided to release it.
Moreover it was also a personal decision. Limo and Roberto are good guys and that’s also very important I think. Fachwerk is like a family so we are very picky when it comes to bringing in new artists.
We get a lot of promos from people who want to release on Fachwerk, but unfortunately most of the music we get sent is not suitable. Not really on our sound. But you may be surprised for what we have coming up.
Tell me about your approach to writing new music – Do you have a tried and tested formula? I read that you take your (a lot of) time to release a record!
Sometimes I am not in the mood for finishing a track or the brilliant idea that makes the track complete does not come up. Sometimes I put the track away for a long time, and then I’ll stumble upon it again and I’ll start working on it.
I don’t have an exact formula in which I make every track. Every track I make is different, I try to create the feeling and idea that makes it sound great. Sometimes this can happen a long time after creating the track, and sometimes it can happen on the 1st day. It’s always different.
You’re yet to release an album – Is this something that you’re working on for Fachwerk?
I’ve been talking about it for years to release an album. I was on point to do it, but in the end I turned it down. I have high expectations of myself, and I take a lot of time to be really happy with my music, so for this reason it has not happened yet, but one day I will do it…ha.ha.
What is the root to your sound? Dark techno or harsh atmospheres?
Neither! I grew up with a lot of Hip Hop and R&B, later with the House and Techno. I was born in Berlin and grew up with the early scene in the nineties. Techno is more for me than only dark and industrial. I always love and need Groove, Funk and Soul in the sound, but I also like the ravey side too.
To be honest: Do you want to dance to the sound of the Apocalypse. A friend of mine told me I play and produce ‘fun’ Techno. What ever he is meaning with that, but it sounds good :-)
I’m looking forward to the Boiler Room x Fachwerk takeover in June – Have you started to prepare for the broadcast?
Of course, I started to check out some interesting old stuff in my record cabinet. Tune in and Let yourself be surprised!
What records have you picked up recently?
For me it has become difficult to filter out good tunes from a growing amount of promos. But of course there are a lot of interesting new tracks.
Finally any words of wisdom / warning you’d like to leave us with?
“For those who love music and sincerely understand, the world has one more dimension.” quoted from Hermann Hesse a German author.
Discover more about Roman Lindau and Fachwerk on Inverted Audio.
Roman LindauFachwerkTechno