Solarstone Interview

They say if one had the possibility to go back in time, we would go back to remedy the mistakes and re-live the good times. The ideal thing would be re-living them with intensity and evolution, making the most of them and, even better, taking them to new levels of happiness percepieved from several points of view… Things happen for better or for worse, but the burning smile will last forever.

Solarstone’s music – I honestly think – is perfect for listening to in places where time doesn’t exist. It’s hard to say it living in a society where there’s no time to lose. But we should give us a little time to forget about problems and stuff like that, and we should submit ourselves to the pleasure of the atmospheric sounds… You can find it in cds such us Touchstone or Electronic Architecture, they can surely take the fans to other states of emotion and, why not say it, of AWARENESS.

Personally, I got surprised when I first listened to Electronic Architecture, as it’s very interesting and groundbreaking. Tracks such as ‘Uncontrollable’ from Piotro have its own mystique and you can feel a good atmosphere of overwhelming introspection and feelings. By far it’s one of the best tracks of this cd. Also you can find: ‘Weekend’ from Poonyk & Oxide, ‘Eta Carinae’ from Elfsong, ‘Escapade’ from Majera, ‘Resurrection’ from Medway (PROFF Remix), ‘Dreams of the Sea’ from Janeiro & Sovt, ‘Touchstone’ from Solarstone (Orkidea Remix). Well, finally we could mention the complete cd, but let’s make a brief of it: his new album is surprisingly listenable! PLEASE, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO IT!

I feel that this kind of music has rescued Trance from a future that seemed to be guide by POP world. Then, it took the name of Underground in which it even didn’t have any qualification to be assigned within a musical pattern. They used to say without knowledge: ‘It’s like techno, isn’t it?’ … It’s Trance music and it has reborn to say: ‘I’m still Under’…

Solarstone has showed that he could make incredible things in his cd, including djs which aren’t that well-known (some of them). We don’t need fame to make something better. The concept of music and art is perfectly implemented, inviting your mind to open its doors and improving your mental and spiritual status… helping to develop ourselves. The first part of the saga, called ‘Electronic Architecture’, led this amazing Dj to the path of fame with awesome tracks, incorporating several djs from the throughout the world. Unfortunately, it passed almost unnoticed here. We need to know it would be a mistake to let it slip by. The most outstanding tracks of this cd are ‘Peace’ from Saints and Sinners (Breakfast Remix) and ‘Late Summer Fields’ from Solarstone & Alucard (although I like Forerunners’ Club Mix more). Both premiering on the album and they are fantastic! We also can mention: Winterlight – ‘Mirror’ (Solarstone Subterranean Mix), Leo G ‘Muttering Retreat’, Jahawi ‘Kenya’, etc.

Even though we’ve already talked about his successful and current project, you might know that his road to success is very long as you can see it on the internet. His beginnings started approximately in 1995 with singles such as ‘Seven Cities’ (1999), by far one of the best masterpieces mainly conceived by people who love psychedelia and imaginative music, and those who want a future closer to heaven… From saying this, we simply accept that Solarstone’s music has always been excellent; maintaining its essence, principles and ideas that keep on being renewed nowadays. It’s a quality trance and its loved by people around the globe!

The most important moment is now! Let’s make some questions to Richard Mowatt (Solarstone) for our readers of #Tranceworld

1.- It’s been a long time since you’re bound to electronic music… 17 years more or less… how has all this time full of experiences and projects been?

It’s been an interesting ride for sure. Ups and downs, peaks and valleys. The music scene is an unpredictable beast, the concept of ‘cool’ is something which makes this industry tough to exist within if being ‘cool’ is not on your list of priorities. I’ve loved the process of making music, but I can honestly say that the rest of the music industry leaves a lot to be desired.

2.- Tell us how came along the creation of ‘Solarstone’ …

Solarstone was born in 1997. Previously I’d been part of a project called ‘Space Kittens’ – it was an acid – disco sound, something that was quite big at the time. I discovered the Trance sound via acts like Eat Static and labels like Eye-Q. Solarstone was the name I choose as a vehicle for this new sound.

3.- Do you feel as a reference for all lovers of electronic music?

That’s not a question that can be answered without a certain amount of ego – stroking coming in to play! There are a lot of electronic music lovers out there… I’d like to hope that there might be something in my back catalogue for all of them…. We can all live in hope.

4.- When people mention your name in conversations about electronic music, they say you’re a living legend… And you really are! What do your friends and family say regarding to the fact that you’re a trance music idol and you’re much respected in the world?

My friends and family don’t pay much attention to what I do. To them I’m just an annoying person who taps his feet a lot and is always making stupid musical sounds at random intervals. Having said that my Mother and Father both like the occasional Solarstone track which is always something of a bonus.

5.- Music tendencies have been changing and developing during these years. From the nineties up to now, since you have much more experience than me… What’s your opinion on the current trance scene? Do you have any constructive criticism in particular?

