This week we interviewed Tim Tonik, a name featured on Metalectro a few times already and becoming a regular recently with his remixes. Tim Tonik is based in Germany and his hard banging electro style and trashy attitude has been definitely been granting him the recognition he certainly deserves as one of the most uncompromised up & coming hard electro producers. So, let’s see what his plans are for thi9s last month of 2012 and of course what we should be expecting from him in 2013!
1. Hi Tim! Would you mind introducing yourself?
Hey! My name is Tim Tonik and I’m a 19 years young Electro-Trash producer/DJ from Hamburg, Germany.
2. How long are you producing as Tim Tonik and how would you describe your music?
I started to produce under the name Tim Tonik around mid 2011. My music is a result of influences and inspiration drawn by many kinds of music, such as Metal, Punk and other heavy genres, combined with trashy electro basslines and rounded off by some synthesizer melodies, leads or orchestral parts. I would say it’s trashy, heavy and modern.
3. You were recently a winner in the remix competition for Un:Code’s “The Outlaws” and some other ones as well if I’m not mistaken. How does it feel to be the winner and would you think winning in these contests will help Tim Tonik grow?
Yeah, to get straight to the point, this year I have won every remix contest in which I participated. It’s a great feeling to win contests and I think a remix-contest is a good way to learn and also to grow! Many people are giving you attention when you’ve made a nice remix. I think the contests were a big step for me in order to grab some attention and be heard from some people out there and also to develop my own sound!
Un:Code’s “The Outlaws” (Tim Tonik Remix)
4. You have been featured here with your remixes more than a few times recently, Deterimnators (feat Circe) “A Byte Of The New Ultra”, Asian Trash Boy “Milf Shake”, to name a few. Would you say you prefer writing your own tracks or remixing and why?
I mostly prefer to produce my own tracks because it’s the only way to make exactly the music I want to make. Only this way I can input into a track all the inspiration and ideas I have. I also like to come up with remixes though, especially if I like the artist and the original track!
Deterimnators (feat Circe) “A Byte Of The New Ultra” (Tim Tonik Remix)
Asian Trash Boy – Milf Shake (Tim Tonik Remix)
5. What would you say is your biggest music achievement/highlight so far?
Oh… I have to think a little but I think it’s that I reached my current status as a producer/artist in a very short time. I had many gigs with bigger artists I also like and listen to, for example: Belzebass, Haezer and Wasa3i. It’s really cool to meet them backstage and talk about music, drink beer and all that stuff!
6. Most embarrassing/disappointing moment? In regard to your music always…
Easy answer! Waiting! I hate waiting in general for anything, it sucks when something important is delayed just because some people don’t check/reply their mails and/or miss deadlines! It’s disappointing how some people handle such things so loosely.
7. You are currently working on an EP as well if I’m not mistaken. Tell us a few things about it…
Ah great, good topic change! I finished my EP last summer and it will be out end of this year on Jet Set Trash. I can’t wait for the release! It will be titled “Still No Commercial Music”, will include 4 originals and 4 remixes (one for each original) and will sound typically “Tim Tonik – Electro Trash”. From synthesizer melodies, stomping drops and orchestral parts to my signature basslines! Everything will be included in it, be prepared for destruction! More info and details about it coming soon, stay tuned!
8. Did you ever played in any rock/punk/metal bands and are you involved in any other projects at the moment?
No, sadly I never played in a band! I’m not a very good guitar or bass player and I definitely don’t have the voice I would have wanted to be do vocals either… haha! And being a drummer isn’t really what I want! I want to be able to influence the music more than just being a drummer. I do work together with a band called Declare Your Funeral though, all of them are friends of mine and I really like these guys! I also did a remix of their Track “Amnesia” which is included on their album “Truth Is What Connects Us”. So when I want some heavy and hard vocals I always ask their vocalist Mats Miersen!
Declare Your Funeral – Amnesia (Tim Tonik Remix)
9. You have been playing a few shows as well lately and also played alongside Wasa3i a few weeks ago. How was that as an experience? Is Wasa3i the monster and killer king everybody should be afraid of after all?
It’s always great to play alongside bigger artists. I always hear new music and also learn some new things and skills for playing a great set. It’s also cool to chill with the artists backstage! We can exchange information, listen to some new music and drink some beer! And of course it’s always a good feeling to get some positive feedback from them hear that they also like my work!
Wasa3i is the monster himself! He played a great Dj-Set which destroyed the dancefloor and I really like his own tracks and productions as well!
10. 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?
I produce all my tracks on my pc with a sequencer. When I want to have some analog stuff then I record it. I think the best way to be creative is to combine analog with digital. I plan on buying some new analog synthesizers soon though because I want to be more creative with creating new sounds and melodies. Currently I just use digital synthesizers with my midi-keyboard and sometimes some recorded guitars and vocals but I want to make my sound bigger, harder and better so I will change some things in my production style very soon.
