Updated 2 years ago
by Tena Moore
Originally appeared in 2004 in Australia’s Entrance Magazine (Reprinted with Permission)
Frederick Talaa, aka Neuromotor, founded Mechanik Sound Records in Spain in 2002.
So, first off, are you still going to be releasing the Electricity album?
Fred: The album came out in November in Japan with Arcadia and we sold the licensing – there was a problem with mastering, contracts, etc., so we decided not to release it worldwide. You can only get it from Japan. We’ve changed our whole plan now. We’re releasing another album in April or May called ‘Bloody Conception of Life”.
Are you using any of the same songs from the original album?
Fred: We wanted to keep the idea of the original one, but finally we changed our plan to go further with a totally new concept…Bloody Conception of Life…talking about wars, blood, rage, pain in the world …and love at the end, of course. The answer to it all.
We will release this album on Third Eye Records…Karan, is a good friend of ours. We have 2 new albums to release coming soon, first a double CD compilation of super dance floor killer tracks, only from the Mechanik team. The double CD consists of 18 songs made in our new place, a castle in the south of France. The castle is so very inspiring, and the album is called “The Mechanik Castle”. The comp is full of surprises, with various combinations of our guys. We are preparing it for September, so watch out! Then, we’ll be releasing the “Crazy Lion’s Cult” album, which is Gill (Hyper Frequencies) and me.
So tell me about the new label. Who’s involved, and what’s going on at the moment?
Fred: Well, the label was Mechanik Sound Records, but that was with my ex-girlfriend and has stopped. For the last few months nothing has happened with that label. There have been no website updates or anything, but we are coming back soon with the new web site.
I wanted to keep the name and association, so now it will be called simply ‘Mechanik Records’, which is Gilles, Stephan and me at the head of the company. We also have two new guys in our team, DJ Anaka (Fabrice), a French DJ who is very promising and such a talented artist, as well as Lawrence aka Chromatone, from San Francisco, who is also our sound designer and technical Mac support. He’s a young genius, I tell you!
We have all kinds of collaborations going on. I’ve been working with Jilles for about 5 years. He’s like a brother to me. He’s family. I love his music. It’s not for jumping around on the dancefloor, but it’s more intense and deep. He’s very talented. His music is tribal and intelligent and mental. When we play together we’re the “Crazy Lions Cult”. We’re both Leos and met in Lyon, so it’s a perfect name. We’re crazy lions.
We’ve also picked up this new artist, Stephan, aka: Phatmatx. He was a rock guitarist for over 10 years with bands in France. Stephan represents the darker side of our music. He’s been touring the last year in Australia and France and is an amazing and talented DJ and musician, and as a person, he’s part of the family. He’s perhaps the most responsible of us – the big brother of the group, watching out for everyone. When Stephan and I play together we’re called “Time Machine”.
Stephan, Gilles, Chromatone and me are “Los Diablos”. We also have “Neurochrome” (Neuromotor and Chromatone ) and “Chromatix” (Phatmatix and Chromatone). Then, there is one pretty funny one, called “The Nigga Boys” (which is this new DJ Anaka and me). So that’s some funny collaborations, and really different grooves with different inspirations, but all made at the castle.
We’re having our first Mechanik Records party all together on the 20th of March in Guadalajara , Mexico.
And the rest of your team?
Fred: As far as the rest of the team goes, we have Tajmahal from Portugal. He’s an amazing ambient trance DJ. His morning sets are beautiful. Then from Spain, we have Xavi, another talented DJ. Lui is from Sydney, Australia, and acts as our webmaster and international agent. Lui is very important to us, taking care of our bookings, contracts and money. He’s our agent too. He’s very professional and keeps things on track. Nagual is English and lives in Barcelona. He’s our Graphic Designer, and a very talented and great painter and artist. Also, we have Marjorie in France, taking care of all the media, communications and advertising for France only – she’s the newest one, but really important to us and very involved. It’s like a family. Everyone is important and involved.
What are the goals of the label in 2004?
Fred: Our main goal is to be more serious and professional about the business. So far we’re doing good with bookings in the last 6 months in Japan, India, Australia, Russia, Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, US (San Francisco and New York), Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil and Argentina – all as Mechanik Records. We plan on releasing music only from our label and doing a lot of Mechanik Records parties all over the world. There’s a real focus on the music.
I hear that Neuromotor is now going to be performing as a band. Is that true?
Fred: Yeah. Neuromotor will be a collage of electronic music, acoustic guitar, violin and opera vocals. The guitarist is Tony – he’s like my spiritual father. He’s a very talented guitarist and used to play with Tangerine Dream. Right now he’s teaching me to play guitar and sing. We’re all influenced by rock, jazz, psy and funk. We listen to them all and draw from that feeling and sound. Together it’s danceable, beautiful, intense, and allows us to express all kinds of emotions.
So, will we recognize Neuromotor now?
Fred: It’s still going to be Neuromotor, but with more melody, emotion and acid sounds. Our first party is the 14th and 15th of May in Portugal. It’s called Synergy and put on by Good Mood Productions and Quest to Goa. It’s going to be the four of us, but we’re not raising the price of Neuromotor. We want to share together. The community needs this fusion of music.
When is the first comp being released on Mechanik Records?
Fred: The comp should come out in about September. Everyone will be involved…all of the Mechanic Sound artists. We’re working on the cover right now. I can’t tell you what it’s going to look like, but it’s going to be good!
Your own musical style is really changing, becoming more uplifting and emotional. I could feel the difference when you played at 550 Barneveld here in San Francisco.
Fred: My music is now happy! (Says Fred, looking really, really happy himself.) It’s still intense and kind of crazy a bit sometimes, but now I’m drawing from the most feminine parts of me…the bright, clear, strong and sensual. I love how I build the track, but there’s an evolution. I feel so happy and well in my life now. I have a lot of energy. I’m hyperactive. I still need it fast and energetic, it’s aggressive sometimes, less aggressive at others, it depends, but all of my tracks are built on the feeling of love – but my conception of it!!!
Thanks for rocking the house at 550 for us! I know that I for one, look forward to future visits!
For more information about Mechanik Records, explore the following links:
See also: I was Raped by Neuromotor
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