In the lead up to the release of his hotly anticipated debut full length entitled “Simulat,” which drops via 50 Weapons on August 26, we took some time out to chat with Cosmin Nicolae – Cosmin TRG – about his new record, Berlin, and Ikea flat packs. Here’s how it played out.
Cosmin TRG – Amor Y Otros (Promo Snippet)
Tell us a little about your forthcoming album…
The album took about 2 months from start to finish. I just went to the studio every day for 2 months, here in Berlin and that’s how it pretty much got done.
You’ve had releases on Hemlock, Hessle Audio, and Rush Hour, why did you decide to release your debut album with Modeselektor’s 50 Weapons imprint?
One of the reasons was that I have a very good relationship with the Modeselektor guys, Gernot and Szary, and we’ve been chatting about releases and stuff for about a year, and then they just came up with the idea of an album. I thought that was a really good idea, given the relationship that I had with them, and the way they run the label, and the people who work for the label – It’s the kind of operation that I like to work for.
Did they have any say in the creative direction of it, or were you given a carte blanche to do what you wanted?
I pretty much had a carte blanche, because they’ve always been into my stuff no matter what. So they just wanted me to go crazy on the album, and just do it, and this is pretty much how they run their labels as well. 50 Weapons and Monkeytown are all about the freedom of creativity and all about the music. It sounds cheesy, but it really is like that!
Moving on to yourself – when did you move to Berlin, and did this instantly change your sound as a producer?
That’s another one of those cliches. It seems like everyone is moving to Berlin, and everyone is moving in to Berghain. But to me it was just one of those magical cities where everyone is really laid back and it gives you time to reflect and work on music. So far as the musical influence is concerned, I was always into the whole Berlin techno ever since the early-mid nineties, so to me it’s always had a certain influence without even having been to Berlin. So when I moved here, I didn’t actually go to parties and hang out with all the cool producers, it was just me going to the studio and making music.
Prior to the obvious techno influences and the move from Romania to Berlin, who inspired you growing up?
I guess it was a mixture of all sorts of things. Mainly electronic music. I was influenced by UK and US electronic music, a bit of the early Jeff Mills, Joey Beltram, as well as acts like Orbital, Autechre, the early stuff.
And who inspires you now?
It’s funny, but I think it’s the same people. The same sort of sound as 10 – 12 years ago, yet filtered through a different and more contemporary vision. But I am influenced by the minimal-wave sort of sounds, especially on the album, but also a lot of early electronica, Chicago and Detroit stuff. That also sounds like a cliche, but that’s really where my head is at the moment.
In studio, are you a believer in Analogue or VST?
It’s pretty much a mixture of everything. But mainly analogue for most of the album. I tried to stay away from the VSTs only because I wanted to experience a new sound and sound different to what I was producing before.
What was your favorite piece of studio equipment while making the new album – what couldn’t you have lived without?
If I had to pick one, it would have to be the Roland Space Echo, for analogue phasing delay.
Thousands of journalists – myself included – have tried to define your sound, using an array of hyphenated genre, how would you personally define the sound you’re currently putting out?
Somewhere between synth-pop and sweaty techno!
What’s the coolest thing you’ve done lately?
I was almost able to put together an Ikea chair, but I didn’t really get through it.
Glad I’m not the only one who has issues with Ikea flat packs. Lastly, what does the rest of 2011 have in store for Cosmin TRG after the album release?
There’s going to be a couple of remixes out later this year, and I’m just going to focus on djing for a bit, then I’m hopefully doing a US tour sometime in December.
Very cool, we look forward to welcoming you to the West-Coast. Thanks very much for taking the time out to chat with us, and we wish you the best of luck with the forthcoming record.
