This week we interviewed Owl Vision, or the Swedish Mean Machine as we like to call him. Owl Vision is a name that has been featured on the blog a few times with his tracks. He is based in Sweden and recently released a video teaser for his upcoming EP “The Black Death” which will be released on Dga Fäu Records on February the 14th and just today he saw his Noize Generation “Monster” remix is getting released on Beatport, featured in the self-titled “Monster EP”. So, since he’s been a very busy guy and extremely active producer with a few releases the past month and a few more coming next month, here is what he has to say about all this…
01. Hi Johannes! Would you mind introducing Owl Vision?
Owl Vision is a monster that I created in 2007. My music has been evolving since then but it remains Death Electro.
02. You grabbed our attention with your remix on remix on F.O.O.L’s “Bersekergang” track. Was this the first Metalectro track you ever did? How did you come up with the idea?
If you mean Death Electro it was probably the tracks on my first album “Comorbid”. I didn’t call it Death Electro right away but I consider the track “Reaper” my first real Death Electro song. The style just came to me by inspiration. I was aiming to make hard, dark and gothic music.
03. “The Black Death” EP is out on Valentine’s Day. Is this just a coincidence? Tell us about the EP and the remixes featured on it.
Haha, what better day to release an EP called The Black Death?
As you just said the EP is going to be out February the 14th on Dga Fäu Records and it’s my debut on that label. The video teaser has just started to circle around the web so you better catch that one!
The EP contains 2 original tracks, and 4 remixes.
1. The Black Death (Original)
2. Dead Shall Rise (Original)
3. The Black Death (Q.G. Remix)
4. The Black Death (F.O.O.L Remix)
5. The Black Death (Baroque Remix)
6. The Black Death (Dumme Jungs Remix)
04. We heard that you are working on material for a new album. Do you want to tell us about it?
I’m really excited about this new album I’m working on. Everything on it feels great so far and 4 tracks are already finished. A music video for the first single will be out some time in spring and it will be off the fucking hook!
05. You have quite a few remixes scheduled for release in 2011. Do you prefer writing original tracks or remixing?
That really depends on the situation. When I have a project like my upcoming album I focus all my energy on that and set the remixing aside. But on the other hand when I don’t have an album to work on remixing is really fun.
I love doing both but as you could figure I can be more proud of my originals since it’s 100% me.
06. You have been chosen as ”Unsigned Hype of the month” by Kissy Sellout on BBC Radio 1 in the UK. When was this and how did it happen?
This was early in my career right about the time when I was releasing “Comorbid” and the track was “Machines Wash” which wasn’t even featured on the album. But Kissy contacted me and said that he wanted to play the track on his radio show on BBC Radio 1. So of course I sent it to him, haha. He also had me in his top ten tracks to play out for like 2 months. I thank him for that!
07. What would you say is your biggest music achievement/highlight so far?
Probably when I got to replace Uffie on the Ed Banger night at one of Sweden’s biggest festivals.
08. What are your influences/music backgrounds? Have you ever played in a metal band?
No I haven’t played in any band but I did listen to a lot of hardcore metal bands when I was younger.
But it was actually hiphop that got me where I am today. I started making hardcore hiphop beats for rappers and instrumental ones back in school. Then I tried out a really cool software synth one day and I just loved playing it.
09. Do you prefer working only with computers/sequencers or do you get your hands dirty playing and recording instruments? Do you use samples and what’s your opinion on sampling and copyright?
When I made hiphop beats I sampled a lot of old records and I’m totally ok with doing that. It’s hard though when you’re releasing something because of the laws about copyright in samples. Everything has to be cleared or else you could get in BIG trouble.
When I make music now I hardly ever sample anything. And if I do so I manipulate that sound so much that you can never hear where it came from.
10. Do you use analogue equipment or do you prefer keeping everything “in the box”?
I use my analogue synthesizers and mix/master in the computer. Love the feeling of hardware!
My sound was built with analogue equipment!
11. Being a one man band can be difficult sometimes. Do you ever feel creatively “stuck” in the studio?
No, not really. I love making music on my own. I like being in control.
12. So, what is music for you and what do you think about the way the music industry is changing?
I think the change is good. Every kid with a computer can make beats nowadays. That creates competition and competition is very important for our music to evolve and for new genres to arise.
13. What do you think about today’s mainstream music?
I don’t think anything of it. I don’t listen to it. It all sounds the same to me.
14. Do you believe that an electronic music artist can earn his/her living from music nowadays?
Yes I think so. If the artist gets big enough to tour and make money on live shows.
15. Are you signed with any record label? Any future plans? (live shows, release, remix etc)
As I said I’m making my debut release on Dga Fäu Records. I know this label will rise in 2011. We’ve got big things going on! And for me I have a lot of offers for live shows coming in. I just signed the first one and I will announce it soon enough. It’s not in Sweden though is all I can say.
You can look forward to “The Black Death EP”, Owl Vision’s new album, more really exciting remixes and a lot of live shows this year!
16. What are you listening to lately? Any tracks/artists you recommend?
I’ve had this track stuck in my head for a month now. I really love it so it’s not stuck in an annoying way.
It’s one of the best tracks ever made in my opinion:
Venus Infers – Goodbye Horses
17. It looks like you are producing music all the time! What do you like doing when not in the studio?
I have a little nerd in me so I love playing video games and watching movies. I also travel whenever I get the chance to!
18. What do you think about the Metalectro blog and the music featured on it?
I think the Metalectro blog is a really good initiative. People need to hear this type of music! The blog is great, otherwise I wouldn’t be doing this inteview, haha!
19. Something else you’d like to mention and we forgot to ask?
Nope, that’s about it!