Interviews

Rekalix interview with Fluid Radio (www.fluid-radio.co.uk), 20/07/2008:

We recently caught up with the amazing ambient soundscape artist Andrew Lintern aka Rekalix to find out a little more about the man behind the wonderful releases “Zykancialuu” and “Frozen Planet”, and to see what his plans are for the future...

Q: Who is the man behind Rekalix the artist?

A: I am Andy Lintern and I create ambient music and soundscapes and love for people to experience and enjoy the music I create. I think it is an important genre of music as it can be so effective in peoples lives, be it in the form of unwinding, relaxing, healing, meditating, focusing or simply enjoying the sounds. I love listening to most genres of music, I enjoy photography, nature, web design, being outdoors, good company and conversation amongst many other things.

Q: Place of birth and where are you currently based Andy?

A: Born in Southampton, UK and still here but hopefully not for too much longer.

Q: What musical influences did you have growing up and do you feel they shaped you into the musician that you are today?

A: When I was at school it was the mid-90s and I loved Pink Floyd, The Stone Roses and Screamadelica by Primal Scream. In my late teens I got into almost every genre at once, just really appreciating the great artists from each genre. I especially loved the Bristol triphop scene, Massive Attack and Portishead. I really got into the more ambient side of the whole 90s dance era at this age as well, and I also bought loads of stuff from Warp at this point…I really got into a lot of their artists especially Autechre, and obviously I loved Tangerine Dream. Another classic band I got into just after school was the Ozric Tentacles and they have probably had a big influence in my music. It was after my teens that I really got into the ambient atmospheric electronica and such that is the main inspiration for Rekalix.

Q: Was there a defining moment early on in your life Andy that made you think "Yes...I'm going to make music for people to enjoy"

A: When I was first making music I was drumming in a rock/dance band and then I remember going to an EatYourOwnEars night to see a Fennesz set and a Four Tet set and seeing about nine different artists all with amazing sets involving an abundance of equipment that was new and exciting to me. I wanted to go home and play around with stuff to make sounds and just do exactly what they were doing.

Q: When did you start creating music Andy?

A: I started playing with synths and computers when I was 18 and just fell in love with creating, manipulating and editing sounds. I also loved being able to have complete freedom over songwriting which is something I didnt get previously when I was drumming in a band.

Q: When did the Rekalix project begin?

A: Rekalix began fairly recently, in 2004. I needed a name and a project for the music that I had started writing on my own, and Rekalix began. It was my first real project and still is my main focus, although there may be some other aliases coming out in the future…
Rekalix originally began as progressive electronica and gradually got more downtempo and more ambient as my musical preferences changed. The soundscapes/melodic ambience that Rekalix is today probably first started late-2005.

Q: Where does the name come from/What does it mean-represent?

A: It’s just a made up word without much of a story unfortunately. I was trying to form a name that was kind of an onomatopoeic analogy if that makes sense. I wanted a name that sounds like the music it’s creating. So I liked the way the constanants and each syllable sounded together, and I also like the fact that the pronunciation is at the discretion of the speaker: I personally pronounce it Ree-kay-lix, but I’ve heard it pronounced a number of different ways, and I think that people pronounce it based on their interpretations of the music – or maybe I’m reading to much into it.

Q: When/Where was the first gig/event you played at-How did it go-How did you feel?

A: The first ever Rekalix gig was at a small club in Southampton for some friends that were also promoters. Unfortunately it was a metal night at the club and I was playing a chillout set so I don’t think it was my best received performance. I remember not being too bothered about that though as I was really nervous about my (not-too-reliable) computer crashing. Fortunately it didn’t.
My first major performance was for Raadio2 in Estonia. I played an hour long live set in their studios and then the next evening played the same set at a festival just outside Tallinn. Again, I was little nervous for the set in the Raadio2 studios as this was something new to me, but it went well as did the festival the next day and the people there seemed to really enjoy the music.

Q: What equipment do you use when playing live?

A: Not too much equipment in my live set as carrying loads of synths through airports tends to be a lot of hassle. I’d love to play more gigs in halls/theatres with acoustics suitable for ambience and soundscapes and delicate sounds, then I probably would take a number of synths with me. In reality chill-out/ambient is often restricted to chill-out tents/rooms and rarely the main feature of an event. I consequently mostly play a laptop set using a Macbook, Cubase SL3, Ableton Live5 and a MOTU 828mkII interface.
Please don’t interpret this as me not giving my all to performances in chill-out tents/rooms, I absolutely love these and the vibe and mood are often amazing, with the people really enjoying and experiencing the music. I just would like for ambient and soundscape events to be a little more popular, like Robert Rich’s “sleep concerts” in San Francisco.

Q: Describe how you feel when you play live to an audience Andy...

A: It’s definitely a very unique feeling. Its difficult to explain as well. With techno or trance live sets you can see what’s happening – you look at the audience and at the artists and you can see them feeding off each others’ euphoria. When you’re playing a set that’s 75% beatless, you feed off the mood in the air not peoples physical actions. Often its those with their eyes closed lying down that are enjoying it the most. Looking round an audience and seeing people that are being taken to another place by the music is a great feeling and the best part is often when it ends and there’s a few seconds pause while people seem to be waking up from their trance-like state. Then they look round and smile…and that part feels very rewarding.

