Joel Mull Hardware Interview

Joel Mull, Swedish techno pioneer was most gracious in allowing us an interview, before taking on the Hardware massive @ Transatlantic this weekend with fellow Swede Adam Beyer. Fans of rhythmic techno rejoice, for this promises to be one for the books, and I think I can speak for everyone in saying thankyou Hardware, it's been far too long! Joel has had countless releases on labels such as Drumcode, Truesoul, Inside (his own) and many others, and has been instrumental in bringing the unique sounds of Swedish techno to the world. Here we go...


Q. It's been a little while since you were last here, but your previous sets are still talked about! How do feel about coming back to Melbourne-

A. Thank you. It Feels real nice to be back. I love Australia. Thanks to all people involved for the effort in putting on a night with Swedish techno. Should be a good tour. I'm curious about what the scene is like in Australia at the moment.


Q. Some were hoping for another live PA, a'la your last gig at Hardware 19 with Peter Benisch. Do you still play live, and do you enjoy it more than DJing-

A. Yes, last time was nice. We had way to much gear with us that time. Our case weight in at 55KG. Overweight fo sure! But nowadays its possible to have only a laptop and a DJ Pioneer mixer600 to make a nice Live set as the one me and Peter did. And I am very keen to do one soon.


Q. You've had some great productions over the last decade, any news as to what's in store for the future-

A. Thank you. At the moment I'm working on some nice stuff for my own label Inside, and there is also upcoming projects on Truesoul, Drumcode, Madeye, Kanzleramt.


Q. Any big plans for your label Inside Records-

A. I have two releases planned for the fall. Me And Pär Grindvik, whom I share studio with here in Stockholm, are working on a release, and then I'm setting up a new project which is focusing more on a minimal techno style, still melodic and funky.


Q. Your bio mentions influences such as Kraftwerk and Depeche Mode, are these groups still relevant to your sound today-

A. I still get very inspired from their music. I saw Kraftwerk live earlier this year. And it was one of the best live experiences I had. The Harmonies are true hymns for me personally. Depeche Mode Violator is still up today one of the best albums for me.


Q. What other artists do gain inspiration from-

A. There is so much great music to listen at and to get inspired from. I get a lot of inspiration from listening to internet radio, DJ sets, live sets recordings, etc. At the moment im very influenced by the minimal techno artists such as Mathew Jonson, Jesper Dahlbäck, John Tejada, Ricardo Villalobos, and many more. Everyday I get new sources of inspiration. There is so many new great talents coming up and its hard to follow everything, but I'm a real trainspotter so I try to stay alert on what gets released.


Q. What does techno mean to you, the scene, the music, etc...-

A. The unity. People all over the world from different backgrounds and culture but all speak and understand a "language", the art, style, the frequencies, the never stopping celebration. The clubs, rave parties all throughout the world is pretty the same constellation but it's the people in the club and the Dj in the booth that makes it happen. For me techno is the moment, the people, the Sound, the feeling, design. You can try to label it but I can't. When you feel it you will know.


Q. Do you have any thoughts on the mp3/internet revolution-

A. It's both good and bad. As fast connection is starting to get standard. Many people are downloading music at the moment. It's getting easier to get hold of music. This is a problem, artists are suffering not getting money for their music. But also there is a good thing with it. It gets distributed, more people can listen to your music, more new artists will rise from this.
Hope in the future that peoples moral will make them buy che Tags

• joel mull
• hardware