Pasiphae's Take on Electro
16.08.2018 | Words by: Alex Rigby
We recently caught up with DJ and Producer Pasiphae to learn a little more about her move from Greece to the Hague, her take on electro, and how she danced to trance at the age of six.
Q: You recently released on Interstellar Funk's Artificial Dance. Can you talk a little about how that came about?
A: It was in the Hague after a dinner we had with Olf (Interstellar Funk) at my place - we played some music. Then I put on a couple of my tracks. Apparently he liked them and thought they'd fit the sound of Artificial Dance. We made a sort of selection. I worked on those tracks a little more. Luckily, he liked them even better afterwards.
Q: How did moving the Hague influence that record?
A: Moving to the Netherlands 6 years ago from Greece was extremely exciting. I was working full time at a really cool hotel. Back then, I was always out and about. Initially there were too many nice parties or artsy things going on. I was getting too distracted. When I'm in a rush I cannot be creative, so I had to change the rhythm first.
Sound wise, Intergalactic FM was a big influence, as well as the 'West Coast sound of Holland'. Even before I moved there I was drawn to the unpolished style and rawness of it, but I even like the releases with a more space-disco-house touch. It seems pretty contradictory, right? Though, I guess that's what makes it so special to me. Apart from the local sound in The Hague I find inspiration in many things and situations there. I don't want to limit musical ideas to just one dimension or genre.
Q: Can you talk about your studio?
A: My boyfriend and I have a studio together – it's a combination of hardware and software. I like to work visually with the arrangement of tracks. We have some old and some newer synths. We keep them all for the uniqueness of the sound they contain. I use midi connection in order to make a melody that I like, and record it in audio through Ableton. I like to record my drum sounds or melodies from the synths. Then I reprocess them and add effects.
Q: How did you first begin producing music?
A: I've been interested in music since for as long as I can remember. I love to play (or listen to) music that fits each occasion. That passion was always pretty obvious; I was that kid that was selecting the music in birthday parties. As a little girl I was playing with those playskool keyboards, trying to make covers of songs by ear. The interest remained intact throughout as I grew older. After some basic piano lessons I felt like electronic music was the path I wanted to go deeper in. I then started buying gear and working with it.
Q: You are playing a lot of electro, and have so for quite some time I understand. What do you make of the so-called electro revival in the past couple of years?
A: Yep, I play a lot of electro. This genre is indeed special – it works for both mind and body simultaneously. There's no way to misinterpret it, and there's no specific way to dance to it. I find that it's a kind of music that totally leads you.
I also think that this 'revival' is a generational thing. Not everyone has had the chance to hear electro properly, but now it's more out there. A couple of exciting artists like Helena Hauff really went full into electro, then pushed it forward in very energetic sets that could include techno or EBM. Not many DJs over the previous years would easily include electro tracks in their sets, it was mainly either a strictly electro set or something else. Lately, there have been many new artists that make nice electro such as Animistic Beliefs, but even artists like I-F or DJ Overdose are still releasing great electro, and will probably do so in the future too!
Q: Have you noticed a change in how people respond to electro on dancefloors?
A: Yes, I have noticed a change. People dance crazier. There's more expression. The brain needs something more than repetition, I guess. I like playing a lot of techno as well, more leftfield or new beat, early 80s italo disco, even acid house. It really depends on the overall vibe and atmosphere. The mood of the track selection has to make sense though; it should not feel random or out of concept.
Q: Do you have a preferred way of introducing new music into the mix?
A: I like to mix tracks for a long time when the elements match each other well. I like to add what might be "missing" on certain tracks. For example, on a mainly low-end sounding track, I would add some high-end sharpness of a track that has a lot of high-end sounds to it. It gives me the sense that one track completes the other.
Q: Do you make edits of tracks?
A: I do make edits, yes. There are so many good tracks I won't play because of an annoying vocal. For example, a high pitched scream of "aciiiiiiiiiiiiiiid" being repeated. To me, it can ruin the entire thing, so I'll remove it. I mainly adjust tracks in a way that works best for me or feel more effective on the dancefloor.
Q: What are you really enjoying playing at the moment?
A: Some of my recent favorites can be found on EPs like Jensen Interceptor – Delayed Response, J. Mono – Zzz EP, Exhausted Modern & Aliver – Hoax EP
Q: Can you pinpoint any pivotal moments that developed your style?
A: I grew up with a lot of italo disco playing on the radio. I was lucky enough to have the coolest cousin on the planet playing all kinds of energetic electronic music. He'd play lots of techno and trance tracks from the early 90s. I was 6 years old at the time, and he was around 18 or 19. I would dance around like a manic kid! I think that's why this music always had a hold on me.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the way in which you go about selecting tracks?
A: I like being unpredictable with my track selection, this way I keep it interesting and inspiring for myself, and hopefully for others as well. I think the brain really values unpredictability. It equals excitement. That's what people respond to. It's nice to involve the crowd in an honest way. If you believe in it, people will get the point, as long as it's nothing too random or forced.
Pasiphae is playing the basement on Saturday August 18th, along the likes of I-F and Identified Patient. More info and tickets here.
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