After fifteen years producing music on the electro duo Digitaria, releasing on labels as Items and Things, Gigolo Records and Hot Creations and playing in every corner of the planet, now Daniel Watts is a solo artist, releasing music on his own label Clash Lion (co-owned by Terr and Shall Ocin). He has a full EP on the label as well as remixes done to artists like Third Son ft. Anii and Terr.
The concept now is to break rules and barriers to achieve new sonic and aesthetic results, mixing techno and electro with a wide range of experiments, using different and innovative techniques. Instead of working with formulas, Daniel Watts tries to bring back the philosophy of the pioneers of electronic music (and the futurists of the beginning of the 20th century) and the fathers of Techno in the 80s, always trying to push barriers and create new sounds and textures with any kind of possible sound source, like TB303s, old VHS tapes, scrap iron, Commodore computers, altered analog synths and cassete portastudios from the 80s.
Electronic Groove: What’s your real name, and where were you born?
Daniel Watts: My real name is Daniel Watts and I was born in Belo Horizonte, a city in Brazil in the middle of nowhere.
EG: Describe your music in 3 words?
Daniel Watts: Obsessive, fragmented and retro-futuristic.
EG: Where are you based?
Daniel Watts: Between Barcelona and Berlin.
EG: What labels have you released on in your career?
Daniel Watts: As Daniel Watts I am just releasing on Clash Lion, the label I founded with my friends Terr and Shall Ocin. But in past artistic incarnations I’ve released music on a lot of different labels, from Gigolo to Hot Creations, from Items and Things to Jeudi.
EG: Can you tell us 3 artists you aspire to/have influenced you?
Daniel Watts: Brian Eno, Front242 and Kraftwerk.
EG: How long have you been producing music? What was your first signed release?
Daniel Watts: My first experiments were in the ’90s, with drum machines, tape recorders, guitar amplifiers, portastudios… I had to make music with whatever I had available. My first “official” release was in 2006, a single and an album with Digitaria on Gigolo Records.
“Don’t copy what is selling today, do your own stuff”
EG: Three things you can’t live without on the road when touring?
Daniel Watts: iPad to read books, eye mask/earplugs to be able to sleep everywhere and a telephone with tons of music to listen to.
EG: Can you tell us about your next release?
Daniel Watts: My next release is a track on our first Clash Lion compilation. It’s called ‘Consciousness Chemical Control’ and I used a lot of different instruments to make it, from Moog synths to synthesized vocals. The other artists on this compilation are my labelmate and friend Shall Ocin, Fairmont (of whom I am a longtime fan) and this new big talent called no_ip that makes great music. I am really happy with this compilation, great music with great people.
EG: One piece of advice you can give to other aspiring producers?
Daniel Watts: Try to find your own inner sound. Don’t copy what is selling today, do your own stuff. There are already a lot of people doing the same thing, just be yourself and have fun.
Follow Daniel Watts: Facebook | Soundcloud
