Michael Fakesch Interview

How does it feel to be in the limelight again? It's been a while since your last solo album...

"For me the last solo album was just a fun thing to do. I totally concentrated on Funkstörung at that time. Now since Funkstörung is gone, 'Dos' feels like a complete new start."

What's the record that got you into music?

"AC/DC 'Back In Black' when I was eleven or so, then Public Enemy 'It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back' when I was 13 or 14 and then finally Human Resource's 'Dominator' got me into techno."

You have co-produced the album with Taprikk Sweezee. How was working with a vocalist? Do you first start beat and then add vocals?

"Yes, I first started doing beats and then Taprikk added vocals. After that I began remixing his vocals and then, surprise, surprise, Taprikk also began remixing my beats! It was a constant remixing process and the hardest part was to find an end to it! Taprikk and I only met once in my studio (for two days). We did everything via email, phone and FTP sharing!"

Are you planning to go on working together?

"We will see. Actually, working together was so much fun, it would be a sin not to repeat that!"

Have you ever been involved in the production of pop music? Would you like to get into that?

"The Jay-Jay Johanson album we produced was pop. I'd like to do more pop production, but I wouldn't like to deal with freaky pop starlets or greedy managers."

If you could work with any vocalist, dead or alive, who would you pick?

"James Brown, ah no, that's too obvious... umm, maybe Bon Scott (former AC/DC singer). Actually Björk and Thom Yorke are my favourite voices!"

What's your studio set up?

"Pretty basic. A PC using Cubase 4, with loads of smart electronic plug-ins, Native Instruments stuff, Ableton Live, Wavelab, Audiomulch, all the usual things. The only hardware in the studio is a Linndrum, Elektron machine drum, Electribe EMX1, Oberheim DX, Kawai R100, two Acidlab basslines, Yamaha DX200, Nordlead 2, three Kaoss pads, five different Faderfox midi controllers, a micromodular, and all the stuff Tapprikk used in his studio - Logic, Electribe EMX1, Access Virus and a Jupiter 6."

What's the most surprising instrument you can tell us about using in the making of the album? Do you have any custom-built bits 'n' pieces?

"Maybe the most surprising element was a trombone played by Helgi Jonsson from Iceland. I also used a 303-Clone a friend of mine built, called Acidlab-bassline. But the most surprising element was probably me clapping and smashing things in the studio to create percussion sounds and Taprikk using his voice to create synth-like melodies."

Do you design your own websites and album sleeves?

"No, fortunately I've got loads of good friends helping me out. Sebastian Onufszak from my hometown Rosenheim, for example, did my album artwork, Joel Kitzmiller from San Diego did the myspace site and Paul Paper from Vilnius did the website."

What's next? Have you got any more projects planned up?

"Yeah, in two weeks I'm gonna start recording a techno album together with my friend Quietpoint. I'm also looking forward to going back to my musical roots, using only old-school equipment and avoiding using the computer."

Is there any artist you want to give props to?

"There's loads of great stuff coming out on DC Recordings these days (especially DC himself, Kelpe and Emperor Machine. And not to forget Mr. Oizo, he is great, too!"

Interview conducted by Nitzan (Fine Art)www.fineartrecordings.co.uk www.nitzan.co.uk