I don’t like to tell people what to produce or what to listen to for that matter. People only buy music they actually like, there’s no place for snobbery in my musical world. One thing I’m pleased about is that trance appears to have slowed down in terms of BPM and also producers are allowing genre lines to be blurred again. The whole Swedish House Mafia house meets trance thing  (although they are clearly not the first to do it & it’s not particularly new thing) is I think good for the scene in general. I don’t like this over produced 138bpm digital sounding stuff which is still popular with some producers, for me trance should sound more organic. Trance is still my genre of choice.

6.- Thanks to the power of the internet, your music has spread all over the globe… even Youtube displays your tracks since 2005. Did you feel that your followers wanted to show your musical creations to the world?

I’d rather people bought music from online stores than ripped it from youtube to be honest. Youtube is ok but it’s been very detrimental to record sales.

7.- Is ‘Touchstone’ the rebirth of Solarstone?

I’m not sure, if it reached a new audience then perhaps, it depends whether or not the listener was newly introduced to Solarstone by that album.

8.- There we can find your musical trends: Progressive Trance, Electronic music and Chill Out. Did you think that it was a good opportunity to create a new album including all your musical trends?

Touchstone was an experimental album, I think established Solarstone fans would not have been phased by it as I’ve always liked to try different things with my music. It certainly wasn’t / isn’t a ‘club’ record, it’s more of a ‘listen in the car’ or ‘listen at home’ kind of album, but it’s definitely an album I’m musically proud of.

9.- Regarding to your musical creations, tell us how has EA came along and how has it evolved since your inception into it?

The Electronic Architecture series was a kick back against what I perceive as the problems with most ‘compilation’ albums released these days – lack of thought, vision or attention to detail. I wanted to include lots of brilliant music from new artists creatively mixed, all packaged in an aesthetically beautiful way. The series is evolving with each release, the best way to see that happening is to go to the website http://www.electronicarchitecture.co.uk and see / hear for yourself!

10.- I must confess that I’ve been waiting so long for this album to be released last April and it wasn’t in vain at all. Do you believe that this feeling of redeveloping music is what people are looking for nowadays?

I think that some people are sick of being spoon fed mass produced crap and that there is a section of the music loving public who would like something with a bit more substance.

11.- EA2 is mainly created by new Dj/ producers… How did you find this great guests roster for your amazing showcase album ‘Electronic Arquitecture2?

By spending weeks and weeks trawling the internet and demo submissions for interesting acts & tracks, then working together with the producers (some of them very young and inexperienced) to create a strong body of work. It’s a very time consuming but ultimately rewarding experience!

12.- I’ve mentioned several djs who have cooperated with you on this new project. Do you feel that the future of Trance music is in their hands?

Haha, I wouldn’t be so dramatic as that! Trance is for listeners and producers of all ages.

13.- EA2 has very good critiques from well-known music media, but the fans criticism is the best of all. Is there any message you want to tell to your fans?

Keep your eyes and ears out for ‘EA2 – The Ambient Edition’ – it’s 2 discs featuring all the tracks from EA2 in a beatless ambient soundscape. If you love the sound of electronic architecture, you will love to chill to this

14.- Solaris: tell us a little about your record label.

Solaris is one of 4 labels which I run out of love for the music. Solaris is the main trance label, but I also have Molecule Recordings which is my experimental label for strange underground sounds across many genres, Crashing Waves is for the no – holds – barred hands in the air peak time trance, and also the is Solarswarm Recordings, the worlds only social network label. My DJ sets are comprised mainly of tracks from these labels, as are the compilation albums I release. I am currently in the planning of a new label ‘Touchstone’ which will be distributed via Black Hole.

15.- Solaris International: sometimes I download it or I listen to it on your web site… Same as I do with other radio shows. Yours is like a reference for people who love this sort of music and it’s shared by a lot of users throughout the world… What do you think of the concept named #Trancefamily?

#Trancefamily is great, fantastic! I love the idea and what better than a group of people who love this music.

16.- Solarstone has always been at the forefront of world music. Will we get to know about new surprises in the near future?

There’s always something new in the pipeline, I announce everything via my twitter and facebook pages.

17.- Richard: We’d like to know… When are you coming to South America, particularly in Chile? Or any other neighbouring country?

That’s something that I can’t answer, it’s all in the hand of my booking agent! If trance lovers would like me to visit their city all I can suggest is that you ask your local club to make an inquiry!

18.- My wish would be to see you at Creamfields in Chile, this festival comes from European lands… and although it doesn’t have the same quality and performance, it’s improving every year.  There’s a survey for people who are assisting to the festival, which they have to choose the artists they want to see… If people choose you, would you come?

Yes of coarse I would come, I would be honored.

19.- Would you like to relay any message to your fans and also to the readers of #Tranceworld?

Thanks for believing in and continuing to support the artists and labels by buying music from legitimate sources, it’s the life blood of our scene. Without legitimate sales everything collapses and all that will be left are monopolizing major labels who care only about money.

Richard thank you very much for this great opportunity on making these questions to you and, on behalf of all the staff of Tranceworld.or, congratulations on your musical career with references to Trance genre. This is what gathers us, we daydream and we walk together on air…

WebSite: Solarstone.co.uk
Podcast : Solarstone Radio
Facebook: Solarstone
Twitter: @richsolarstone

Most sincerely:
Braulio Tapia – Press Officer
Melina Bruschini – English Translator

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