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Artax Interview
2003-07-15
Who is artax?
- My name is Lars Bergvall, 22 years old, born in a small town in mid Sweden. Currently living in Stockholm,
where I work as a salesman in a store selling music equipment...
When did you start getting involved into the music?
What were the influences,inspiration? Has anyone helped you getting into it, showing you the software, the hardware?
- I started to play guitar in a band with my friends when I was about 11-12 years old... I never really learned
how to play the guitar, so I gave up when I was around 16 and when my brother, who during that period was a member of
Hux Flux, showed me Cakewalk and ReBirth, I started to do some tracks on my computer. The music then was leaning mostly
towards electro/electronica/body. Not that impressing acctually... After moving in to the Logic Bomb studio, it didin't
take long before the music was pure trance. Their music has of course been a big source of inspiration. Other music that
I have to say has inspired me is Kraftwerk, KoxBox, some body-music, like Pouppeé Fabrikk.
How come trance music why not some other electronic music or maybe pop (you can earn lots of money from it!)?
- Easy. I love the music and I love to party! I mean, it always hit you that everyone is happy (well... almost),
everyone is welcome, no fistfights, no drunks. People are just there to dance and share the comfort of the open mind and
of course, listen to the best party music on the planet. Psychedelic music explaines everything without putting words to it.
How would you explain your style of music and the sounds you are using?
- I'm a sucker for hard kicks and punchy basses! Also, sparkling tweekz are a big part of my music. Basically,
I try to make strange, driving rhythms from wierd sounds, focusing on making catchy "breakcomebacks". Lately there's been
more melodies in my music too.
Studio set-up? Which equipment you are using, hardware, software, anything we havent heard about?
- I have a PC with a Motu 2408 Mk3 soundcard, running Cakewalk Sonar2.
Synthesizers and samplers are mostley software, alot is done with Pro 53 and Kontakt from Native Instruments. I do have
a Waldorf MicroQ and a Nord Modular Rack, so I have some hardware too. I use Event 20/20Bas for monitoring, which are great.
Who's ARTAX, any meaning of the word itself?
- Well... I got the name from the movie "Neverending Story". When I came uo with the name, I thought it was the
name of the flying dog. Later, when I sobered up, I realised that Artax was the name of the horse, and not of the flying
dog... After some thinking I stopped caring about the issue and kept the name. There´s no meaning to it, but that is what I
have to put to it then? Also, if you take A and R, and put it at the end it spells TAXAR, which is the Swedish word for
weinerdogs (the pets, not the food).
You've done quite few tracks and they are quite good, what's hapening with the music, is it getting released anywhere? Anyone interested? Any favorite label that you think your music should be released on?
- Well, I'm working abit on an album, but it's not clear which label will release it... I've had some offers, but
you could say I'm checking the market. Also, I think it's better to wait until you are 100% happy with you music, before you
start thinking about albums. I do have a few tracks about to be released on compilations, right now I think on Indian label
Third Eye Records and Aussie label Alkaloid Records. I do not have a favourite label. Yet, perhaps.
Self opinion on the tracks you've done so far?
- Some better, some worse... But, I do think that the stuff I do today, is the best I've ever done.
Any colaboration with other artists?
- I have a colaboration with a DJ called Haze. We have done some smashing tracks together, but we have not
decided what to call the project. I will probably put some more effort into that project, when Artax has grown abit.
Favorite artist or style of music?
- Not surprisingly, I've always loved the music of Logic Bomb. I don't really have any big, "been all my life"-
idol. I like all sorts of music but I mainly listen to psy-trance right now. Of course, like any swedish youngster I have
a dark and embaressing past of Heavy Metal-music, but thats nothing to be proud over... Ha.
What else is Artax doing in his life except making music? How do you support yourself and the fact that you need to update your equipment for the studio,any other hobbies?
- As I said, I work in a store selling music equipment, mostley soundcards, software, synthesizers, etc. That is,
of course, a big advantage if your into these things. But, I have worked very hard for my equipment. But, hobbys... If I'm
not working, I'm in my studio (if I'm not on the couch). Visiting a few partys or playing somewhere a sometime a month
gives the social dose.
Is your live act ready for gigs?
- Oh yes! I've played live about 4-5 times.
Any gigs already? Where, when, how many people, short story about it?
- A couple, as I mentioned. Played at a place in Stockholm called Docklands late last year, together with
Son Kite, S>Range and Vibrasphere, where aprox 1200 people participated. It's always nice when there is alot of people.
You are Jonnas's brother (one half of Logic Bomb). How much is that helping you in getting through the scene or is it anoying in some way?
- He has of course helpt me alot! I mean, he got me into this music. He has introduced me and my tracks to alot of
people within the scene. Something that can annoy me is pressreleases for comps and such focusing on me as Jonas brother...
I don't think Artax sounds that much like Logic Bomb, to be honest. One funny thing though, is that Jonas has acctually
borrowed some ideas from me for one of his latest tracks. Unfortunatly, we haven't been able to complete any tracks
together, but it's unavoidable for the future.
Future plans?
- Going out to play a few places in Europe during May and some gigs in Sweden this summer.
Will of course keep on doing tracks as much as I can. Besides that, I'm gonna enjoy the summer, with all it's partys and
all-night-psy-flight! Bom Shanker!
Interview by: www.shangri-la-la.co.uk
Vlado
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