Hey folks,
Sutekh returns to Symbiosis after his piano mix for Symbiosis on Overlap.
It is a true pleasure to host a mix by Seth and we took the opportunity to finally chat via Skype – you can check out the interview below.
I hope you enjoy the mix 
Cheers,
Simon
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Download the mp3.
Following last year’s solo piano mix for Symbiosis, I knew I had to eventually come back with a proper club mix (note: your definition of proper may vary).
So here it is, a set that would get me up off my nerdy ass and onto the dancefloor at a rave. I used mostly current stuff (for me, that means released within the last year), but also worked in a few classics.
Stylistically, I tried to make some connections between the deeper, spacier sides of both minimal techno and dubstep. And I couldn’t help letting it dissolve into chaos and obscurity at the end, including a little bit of piano and a lot of silence by David Tudor (who later left his virtuosic piano skills to work almost exclusively with electronics).
Seth: That was basically my approach with this dj mix, though i wanted it to be coherent to a degree (not as wildly eclectic as other mixes i’ve done)
Simon Hampson: Sure..
Seth: lately, the most exciting developments revolve around various ‘bass’ musics, but even within that, it’s hard for me to find tracks that really grab me
Simon Hampson: You have to be even more of a selector now than ever! But you’re right.. that’s where the experimentation and excitement is
Simon Hampson: So tell us about where you’re at right now.. ‘On Bach’ came out this year and it was your first release for a little while right?
Seth: not exactly – the press seems to pump up the fact that it is my first album in eight years, but that disregards a slew of eps, remixes, collaborations (pigeon funk album with kit clayton), 4LP remix set on Leaf, etc.
Seth: but as far as where i’m at…
Simon Hampson: by little while I meant 2 yrs
Simon Hampson: edm moves fast dude haha
Seth: whew! i can’t keep up
Simon Hampson: Me neither!
Seth: but i can tell already that the next sutekh album will be in some ways the opposite of ‘on bach’ – totally focused and narrow
Seth: with the theme of mind control
Seth: i’m working on audiovisual elements as well. i want it to be very physically demanding, but immersive – more about body and senses than intellect this time
Seth: though both are always involved to a degree…
Simon Hampson: So will it be an interactive online work with audio downloads?
Seth: probably just a normal music release, but the live performance will involve video
Simon Hampson: Nice
Seth: i’m working on various other projects, including installations, but under my regular old name ‘seth horvitz’
Simon Hampson: That’s the long bearded piano guy right? 
Seth: white wigged…
Simon Hampson: Ah yes.. haha
Simon Hampson: Funny story time
Simon Hampson: You came to Melbourne once right?
Seth: back in the 20th century…?
Seth: or was it slightly after?
Seth: yes, i think i did
Seth: am i supposed to tell a funny story now?
Simon Hampson: Yes think it was slightly after
Seth:
Simon Hampson: You can.. but my funny story is that I gave you a lift from the venue you played at
Simon Hampson: to triple r radio
Simon Hampson: just realised the other day
Seth: wow, that’s cool. my memories are so fried!
Simon Hampson: Ok.. so since we’re thinking back and this is the first chat we have had in ‘real time’ – take us back to those days.. you had releases on some amazing labels like Force Inc, collaborations with artists like Kit Clayton and Twerk. When did you start producing?
Seth: My first record came out in ’96 I believe. Using a Mac Centris 650, an EMU sampler, 909, and some fx pedals
Simon Hampson: Wow. Discogs only goes back to 1998 and the Influenza EP under your Sutekh name
Seth: There was a compilation EP before that called “swivel” – it wasn’t a solo record
Seth: But Influenza was technically released in ’97
Simon Hampson: And what would you say your approach was in those days? Did you ever consider yourself to be making techno?
Simon Hampson: (or intend to)
Seth: Sure, at that point I was totally immersed in techno culture, but I always tried to take an experimental approach
Seth: And my idea of techno is pretty broad
Simon Hampson: And when did you start to develop an interest in piano?
Seth: I didn’t get into the piano until about 2002 or so. I was almost thirty years old and I had never learned to play any instruments growing up.
Simon Hampson: Wow
Seth: It was an amazing new universe for me to explore
Simon Hampson: I started violin at 3 1/2 yrs old (suzuki method)
Simon Hampson: and then piano at 4
Seth: Most people learned to play something… not me
Seth: The first thing I tried to play was a tape recorder
Simon Hampson: So fascinating.. you have come to it in a way that I would love to.. experimentation and free thinking.. then structured practise
Seth: It’s definitely a weird place to be!
Seth: but I like it
Simon Hampson: On a last note – what is coming up for you?
Seth: Coming up for me: currently writing my masters thesis, then on to new music.
Seth: next immediate project will be a remix for a japanese artist named coppé
Seth: then i’ll start work on a new sutekh release
Seth: mind control!
Simon Hampson: looking forward to it
Seth: cool, thanks for the chat
Interview post script from Seth:
“just went back over my gig list and realized that i played twice in melbourne – 2001 and 2003. must have been the second time that we met, right? the first time, i came with safety scissors – we stayed with voiteck in melbourne and dave miller in perth (i think he was around 20 yrs old at the time, now he’s in the warp-signed band pvt!).”
Find out more about Sutekh at Context.fm
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