Berlin-based producer Daniel Steinberg follows up an impressive LP release in ‘Left Handed’ late last year with an appearance this month on Waze & Odyssey’s standout imprint Street Tracks. Steinberg has supplied two killer house cuts to the label, which includes ‘Radical Fear’ – a track you can check out exclusively via When We Dip today. What’s more, Daniel took time from studio work to talk us through his current focus. Topics of conversation include motivation, album remixes and connecting to W&O…
WWD: Thanks for taking the time to chat Daniel!
Pleasure
WWD: How are you? Where in the world are you right now?
I’m at home in Berlin, just back from my label partner Nils Ohrmann’s birthday at Golden Gate. We played b2b for 8 hours… an extended set in filthy vibing club, I live for that shit …it was magic!
WWD: Obviously 2015 was all about your ‘Left-Handed’ album release. Were you happy with the reaction to the LP?
Absolutely. The reviews said almost word for word what I was aiming for when I conceived the album. The comparisons made were ridiculous, from The Orb, Franky Knuckles, M.A.R.R.S, Laylo & Bushwacka! to Daft Punk, I was really chuffed.
WWD: You’ve spoken about how an injury to your right arm and a disconnected Internet connection created the ideal scenario for building the album. More recently, what have you been using for inspiration? And where does your focus lie currently?
I asked some of my favorite artists to do remixes for the album: 808 State, Paul Johnson, Nick Holder, Jay Haze, Terry Lee Brown Junior, Bushwacka!, DJ W!LD, Crazy P & Robert Armani. It’s been really interesting to hear which elements they chose to work with, their different sounds and arrangements , they’re all brilliant; it’s been totally inspiring and motivating!
I’d like to say my focus at the moment is on making dark & twisted techno for my other alias Harry Axt, but when I’m in the studio intending to make techno I’ll come out with a Latin tinged house number and vice versa, so the focus is just on making good music…
WWD: You’ve signed your latest release to Waze & Odyssey’s Street Tracks, can you tell us how that came about?
Sure, Firas (not sure if he’s the Waze or the Odyssey) reached out saying they were into my tunes and asked me if I had any unreleased stuff for Street Tracks.
WWD: Looking ahead to 2016 just a few quickfire q’s
1- Who’s your star on the rise?
Kristin Velvet
2- Where are we going to find the best party?
On a Sunday in Berlin
3- One thing you want to see more of?
Cheap second-hand CDs (I’m a collector)
4- The one musical accomplishment you’re most proud of?
My label with Nils Ohrmann – Arms & Legs
WWD: Have you taken up any new hobbies recently or do you still find yourself living in the studio?
No hobbies, just music all day & all night, I sleep and eat occasionally. When I need a break I go hunting for second hand CDs.
WWD: What’s going down on the Arms & Legs front?
Next up is the Left-Handed remixes album out March 18.
WWD: What do you hope defines 2016 for Daniel Steinberg?
Great music and hopefully a trip to Japan at some point.
Follow: @daniel-steinberg // @wostreettracks