Back in 2007 a mysterious English label called Hessle Audio unveiled their first release, Put You Down by the as yet unknown TRG. The two cuts of forward-thinking dubstep would go on the define the future of both the label and the artist as subsequent releases on Naked Lunch, Subway and others saw the Romanian producer explore the possibilities of dubstep. Often taking cues from his first love- techno, tracks like Everything We Stand For, and Decisions became stables for moving dance floors. The big change came in January 2010 when Tempa released Now You Know, a collection of six energetic tribal house tracks with low end emphasis that saw the artist include his first name into his moniker. Since then Cosmin TRG has released a steady stream of lower tempo tracks, always surprising, but consistently high quality. Earlier this year Cosmin set out to write an album at Modeselektor Studios in his new hometown of Berlin. Simulat is the result of these sessions, a carefully crafted collection of expressive techno that might just be the most interesting work the producer has created to date. Stomp Mag spoke to Cosmin about his recent live performances, writing the album and the difficulties of putting together a live show.
How are you settling into life in Berlin?
It’s been great so far. I’ve had a really good welcoming to the city. Nice people, nice weather.
Do you get to play in the clubs there a lot?
I played Panorama about a month ago and I played at Horst about two weeks ago but I definitely want to play more here.
You played Freerotation Festival a few weeks ago- how was that?
It was amazing! I played Friday night and had a few technicals in the first half hour so Steveio, the promoter, asked me would I like to play another set the next day and I said yes. And that worked out a treat. The crowd are really open-minded there and really up to date and really love their music.
Do you like playing at small festivals like this?
I like to play any kind of venue! Before Freerotation I played at Melt! Festival to about 4000 people and my second Freerotion set was to about 100 people. It was a really small room and it was packed- a total sweatbox and I loved it!
Was there a big difference in the type of music you were playing at
Melt! and Freerotation?
Slightly yeah. With big festivals you tend to play big room kinda stuff, but then again that might work in a small room as well. It depends on the crowd and how they react to the tunes.
Did you get to see any other sets at Freerotation?
Yeah, its still kind of a blur. Move D, Fred P, Tama Sumo all stand out but Levon Vincent was my highlight. He took me right back to school!
Up until now you’ve been releasing a lot of 12”s and Eps- what motivated you to write an album?
I’ve been thinking about writing an album for the last three years but it didn’t really feel right until now. And I had the opportunity to work with the Modeselektor guys and I felt right at home with them. It was sort of a mission for me to write an album in the space of two or three months. Before I started work I was thinking- this isn’t going to work, this deadline is gonna kill me but this sort of rigour helped me.
A lot of your music varies from each release- was it difficult to
write a bunch of songs in the same vein?
Not really, it felt like it was a progression in my work. I like to wait between releases to see what I can come up with and this album felt a bit like writing a book. Creating each chapter individually but keeping it coherent. I really enjoyed making it actually!
Simulat feels a lot darker and atmospheric than your previous work- was this intentional?
I’ve heard a few people saying it’s a “darker” album than what I was writing before.. I don’t feel it’s dark, it might be a bit melancholic I guess.
Was it important that Simulat could be appreciated outside a nightclub?
It would be a lie if I said I didn’t think about how people would listen to it but at the same time I just went to the studio every day just trying to make some very personal tracks. All the tracks that I wrote I had that template in mind- that they’re going to be listened to in a car or at home or on your ipod or whatever. But there’s still some dance floor tracks in there as well.
Did you have access to a lot of analogue equipment while you were
making Simulat?
Yeah I think the album is almost 100% made with hardware. I would for example borrow a Space Echo pedal, or a Juno 60 Synth from Modeselektor and use that for a few tracks and take it back and get another piece of equipment and use that.
When did you first meet Modeselektor?
I think it was sometime in 2006 they came to Bucharest and about a year went by and then I saw they charted one of my tunes so I started sending them music. They’ve been really supportive over the years and when they started their own label they contacted me for tunes.
You attended the RBMA in Toronto in 2007- what do you remember about that?
I think it was the most memorable experience of the last 10 years! First of all it was amazing to go to Toronto which is a fantastic city and then it was great to be around so many talents from so many different places exchanging ideas. When I went I think my first song had just come out, so that period was the beginning of my releasing career.
I’ve read that you’ve been experimenting with a live show- is this
something you want to develop?
Yeah- it definately needs more development! I’ve just been checking out different people and how they do their live shows. I admire on one hand people who have a very compact kind of live set up like not using too many types of kit but still having a every hands-on approach.
Did you see Shackleton at Freerotation?
Yeah- how could I forget him. He just uses one midi-controller but it still feels really organic. And then on the other hand you have people who have a kinda “band” approach to their live show with loads of different gear and I admire that as well. I hope there will be some kind of middle ground where I can take my live show.
Simulat is released on the 26th of August from 50 Weapons
