ARTEMIDES [Interview]

ARTEMIDES is the new Duo Project of world touring producer and live act SETH SCHWARZ and his wife LYDGEN, who is a trained violinist and talented singer. Their story began when their eyes met - playing music together in a university orchestra when a timeless soul connection was reestablished.

While the sound foundation is set by the deep & wide melodic electronic groove and the passionate violin play of SETH, LYDGEN enriches the sound scapes by adding on epic melodies and sweet improvisations with her angelic voice.

Being on stage together is a manifestation of their dream, resembling the pure love for each other expressed through their music - ARTEMIDES is a truely unique live act - enriching the sophisticated electronic music scene.

With the second release 'Who We Are' out now via their NASAJA imprint, we speak to ARTEMIDES about the release, their background, working as a duo, performing live and much more. Enjoy.

Hi Guys, thanks for joining us. How has your start to the year been and please tell us something interesting about your day today.

Our start to the year has been incredibly exciting, filled with new music releases, studio sessions, and planning for upcoming shows. Very amazing about today is the release of our Song “Who we are”, which is the 2nd track on our own label NASAJA.

Please tell us where you are from and how growing up there affected your path into electronic music.

We both hail from small towns in eastern part of Germany. It’s funny, that we both had similar classical training in Violin, piano and singing over years while growing up. Lydia was into electronic music very early as she loved dancing in Clubs. Martin started as a teen to produce Hip Hop music very intense. As he met Lydia, she first showed him the electronic music. Growing up surrounded by diverse cultural influences and vibrant music scenes definitely shaped our appreciation for electronic music.

So many people may not know this but you guys are married, so let’s go back to how you met, please tell us about that.

We actually met over 15 years ago in an university-orchestra where we both played violin. Our shared love for music brought us together, and over time, our relationship blossomed into a deep partnership both personally and professionally.

Seth has been producing solo and DJing for many years now so why did recently feel like the right time to start ARTEMIDES and begin producing as a duo.

While Seth has had a successful solo career, we felt that joining forces as a duo would allow us to combine our individual strengths and create something truly unique. The time felt right as we had developed a strong musical connection and shared vision that we wanted to explore together.

A successful partnership is generally based around balance and compromise; how do you manage these things within your production dynamic? Do you have different roles in the production process?

In our production dynamic, we strive for balance by playing to each other's strengths. Lydia often focuses on vocal melodies and lyrics, while Seth brings his expertise in sound design and arrangement, and not to forget the violin-part. We communicate openly and value each other's input, which helps us find compromises and create cohesive tracks.

You have a new release ‘Who We Are’ out now on your NASAJA imprint, please tell us about the track and how it represents your current sound.

This celestial anthem weaves together enchanting melodies of voice and violin that soars through the cosmos. It features a baseline that is both grounding and floating. "Who We Are" resonates with the universal call, propelling hearts on golden rivers, floating towards distant stars. Seth Schwarz’s violin sound paints a vivid emotional landscape, guiding listeners on a profound exploration of eternal love that flows into the depths of their souls. With her angelic voice that seems to touch the heavens, Lydgen breathes life into the song's narrative. It combines emotive melodies, lush vocals, and driving rhythms to create a euphoric atmosphere on the dancefloor. This track represents our current sound by blending elements of electronic music with intricate instrumentation and heartfelt lyrics.

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically on ‘Who We Are'?

In our studio, we have a combination of hardware and software instruments, including synthesizers, drum machines, and controllers. Some of the tools featured heavily in "Who We Are" include the Moog Subsequent 37 for basslines, the Dave Smith Instruments Prophet-6 for lush pads, and various software plugins for effects and processing. We also are happy about a custom collection of violins like Ned Steinberg and Cantini and recently added a real upright piano.

What is the task you enjoy the most when producing and what would you prefer someone else to do?

Lydia: I particularly enjoy crafting vocal melodies and lyrics, as it allows me to express my emotions and tell stories through music. However, I prefer someone else to handle the technical aspects of mixing and mastering, as I find it less creatively fulfilling.

Seth: My favorite task when producing is experimenting with sound design and creating unique textures and timbres. Playing violin sounds and crafting beautiful and catchy melodies. I would prefer someone else to handle administrative tasks like organizing my samples or managing project files, as I this part sometimes slows down my creative chaos:)

Let’s talk a bit more about your new label ‘NASAJA’. What led you to start the label initially? And is this your first foray into running a record label?

Starting NASAJA was a natural progression for us as artists who wanted more control over our music and artistic direction. We were inspired to create a platform where we could release our own music and support other artists who share our vision. While this is our first venture into running a record label, we are excited about the possibilities it offers for creative freedom and collaboration.

Being label owners now, how do you decide which tracks to keep for NASAJA and which one to shop to other labels? Is there a certain sound which works better for NASAJA?

When deciding which tracks to release on NASAJA, we look for a combination of musicality, emotion, and sonic innovation. We prioritize tracks that align with our label's aesthetic and vision, which encompasses a wide range of electronic music genres with a melodic and emotive focus. While there isn't a specific sound that works better for NASAJA, we are drawn to tracks that push boundaries and tell compelling stories.

