Grooovy !  ... I added this to my soundcoud favorites page which is part of my website so even when people visit  my website they just scroll down to the soundcloud blog and they can find you.  Keep up the good work !  ... jwggalleries.com 

It’s been a while since Flashbaxx released his critically acclaimed The Changing Tides EP (Blackfish Productions / BaxxBeatMusic). Flashbaxx mastermind Daniel Stenger began working on an album to follow the EP in 2008, but inspiration was fleeting and music making was difficult, and Daniel was not satisfied with his early drafts. He seemed to lose his enthusiasm, so the producer decided to take a break from Flashbaxx and devote himself to other projects.

Not that Daniel was resting … rather, he was restless. He expanded his record label BaxxBeatMusic, produced and recorded other bands and artists, composed music for commercials, and frequently performed as DJ. From time to time a Flashbaxx loop appeared on his sequencer, but he still was not able to complete the puzzle. But after a few years of all this activity and exposure to the music of others (in the clubs as well as the studios) Daniel’s inspiration returned and he was finally ready to push the Flashbaxx musical vision into 2013.

The fog first lifted in 2011 when Daniel produced “So Close To Midnight” in a single evening, signaling a triumphant return to the studio. In the next eighteen months Daniel prodded Flashbaxx back to life, track by track. It was like awakening from long creative hibernation, and Daniel’s newfound creative joy is evident in the album’s music.

After the foundation was set, the work on the album concept began. When the Aschaffenburg-based producer couldn’t find a sonic connection between two songs he remedied this by producing a new joint to fill the gap and complete the desired arc of the record. Eventually the thirteen tracks formed a cohesive excursion, and Daniel’s feeling of accomplishment inspired the album’s title: Something To Believe.

Certainly the strength of the album lies in its versatility. To begin, Stenger combines soulful downtempo and smooth soul with brass kicking nu-funk. The album then takes a trip down the coast of Latin America while grooving through disco and deep house-influenced club tracks. Eventually, things resolve surprisingly in a Bill Conti manner, transporting the listener to when the movie Rocky had just appeared in cinemas. Following his passion for funk and jazz Daniel gave much attention to the organic details, combining this with more loop oriented songs, settling for a sound somewhere between the couch and the dance floor. It’s a bit ‘old school,’ but far away from being frumpy … sometimes laid back, sometimes demanding body motion. Flashbaxx isn’t reinventing the wheel, but the truck now has some cool new slippers.

Besides guest musicians like The Haszlbeatz and Christoph Matyaschek, Flashbaxx worked with vocalists Tanja Proessler and Mathias Fischer as well as the very brilliant Seth Sharp from distant Reykjavik. The appearance of guest musicians and vocalists marks a first for Flashbaxx and gives Something To Believe the stamp of a producer album. Flashbaxx is back … and he’ll make you a believer.

Intro feat. Seth Sharp (Preview)

1) Tell us a bit about yourself and your record collection

I started DJing end of the 80ties, beginning of the 90ties. I solely DJed for the dancefloor and didn't DJ in bars before 2000. That turned out to be fun though, because I enjoy the freedom. I started out with Funk, which is still my favourite music style. In summary, nearly everything I play has to be funky in some way. That's the link, because I also have a strictly electronic alter ego (DJ Code). Over the time I have played in countless clubs and hosted a lot of parties, mainly in Hamburg, Germany. Since 10 years now I'm a resident DJ at the Le Fonque in Hamburg. I have also more or less always made music myself, with bands or as a producer.

When I started, vinyl was nothing special and I just stuck with it. Tell me a good reason not to?!! It has it's limitations of course, but I believe limitations further creativity. It's just the same in making music. In contrast to a lot of people I know, who have millions of music files on their computer and have completly lost track of what they have, I know my records. I have definitely heard every album and every 7" of my collection. I also like the biographical aspect of a record collection. I have hardly ever sold any of my records, which is why I'm very choosy when I buy. Because of this, in a sense, I can reconstruct my life music wise since I've been buying records via my record collection.
 

2) 45/7 is all about celebrating the 7". Can you tell us a bit about what you love about the format.

To me 7"s are the old school version of the 12", a classic DJ tool. Not many tracks to search through and a good punchy sound. And apart from that, there have always been quite a few great tracks, which have only been published on 7". Need I say more?!


3) One hour of vinyl goodness... can you talk us through your selection for your 45/7 mix?

I mixed instrumentals and vocals, soul, funk, disco and jazz. There are a few new releases, because I don't think it's a good idea to only play old or new ones. There are simply to many awesome old tracks and just as many new ones. I also added a few classics, some people might know, as well as some of my current personal favourites, a lot of people might not know.

4) Where can people catch you / listen to your music? 

Oh, I'm a little lazy with stuff like this...

My record label BKS Recordings (though it is taking a "little break" at the moment):
https://soundcloud.com/bks-recordings

Mixes (haven't really tucked into mixcloud yet...):
https://www.mixcloud.com/Woop_Mixes/

Live, for example:
http://fonque.de/

Elecronic alias DJ Code:
https://soundcloud.com/dj-code


5) Top 5 all time fave records
Impossible!!! So here are some of my current favourites:

1. Better days - Rufus
2. I don't know if I can make it - Dawson Smith
3. Lighting a fire (that you can't put out) - Patti Hendrix
4. I sold my heart to the junkman feat. Cyril Neville - Orgone
5. Amore - Nu Guinea

45/7 #44 ARTIST: WOOP

ADDITIONAL MUSICIAN
Lead vocals: Marie
Guitar: Automart

Keep on keepin' on feat. Marie

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