| Interview with Gabriel Batz ( 06.01.2007 - 14:20 GMT UTC )
1. Please share some information about You ahead of time to whet the TranceSound.net fans and listeners interests. Could You tell us a little bit about Yourself, such as: Your education, interests, past work experiences.
Gabriel Batz: Well I was about to do a major in Political Science when I made the decision to do music full time. Since I had my head in the clouds, I was always more into tennis and music than my studies. But with time, tennis started damaging my back so I had to let go of competition. Then I started to teach tennis. It was the only job I ever had till I started working in the music industry.
2. When and how did You first become interested in music ? How long have you been playing music ?
Gabriel Batz: I was always surrounded by music. My father is perhaps the reason for where I am today. When I was a baby he always put ambient, classical or new age records. To put me to sleep he would put either Mozart or Brian Eno. Most of the records he had were on vinyl which he played on a belt driven turntable. Through his records I was discovering all sorts of music ranging from rock, new age, new wave, ambient, classical, jazz…and on and on. Rock, jazz and electronic music got my attention. But it is electronic that had a deep effect on me. I liked playing with my dad's vinyl records and the little Technics turntable (which I still have). So naturally when my friends discovered I was really into music, they started asking me to dj at their parties. It was a natural thing really. Music runs in my veins.
3. What are Your personal musical influences ? Try to describe that in a few words please :)
Gabriel Batz: Oasis, Depeche Mode, Sasha, Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk and last but not least Markus Schulz. Generally anything melodic or dark influences my creativity when I’m producing music.
4. What is it about the way You play that song that makes it different than the other kinds ?
Gabriel Batz: I like to mix in harmony or key mix in order to achieve smooth blending of tracks. My radio show mixes speak for themselves. You can go on my website www.gabrielbatz.com or in the forum to download any episode and be the judge. And if you like what I do then you can either write your comments in my guestbook or simply vote for me on http://www.thedjlist.com/djs/GABRIEL_BATZ/ . =) (laughs)
5. About the musical taste You play... what makes this kind of music good to You ?
Gabriel Batz: My main sound is melodic electronic dance music. However, I consider myself "anti-trance-trance" or "deep trance". Where house, electro, trance and techno come together. It all depends on my mood really. I like everything. I don't believe in just being one style otherwise things would be pretty darn boring. That's why I experiment a lot in my radio shows. The experimentation from my radio shows then greatly influences my productions.
6. What are some big things in Your life that keep You going, things that keep You trying to be creative ?
Gabriel Batz: Well I have a lot of ideas. Inspiration is everywhere. But what fuels me the most are goals that I set for myself everyday. I can sit for hours in front of my computers and play around with chord changes or melodic scales. But at the end of the day I have to come up with at least something that I can build on little by little. Weather it’s an original track or remix, the process always changes. I don’t follow formulas. Every track has a different process. I can start with a nice bassline or I can start with a nice drum beat. I always change my habits and sounds to keep things exiting and fresh.
7. Do You love touring and is playing something that really gets You going or are You more of a studio kind of person ?
Gabriel Batz: I like to create music but I like to play it aswell. I consider myself a musician because I make the majority of the music I play. I personally prefer touring when I have a release out in order to promote it.
8. What are Your songs about ? What specific themes do they cover ?
Gabriel Batz: My tracks reflect a theme or mood. Emotions influence my music. Either in good times or bad times, music is a good emotional release. Whatever I am going through is reflected in my sound. Music is how I express my life. It is what keeps me sane.
9. A question that had been asked nowadays: What is Your favourite Dj, artist, band tho ?
Gabriel Batz: My favourite bands are Oasis and a new electronic band from Mexico, Belanova.
10. Do You write Your own songs and who are Your musical influences and how do You describe Your music to people ?
Gabriel Batz: I compose and produce all my songs. My melodic side comes from a mix of Brian Eno, the Beatles, OASIS, U2 and Feeder. However my darker side comes from The Tea Party, Kent and Depeche Mode. I always try to create an atmosphere, tell a story or take people on a journey in everything that I do. It gives a meaning and purpose to what I’m doing.
11. What does Your work as a producer, Dj and remixer, as it says on Your website involve ?
Gabriel Batz: I produce and remix music which I then present as a DJ. You can hear more of my unreleased/upcoming tracks and remixes on my site aswell.
12. What is a typical day at studio like ?
Gabriel Batz: Well a typical day in the studio is spent working on tracks or remixes. Then to test them out I load them into my iPod. Once in my iPod I walk all over Montreal. There’s something about electronic music that needs a visual aspect to it. Visualizing is a big part of my production process. If I feel the track is missing something I go back to my studio to work on it some more. Then I walk with the newer version once again.
13. What does the future hold for You, such as... any exciting plans, developments or feature projects You would like to spread the word with us right now ?
