Synth wizard Biesmans join us for the latest instalment of the Sinchi & Friends series and we’re seriously happy to have him. One of our stand out producers over the last year, you can always be assured with high quality feel good vibes and music that makes you want to move. He’s been prolific with originals and remixes on a whole host of top tier labels like AEON, Azzur and TAU amongst others in the past 12 months and he shows no signs of slowing with plenty of new music soon to be released. Read more about that below and dive into his superb mixtape, that is perfect for washing away those winter blues.
1) Please Introduce yourself?
Hello I’m Joris Biesmans. A Belgian born, Berlin based musician and full blown synthesizer addict.
2) With the never-ending series of lockdowns and ongoing restrictions, how have you been spending your time in recent months?
First of all, doing tons of music! I honestly never done this much music in one year and this part really felt good! I also spent a lot of time at home which is obviously the downside of things BUT even then, I’d like to see some positive notes. I mean, no doubt about it that its a horrible time for people in our sector but I think I lived way more healthy in these past months!
3) We know you have plenty of new music coming out this year, what can you tell us about this?
I can tell you that I have an EP coming up (next week 22.02) on Watergate records and this comes with an amazing remix by Fideles.
Get your hands on it here
In March, I have a collab with Jepe coming out on Aeon and after that I have several things coming up on labels like TAU, Watergate and euhmmm Sinchi amongst others! Apart from the official releases I also started a little remix project in which I go back to my Belgian roots and rework classic Belgian music from the 80’s. For now its nothing official but its a hell lot a fun!
4) On the Podcast, was there specific inspiration or a particular vibe you were going for? Do you have favourite track in it?
Well first of all, I wanted to play the music I’ve been searching! In these times I do way less digging BUT I really dived in for the past weeks and found a lot of nice stuff! Such a shame I couldn’t play any of these tracks in front of an audience but bundling them over here is the next best thing! The vibe I’m going for really is a warm up kinda thing. Start off smooth and relaxed and gradually building up to get ready for a night out…
Mmmmh hard to pick one favourite but I really like “Eliott Litrowski – The Little optimist” on Bordello a Parigi!
5) How have your listening habits changed over the last year? Are you still actively looking for new music with the absence of gigs? Or perhaps feeling different vibes ? And are there any tracks that have really stood out for you in the last year and why?
Oh yeah, this changed drastically for me! As I already mentioned, I do way less digging. I honestly don’t feel the need to actively look for new club music if I don’t have gigs. I do listen to stuff but way less. Also, I’m spending 6-8 hours per day in the studio so I love to listen to some other stuff at home (or simply nothing).
Are there tracks that stood out? I honestly have to admit that’s a very hard question now that I think about it. In the past year, I’ve really been submerged in my own music that much, it kinda feels like there was very little space for other stuff to (properly) enter my mind. If that makes sense?
6) Who or what are your biggest musical influences?
It’s nice that you also ask “what” cos this Is a big thing for me. I really get inspired by the machines I work with. I’m sucker for vintage synths and I guess you can also hear that in my music:) I also often get inspired by movies and this is something that reflects heavily in my music. When it comes to Who, I must say that it’s pretty wide! From the poppy French house scene (people like Zdar, Etienne de Crecy, Daft Punk) to the more experimental UK Scene (people like James Holden, Four tet, Caribou) to classic all time heroes like Depeche Mode, Bowie or Nile Rodgers. The list really is endless and also grows and changes continuously!
7) Tell us about 3 DJ’s / Producer’s we may not know but should be looking out for?
Transistorcake from Belgium does some very cool stuff!
Boi wonder also from Belgium (we also did some music together)
Alex Medina from the Canary Islands (who’s making waves right now)
8) What is your favourite Venue or Festival to play at and why?
That would be Watergate. I’ve been working there for the past years and its really my home base here in Berlin. I was the one preparing the setups for dj’s, and being a dj myself I like to pay attention to a system that is rock solid. There is nothing nicer then playing in a place where you have a great sound and no technical issues, you transmit this energy to your crowd.
9) Do you have a ritual before you start playing or straight after?
Not really. I just like to listen to my music before my gig but I will never play a “studied” set or anything. I like to go with the flow!
10) What is your favourite bit of kit?
For quite some years it was the MS20. I still use it a lot but I think the Moog grandmother comes on the first spot right now 🙂
11) What is your favourite film score?
I would say Risky Business scored by Tangerine Dream. Just amazing stuff there.
12) What makes you smile?
Synthesizers