Exclusive Interview with Rasmus Faber

Addictive:  Hi Rasmus how are you today? Rasmus:I'm very well thanks! I'm in a wonderful studio in the south of Sweden, mixing an album for a singer I've been working with for a month, great stuff! 

Addictive:  Rasmus, seems like you have been in the music industry for a number of years, how did you get into the music scene and what influenced you? Rasmus: Well, I've been a musician for a very long time, and in my early 20's I got into production. When I was a teenager and learned how to play piano I was heavily influenced by jazz pianists like Bill Evans, Keith Jarret and McCoy Tyner. But also by the acid jazz scene of the early 90's, funk and soul stuff, film soundtracks, and lots of other things.  

Addictive: Being a native of Sweden have you been influenced by the artists thathave grown from the country with the likes of StoneBridge, Axwell etc?

Rasmus:Yeah a little bit I think. I've always thought Axwell is a great producer, and even now that he makes much harder stuff I can still listen to it and check production details and stuff. And the rest of the Swedish crew, sure, they're all great producers!  

Addictive: You have recently been in Japan on a tour, how do the crowd react to your music compared to the European crowd and are you planning to go back?

Rasmus:Well, I was there for 6 weeks actually! First I did a weekend's gigs with a live band I brought over from Sweden, then I stayed for another month doing dj gigs around the country. Japan is a great place, which I'm very fortunate enough to be able to go to alot for djing.   The crowd there is really nice. They're very much into the music, very knowledgeable, and open-minded! Compared to the european crowd I would say they are more interested in the music itself, and not necessarily just the party, which of course for a musician is very nice.  

Addictive:When you remixed for the likes of Junior Jack, Miguel Migs, Axwell, how did you put your own personal touch to the music in terms of what influenced you?

Rasmus:When I make a remix I always try to look for elements in the song, perhaps the whole song actually, which havent really been explored fully. I try to structure a new song around the vocal to give it a new harmonic approach.   For the Junior Jack track "Esamba", I thought the song was a bit too short, so I ended up recording a whoie new set of verses, and for my remix of Axwell I got access to vocal files that wasnt in the original, which is always fun!   Recently I've been making a bit more floor friendly and/or electronic remixes, but I still try to add some different musical flavours, such as string arrangements, etc.  

Addictive:Your shows are live and you always amaze the crowds with your style, were you influenced by the live element from your father who was a saxophonist?

Rasmus:Thanks! My dj gigs are live in the sense that I play piano as well, but I also use 3 cdjs, so there's a lot of dj action too actually. My father probably has a lot to do with my musical career path, learning to play the piano etc, but I wouldnt say he influenced my dj shows very much. He would probably think they're way too loud! ;)  

Addictive: Having your own label "Farplane Records" has that opened your music style more and what other artists are signed?

Rasmus:Farplane has always been a mirror of my own musical directions in the house genre, but it is also part of my involvement in the house scene, so I guess having it makes me more aware of whats going on. Other artists signed in the past and present are Feet, Ron Gelfer, UPZ, and upcoming releases by Bangana and DJ Jorj, which I'm very excited about!  

Addictive:On your many travels as an artists where would you feel your heart lies in terms of the reaction you get from the crowd and why?

Rasmus:I must say I feel very blessed wherever I go, I really try to spread a positive vibe, and when when people get the message it always makes me very happy wherever I may be.   That said, I feel a special bonds to the crowd in Japan, because they are just so positive! But I havent been to every country yet so. :)  

Addictive: Whats next for Rasmus Faber in terms of music, production and travels? 

Rasmus:I was touring really heavily in Asia and Australia last winter, so this summer and fall I'm looking forward to do some production work in Sweden, some stuff house, and some is other music, like producing one pop and one jazz album. I was doing my album, and then the remix version of the album during end of last year and beginning of this year, so its nice to have a bit of a musical break. So then I can come back to the house music full force in a couple of months!  

Addictive:Are you tempted to follow your peers by adding your own radio show to your list of talents? 

Rasmus:Not really to be honest, I hardly find time to listen to loads of new music, and I really struggle to do other similar tasks, like charting and making dj mixes. There's just not enough time in between the studio, touring, running the label, producing, writing, and trying to have some social life in between.  

Addictive:What would you like to say to anyone that would like to be part of the music industry as either a producer or a DJ?

Rasmus:Well, the market is absolutely flooded with both djs and producers right now, as the technology has made it all very accessible. I would say the question suggest an inital faulty thought. I dont think anyone should ever think they "want to be part of the music industry", unless they wanna work at a record company for example. Producing and writing music should always come from a wish to do just that, writing and/or producing.   Other than that, be prepared for lots of long nights, and endless working hours, and welcome to the wonderful game of music! ;)  

Addictive:Where would you like to play next and have you heard anything about the scene in Mauritius to influence you to come out and play for the crowd here? 

Rasmus:I would love to come out and play in Mauritius, haven't had the chance to come out there yet. I'm quite excited to go to any place actually, but I love the sun, so I guess Mauritius will suit me!  

Addictive:Thank you Rasmus for the time and we hope to get you playing at one of our addictive tour events in the future. 

Rasmus:So do I, thanks!