Photo Credit: Katja Ruge
Stepping onto the world stage with their 2005 club-conquering single ‘Rej’, the German duo of Frank Wiedemann and Kristian Beyer have evolved continuously since, challenging club-goers’ expectations with their conceptually driven and thoroughly visceral music. The duo is also known for crafting emotional anthems, strumming at your heartstrings with their cinematic single ‘Tatischeff’ and their glowing and nearly ubiquitous remix of ‘Howling’. The members of Âme often perform separately, with Beyer on DJ duties and Wiedemann playing live sets, though recent Âme II Âme gigs find them dissolving the boundaries between those formats. Âme are also primary partners of the many-armed Innervisions label/collective with Dixon, fostering the future of house with carefully selected releases, all-encompassing live events, and their own boutique shop, all solidifying the connection between the artists and their admirers.
Now, flaunting their lauded production aesthetic, German pair Âme take control of the dance floor with their take on mOat’s ‘Paradise’. Helmed by an edgy offbeat bassline, organ-like synths, and a near-utopian vocal presence, this remix is a blissful soundscape just begging to be explored.
We caught up with Âme’s own Kristian Beyer in a very special extended interview to learn more about the work behind their remix for mOat’s ‘Paradise’, his views on the future of music, Innervisions, business techno, relationships, and much more.
EG: Hi Kristian, we’re very happy to have you welcome to EG. So how, how have you been, how has your year been so far?
Kristian from Âme: Good, good. At the start of the year, I was in New York and Miami, Mexico, and then a couple of weeks of rest, and now it starts slowly again. February, March…It seems everything is all back up and running in Europe again. So, yeah, we’re ready!
EG: We were very happy to know that everything is starting to pick up again and that artists are getting back into the rhythm once again. And now, you’re on the remix duties of mOat’s ‘Paradise’ via Armada Records, which is quite a rare sighting nowadays, right?
Kristian from Âme: Yeah. We’re quite picky when it comes to remixes, (laughs).
EG: Haha, we understand perfectly. By the way, phenomenal remix. We really liked it, and it really took us back to the ‘Howling’-era. It has some of that haunting ambiance. So, what was it about the original tune that you found compelling enough to remix?
Kristian: In this case, it was mainly the vocal. I think it was the only stem we used. I have an old-school approach to what a remix is. For us, the idea is to remix, I don’t know… a soul track, a funk track, or a pop track. We don’t see much sense in remixing a dance track that was already built for the club. Why should we remix a dance track? It’s already a dance track. So, that doesn’t really work for us.
When we heard the vocal, we thought: “Okay, yeah, with this, we can do something”. Also, last year there was a long lockdown. There were a couple of remix offers we got, and we actually ended up doing 5 or 6 during that long break. But, for all of them, it’s the same. We only do it if we think we can add something, or make a different version from the original. We have a label too, and we never ask for remixes. Never. So we try to release a dance track that is good enough on its own. It doesn’t need a ribbon on top to help promote or push it. I just don’t think it’s the original purpose of a remix.
EG: It makes sense… What really caught our eye about mOat and, and ‘Paradise’, is the fact that there’s very little information available floating around on the internet. How did you come across this particular track?
Kristian from Âme: Uh, I mean, I also don’t know anything about them! (laughs). We are all in the dark here, and you know, maybe it’s better to not know too much about the original. I think it came through the label…and our assistant, who is always listening to a lot of stuff: “Hey, maybe you should check this one out”.
So that was it. We heard it, and agreed… the label told us we needed to finish it for this particular date, that these were the conditions, the tracks, etc. They sent over the vocal stems, and away we went. But, other than that, I really don’t know anything about mOat. I’ve heard they have a lot of projects coming up, and that’s the beginning of their career. But that’s it.
EG: A little mystery never hurt anybody. So how did the studio sessions come along for this particular track? Was it all smooth sailing for you and Frank?
