Claptone Interview

There’s nothing imitable about Claptone. One of the most unique artists on the planet, his stage productions and musical philosophy are inspiring, making him one of the most in-demand acts at festivals and club nights. This November and December, Claptone will be bringing his intriguing Immortal Live show to Stereosonic. To find out a bit more of what to expect, we caught up with the musical marvel. Prepare to get very inspired…

How does the Immortal show coincide with your new album, ‘Charmer’? Are they separate projects or have you integrated them together when you hit the stage?
‘Claptone Immortal Live‘ is Claptone playing a live show. It’s an audio-visual experience, which differs a lot from the Claptone DJ sets. During the live performance you hear the best of Claptone original material. Of course that includes a selection of songs from the new album ‘Charmer’.

What was your inspiration behind the project?
The aim of doing ‘Claptone Immortal Live‘ was to bring a real show on stage, a show where pictures and music interact and develop throughout. It’s more of a three dimensional portal that opens for you and invites you to step into the Claptone universe for a while. This differs from a DJ set, which is built around the musical connection with the crowd.

How does Immortal challenge you as a creator?
There is no DJing happening on stage, so it challenges me more as a creator. Together with the director, I had to come up with an idea about the visual development. Don’t get me wrong, I am a visual person, and to create the Claptone universe I had to come up with images and distinct opinions about everything visual before, but this here was different as it’s moving pictures. The visual world needs to not only fit but move with the music. And you want to tell a story that takes the viewer and listener on a journey which ends in a world they didn’t even dream of.

You’ll be bringing your show to Australia this November and December for Stereosonic; what can an audience expect to experience from the three chapters of Immortal: The Past, The Present and The Future?
That timeline or evolution if you will is just the basic storyline of the show, the map so to speak. If you want to zoom in you need to come to experience ‘Claptone Immortal Live‘ at Stereosonic.

You ended the Ibiza season winning Best Producer at the DJ Awards; how do you ensure that you set yourself apart from everyone else? How do you keep getting better and better?
I am just being Claptone. That means I stay true to music, true to my heart. I reach out to the people on an emotional level through music and at the same time step back as a personality. I don’t explain too much about my music. I don’t do pictures with fans, nor do I sign anything. Music is my language. But I am a perfectionist and I want to know every word this language has to offer.

Most recently, your remix of Disclosure and Sam Smith’s ‘Omen’ has created a serious buzz, and your remix of Gregory Porter’s ‘Liquid Spirit’ was one of the biggest tunes in Ibiza; how do you choose the songs you remix? What’s your process and aim with each one?
I listen to the remix offer and then I either feel inspired or I don’t. That is how I decide which remix to take on. Then the real task begins because if you love a song and you remix it, you need to create something that can live up to the original or something that is better. This is a very emotionally demanding process. You want to keep the character and soulfulness of the original but translate it onto the Claptone dancefloor and this is exactly my aim.

You’ve had a heavy touring schedule this year. From one day to the next, you seem to be in a different part of the world; where are some of the most beautiful places that touring has taken you?
Our whole planet is beautiful and the distinctive difference between places is the reason for this beauty. That’s why I like your question. Most of the times I get asked where I like it the best, but I don’t prefer one place to another, I enjoy the differences. The advice I can give everyone is: go to other places, travel, no matter where. Because the cultural differences you will experience will not only make you understand those cultures better, but will change the view you have of your own culture.

Do the different sights and experiences influence your music at all? How so?
It’s an attitude. Travelling, reading, communicating and listening keep me open minded and mentally flexible. Not only do I accept diversity, I love it, I feed from it. I get inspired and translate this inspiration into music. Everything starts with an idea about rhythm and melody. I develop a groove until I have a beat that speaks to the body. Funk and Soul are ingredients I don’t want to miss out on. Chords and melodies have to make me feel. The have to matter to me on an emotional level. On the technical side less for me is more, I try to limit myself as much as possible to stay inventive.

Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef might be tricky for you, but is there anything you’d like to get up to while in Oz?
I’ll hide from the sun as well as I can. Everything else is up to your imagination.

Watch Claptone Immortal Live at Stereosonic in Australia

Saturday 28th November – Sydney Showground, Sydney
Sunday 29th November – Claremont Showgrounds, Perth
Saturday 5th December – Melbourne Showgrounds, Melbourne
Sunday 6th December – Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane

Tickets available from moshtix.com.au