| My point is to make people dance, I like the party feeling, energy and craziness
I've always been fascinated by synthetic sounds... I already had producing experiences years earlier by playing keyboards and guitar... Detroit is mythical for most of us...
Water Lilly is one of the main figures representing the Swiss electro scene today. Behind the decks since 96 and producing from 99 she materializes a subtle mixture of analogue atmospheric sounds with a pumpy dancefloor feeling. This charming killer-behind the decks lady carries her records worldwide, alike her live performances have graced fine venues such as Luxx in New York City, WMF in Berlin, Batofar in Paris, Luxclub in Lisbon, or the Discotheque in Barcelona .
DJ Water Lilly also hosts her own radio show on the Basic.ch Internet radio station.
The slamming electro tracks of Water Lilly leave a mark on the dancefloors they've been played at: they contain a footstomping energizing quality that many noted techno DJs are quick to realize, playlisting her records systematically.
Lilly gladly teams up with other artists among which Pol, St-Plomb and Plastique de Reve with whom she co-produced the smasher "Rodéo mécanique" on Gigolo records in 2002.
After six EP's released on Mental Groove and lately on Lasergun records, she now delivers her debut album called "Sputnika" that truly defines Lilly's world. Monster electrified techno tunes, high quality of production with a modern electro feel and a great combination of melancholic dark tunes combined with a slamming four-to-the-floor energy...
Oscilator: After releasing Sputnika lp on the Mental Groove records, various collaborations and a lot of gigs, it seems that this year things are quite working for you. Do you agree? Are you happy with this situation?
Water Lilly: I definitely enjoy playing around and meeting nice people. Releasing an album CD usually makes a difference with only releasing vinyls, it also increases the exposure of course.
Oscilator: You are behind the decks for almost 10 years. Are you tired of all these things? I don`t believe so but I have to ask!
Water Lilly: Of course not. I keep buying lots of records and enjoying dancefloors. This is one of the most inspiring things to me for production.
Oscilator: While your tunes are in more atmospheric and old skool, analogue, electro feeling, your live sets seem to be far more clubby, more dancefloor oriented. Why?
Water Lilly: Sure, in a club my point is to make people dance, I like the party feeling, energy and craziness. In the studio I can experience other directions and dimensions. I'm totally found of analogue sounds which I guess define this atmospheric and dark feeling.
Oscilator: Are you planning to do a live act sometimes in the future?
Water Lilly: I actually play live quite often. Next time in July in Bern (Switzerland).
Oscilator: Please tell me something about your background. And what is the first record that really moved you and pushed you in to this (electro) direction?
Oscilator: I've always been fascinated by synthetic sounds, vocoders, etc. I like analog sounds but not only. I think different styles can easily interact, I love guitars for instance. I started collecting records and involved myself pretty early in the vinyl's world. I already had producing experiences years earlier by playing keyboards and guitar in a noisy pop band.
It's not about one single record, I think that Industrial music is one of the main influences to me. Bands like Front 242, Einstürzende and later noisy pop stuff like Sonic Youth or My bloody Valentine.
Oscilator: Can you tell me something about your collaborations with Pascalidis, Legowelt, Plastique De Reve?
Water Lilly: Plastique de reve is one of my best friends. We produce, play at gigs and share many things together. Savas Pascalidis made a remix for me and I am actually part of his records label "Lasergun records" where I already released one EP called "Frenzy Flux" and another one is forthcoming next Fall. And Legowelt also made a very very nice remix of "You Kiss".
Oscilator: Please tell me something about your studio set-up, favourite hardware and software, production methods... Are you more at home in the studio or behind the decks?
Water Lilly: I spend almost all my free time at the studio. I like old analogue synths but not exclusively also because most of them are not MIDI. VST instruments work fine as well and it's a good way to try different sounds. MacIntosh for sure and for the Softwares Live, Cubase or Reason are great, depends on the track I use one or the other.
Oscilator: What is your worst club (gig) experience?
Water Lilly: I never had a bad experience so far.
Oscilator: Can you tell me something about your radio show? Are you still working for the Basic.ch?
Water Lilly: Yes indeed. I still have a monthly show on Wednesday evenings. But since they are convertng the whole database from RealPlayer to MP3 it will take a while to backlog all the archives. But people can still listen to the Live Stream.
Oscilator: You travel and play a lot. What do you think about contemporary club culture?
Water Lilly: I think it's a good way to share party time and music together. I like the fact it keeps going the whole night. The spirit is good.
Oscilator: You have played on the Detroit Music Festival this year. Any impressions?
Water Lilly: Well it was huge. It is of course a bit impressive to play at the same time than legends like Kevin Saunderson or Carl Craig. Detroit is mythical for most of us, you feel like being a pilgrim somehow. I really enjoyed playing there.
Oscilator: Your new ep called " DissiDance" will appear on the Lasergun Records. When will that happen? What can you tell me about this release?
Water Lilly: It is going to be released next fall and may contain an exclusive surprise remix :)
Oscilator: What are your favourite labels and what is on your plates these days?
Water Lilly: To me it is more about the artists than the labels in fact. Lately I play a lot of Richard Bartz, The Hacker, Black Strobe, Tomas Andersson, The MFA...
Oscilator: Is there anything else that you want to say?
Water Lilly: Yes but it's a big secret so I cannot tell ;P
Related Links:
http://www.waterlilly.ch/
http://www.lasergun-records.com/
http://www.mentalgroove.ch/
http://live.basic.ch/showtl.cfm?showid=90
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