What advice would you have for artists hoping to get signed to NASAJA?

Our advice for artists hoping to get signed to NASAJA is to focus on honing your unique sound and artistic vision. We value authenticity and creativity, so be true to yourself and don't be afraid to take risks with your music. Submitting demos that showcase your musical personality and demonstrate your potential for growth and innovation is key. Above all, stay passionate and dedicated to your craft, and the right opportunities will come your way.

ARTEMIDES is also a live act, please tell us about your live setup.

Our live setup combines electronic elements with live instrumentation, creating an immersive and dynamic experience for the audience. Lydia performs vocals, while Seth plays the electric violin, controls synthesizers, drum machines, and effects processors. We incorporate improvisation and live arrangement into our performances, allowing us to adapt to the energy of the crowd and create unique moments on stage.

Now let’s talk about performing for a moment, it’s a unique discipline at the border between presenting great music and creating something new with it, between composition and improvisation to an extent. How would you describe your approach to performing as a live act?

Our approach to performing as a live act is rooted in spontaneity and connection with the audience. We view each performance as an opportunity to create something special in the moment, combining pre-written material with improvised elements to keep the energy fresh and engaging. We feed off the energy of the crowd and strive to create a shared experience where everyone feels connected through music.

Can you tell me a bit about how your work as performers have influenced your view of music, your way of listening to tracks and perhaps also, your work as producers?

As performers, we've developed a deep appreciation for the power of music to evoke emotion and create connections between people. This perspective influences our approach to producing music, as we strive to create tracks that resonate with listeners on a visceral level. We pay close attention to how different elements interact in a live setting and incorporate that awareness into our studio productions, creating music that is both technically proficient and emotionally resonant.

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists?

For our dream event lineup, we would book artists who inspire us both musically and creatively:

1. Monolink (Live) - Sunset set to set the mood with his emotive vocals and mesmerizing guitar melodies.
2. Stephan Bodzin (Live) - Peak-time set to take the energy to the next level with his hypnotic rhythms and intricate synth work.
3. Tale Of Us - Late-night set to captivate the crowd with their ethereal melodies and deep, driving beats.
4. Adriatique - Early morning set to keep the party going with their infectious grooves and atmospheric soundscapes.
5. Ben Böhmer - Sunrise set to close out the event with his melodic, warm sound and positive vibed performance.

This lineup would offer a diverse range of musical experiences, creating a journey from sunset to sunrise that celebrates the beauty and diversity of electronic music.

Current top five tracks in your sets?

Our current top five tracks in our sets are of course our own:

Who we are
Leap of Faith (Follow your Heart)
Create the Universe
Matter of time (upcoming on Nasaja)
Limba with Einmusik

If you were not a DJ/Producer what do you think you’d be doing with your life? (Something not music related.)

We both are still socialised in “normal-day-jobs”. Lydia is a teacher for music and religion in High School and Martin is a medical doctor.

Seth: If I weren't involved in music, I might have pursued a career in medicine full-time. I studied medicine and am now a Radio-Oncologist. I have always been interested in helping others and making a positive impact on people's lives.

What’s something people do not know about you?

Lydia: I love travelling to hidden and wild places in Africa, like you can see in our Video to Who we are, which we filmed in the desert of Namibia. Spending time in nature, whether it's hiking in the mountains, camping under the stars, or simply enjoying the tranquility of the great outdoors makes me very happy!

Seth: Something that many people might not know about me is that I'm actually one of the three founders of WeR1, a groundbreaking music streaming platform. WeR1 is all about transparency and fairness, ensuring that artists get their fair share of the revenue generated by their music. In my role as Chief Community Officer at WeR1, I'm deeply passionate about creating a platform that truly values and empowers artists. With WeR1, fans can directly subscribe to their favorite artists, knowing that their support goes straight to the creators they love. I'm incredibly excited to continue working on WeR1 and hope to make a real difference in the music industry by providing a fair and sustainable streaming platform for artists and fans alike. We recently opened the app to our first subscribers by invitation only and are delighted to offer readers access with this unique acess code MARTIN on www.wer1.ai/access - Lets make the music world better together !

If you are not DJing, producing in the studio or socializing at clubs, where do we find you? And doing what?

Being a musician and take this serious, this is a full time job, there is hardly any time for something else! But we combine making music with traveling and have a lot of fun!

What are some of your favourite TV series? Both all time and recently, what have you been enjoying lately?

For us, TV series are waste of time ;)

Apart from music, what makes you happiest?

Spending quality time with loved ones.

What does the remainder of 2024 hold for you guys? Anything you can share with us?

For the remainder of 2024, we're excited to continue releasing new music on NASAJA every 6 weeks and showcasing our sound through live performances and DJ sets. We are looking forward to connecting with fans around the world through our music. For Seth it’s a very exciting year, because his WeR1 App gets launched and we are very optimistic that this have a huge impact on music streaming and the electronic music scene.

'Who We Are' is available now via NASAJA: https://tinyurl.com/7m7v5afa