Stella Nutella Interview

Updated 9 months ago

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meets Stella Nutella

November 15, 2004
by Ari

When I asked a visiting trance artist from Germany earlier this year, who the best up-n’coming European trance DJ was, the answer came without a moment of hesitation: Stella Nutella. And as the last DJ to play at the Gaian Mind 4 festival this summer, she sure put on a clinic! Stella is as surprising behind the decks, as she is in the studio. In the past few years, she’s been busy taking the ever-so-positive vibe of her sets around the world. At the same time, she’s produced solid trance tracks with everyone from Psypilot to Chromosome, from Aphid Moon to Safi Connection. Now in a special school for musicians and artists in Sweden, she looks toward new horizons with an open mind and an open heart. As we get ready to welcome her to NYC this Friday, here’s a collection of thoughts and perspectives from the lady herself.

Stella Nutella Website

So you’re coming to the States again.  What are your impressions from this year’s Gaian Mind open air festival in Pennsylvania? 
 Actually it was my favorite party of the summer!  A real sweet hippie festival… I loved the sweat lodge and the ceremonies. It was exciting to come and play in a new country and find such pure vibes and meet so many great people. North America feels fresh, like a new adventure to me…I’m happy to be back!
 
The US trance movement must seem very ‘underground’ coming from Europe…
Yes, but in some parts of Europe like in my home country Sweden it is also very underground. Maybe you wouldn’t think so because many good tracks are being produced there, but in terms of parties… The police and the authorities have made it impossible for any dance scene to develop… so now there is hardly anything going on, unfortunately. LOL
 
Heard that you lost your CD’s (had ‘em stolen) prior to your performance there (not that it showed)… how did you manage that personal hell?
It happened on Wednesday in NYC and I didn’t have to play until Sunday morning, so I had a few days to get over the shock and to get a new set together. I spent a long day on the computer and had some “key” tracks transferred from Israel and France, and a friend was just arriving from Brazil with a bag full of new goodies. I was also amazed how every single DJ at the festival offered me to borrow their cd cases; I would like to say big thanks to everyone!!!! In fact in the end I ended up with a huge bunch of great music and even in my 4 hour set I didn’t have time to play even half of it.
 
It seems you really enjoy playing extended morning sets.  Do you prepare your material in advance, or is it more like you play whatever seems proper at the moment?
I just tend to listen to a lot of music beforehand, pick out some old favorites and of course go through all the new stuff I have received, getting some ideas…
It’s hard to prepare a set list because you have no idea what the vibe will be like!  Once in the DJ booth, I just wanna go with the flow, play whatever feels right for the moment and have fun together with the dancing people!
 
Are your musical roots mostly in industrial music?  Do you see any parallels between that music and trance?
Yes, when I was a moody teenager in the cold North I got very into industrial music- I still love its dark feeling at times!  You can definitely find it in some areas of psy-trance… think of labels such as Boshke Beats, they release some great psy-industrial tracks.  It’s good to balance it out with some more fluffiness though! 😉
 
So you knew early on in life that being an artist/performer was your calling?
Yes but when I was a kid I wanted to become an actress. Me and a friend used to set up in school plays every Friday. The DJ thing I never thought of before the idea just hit me one day in London. Where I grew up in North Sweden there were no clubs with Djs… so I had never thought about it before then.
 
How is school going?  Must be quite an experience being surrounded by talented and creative people all the time…
Yeah, and especially since all the students and teachers have a background in such different genres of music. We sure get inspired from each other… I’m learning a lot!
 
How do you plan to use all this new knowledge when you finish school?
I’m planning to continue expanding my home studio and work in music production as much as I can… hopefully writing tracks of many different styles -and creating new styles too! 😉

0 Stella Nutella


 
What is it about you Swedes anyway… You’ve got the techno thing down like it’s 1st grade math, same with progressive and now full-on… what next, world domination?
We have a good tradition and a good self confidence; in all music genres Sweden have always been exporting a helluvalot of music even though we are such a small country.
In trance ….Yes, of course we are planning to take over the world!
Maybe we are so productive because our winters are so incredibly long and dark and our studios are so cozy and warm… we have the BEST central heating systems in the world so it’s easy to hibernate in front of the computer and just make heaps of tracks, waiting for the snow to melt outside!
 
