Art Was Art is the bestselling producer of the Munich-based label ZEN DNA, and the global release date for his new single Cancel Culture is May 28. Nonetheless, Beatport and Spotify users can enjoy all three versions of the single from May 14. This forward-thinking artist took the world of underground electronic music by surprise launching his debut Tetragonal Grid in May 2020. Every one of his singles appears on the lists of bestsellers, future classics, and secret weapons. His March 2021 hit Orwellian Nightmares held the number one position in the Beatport Electro Top 100 for over a month. Despite that, he keeps his attitude down-to-earth, completely disregarding the cult-figure status achieved in less than a year.
WWD: Cancel Culture is the name of your new single. What can you say about it?
Cancel culture has always been part of our civilization. Even the ancient Greeks were banishing people from Athens. Still, today’s way of communication is way faster and makes it more apparent. We all consider ourselves moral persons, but we sometimes join the Internet mobs judging other people based on opinions and not facts. Will humanity ever be able to rise above it? I don’t want to cancel that possibility!
WWD: How would you define the style of the release?
When music can fit into a definition of a particular genre, it usually results in deprivation of its uniqueness. However, categorizations can sometimes help the audience discover new and exciting music. I’d say my basis is electro, but I’m trying to squeeze in all the elements of house, techno, and even psychedelia, so my productions can fit into sets of DJs with rather diverse tastes.
WWD: One could say that you have achieved more in just a couple of months than other producers accomplish in decades, but if you had to explain who you are, what would be your answer?
I guess I finally got my fifteen minutes of fame, as Andy Warhol eloquently stated back in the eighties. Despite that, I’m just an ordinary man trying to find my way in the world. I’m a Gemini with Prussian and Bohemian roots, so sometimes I’m very rigorous, and other times I’m entirely laid back. In both cases, I like my beer cold. Anyway, It would be a mistake to admire a short-sighted college dropout, but be my guest!
WWD: Bill Gates and Steve Jobs are just some of the short-sighted college dropouts who changed the world! Could it be that something you see as a disadvantage is, in fact, the secret of your success?
If there were a secret, I’d go to a patent office, put a copyright on it and make a lot of money.
WWD: Maybe the secret is that your music is simply awesome!
That doesn’t hurt, but there were always many amazing musicians whose music stayed unnoticed. Even a lot of classical composers like Johann Sebastian Bach got noticed way after they died.
WWD: Is it possible that Bach got noticed way after he died because there was no Internet in the sixteenth century?
Good one! I’m sure that’s at least one of the reasons. The Internet is a powerful tool, but endless possibilities negatively affect the focus. If the Internet had existed in the sixteenth century, Bach might never have written his Ave Maria because he would have spent time watching Netflix or Brazzers. One of the crucial steps in a creative process is to get disconnected from the rest of the world and enter the subconscious mind.
WWD: What characterizes your creative process?
There’s a balance between rational and irrational states of mind that are always in correspondence. When I purposely try to make an artistic statement, it usually ends up in a recycle bin. I do a lot of sketches without any pressure. Returning to my unfinished works after a while completely changes my perspective. That’s when I can finally be rational about the material and start working on the technical side of sound.
WWD: Are there any artists you particularly appreciate these days?
Sure! Stanny Abram is fantastic! Abram never limits his creativity by the rules of a particular genre and produces a ton of music. Ongun Tutuncu delivers exciting tracks lately, and so does Anil Butun. I enjoy listening to a lot of the Science Cult releases! I also enjoy listening to productions by Kimse, Alien Rave, Sven Kössler, Red Eye, Digital Base, Andy Vibes, Krafty Kuts, Yo Speed, and Midø! There’s also Treavor Moontribe! I’ve just finished a remix of Underwater Cities, his outstanding track!
WWD: Well, you don’t mind sharing the excitement about other people’s music!
You may say it’s other people’s music, but it’s the soundtrack of my life! There are probably, even more artists I forgot to mention! I had an opportunity to hear Detector’s new mind- blowing material last week. He will be having his ZEN DNA debut soon.
WWD: You’ve just mentioned ZEN DNA, a label that signed Cancel Culture, your new single! It has also released every one of your singles to this day! What’s so special about this record company?
ZEN DNA is the mothership! None of my releases would ever be possible without this Munich-based label. It is a small company, but it has a lot of love and heart, so I guess its location in Hartliebstraße is not a coincidence. It’s a platform that took a risk and signed my music when others didn’t want to do anything with it. The story remains the same with my new single. I see Cancel Culture as a follow-up to Orwellian Nightmares, a futuristic piece of music with a dose of nostalgia. I hope you like it!