There really was only one person to kick off the interviews of 2012 with and that is Mr Neil Landstrumm. The word legend is thrown around a lot these days, I’m guilty of it myself but this term most defnitely applies to Neil Landstrumm.

From the very first time he started releasing music, the Scottish producer has been pushing boundaries and crossing genres to create some of the most interesting and banging electronic music around. He’s one of the few producers who can seamlessly go from releasing stuff on a techno label such as  Tresor to a label like Planet Mu, all the while retaining a certain sound that sets him apart from his contemporaries. He’s responsible for some of the best Wonky techno releases out there and with more releases in the pipeline for 2012, there’s no sign of him slowing up. The guy is one of my all time hero’s and has released some of my favourite music ever so I was thrilled to do an interview him and pick his brain.

How and when did you start off making electronic music?

Around about 1991 I bought my first Boss drum machine and started programming it by copying things like “Energy Flash” and LFO. That gave me a feel for what was involved and soon after I began to hunt down a TB-303 and Tr-606 to make some acid trax. I was already DJ-ing and buying vinyl by then so it seemed the natural progression . By the first time I heard my 303 and 606 over a big soundsystem at an under 16’s rave I was playing at, my mind was made up. It was production I really wanted to do. DJ-ing was limiting and I was on the way to sourcing other bits of hardware as and when money was available. Part of the fun then was finding the gear and building a studio up from nothing. I was lucky to experience the rave explosion after the acid house years and also attended Pure and Wave in Edinburgh which was a superb education in quality electronic music at the time

Your sound is hard to fit into one category. While some would say Wonky Techno others would say Dubstep. Which genre would you feel more a part of or does it even matter?

Personally I don’t think it really matters. It still all sounds the same to me as it did then. I’ve always wanted to sound unique and different to everyone else which in some ways has been a real hinderance to any big success but it has given me great longevity in the scene which is better overall really. The Wonky adjective has been attached to music both in the late 90’s and in the late 00’s….I definitely wouldn’t consider my music dubstep although there is heavy bass elements and it was an influence in the mid 00’s certainly. I have always just thought of it all as “techno” really. I’ve always liked the early 90’s rave and bleep period in electronic music and that has stuck with me over the years. Same goes for the Chicago shuffle and funk. I like Detroit but it was always other cities music that inspired me like New York and loads of Dutch techno and acid.  The majority of the names given to electronic music now are just plain nonsense,. Fickle fashion and emperor’s new clothes and all that…..I’m just proud to be part of the British electronic sound and innovations over the years.

Have you any more plans to release stuff as The Sugar Experiment Station?

Not at the moment.

Do you still do much design work? Which would you consider as your main ‘job’ or do they go hand in hand?

The design side of the business has slowed right down due to the economic conditions mainly as the clients we had were financial companies in Edinburgh. Music and design have pretty much always been side by side for me so I enjoy both. I’ve got a decent amount of gigs up  until April at the moment including a tour of Japan so Im lucky in that respect. I am actually thinking of going back to University to re-train in renewable energy so I have something to do once I finally hang up my 808.

You recently played in Berlin with a big Irish line up. How was that?

It was a superb night. Great venue . Loved it. Best thing I’ve done in Berlin for years. It was a club called Subland run by Dean Rodell and the night “Skank” was run by a couple Irish lads. Rory  St John and Simon Stasis….. Sunil played and Eomac from Lakker. Co-incidentally Lakker was the last release on KilleKill records where my new EP is coming out.

What does the future hold? Any releases in the pipeline?

Yes I’ve just had a slew of releases out and there’s a new 12″  on Berlins’ Killekill label for January called “Night Train E.P.

The 12″s just out are Neil Landstrumm- Munich 72 E.P. on Snork a German label, Doubleheart (co-produced with J D Twitch) – Salsa Apocalypso on Boddika’s NonPlus label and  Neil Landstrumm- Explicit Six E.P. on Slidebar also from Germany.

Im really pleased with all the above releases as they are recorded on new recording gear bought with the royalties of the Planet Mu LP’s. Yes I blew it all on a Midas Mixer, Crane Song STC-1 and Thermionic Culture Rooster Vavle EQ Pre Amp.!

Other than that I made a few techno classics reinterpretations recently which Boddika and others are playing out….Beltrams_ E_Flash..Blake Baxters_Sexuality and Random XS.

Give your Body… Just waiting to see what I do with those ones at the moment… Also there will be more in 2012  from the Doubleheart project with J D Twitch.

Big Up to Neil Landstrumm for the interview and watch this space for upcoming news and reviews about his stuff 🙂