1. Hi Roland. Please tell me one thing. Why did you opt to name yourself Kinky ?
Kinky Roland: I was on a crazy record label called "Heidi of Switzerland" in the early 90s. The owner, Hilary (a man by the way) used to scream 'Kinky, Kinky!' at me all the time and before I knew it, other A&R people we met as well as other labels asked me if I was Kinky Roland, so it stuck.
2. I was about to ask you "Why Kinky Roland and not something else?" but then I have realized you are also known as many other names. Please share some major ones with us, thanks.
Kinky Roland: Some other names over the years: Dream Plant, Terminater Benellux, Roland Sebastian Faber, Replicant, Tranceparents.
3. Let's backtrack a little, how did you first come together with Boy George, John Taylor, Mark Schneider as Loverush UK!, just to name a few ?
Kinky Roland: George contacted me to remix "Everything Starts With An E" because he really liked my Dream Plant record "The Mighty Machine", which became a Trade and React anthem. I've worked with George for 15 years now and we are just about to release a special compilation album called "The Kinky Files Volume 1" full of tracks and remixes I've done with George.
John Taylor of Punx Soundcheck, I met around 2000, when I was doing my electro-clash thing under the name of Replicant; we were both hanging out in the same twisted electro clubs like Nagnagnag and became good friends.
While I was working with Marc Almond on a Replicant EP, he introduced me to Mark Schneider to do a trance record with; we hit it off, I joined Loverush UK! and as a duo it started to grow until we launched Loverush Digital Records.
Other interesting collaborations include S'Express, Daniele Davoli (Blackbox), The Beatmasters and recently Sticky.
4. I can see that you have a thing for vocal tracks. How did you get in contact with so special female vocalists such as Kirsty Hawkshaw, Andrea Britton ?
Kinky Roland: I'm more into the music and studio side of things, while Mark is very good at getting these wonderful singers for us but I do have a short list of dream collaborations with my favourite singers of course.
5. Now when it comes to lyrics, what motivates/inspires you ?
Kinky Roland: Lyric wise it's probably a bit less commercial, as I used to like very different kind of lyrics as I grew up like in The Smiths or Depeche Mode songs, not too simple with a bit more meaning.
6. Production-wise, who all did you work with so far ?
Kinky Roland: I'm normally the producer but some of the collaborators mentioned above were co-producing the tracks with me.
7. You see, when it comes to Loverush UK! I reckon most people know you from there. Is there anything that you are guys working on lately ?
Kinky Roland: As far as Loverush UK! goes we're just about to release our new single "Different World" feat Shelley Harland and we are continue to work on our second album which is going to have a lot of surprise singers on it.
8. Since you are already sharing the same label, is that a chance that you might be working along Sylvia Tosun in the future ?
Kinky Roland: We've already done a track with her "5 reasons" which went onto the Ministry Clubbers Guide 2009*-*there is always the chance to do future collaborations like that.
9. Together, you and Boy George are mostly well known for "The Twin". Were you happy with that records overall commercial performance ?
Kinky Roland: "The Twin" was more of a post-punk electro project, being very commercial wasn't really the aim of that particular album - it was more like an explosion of rudeness and insanity. The recent stuff I've done with Boy George, like his new single "Amazing Grace", on the other hand, is very commercial.
10. Let's retrace your musical roots, when were you first exposed to EDM (Electronic Dance Music) ?
Kinky Roland: I'm from Berlin and my favourite music to this day is ambient electronic music, mostly German - like Kraftwerk / Tangeringe Dream, Klaus Schulze, but also Jean Michel-Jarre and Vangelis. My project "Roland Sebastian Faber" or "RSF" on the German record label "Aube" is going back to those roots. Dance-wise, I was into early Italo disco, new wave, later acid house and big time into the early trance movement - that's when I started to produce my own records.
11. Aside from music, what are some of the other things that you cherish in life ?
Kinky Roland: It sounds corny but relationships, animals and family.
12. What's next for you Roland ? What's in the pipeline ?
Kinky Roland: My next Kinky Roland record, "Confide In Me" feat Alec Sun Drae, on Sea To Sun/Loverush Digital,*also my new RSF record just came out on Aube records in Germany. I'm still working towards a Kinky Roland album for later in the year.
13. Is there anything else that you would like to point out at this time for all EDM lovers out there ?
Kinky Roland: Yeah, don't use too many software synthesizers and go out and buy a bit of hardware.
14. Very well said. Finally, do you have any closing thoughts for music minded people that would ever try to step ahead ?
Kinky Roland: If you feel you're onto something, music or style wise, then pursue it – don't let other people temper with your creativity, they might do it for the wrong reasons.
Interview made by Cosmin Lukacs (TranceSound.net admin/founder)
Links:
Kinky Roland @ MySpace
Loverush Digital official website
Cosmin Lukacs official website
Cosmin Lukacs @ MySpace
