A DJ from the age of 12 has enabled Liron, aka Kabale und Liebe, to ride the electronic wave of house music and clubbing from the forefront since the early days of house music’s existence; witnessing the birth and the years and being part of the changes the industry has seen, music is what he knows. It has been his voice, soul and identity, the dexterity he possesses as a DJ is evident by his agile productions and highly respected personality on the house and techno circuit, you will recognize his additions to the world’s track list by ‘Mumbling Yeah’ which was voted as Resident Advisors best of 2007. Set free to roam his musical wonders at the Rhythmatic Birthday this month, where he is due to bring his fusion of warm driving techno and edgy house to the egg, we catch up with one of Amsterdam’s homegrown House legends and talk music, his electronic dreams and playing in the big smoke.
One of the most Unique things about you is that you’ve been DJ’ing since the unbelievable age of 12, how did you have the discipline to do this? Did it come from your pure love of music or was it for other reasons.
My cousin is 9 years older than me and he was heavily into the scene in its early years, going to the first raves and house parties in Holland, he used to buy the mixtapes and when he finished listening gave them to me. So I got really in touch with that kind of music very early on, and more to the point it got me thinking about how it was made, who made it, and I really wanted to learn everything I could about the music and DJ’ing.I then got a paper round and at 12 I bought my first decks. The rest is history (laughs)!
Did you have a break in between or was it a once you hit the decks you never looked back situation?
I never stopped! From 12 until now, even when I did a year of travelling in and around Australia and south East Asia I still brought my records with me because I knew I couldn’t stop playing!
Why did you choose to DJ dance music?
Like I said before I got in touch with it at a really early age, and it’s something that massively inspired me and I fell in love with it! It has changed over the years but I’ve always been fascinated by dance music, I think with dance music you can find so many influences from so many different kinds of music and other inspirations. It’s also incredibly eclectic, there are not many rules and you can break conventions with dance, there are not many genres that this applies to and for me that makes it very interesting!
Love at first sight?
Oh yes! (Smiles)
You run very thick and fast through the Dutch house and techno circuit, what is it about this particular scene that still turns you on and keeps you there?
When I was 12 I’d never even seen a DJ before as I’d never been to a club and DJ’s weren’t on TV all the time like they are now. when I first saw a DJ on a big stage putting his idea of music and atmosphere across to these people all going wild because of him I respected it so much and looked on in total awe, that was when I realized it was my dream and it still is today, I’m just living it (smiles). Now I’ve been producing for 6 years as well I’m seeing a new aspect, it’s a new challenge there are always new aspects of music cropping up all the time, it’s so fast paced. Music is always developing and changing, I’m not djing what I was when I was 12 and I wouldn’t be very good if I was, so I guess the main thing that turns me on and keeps me there is that in music a new challenge is always waiting! That excites me every day!
I feel the Dutch are very ahead with music and I always seem to pick up new sounds way before hearing them in other places, do you agree with this? If yes why do you think this is?
Well, the thing is people in Holland grow up with electronic dance music so there is a real culture of it here, when you grow up with something you see it differently and I think that is our main advantage; electronic music has always been in Holland from the very beginning of, well, dance music. Some children grow up with Latin music; others are always surrounded by band music but in Holland its dance. So for us it’s always about pushing for new and developing the sound we know so well.
Mumbling Yeah was remixed by Loco Dice. In what sense do you feel your musical minds run parallel and why in your opinion was this collaboration always destined to work?
I really admire his productions, and I’d always wanted to have his interpretation of my stuff. I think he gave it a great touch! He called it Loco Dice Tribute Remix because it was similar to the original with a slightly different vibe added by him. It really was an honor for us to see such a great producer working it! I love him for his style and he’s a really cool guy.
I think we’ve already established that you were a very cool kid but the first record (well tape, as we are talking years here!) I ever purchased is rather embarrassing, it was by status quo, bad I know, so in all honesty what was yours? Abba perhaps?
(Laughs) Pump up the jam which is actually pretty cool! I think you were looking for a lame record, but I don’t think I actually have one! (laughs)
Oh you are just too cool for school.
