I’ve been creating some music with Tom Carpenter. He’s the man behind the wonderful Analogue Solutions synths and modules. He did an unexpected “nice” for me and printed my alias The Horrorist on his upcoming Spring Reverb modules. So I guess I broke some new here… yeah AS has a new Spring Reverb module coming up. If you follow Tom on Facebook you can also see his new very nice looking Telemark Keyboard. The first song we recorded is called “Forever for You” although we could change it to Cold Wave.. what do you think Tom? My friend Gabri is also doing a mix and there will be some other tracks. Samples coming soon…

“Your name is imortalised on the new spring reverb circuit board. hopefully it will be released in a few months!” – Tom Carpenter

For more info: thehorrorist.com and analoguesolutions.org.uk/v2/

The video for my song One Night in NYC has now over 1,000,000 views on Youtube. It’s a true story. I recorded it in my mother’s basement. I did the song live in just a couple of takes. I used a Roland TR-909 drum machine, Akai S950 sampler, Yamaha TX81z synthesizer, Mackie 1604 mixer, Shure SM58 microphone and Cubase on an Atari 1040ST. I simply muted/unmuted channels on the Mackie with one hand and the microphone in the other telling the story. I never thought much of the song and was embarrassed to play it for people I knew because it was so freaky. In 1996 I offered it to a bunch of labels at the time who all turned the song down (sorry Lenny). I started my own label (Things to Come Records) and released it. In 2001 Chris Liebing flew to New York and convinced me to let him do a remix. He gathered many other remixers and the track went to #1 on the German charts for many weeks. Warner Brothers picked it up and shot the video above at The Limelight. Live life, be inspirired… it’s the only way to make songs that will connect with a lot of people.

“Hello, my name is Oliver and I’m going to tell you a story. It’s about a young girl… She’s only fifteen years old and has blonde hair and blue eyes.” – The Horrorist

For more info: thehorrorist.com

I was interviewed for Industrial/EBM web portal Side-Line. If your into this type of music the forums are a great place to hang out.

“Chesler, who lives in New York, released a new album this year, “Joyless Pleasure”. You may expect the remixed version of it to be soon out as well. In between recording sessions we asked him a couple of questions…” – side-line.com

Read the full interview: side-line.com/id=47205_0_2_0_C

Robert Snelten sent me a Facebook message showing me his Things to Come Records cake. While it has some issues I’m honored. Thank you Robert!

“Dumbest idea ever……..Musicians should NEVER bake pies ! Congrats with the remixalbum though.” — Robert Snelten

For more info: thingstocome.com

I am very proud to announce the release of Joyless Pleasure Remixed. Haujobb, Frank Kvitta, Phil J, Tomas Tulpe, Millimetric, Cute Heels, Acrosome, Rumpelfilter, Steinkind, Miss Duckin, Miro Pajic, Humandroid, Raytrace, Mac Vaughn, People Theatre, Johann Afterglow, Dom Dumoulin, Angst and Stamba have all created remixes. Everyone did a fantastic job. It’s available today on iTunes, Amazon and the Andtroid Marketplace. Next week it will be available on Beatport. So do tell me which mixes you like the best. The best way to support Wire to the Ear is to buy some of my music and/or click over to the places this release is for sale and give it a nice review and rating. I wish I could still fit into that grey suit and orange turtleneck.

“Joyless Pleasure is like a jewelry piece but in electronic music.” – morganistik.com

Available now: iTunes, Amazon, Android Market

Frank Kvitta is a well established german techno DJ and producer. I met Frank when I performed last summer in Spain at the Monegros Festival. He was in the same van traveling to the show from the hotel. We clicked, stayed in touch and next week we will release a monster techno EP called Electronic Pleasure. Frank knows everyone and was able to gather remixes from Ben Sims, DJ Rush, Patrick DSP, Dave the Drummer, Submerge, Alex Kvitta, Boris S, David Christop and more. To start the promotion here’s an interview to let you know a little but about who Frank is.

1. Let’s start with software. What DAW to you prefer and name three
plug-ins you can’t live without.

Hello Oliver, thank you for having me for your great blog. My favourite software for producing used to be fruity loops in the very beginning 10 years ago. After that i started using Reason for many years but i was never satisfied with the sound engine. Then i found Ableton Live and since i found it i use it the most or let´s say, only Ableton Live. I like the workflow and the functions. It´s superfast and easy to use and i can be very productive as i can just concentrate on making the beats and not concentrate how to make the beats. My Top plug ins i never want to miss anymore are the “Waves” of course, Nexus and the FM8 and some secret plug ins ;)

2. What is the oldest piece of hardware you have in your studio?

The oldest piece in my studio is my keyboard M-Audio Oxygen 8 hehe. I sold my old stuff long time ago already, as i just use digital software and some midi controllers and the Presonus digial mixer for productions.

3. When you have been working in the studio too long and you need to
take a 30 minute break what do you do?

Mostly i go outside (if it´s not too cold), have an espresso, do some phone calls, listen to different music (hip hop, rnb, 80´s) and then i go back to work. My ears need a break too, otherwise after too many hours you can´t concentrate anymore and everything sounds the same because ears get tired too.

4. Do you think DJing makes you a better producer? Do you grab loops
from records/tracks or always make your own beats?

I think without beeing a dj or performing in any other ways music, you can be a good producer too, but while you perform you have the chance to see reactions on specific sounds, breaks, melodys which inspire me again to do my next tracks. Also when you perform you have also a great feeling for music and beats which can be very usefull with producing too. It depends, sometimes i mash up loops and sample and cut things out to make new ones, sometimes i start all over and create my own sounds and loops. Really depends on which track i m doing and which style. And i have enough time for a track or not, deadlines are sometimes really tight hehe.