Gabriel Batz: The production side will be hectic if not more than 2006. I have a lot of originals and remixes scheduled to be released in 2007. My new two track “Hypnotic Poison EP” is coming out soon on the Often Gruven Recordings label from Montreal - www.oftengruven.com - Then two more singles “Lazaro” and “Daydream” (featuring vocals by French songstress Desiree) to be released on the Istmo Music label from El Salvador www.istmomusic.com Another single “Inner Touch” including awesome remixes from Mike Shiver to be released soon on Monster Tunes www.monster-tunes.com Then, I have two beautiful melodic tracks “Lullaby” and “Her Smile” to be released in the springtime on Neuroscience Deep Recordings. I have completed two remixes for the Alter-Ego Records label from the UK and I think they’re circulating in promo at the moment. I remixed a track off Santiago Nino’s album “Danceversify” to be released soon on Istmo Music. I remixed a Benz & MD track and that’s soon to be released under their label Aurium Recordings. And I just finished remixing Paulo Der Munoz’s track “Jewel Eyes” scheduled to be released soon on Neuroscience Recordings. My two singles “Painfull Desire” and “Fendahl” are out now on M.I.K.E’s Club-Elite Recordings under Armin Van Buuren’s Armada Music. A part from that, I will tour more this year so keep checking my site for upcoming dates.
14. Few minutes earlier, I have asked about how`s a typical day at studio, but now... What difficulties do you face in Your "job" as an artist ? There are always ups and downs in this "job" :)
Gabriel Batz: The progressive trance scene in Montreal needs a real awakening. I say this because I often feel like the only progressive trance producer in the city. Sultan, Tone Depth and Max Graham all are from here and are superb progressive but I feel intimidated by them to be honest. There’s not much support for young up coming local talents. However, my name did gain a lot of notoriety. And little by little I had a lot of people started coming up to me for the wrong reasons or simply profit off who I was. I didn't know how to handle all the attention because I wasn't prepared for it. So to clear my mind I went to the motherland of Guatemala to be with my family and friends.
15. What would You say that it makes You uniquely qualified for Your "artist profile" things like, what that includes to become an artist ?
Gabriel Batz: I'm a constant dreamer with my head in the clouds. I'm constantly thinking about music and melodies. I enjoy doing what I do because music is my life. I am not afraid to be who I am because I am comfortable in my own skin. I smile, laugh and dance when I’m Djing because I’m into it. I don’t walk around with a big ego on my shoulders. I have my feet on the ground because I know where I come from. I may naturally be reserved and distant but I’m open to my fans. I am a musician and not a rockstar.
16. A questions asked nowadays: That is very impressive indeed, but what led You to become a producer and a Dj aswell ?
Gabriel Batz: I was sick and tired of being in rock bands where there were constant fights about the music direction. Now that I do things on my own, I have so much more freedom to create as a producer. And Djing is pretty much the same thing. I depend on myself because I learned to not depend on anybody. I am very selfish when it comes to my music because I want whatever I am doing to reflect me 100%.
17. Give me an example of an important goal which You had set in the past and tell me about Your success in reaching it. I Hope, You have achieved that yet tho :)
Gabriel Batz: Events in my private life drove me to produce “Painfull Desire”. This was the first track I ever produced. I am deeply proud of the outcome because it reflects everything I was feeling during that dark period in my life. Because of the emotion in the track, I wanted it to be signed and released as a form of closure. Then my life turned around when M.I.K.E. wrote me an email saying that he wanted to sign it to his Club Elite Recordings label under Armada Music. It was a beautiful ending to a difficult chapter of my life.
18. Describe the most significant or creative remix that you have had to complete or create and what was that aswell :)
Gabriel Batz: I'm proud of my remix of Nick Thompson & Spekuless's "Deep Level Lines". I wanted to stay away from the typical progressive sound and create something original. And I think I achieved that quite well.
19. Would You like to offer any advice to people wanting to go into producing, Djing or anything related to music, for their first experience ?
Gabriel Batz: As Markus Schulz said to me when I met him… a) Don't let anyone tell you that you can’t do it; b) Follow your heart and stand behind what you do 100%; c) Keep busy and stay focused. So far, those words have been working quite well for me.
20. I myself being a trance portal admin/founder, I always look after all forum members that would like to "hear" something from You, so please say something for the TranceSound.net bulletin board members out there, thanks :)
Gabriel Batz: Hey TranceSound-heads. Thank you so much for the support. Now I have a extra reason to get up in the morning and do what I do hehe =) All the best and much love. Gabriel Batz
Interview made by Cosmin Lukacs aka Dj K8oard (TranceSound.net admin/founder)
Links:
Gabriel Batz official website
Gabriel Batz @ MySpace
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