Q: Musical bio from 1st production up until most recent?

A: Just the two Rekalix albums currently, although there will be a third in 2009:
-Zykancialuu, 2006, Kuurort Records (Estonia)
-Frozen Planet, 2007, White Label Music (UK)

Q: What kind of studio equipment do you use?

A: I actually have a rather reserved studio which is at my house. I prefer not to get too bogged down with using technology to find “that” sound…I just love to play with gorgeous sounding synths, and I think that is in part because of the style of music I create. Or maybe the style of music I create has caused me to not have too much of a cluttered studio.
-Laptop (currently Apple Macbook)
-Software: Cubase SL3 and Ableton Live5
-Interface: MOTU 828mkII
-Synths: (Currently) a Korg Z1, a Korg Wavestation EX, a Korg Polysix, a Roland R8 Drum Machine and also a Boss SP404 sampler.

Q: Did it take a long time to build up your studio kit and how much have you spent over the years?

A: Not too long as there isn’t too much there! I bought most of it when I first started, but I have upgraded a few times since then, especially since I went through a period of having an interface break on me almost monthly! The 828mkII is built to last though, I love it. Not too sure how much I’ve spent as I’m often buying and selling bits, despite keeping the whole thing quite reserved. Somewhere in the region of £4k.

Q: Any tips for someone just starting out with regards to building a home studio?

A: I guess a few simple pointers that cant be overstated are: Start small and build up. That way you can see how you work and what you prefer to work with (e.g software/hardware, knobs/faders etc) and you wont have spent money on things you don’t like so much. Don’t spend unnecessarily. Quite obvious I guess but some adverts in SoundonSound and other mags etc can be awfully persuasive…and tempting. Finally, read reviews. Again, quite obvious but try and read both expert reviews (e.g. SounOnSound etc) and user reviews (there are loads of forums on the net and great sites like vintagesynth.com).

Q: Fav piece of hardware?

A: Korg Z1 – absolutely gorgeous sounding synth, and you can create original sounds until your fingers fall off. The Wavestation probably has some nicer ambient sounds, but for me the Z1 is a bit better. It was my first synth as well so I guess there’s a familiarity aspect involved there…and I can be quite sentimental about these things…

Q: Do you have a process that you like to stick to when working on new material in the studio?

A: Not really. I just like to let it happen. I will just fiddle with my synths until I find something I like then put that down then find something to compliment it that also sounds nice. I suppose I have a simple process. I don’t like to overthink things or have a routine as I don’t think this helps me…I like it to be a natural process, and let the music come to me.

Q: Tell us about the musical movement (chillout) going on at the moment? How do you feel the scene is advancing?

A: I suppose like I said before, I would like for beatless ambient and soundscape events to be a little more popular, as they seem almost nonexistent, particularly in the UK. Touch Records put on some great ambient nights, but they are mostly with field recordings and drone ambience as a key theme. Id like to see more soundscapes and melodic ambient nights. Chill-out in general seems to be doing well though. I find it is often in the form of a tent or room at an event headlined by another genre, but these tents/rooms seem to get crowded and the chill-out scene on the web and in download form seems to be thriving. I think it is perhaps a genre that is more appreciated in a home listening environment than a live one. And this is definitely the case for scoundscapes and more beatless ambient music.

Q: How does visual/visionary art fit in to what you do and why?

A: I love to play with VJs when performing live. I had an amazing visual set accompany a performance I did at a festival earlier this month in Ireland. This guy had some spectacular ideas that he developed on the fly, and they worked so well with the music. For evolving ambient music, visuals are such a complimentary effect.

Q: What genre would you say your music fit into Andy?

A: Beatless ambient or ambient chill-out or soundscapes.

Q: What is the best way to listen to your soundtracks/mixes?

A: When truly relaxing and all else is still. To fall asleep to is good as well.

Q: When is the best time to listen to your soundtracks/mixes?

A: Evening and night time are good as these are good times to relax. I also like to create music first thing in the morning at sunrise as well, and I think this can also be a great time to listen to soundscapes, in the same way that you can sit and listen to the early morning bird song and appreciate the stillness of the world at this time.

Q: Plans for the future/Upcoming releases/gigs/events???

A: I am currently working on my third album (working title “Purience”), which should be out early 2009. I am also doing some remixes for some friends at the moment which is good fun. One of them is for an ambient pop/jazz band from Estonia called Cloudspeak who are fantastic, and that is proving really interesting. I also am playing at the Klusa Daba Festival next month in a church in Riga and Robert Rich will be playing there as well, so that is something else I am looking forward to.

Q: Why is music important to you Andy............... :)

A: Because in terms of creating it, it is something that allows me to interact with people and give them something which can make them feel a certain way and take them to a certain place.
Because as a listener, it is where I feel my best. Music is the best at giving me joy, hope, satisfaction, tranquillity and a number of other emotions.

Q: What words can you give to new artists wanting to make music.......

A: Please do it and please enjoy it. If you have the desire to create music you must release the ideas that you have, there is nothing more rewarding.

Q: Finally top 5 albums????

A: It’s too difficult to pick a top 5, partly because mine is almost constantly changing. I guess this is the same for everyone though, so here goes:
-Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here
-Carbon Based Lifeforms – World Of Sleepers
-Lamb – Lamb
-Helios – Eingya
-Tool – Lateralus