Kristian from Âme: Yeah. When we have an idea of where it should go, then it always comes along very swiftly. So for this one, we knew what we were getting ourselves into. It was quite clear. We had the vocal, so we would play on how to arrange it, asking: “what kind of backing track would be a good fit?”. They were quite easy-going and natural sessions, and it didn’t take too long. Maybe just three or four sessions.
EG: Speaking about the studio, you’ve been locked up with Frank for over 20 years now, right? That’s a long time. How does one keep the communication flowing?
Kristian from Âme: Well, it’s hasn’t been a continuous, non-stop thing. Luckily…not the WHOLE time. I would look very different. Or maybe one of us would be dead already, or lost, or something! (laughs). No, but seriously…We do have periods where we work very closely together, and then some, we just take breaks. I have to take care of the label, publishing, distribution…And Frank also has a lot of projects, so we never really reached a point where we were getting on each other’s nerves.
EG: (Laughter) That’s great to know because we really like Âme…
Kristian from Âme: Haha! I promise there will be Âme around for another twenty more years! We got a very good base to be around for a while.
EG: After 20 years or more, one could say it’s almost like a relationship… So how do you keep things fresh? Don’t people start to assume things, just like in a couple? If you spend too much time together, don’t you start to assume things that might just not be like that?
Kristian from Âme: As I’ve said, we have periods where we don’t see each other that often. So it was never really an issue. We are still good friends, our families, kids. We’re more like brothers by now. Also, Frank doesn’t have any direct family anymore, so I am like a replacement for them. I am the last one surviving from that past. And, we really enjoy talking to each other. We’re a team, it’s not a competition for us.
EG: We understand. You said you sometimes take a break or catch some perspective, right? You separate yourself for a bit, and we saw another interview where you mentioned how crucial this is to producing music as well. To be able to take a step back and get some perspective. So how do you do it? Do you just leave the piece sitting for a long time and then come back? Do you have a particular exercise?
Kristian from Âme: If the process is somehow stuck, yeah. Or, you know, not moving forward. That’s the best thing you can do. And, even sometimes, that’s the only thing you can do. It’s like a painter with painting and he doesn’t know where to go. So put the canvas away and move on to the next one. And maybe, over the next weeks, months…You’re like, “Ah! let’s go back to the old one, or use it in a new way”.
For example, you talked about the ‘Howling’ remix. And back in the days, I remember that we were working on that particular remix, and we were totally stuck. It was going nowhere. And then we both said: “Do you remember that half a year ago, we did another remix and we threw it away? Let’s just go back to that one”. And we just tried it, slipped it under the vocal, and behold…the ‘Howling’ remix was finished.
“For us, the idea is to remix, I don’t know.. a soul track, a funk track, or a pop track. We don’t see much sense in remixing a dance track that was already built for the club. Why should we remix a dance track? It’s already a dance track”
EG: That is amazing. Incredible how stepping back for a little bit can turn your whole world upside down. Right?
Kristian from Âme: Yeah, yeah. We were like, “Oh, it fits! It’s the same key, the same everything!”. It was perfect, and a good example of recycling.
EG: Inspiration. Is it important? Is it overrated? Do you have certain creative routines that you do for inspiration or is it just life happening?
Kristian from Âme: I think the inspiration comes not from listening to other music, but from life itself, you know? It comes from somewhere else, from ordinary life, what you are doing by yourself. Looking at art, watching a great movie, living life, having a family. It’s more about that. Of course, when we started making music, we had our idols, for sure. The godfathers of house music, or whatever, and we were looking up to them. But nowadays, we are not the youngest at the bar anymore…and I believe that daily inspiration is much more important than anything else.
EG: We really like that outlook on things. In another interview, we heard this bit where you’re talking about having fun with what you do. You said that it’s essential to “laugh with the job that you have in this business too”. Of course, you’re talking about enjoying it and keeping it fresh and interesting. Does it become harder at some point when you start growing, and you have all these commitments, and all these contracts, and all these things that you have to comply with? How do you find the balance to keep it fresh and keep it fun for yourself, while still being able to step up to all those commitments?