Sampling really depends on what and how you’re sampling it. If you’re making a complete new sound with the sample it’s okay imo. But sampling or stealing whole parts or melodies is not creative and that’s a good reason for copyright. Actually I just use my own sounds except some fx and drum samples from my synths and vst’s.
11. Do you ever run out of creative ideas when producing/remixing?
Yeah for sure! I think any producer has sometimes a creative block but I can overcome that fast when I listen to some good new music and can draw some inspiration and new ideas from it. When I can’t finish a track I never leave it for more than a month. I just start a new project / track and try get back on it again later.
12. What is music for you and what do you think about the way the music industry is changing?
Music is my life! Music is my business! In this order. I changed my life completely since I made music for many more people than 2 hands can. I realized that I’m currently in a music-scene which is full of unknown talented musicians. I think the Electro Trash culture and scene has to grow! There are just a few producers who are well known. The reason for that is that the people are blinded by the big EDM scene and just want to listen to well known names or dubstep imo. The music industry is a big bunch of shit. It’s all about money and big names. Not really my style or attitude.
13. What do you think about today’s mainstream music? Do you agree with Haezer’s “Commercial Music Is Dead” or not and why?
I don’t think exactly like this. I think there will always be commercial music but I don’t care about it! I don’t like it and i don’t listen to it. I will never start to produce techno just because it’s actually mainstream!
There will always be people trying to make music only to please the masses! I wish the people out there who listen to all that edm influenced mainstream charts will start showing some more interest to underground music… There will always be a song or artist who’s great and never be in the tv or radio! And maybe you have a new favourite song or artist after that.
14. Do you believe that an electronic music artist can earn his/her living from music nowadays?
I think it’s not easy but it’s possible. Music sales are not big anymore in a time of internet-piracy and illegal sharing of music! So an artist has to earn his money through gigs and festivals. To get enough bookings so that the artist can earn good money many people have to like and listen to his music, so many producers change their style to get more and more fans. I personally don’t like that! I prefer to be myself and be 100% Tim Tonik and I want to get through to my fans with that what I do.
15. What other plans do you have for the rest of 2012 besides the release of your debut EP? (live shows, releases, remixes, etc)
I will concentrate on new projects atm and will not play live until next year. That’s the current plan at least, maybe I’ll agree on some gigs shortly for December but I’m not sure yet. I want to play more new music and more Tim Tonik originals next year and I think it’ll be a great start for 2013! Upcoming releases after my EP are some remixes for Lisseman, Dizkodeath, MUST?CHE! and a few more! But I think not all remixes will be released this year. I think that I’ve had enough remixes for this year (laughing)! I’m already working on my follow up EP as well and that will sound sort of like “Tim Tonik 2.0”. You should be curious and be looking forward to 2013!
16. What are you listening to lately? Any tracks/artists you recommend?
There are a few great artists I listen to! Atm I mostly listen to MIMK (Medusa In My Knickers) a great combination of dubstep drum & bass and electro with Metal influences! My 2 favorite tracks right now are Queen of Vandalism – We are Freakshit (Dj Antention Remix)”, the original is a perfect fit to Dj Antention’s style & sound and the 2nd is “Jaw Drop” by South Central (feat. Sean Smith)! Absolutely awesome track and vocals!
Queen of Vandalism – We Are Freakshit (Dj Antention Remix)
South Central – Jaw Drop
In addition I always listen to Hardcore and Metalcore bands like Billy The Kid, DEEZ NUTS and Emmure, so a bit of those too. It’s a good and heavy alternative to all the electronic music.
17. If you could pick any artist you want to collaborate and spend some hours/days in the studio with, whom would you pick?
Definitely The Bloody Beetroots even if I don’t like their latest stuff as much! I love the older tracks though and they’ve been a big influence for me! They have a big spectrum of cool styles and I like the rhythmic individuality combined with the hard grooves, heavy basslines and nice melodies! Otherwise, I would compromise with meeting Drivepilot and talking about producing basslines. He’s a genius when it comes to distortion imo!
18. What do you like doing when not in the studio? What’s your favorite hobby besides music and how is a regular day in the life of Tim Tonik when not producing music?
I like to make graphics for flyers or drawing illustrations! I also like attending Deathcore and Hardcore gigs and skateboarding, although there isn’t much time left for it atm. And I’m also a student! In the afternoons I study and try to p
ut some time into the regular private/social life things. But only when I don’t have to do music things! 😉
I think my friends also realize and understand that but that’s my life! That’s me!
19. What do you think about the Metalectro blog and the music featured on it?
Metalectro is the best blog for people who love hard electronic music! There is always a track I must have! I’m always happy to be blogged here since the first time! It’s a pleasure for me. Metalectro is one of the biggest influences for me and my music. I mostly get my music from here and check out all new stuff and that was happening long before I was blogged here for the first time. That’s the reason why I’m happy to be a part of it in any way I can!
20. Anything else you’d like to mention and we forgot to ask?
Let’s help the Electro Trash scene grow! We still don’t like commercial music!
I have to thank all the people who have been helping Tim Tonik grow!
Cheers,
Tim Tonik
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