Georg Levin

"When I’m With You, was only a single. I did a demo of it on a four track tape machine (tedious work, but I had no other equipment, not even a decent computer. Then I recorded it with a Dixon (with whom at present I collaborated on an album for our project Wahoo), who had his new ‘studio’ set up and I didn’t know how to use most of the machines. It was one of his first recordings as well, so we fiddled around for ages on that track until we were happy with it. In the beginning, it was a bit hard for me I must admit. I have moved near to my College in South East London, which to this day; is not the most beautiful places. With living standards that are quite low. I liked my British flat mates, but they were a bit younger than myself, not really from a liberal background, so they indulged excessively in everything they were not allowed to back home at their parents. Picture that average filthy student dump with bongs, junk food, pills, computer games, beer cans, banging house music twenty-four seven and that was it. It actually depressed me a little bit after that, especially in that neighborhood but I moved to other areas and it was all-good”, says Georg Levin.

He released a one time album, and is now working at Sonar Kollektiv, a German, Europe based label with artists like Clara Hill, and BennySings. “London may not be the most relaxing places, especially everyday life can be annoying (distances, public transport, housing) but I think there is no other city, which is so cosmopolitan (much more than Berlin), and in a lot of ways open-minded more than New York. I love visiting London and try to be there at least two times a year” admits Georg Levin.

“I’d say its kind of soul, rock, house and pop. What do you think? I really don’t know, by the way, it’s not my latest offering; it’s my last and first album” says Georg Levin about his album. He speaks of Clara Hill, “I see her a lot, because she’s with the same label, over the years, we’ve done a few recordings. I have produced two songs from her new album and gigs. She’s very talented; it’s cool to work with her”

“I don’t know. I always loved to listen to music; maybe it is some kind of narcissistic move to actually start writing your own music. There’s definitely an urge, despite all creative, pride, business related downfalls or downs” regarding Georg Levins favorite genres of music to listen to.

“Best thing is to listen carefully to other people’s music. Try to understand what it is about, what they are about and it’s almost like learning a language. Then find your own flavor and add that to it, don’t make music just because you want to be apart of something, the urge has to be greater than that. You have to think that the world may become a slightly better place with your music. From the production side, know your gear, I’m far from being accomplished but a lot of youngsters download all these nice and easy-to-use pre-set plug INS. I have never heard anyone making good music with only using presets”

“I appreciate almost every genre. There’s only good or bad music” says Georg Levin.

He says what he gets up to, “I’m seeing my friends a lot, most of them have nothing to do with music and that’s very good indeed”

And what he enjoys doing most in the studio? “I like to do remixes because you can try out different things in a restricted framework. It is always surprising how you can change the course or mood of a strong element such as vocal of a particular tune by putting it into a different background”

“I started singing in a band where I was originally playing the sax. They have sacked their lead singer and the member who sang the lead out of tune was chosen”

Email Interview by Matthew Daniel

Soulisms 2008