You are quite the collaborator when it comes to making music…  do you find it as much of an educational experience for you as it is fulfilling to you as an artist?
Yes, it’s very interesting to make music with different people because there are hundreds of ways to do it -and no real rules. Everyone has a different set-up and different little tricks… After each co-write you walk out with tons of new knowledge and ideas.
But at the moment, I’m really into writing tracks alone… I didn’t have the chance so much before because I didn’t have my own studio. Now, I’m getting spoilt of not having to compromise with anyone! 😉
 
What’s been the most memorable collaboration so far and who would you like to work with in the future?
The best collaboration so far was earlier this year when I wrote a track called “Watching U” with a new project, Xuxuxu which is me, Jiga from Analog Pussy and English DJ Sally Doolally. It was an amazing experience because I had never written anything with other women before, and we just connected so well, making it really easy to work. The track is also dedicated to a friend who died, so it was a special thing in that way too… A very unexpected thing is (thanks to Jiga`s persuading powers) that the track has got me and Sally singing in it!

As for the future… I would love to work with Infected Mushroom, that would be fun. Or Dino Psaras, another of my all time favorites in psytrance.

What is your next release and when is it coming out?
My compilation Accelerator 2.0 on Turbo Trance has just been delayed, unfortunately. It will probably come in the beginning of 2005 and will have some of my stuff on it. Apart from that… AP records are soon to release Xuxuxu on vinyl.
 
What kind of philosophy do you follow in life?  Do you think your success as an artist is a result of following these principles?
I truly believe that everything is possible and magic is everywhere if you are open to it. Of course this philosophy has flavored my life on all levels…I think my spiritual view on life makes me tune in to the universal groove and it also helps my creativity flow! J
 
Do you often play at all-female DJ parties?  
Yes sometimes, the last one was in Amsterdam a few months ago I think. These parties are always fun, usually both the men and the women on the dancefloor are smiling and the energy gets extra fluffy and sexy!
 
Why do you think it is that musicians are mostly men?
You mean trance musicians I guess? I don’t think it is true for every other genre…
Well I have been wondering this because it is a scene where you would expect a lot of strong liberated women that want to have the same musical fun as the boys. It is hard to find an answer…. The fact that boys are more into computers, maybe? There is definitely a lot of technical stuff to learn…
But I think it is changing, more and more girls seem to get the idea to get into electronic music making. I hope so!
 
What are your top five tracks to play at the moment?
Schatsi-Burnin`


Xuxuxu-watching u
Stella+psypilot- Pluto

Ninja-Showtime


Black n White-Stars
 
What’s your tour schedule been like and where are you going from here? 
More chilled than in a long time… I have been hiding in the studio much more lately, my school is my main priority this year and that feels very good, after travelling like a lunatic for quite a while!
December is exam time and the only gig I will be doing is New Year’s Eve.
 
And what’s on New Years?
I’m playing a big club party in Budapest. I love the scene in Eastern Europe, the people there are just 100% going for it! There is a bit of a hype for this party and I have many friends coming along, so I’m sure it’s gonna be a kicking one!
  
Finally, what’s in store for us party people when you come to play on the 19th?
Lots of surprises and a Stellar experience!
 
Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you! 
J

2004 6 24 Gaian Mind 2
2005 10 29 Alladin

October 29 Saturday
Alladin Project – Halloween Costume Trance party

Photos
Please come with a costume to make this evening even more unforgettable!!! PARANORMAL ATTACK Chemical Crew (Portugal) We are proud to present his first appearance in US85 Dj Xangaii has been playing during his career together with several internationally-known artist such as Skazi, Gms, Talamasca, Sesto Sento, Etnica, KoxBo x, S-Range, Nomad, Absolum and others. Now they start to release on several labels including Shiva Space Japan, Spun Records, Third-Eye Records and Chemical Crew that will release the debut album from Paranormal Attack called Paranormal Activity – Out Soon. STELLA NUTELLA (Sweden) Hana’s last year’s performance in Gaia Mind and for us was awesome. Now she92s back for some more. She will deliver an exclusive unreleased DJ set that will shake the dance floor and groove our minds. Not to be missed!!! KNO-B (Japan) Alladin Project Back from Japan especially for Halloween bringing killer unreleased music. As usual, he will keep us jumping like crazy in the dance floor with his excellent skills and good taste of music. ELNADIV (NYC- Israel) Alladi n Project Opening or closing for the parties he always makes us dance and enjoy his amazing energy on stage. AND MORE Decorations by: Alladin Project Crew (NYC) Severyn Baraka (NYC) Visual by: Guillaume – Alladin Project (France – NYC) 18 to enter/21+ picture ID to drink. CLUB HYPN 259 BANKER STREET WILLIAMSBURG BROOKLYN Admission: $ 25 Advance $35 at Door. Door Open: 11PM to 8AM For More Info: Alladinproduction at yahoo alladinproduction at yahoo (917) 405-4847 (917 ) 569-1177 http ://web paranormal-attack v/ web chemical-crew.tv a/ web stellanutella /web severyn om/ web clubhypnotic Peace & Love 91n Trance 🙂

New York photos:

See also: Dave Henshaw from Boston’s Progressive Trance Time Capsule from 2004

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