Kristian from Âme: I mean, it’s related to what we said before, definitely. Also, over the years, we now have people working for us… taking away a big amount of the regular work we need to do on a daily basis, like all the bureaucracy. So we have much more time every day for ourselves. And yeah, it depends on what you are doing here. If you get bored easily, or if you are interested in the things happening around you. We are living in such an interesting city here, there’s so much stuff you can do, try, talk to people…Inspiration and enjoyment come from everywhere. You can get crazy talking to some people about the future of the internet, or AI taking over electronic music, you name it. So, I’m really happy right now. We have nice company, I make music with friends, I travel a lot, have a nice family, great friends… so I never get bored.
EG: So, there’s the balance right there. Speaking about commitments, you actually once studied to become a civil engineer, is that right?
Kristian from Âme: Yeah, that is right! An architect.
EG: Have you ever considered eventually going back and finishing your studies?
Kristian from Âme: No. Not really. I mean, I didn’t have a second where I could think about it, because you know, I went into my career, and I never really wanted to be a traveling DJ or something like that. It just happened. So when I was finishing my studies, I already was, working in this business. I was relatively successful. So it never got to the point where…
EG: Yeah. You actually never really wanted to see what could have happened there…
Kristian from Âme: And nowadays, after 20 years of being your own boss it’s hard to imagine going back, you know? So, I don’t think I will! (laughs)
EG: Since we’re on your background… You’re from Mannheim, right? Which is quickly associated with Time Warp and techno music. So, how did your first interactions with electronic dance music come about? Do you remember?
Kristian from Âme: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. We started with Time Warp, and I was there, at the first one, in 1994. I still remember that one. I was a raving kid. And the guy who was doing the Time Warp was a very, very old friend of mine. We all come from the same neighborhood and backgrounds. Also, in the 90s, Berlin was not the techno-epicenter that is today. Munich, Cologne, West Germany… that’s where things were happening. Berlin became that center after the 00s. Not before. All my friends went to techno parties, clubs and there was no escape from that, you know? When I was 16, 17 I would go to these warehouse parties where this guy, Ricardo Villalobos, was playing. You might have heard of him, haha!
EG: So you were right there in the epicenter of history. Since you actually had a chance to witness that and compared it to modern days… What do you think of the current state of the scene? Where do you think we could improve?.
Kristian from Âme: Well, you can always improve. But I must say that actually the last couple of years reminded me of the beginning because what was so unique about it was that there were no genres or boundaries. It was a techno party with breaks, gabba, trance, everything rolled up together. For many years now, I’ve seen a separation. “This is a house DJ, this is a techno DJ, this is a trance DJ”...and I have the feeling that over the last years, everything is coming back together. So the gap between the techno DJ, the trance DJ…it’s getting smaller.
EG: Since we’re on this topic, have you heard about the term business techno?
Kristian from Âme: (Laughter) Yes!
“NFTs will stay here because they can also be smart contracts that help to organize stuff better than before. But no, it won’t change the music industry. It won’t change the music. It makes things easier. Like technology always does, and safer. It’s just another act”
EG: Do you think maybe we’ve come a bit too far, in terms of things being “just about the music”?
Kristian from Âme: Nah, I…You know, I think that it has always been the same.
EG: It was always the same?
Kristian from Âme: Yeah. It was always the same. Even in the nineties, the music was much bigger. It was mainstream. Of course, it has become a business. But, there’s also still so much funding there and I would not blame the artists, you know? I even was asked once if I was behind the whole ‘Business Teschno’ page because it must be somebody from Berlin.
