After months of work, Teho s second album ‘Infinity’ is now available via his own Labo T. imprint. Through this new project, Teho wants to explore dimensions and space through the concept of ‘Infinity’. Throughout 11 tracks, the new album is intended to be an unlimited exploration into different and eclectic musical universes. Melancholic, dreamy, and imaginative, but also crossing the artist’s sensitivity and delicacy with the energy and power of his catchy beats and his powerful synths. In addition, Teho invited the artists Joris Delacroix, Aalson, Ceas, and Mashk to make four tracks in collaboration and give another perspective for each of those specks. ‘Infinity’ is a perfect combination between feelings, colors, intensities, and shows once again the plurality of Teho s musical universe, as well as the infinite possibility of renewing himself in his way of producing music.
EG caught up with Teho to learn more about the release of his sophomore album, ‘Infinity’, the process behind the album, the artwork, its reception, and what the future holds in store for him.
EG: Hello Teho! It’s a true pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been? Where are you right now? How’s everything over there?
Teho: Thanks for having me again on Electronic Groove! I just went back home after the album release party in Montpellier with a lot of positive vibes 🙂
EG: Congratulations on the release of your sophomore album, ‘Infinity’! What was the initial reception been like so far?
Teho: I’m very happy about all the feedback I received on the album. A lot of artists and media outlets supported the release. I also received many messages from my fans and the release party at Rockstore was amazing as well. The crowd was on fire, so I feel very good right now!
EG: So, what is ‘Infinity’ all about, creatively? Is there an underlying concept tying the whole album together? What does this record mean to you?
Teho: When the pandemic started, I had the feeling that everything could be ephemeral, that everything could stop at any time, but above all, I felt that we were just like a grain of sand in an infinitely big universe. When we look at it on a global scale, we live in an era that is only a tiny moment, a fraction of time over a period that may seem infinite to us. I liked this idea of putting time and space in perspective, so I’ve made my album around that concept of infinity.
I produced almost all of the album during the quarantines/ restrictions, so all the feelings I’ve been through when I was stuck at home or unable to perform are in the album. And they were truly different, day by day. Sometimes I felt hopeless, sometimes happy, sometimes frustrated, etc… I think this album reflects a large diversity of my emotions.
EG: And musically, what will fans of Teho find on ‘Infinity’?
Teho: I think they will find the whole Teho color palette. Some tracks are melodic techno, which is the music I mainly make, but also some downtempo/electronica tracks like I made a few times in the past. It was also important to me to share all my honest emotions, so I hope my fans will feel them while listening to ‘Infinity’.
“When the pandemic started, I had the feeling that everything could be ephemeral, that everything could stop at any time, but above all, I felt that we were just like a grain of sand in an infinitely big universe”
EG: How long did ‘Infinity’ take to record? In which ways did it push you as an artist? How is it different from your first solo album?
Teho: It took more than one year to produce all the tracks. I made way more than 11, but I needed to select only the best ones for the album. Starting producing new music with the idea to make an album in mind, always pushes me to take risks and to try to renew myself with new sounds and new technics, but at the same time, to stay faithful to myself and my style.
When I did ‘Polytone’, my first album, I wanted to make an album with influences and instruments from all over the world. ‘Infinity’ is the exact opposite, I only used electronic instruments and synthesizers (except the piano with Mashk in ‘Back Home’). ‘Infinity’ is the continuity of ‘Polytone’, but the color of the sound is different, more electric, and more electronic.
EG: There’s also a number of eye-catching collaborations on ‘Infinity’. What was that process like? Were you able to meet up in person for all of them?
Teho: They are all good friends so it was natural that I would ask them to participate in my album. The idea was to let them re-interpret the ‘Infinity’ concept with their own touch. I decided to meet them in their own studio to produce the tracks, with the exception of Mashk. I really wanted to do it like this because it took me out of my comfort zone, it was the best option to renew myself. And at the end of the album production, I wanted to add a “piano track”. So I asked Mashk to write me a piano piece. He sent me the audio and I produced the rest in my studio.
EG: What would you guys say is the perfect setting to listen to ‘Infinity’ from start to finish?
Teho: I think the strength of this album is that you can listen to it anywhere, anytime. You can chill at home and listen to it quietly, but also in the club at full volume. But everyone will choose their own way to listen to it in a perfect setting.
EG: We know that there’s a chemical process in Labo T.’s distinct artworks. What was the process like for this one? Did you seek to convey something in particular?
Teho: With my graphic designer, we worked for so long on the graphics around the album. It was really important for us to create a new graphic identity around ‘Infinity’. All singles were connected by the process of epoxy resin and the colors we chose. And also, we used an “infinity process” for all the animations we shared, something we were to loop endlessly, so it fits perfectly with the theme of the album.
“I think the strength of this album is that you can listen to it anywhere, anytime”
EG: What else can we expect from Teho & Labo T. in the near future? What new milestones are you looking out for in the coming months? Are there plans to present ‘Infinity’ in a live setting?
Teho: Some remixes from amazing artists are already confirmed on the album which will be released in the next months. I presented my new ‘Inifinity’ at the album release party where I played all tracks of the album. I was a bit nervous to play some of those tracks because I felt like they were not optimized for the dancefloor, but in the end, the reactions were so great so I will play it without any changes for my next gigs.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Teho! We wish you all the best for the future!
Teho: Thanks a lot Electronic Groove for being so supportive of my music! Talk to you soon!
Teho’s ‘Infinity’ is now available via his own Labo T. imprint. Purchase your copy here.
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