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Feature: Oliver Schories [Interview + Premiere]

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Hi Oliver, thanks for joining us, how are you and where in the world are you today?
Hey, thanks for having me. It’s Monday and I’m at home today, in Hamburg.

Tell us about your record collection, where do some of your early influences lie?
My early influences in terms of electronic music lie definitely with The Prodigy in the early 90’s. I remember I didn’t even have a CD-Player at that time and needed to ask a friend of mine to copy the 'Experience' album on tape for me. Must have been 1993 or 94.

Your new album 'Blitzbahn' is sceduled to been released on your own SOSO imprint, you must be quite excited. Tell us how it began to take shape? Was there an initial goal of writing an album?
I have been releasing only a very small number of EPs and Remixes in the last couple of years so that the album is basically a collection of productions. There was no initial goal of writing this specific album, it’s more that it took shape over the time.

How did you end up with the final track selection and how did you go about cutting stuff out? There must be a point where it becomes quite difficult letting go of certain pieces?
I think I had 16 tracks in the final round and shifted back and forth a bit, but somehow I always have these specific tracks that I skip through when listening. They are the ones that finally didn't make it on the album.

Although 'Blitzbahn' would be considered a club album there are some unique forks in the road so to speak, 'Relief', 'Primer' and 'Rummel' stand out in that respect. How difficult was it deciding on the flow from a listeners perspective?
It's important for me that you can listen through an album from start to finish as a whole. One hour and 20 minutes concentrated on music. Even when there are some more 'special' tracks on the album I feel that it still works with the flow. And 'Primer' is my hidden favourite with its groove but it doesn’t work in the club at all, you’re right.

So you've released the album on your own label SOSO, was there ever a consideration for sending it somewhere else? And what makes SOSO the right home for it?
If there is one thing I’ve learnt over the years: Do it yourself when you can.

Going over the whole writing process, what stands out in your mind? It's your fifth album so they all must have been distinct journeys in some way, what made the process of this one unique?
I’ve been in the ring now for almost exactly 10 years so, for sure, there is a path you walk on. It’s a constant learning process and challenges change over time. Every album has had it’s time and Blitzbahn makes no exception there. It’s quite grown up, a little darker. Rougher. Technically (at least for me) advanced.

The reflective vibe of 'Yougan' seems to tie the collection together perfectly. It's like looking back over the 13 track journey as the sun sets in a way. Was it written with that purpose and placement in mind?
I have nothing to add here. :)

In terms of sound design the album has an amazing creamy character to it. There's a deep, immaculately textured feel that you have, so tell us where it comes from? What are the go to tools in the studio and what featured heavily on this album?
I used a lot of different UAD plugins to get the sound and worked with a number of different noises that go into different reverbs to get this blurry feel. My favourite tools in this respect are the UAD bx_digital V2 EQ, UAD bx_saturator v2 or the UAD Korg® SDD-3000 Digital Delay. As for reverb, I prefer the Arts Acoustic Reverb because of its long decay. The final touch comes from the UAD BX Subsynth. I originally bought it to give the last piece of low-end to basslines, but it turned out to be a really cool multi-tool.

How much of an affect do other genres of music have on your own productions?
That's a hard question to answer. I’d say that I don't listen focused to any other specific genre to get inspiration for my tracks, but subconsciously I’m quite sure that one or the other groove or melody is based on something I heard somewhere else.

Will there be remixes from the album and if so what can we look forward to?
Yes there will. In May/June I think. The first 2 have already been released with the Fakir EP in November 2017 - by Martin Landsky and Jan Oberländer.

How do you feel about your work being remixed in general?
I only ask artists for remixes that I really like and have followed for a longer time. So therefore it’s always very special for me to have remixes as they mean more to me than 'just a remix'.

Tell us what follows the release of the album in terms of a tour? Where can we expect to see you visiting?
I will be on tour the entire spring and summer throughout Europe. Highlights could be Awakenings, Parookaville and the WCD Pool Sessions.

You also recently compiled the latest instalment of GU's 'Nubreed' Series. Is that selection of music a good representation of what you play out and how do you enjoy the process of compiling and mixing a compilation like that?
That compilation is basically a best-of from my DJ-sets from the last 6 years and some tunes I really liked to play in 2017. It was so great fun for all of us and at the same time quite brave from GU, as I am not really fitting into their progressive house scope.

What does the future hold? What can we expect to hear from you as 2018 unfolds?
Besides the album and the remix album I will return to GU for a single release.

And lastly, is quality finding its way? :)
Still trying to find out….ask me again in a few years. ;)

Oliver's "Blitzbahn" Album will be out on his SOSO imprint from 2nd March 2018: Pre-order Here!

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