(Laughs)
The clubs in Amsterdam pretty are all pretty cool so to ask which is your favorite is a very hard question to answer but which club do you feel you can go to and really let go and be free with your style, always coming out buzzing from pure pleasure after playing?
Studio 80, I’m good friends with the owner of the club and play there regularly. It has one of the best sound systems in Amsterdam but to be honest parties are where I feel I can really let go, when I am amongst loads of friends and its intimate, that’s when I really really let go! Besides this club, there are parties such as Voltt, Awakenings and Welcome to the future where I’d love to go and boogie when my schedule let’s me (smiles).
If you had to pick one tune what would be your favorite and what makes it your favorite?
Hmmm, that’s a really difficult question to answer (laughs)! But I think it has to be Trax on da Rocks by Thomas Bangalter, he’s one part of daft punk and it’s a really old record that I’ve had for over 10 years, that’s definitely one of my favorites! Oh and pump up the jam as well! (Laughs)
Do you think it’s important to like all kinds of music?
I think so but it depends on the way that you look at things yourself, I like to have a wide view on music and that’s what inspires me, many aspects of life do actually, that’s kinda deep but it’s true. All music inspires me and if its good I like it, it doesn’t matter what genre it’s from but I do think it’s helpful to have an idea of the way different music works even in classical and jazz, if u only listen to house or one type of music it can stagnate you and your style but again it depends on the person.
You are due to play at the Rhythmatic 2nd Anniversary party this September, what made you chose this party and why was it right for you?
Well I asked around and have had good feedback, it also seems like a really cool party as does the club, Egg, so I’m really excited to be playing there!
I did an online ‘What is your DJ name’ quiz and apparently I would be DJ Phat Banana, rather fitting, how did Kabale und Liebe come about as a DJ name and why German not Dutch?
It’s a German book and theatre play I had to read in school and the name always stuck in my mind. I was already DJ’ing under my own name but when I started producing I wanted to get my friends honest opinions, I could have sent it under my normal name and my friends would have said they like it cos’ they are my friends but I wanted a real opinion so I came up with a name and I came up with that. Kabale und Liebe in German means intrigue and love but Kabale in Dutch actually means noise so I like the mystery that surrounds it, even in Holland people still ask me similar questions! (Laughs) I like the vagueness and mystery of it all!
What should we expect to leak out from your wizarding fingers in the next year and who with, if anyone?
Well of course I haven’t sat still this summer, so even through the good weather I’ve spent a lot of time in the studio. I’ve been working on my album for a while now and I’m still working on it. Along with that I’ve made a track ‘Lost in Thoughts’ for the Remote Areas Compilation that will be released during Amsterdam Dance Event this October. I’ve also done quite a few remixes, one for Ilario Alicante on Tenax Records, it’s a remix I’ve done together with 2000 and One and Lauhaus. I also did Dj W!LD on Bloop Records this I did with Julien Chaptal, Ummm and a remix for Gregorythm on Cityfox this is another one Julien Chaptal and I did together. That’s just a taste of what I’ve been doing, there’s loads more to come to! (Smiles)
What is the most annoying tune someone can ask you to play? Promise I won’t ask you to play it.
Anything from Britney spears to cheesy electro (Laughs). Stuff like that really is awful! I don’t really like requests in general unless it’s a really special record. I want to tell a story with my sets, take people on a journey and most importantly put across a vibe and requests can stump that sometimes, but a good request that fits in and is a special track can be very nice!
Is god a DJ?
(Laughs) No, definitely not. A DJ is definitely not god either.
You can catch Kabale und Liebe playing his first gig in the UK in 5 years at the Rhythmatic 2nd Anniversary party at Egg, Kings Cross on 26th September 2009. Also featuring; Gorge, Lemos, Stathis Lazarides, Betoko, Silky, Live Tech Rebelz, Huw Lloyd, Low & Murphy and more.
For more info visit:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=222664590323#/event.php?eid=222664590323
www.myspace.com/kabaleundliebe
www.myspace.com/rhythmaticuk