5. How many songs do you finish per month?

Well i can have days where i finish a whole track in about 3 hours from starting with the mainloop until the final arrangement. Sometimes it takes much longer, even days or weeks. IT depends always on the mood, creativity, ideas. If my head is full with ideas and i m in a great mood to produce i can be pretty fast. If those things are not given, thx god we can hit the save button and continue the next days.

6. If you found someone breaking into your music studio what would you
do to the person?

I would take him next to my side and show this person how much work and love and passion has been spent to create all these tracks on this computer and how hard it was to achieve a studio like this over all the years, then i would slap the shit out of him and call the police haha.

7. What is the best snack to have around while making music?

I always have a sandwhich with melted gouda cheese and a “BiFi Roll” and of course loads of drinks. I love snacks.

8. Do you think buying new gear and software helps with creativity
and/or inspiration?

Yes sure, always when i buy something new i get excited like a little kid and start playing around with the stuff and get always new ideas. I think everybody knows the feeling of getting something new and playing around with it.

9. If you were not a DJ/Producer what would be your profession?

hmmm good questions. to be honest i don´t really know. Probably still something with music. Sound engineering or selling hot dogs.

10. Tell us briefly what your master plan for world domination is in 2012.

I have many big plans for 2012. We plan enhanced music podcasts (which actually started already), alot of releases of other genres with new music partners (including you for example), expanding the bookings agency with more people, promote all of us more in the media again (videos, photos, tv) and many more which are my secrets and i can´t talk about them, otherwise this emails explodes and if you survive i have to kill you hehe…kidding…

For more info: frank-kvitta.net

I’m back from Malta and I had a superb time! For some reason the long travel didn’t phase me. I read a couple hundred pages of the Steve Jobs bio and watched some movies. Here’s my quick movie reviews… Contagion: I thought it would be better but still entertaining. A Better Life: Pretty good and makes you have a warm heart for Mexcian and S. American workers in the USA. Crazy, Stupid Love: Ryan Gosling is good inspiration for the gym and there’s a good enough romantic scene if your into that kind of thing (I am). Limitless: A strange pro-drug movie which is not all that great yet it’s stuck in my mind.

Now to the live show report. The club Tattingers was crowded and the stage area was very tight. You don’t need security in Malta with respect to violence however some crowd control would have been helpful. About half way through the set when I started to throw out some of the new stickers from the stage kids rushed up and knocked the table hard enough that my new Macbook Pro went flying down about 20 feet. The music went off and nicely the kids started chanting Horrorist over and over very loudly. When I am on stage I’m locked in the zone so once the computer was handed to me I just restarted and and the show went on. My Apple fanboyism is stronger than ever because there’s only a very small mark on the corner where it must have hit the floor. I do have an SSD in the thing which may have saved the night. In fact the chanting really pumped me up so much that the rest of the show was so energetic I was completely sweat wet when it was all over. If you make music you have to get out an play live there’s nothing in the world like it.

Pet Duo had a mountain of computers, Ableton Launchpad controllers, CDJs, etc… and held the club in a hard techno daze for hours. I always love performing in Malta and the promoter has promised me the next gig will be in the peak summer season and I get to take his water scooter out for a ride!

To see the full set of photos from the show: click here

For more info: thehorrorist.com and petduo.com

I’m off this weekend to perform in Malta. I’ve played there numerous times before and this weekend I am upping the “military music” with 3 new fairly agressive techno tracks (with vocals). One of the songs called Take this Step has become one of my new favorites and is sort of a successor to Flesh is the Fever or Hard Step Future Force (for those who follow my tunes). Pet Duo are a couple from Brazil who live in Berlin. I’ve met them enough times in hotels, airports and show to call them good friends. They are crazy (in a good way) and militant vegetarians. Speaking of hotels they don’t mess around over there. I will be spending time in the indoor pool for sure and will certainly sit by the Mediterranean. If your Maltese or on vacation there I hope you come out and do say hello in person!

“Tickets are out at €20 from PCWise, Royal Impact, Fact and selected runners. Infoline – 99909808″

For more info: shiftmalta.com/pet-duo-the-horrorist

The new stickers for “The Horrorist” have arrived. They were designed by Maurice Roy and printed at uprinting.com. Maurice created 3 color versions based upon red, white and black. They turned out quite beautiful. The first people to get some of these will be in Malta this weekend!

“Shift & Cubik are proud to be able to bring over the PETs and The Horrorist for a night of bone crunching bass and in your face vocals. Supported by: Faddy, Punisher, Jefaz & The Volt Tickets are out at €20 from PCWise, Royal Impact, Fact and selected runners. Infoline – 99909808″

For more info: facebook.com/events/260324614002446

Above is the trailer for the upcoming Morbid Angel remix album. I’m pleased to be on the same release as Laibach, Skinny Puppy and many other great artists. Morbid Angel is causing a lot of controversy within its own fanbase by jumping genres. Usually artists need to change to grow so I respect what they are doing.

“39 artists from the electro / indus / dub scene, each remix a song from Morbid Angel’s latest offering “Illud Divinum Insanus”. Featuring Laibach, Combichrist, The Horrorist, Punish Yourself, Micropoint, Treponem Pal and many others!”

For more info: stormingthebase.com/morbid-angel-announces-remix-album…