German DJ Alle Farben became famous after the release of his song “She Moves (Far Away)”. One version of the video reached more than 15 million views on YouTube. His debut album “Synesthesia — I Think in Colours” also reached some European charts. Apelzin.ru met the musician just before his performance at ArtPlay in Moscow to talk about music, art and more.
– Your career started in 2010. Since then, it seems you’ve been experimenting a lot. How would you say your music style has changed?
I started to listen to pop music and make music in a more popular way. Actually, I started to listen to pop music not a very long time ago – I must be honest (laughs). I never listened to pop music when I was younger. But all in all, I’m still a club DJ and I still like club music.
– Would it be right to say that you now have more tracks with vocals than just music?
Yeah, it depends on the set. When I play on a big stage like at a festival, I will probably play less vocals, because I play more intensely and I have more buildups. But altogether I play alot of vocal tracks. So, not everyone does this in the techno and house scene, but I do.
– Your album is called “Synesthesia”. As far as I know, it focuses on unusual music and color perception. Could you tell us a little bit more about it?
Basically it means: people can feel in colors and can think in forms. For example, when they think about tomorrow they might see a green light. Everyone listens to music in a different way. If I made the music and listened to it, I would hear it differently than everyone else. So it was very interesting for me to choose this name for the album, because for everyone every song is different.
– And are you a kind of synesthete?
Yeah, a kind of. It is not a diagnosis (smiles). I can put a color to the music and when I hear a song I can think about it and say: “Hey, this song means this color to me”.
– Ok, let’s try to do it then. Let me give you some examples. The first song is “She moves”. What color would you choose for it?
It is orange and I already chose this color for my single cover. I was thinking about this color when I was working on it.
– And can you change the color of the song after some time has passed?
Yes, when I am in a different mood. But for me “She moves” is still orange, and I think this song will stay orange, because in Germany it was a big hit that i used to play alot. I guess it was the biggest hit of my whole career, and for me this song will always be orange in my head (smiles).
– And “Sometimes”, what about this song?
“Sometimes”, is dark blue and it means alot to me. I visualise Hamburg harbor, Germany. My father is a seaman, so “Sometimes” connects with dark blue, and for me this song is the song of the sea and of North Germany.
– Yesterday, I watched a video on YouTube of your song “Down”. The cover of it is a pink wall. Do you agree with that? A pink color for “Down”?
No (laughs). “Down” is something darker for me, maybe dark-red…
– Your stage name means “all colors”. And, as far as I know you were inspired by an Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Is he still an inspiration for you?
No, actually. I chose my stage name 8-9 years ago and it was a different time in my life. I was inspired by paintings and by artists. But not so much anymore.
– And what about you? I know that you are an artist, that you create your own pictures. What do you usually create and how often?
Yes, I like to paint (smiles) but i don’t do it often, because I’m touring so much and I’m away from home for half a year at least. When I’m home I want to meet friends and I want to see my parents, so I don’t have so much free time. When I used to paint I painted some different subjects, but mostly they were different forms in different colors. Well, it is complicated to describe (smiles).
– There is a cat in a suitcase on the cover of your album. Did you take a part in the creation of this logo as an artist?
This logo is something I wished for. When I found this art several years ago I loved the work. I asked the artist to make a logo and he agreed. But in the middle of his work he got in some trouble and he couldn’t work anymore. But we managed to finish it. And do you know my original logo? It is also a cat, but I’m different now, more music, less tracks, so I wanted to have my grown-up cat (smiles).
– And what usually inspires you?
There was one memorable moment. I was at an art camp for musicians, and I met my female singer there. We made 3 tracks, just to try, and then we started to to work together. These were the first steps for my album.
– What would you do if you were not a DJ?
One option would be a confectioner. I used to work as a confectioner, I made cakes and maybe I would have a little bakery now. Or I would make art. I guess a bakery would be more probable (laughs).
– And what are your plans for the next 5 years?
5 years? Two more albums at least…Now I’m working on the 2nd one and I’m working well. And probably I will stay in Berlin for this time, because for me it’s my home base. Well, 5 years.. it’s difficult to say (smiles), but I have plans for the next 10 years – I don’t want to have to stay on the stage. I want to decide whether i want to stay or not. The main goal is to be relaxed for the next 10 years (smiles).
– So this is your first time in Russia. Do you know any Russian DJs?
I don’t know much about the music here, that’s why I think it’s cool to be here. I would also like to see the club scene; this is the next step for me, but this time I don’t have much time to do it – tomorrow I will play in Berlin.
– And are you going to visit Russia again, and when?
I can’t say. I don’t have a plan now. I am fully booked until January and after that I will be planning a tour to Australia, New Zealand, China and India.
– Have you got any plans for your birthday?
Actually, I’ve already had a birthday. It was in June (smiles).
– June?! But I found information in Wikipedia that your birthday is on the 5th of July.
It is wrong information. My birthday is actually on the 5th of June.
– Ok, and how was it?
Awesome! I had a pool party in Berlin. It was perfect weather, sunny and about 150 people – friends, family, and some people I work with. At night there was a club party. I set for a thousand people and it was really good. The best party ever!
– And what was the most interesting and unexpected present that you got?
Unexpected?…Well, one present I really loved. I love to cook and usually my friends bring me something I like. I love to travel to Thailand and my friends brought exactly the food I love (laughs). That was really unexpected and nice.
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