First of all, I don’t have time for that. And yeah, I also don’t see things in such a negative light. Maybe they are right at some point, but it’s also a little bit…too much, you know? The whole thing at the moment is more negative than positive, and the truth is that the situation we are in now is much better than 20 years ago, 50 years ago, 100 years ago. You can go back and back on this. There are still things to improve, but I think we have made a lot of progress.
EG: Do you think that we are consuming music too fast in this day and age? That, you know, everything has to be like NOW, and you put out a track and that track lasts for two weeks, and then people get hooked on the next thing…
Kristian from Âme: I think that was also the same back in the days. Today it’s just all the different kinds of media, you know…but it used to be like, “There’s the next vinyl coming, and the next vinyl coming, and…”. That is also in human nature, you know? If I do too much of something, I’ll move on to the next one, and then the next one…Of course, social media, the internet changed things, because, back in the days, we had to look for that and now everything is easily available. All the knowledge and all the history. We had to find out who was the guy behind this strange black record, and there was nothing written on it. “Oh, it’s coming from Detroit”. OK, but who are the artists? Who are they and what they are doing? Nowadays, you just have to click and you have the whole Wikipedia!
EG: You were actually talking about the future of music, which we think is pretty cool. Do you think NFTs will contribute to, to that too? That fast-consuming face that we have? What do you think about NFTs?
Kristian from Âme: I think it’s just another medium. It doesn’t change the music, really. I think NFTs are here to stay because they can also be smart contracts that help to organize stuff better than before. But no, it won’t change the music industry. It makes things easier. Like technology always does, and safer. It’s just another act. We have used them too. We did one last year, but I think we will use it more in terms of contracts for the future. Smart contracts. In that sense, this is definitely an addition.
EG: You were talking a bit about what the future of electronic music looks like to you. Do you think it will be all digital? I mean, there are a lot of brands that are already trying to get people to invest in an online avatar to go to an online festival. So are we going to be spending all our money on digital things to have a digital life or,..?
Kristian from Âme: This will definitely be a part of our future life. But I think you’ll have a niche for everything. You will still have the vinyl lovers. You will still have old-school people with a different mindset. I would say it’s more of an addition to what we actually have, but also, it won’t bring any new music. It’s just another take, it’s a technological addition to the currently existing state. And we are not against it. Of course, we will probably do something with that, but it won’t erase the physical aspect. During the lockdowns, you could see just how much people needed that physical interaction, the face-to-face, the sweat. It’s not the same. The future technology may perfectly replicate sweat and warmth, but it’s not the same.
EG: So, where is Innervisions at right now? What does the future of Innervisions look like?
Kristian: (Laughter) That’s a good question. I don’t see into the future that much. I don’t know. We keep working day by day, trying to have a look around us, and it’s been 10 years like that. It’s just a day-by-day thing.
EG: What advice would you deem vital to running an ethical, successful label in today’s electronic landscape?
Kristian from Âme: I don’t know! (laughter). Going back to what I said before, we are a good team, with a good mindset. Not fighting, but having discussions together, sharing different opinions, respecting them, and learning from each other. That’s fundamental, I would say.
EG: We know that you don’t listen to electronic music at home. So what music do you listen to?
Kristian from Âme: All kinds of music. From Stockhausen to King Tubby. Lee Perry to Coltrane. I’m listening to weird music. At least that’s what my daughter would say!
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EG: That’s a great definition of good music! How has music aided in your development as a human being? What does music mean to you?
Kristian from Âme: I mean, I would not be myself without music. Nor would my friends. I think I get moody if I don’t listen to music, you know? It’s everywhere in my surroundings. Even if there’s no music, there’s the sound of the city, the nature, the sound of a household, or the ‘sound of silence’, as John Cage would say… I can’t imagine my life without it.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Kristian! We look forwards to dancing to Âme’s remix of mOat’s ‘paradise’ on the dancefloor!
Kristian from Âme: See you soon! Take care!
Âme’s remix of mOat’s ‘Paradise’ is out now via Armada Electronic Elements. Purchase your copy here.
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