> Interview by Kei Tajima (HigherFrequency)
HigherFrequency (HRFQ) : Hi! First of all, thank you so much for your time.
Rasmus Faber : No problem. It's a pleasure appearing here.
HRFQ : Is it your first time in Japan? If so, how do you like it?
Rasmus : I absolutely love it! And I'm not just saying it. I really wanna come back very soon.
HRFQ : Have you seen any other places apart from Tokyo?
Rasmus : Yeah, I've been to Oita, Kyoto, Kumamoto, and Hiroshima. I really appreciate seeing more of the country, and next time I'm here I'm looking forward to see even more of it.
HRFQ : Since your name has appeared on lots of House compilations recently, many of our Japanese readers are keen to know more about you. Can you tell us a little bit about your musical background? how did you first get into music ?
Rasmus : I can't remember when I really got into music. It's been in my life the whole time I suppose. Its funny, when other kids in kindergarten wanted to be firefighters or policemen when they grew up, I always wanted to be a musician. So I guess it was pretty much pre-destined.
HRFQ : I heard you started playing piano at the age of 7. When did your interest in making dance music begin?
Rasmus : Actually, the other day my mom reminded me I was actually 6 years old when I started playing the piano, haha! My interest in dance music came much later though. I went through several phases of soul, funk, jazz, disco, acid jazz, fusion, everything before I discovered that house was (or could be) all these things but in a modern form. I suppose I was around 17-18 when I first got in to these, to me, new sounds.
HRFQ : Is it true that your first release, "Never felt so fly" was your first production?
Rasmus : Yes it's true. But I had a lot of help from my musical background here. I had arranged and played stuff like this for years, so it was more a matter of recording it all. But I can tell you the beats programming and the mixdown took a LOT longer time then than it does now, haha. (On a side note, the "Never Felt So Fly"-record that is released on Farplane is a later version, with new mixes. The "real" original came out on Black Vinyl Records in 2002.)
HRFQ : Could you tell us how the relationship with Defected / Simon Dunmore started?
Rasmus : They gave me the chance to remix one of their tracks ("Autosoul" by Dubtribe Soundsystem). The result exceeded their expectations to such extent, that Simon Dunmore flew over to Sweden to check out the guy who did it. We sat in my studio for a while, listening to some scetches and new bits. He offered me a management deal on the spot. After he helped me starting up Farplane Records. Our cooperation has been very prosperous so far.
HRFQ : You've been supported by lots of DJs such as Eric Morillo, David Moralesc.How does it feel to be dubbed a rising star?
Rasmus : You know, since I started, I always felt I had kind of a special niche within the house genre, so I haven't really felt I'm competing with other people about a place in the sky. To me its a matter of getting as much people as possible to hear my stuff, even if they're djs or not.
It feels good when high profile djs say they really like my stuff, and I have been blessed with really good support from the scene. But I must say what really makes me happy is when someone who don't usually like or listen to house music saying they really dig what I do. Like jazz musicians in their 50s or 60s or some hip-hop kid. That feels really cool.
HRFQ : Can you tell us about your label Farplane Records. Is there anything in the pipeline?
Rasmus : Yeah, got two new tracks on the way. Been a bit slow on releases lately, as I've been touring, working on remixes, and rebuilding my studio. But now its all running so expect some new bits very soon. I also have a compilation album with my songs and remixes on the way to release by JVC/Victor in Japan which is something I'm really excited. And I'm working on a full-length artist album too, so there's a lot on the way.
HRFQ : Do you have any message for your Japanese fans?
Rasmus : Haha, if there are any fans out there I just wanna say you'll see more of me really soon, and I can't wait to see you on the dance floor again. Otsukare!
End of the interview
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