Józef Flakus, also known as Somnolent Works, is a producer, DJ and music explorer based in Upper Silesia. He is passionate about breakbeat/jungle rhythms, noisy electro, and 90s techno, often with robotic and strong elements. He loves to break conventions and explore new musical directions taken from different genres of music. The gritty and atmospheric landscape of factories, mines, and steelworks of his hometown region has had a significant impact on his music, particularly in its darker and more experimental elements. Somnolent Works sound often reflects the mechanical rhythms and metallic textures of the industrial world. He is a regular member of the CEL club in Katowice, where he can be heard playing his eclectic selections from behind the decks.

Which artists has influenced you the most? 

- Minilogue - my musical taste and the general eclecticism is mainly influenced my this Swedish duo. Their album „Animals” from 2008 shaped my musical perception and probably thanks to it I decided that I want at some point of my live to produce music..

What new projects/releases with your participation are expected in the near future? 

- Hopefully next month you can expect a compilation for Peace Tomorrow. Probably at the end of this year you can also expect my next electro EP for Portugal label Ovelha Trax. Can’t wait for this one!

Which artists/labels is more relevant to you now? 

- From the labels Mechatronica, International Chrome (especially old releases) and Science Cult are currently shaping my electro taste.
You can often find Assembler Code, Mani Festo and Maelstrom tracks in my DJ tracklists.

What inspires you now to create music? 

- That's a tough one. In general, the industrial landscape of the city or area that I live in inspires me, but the people that I meet daily are my main source of inspiration. I would say that without them and their influences, my musical direction wouldn’t be so wide.

What set-up do you use when creating music?

- I like to combine digital world with analog but in general I’m more the hardware guy. Having it short: I have a Minimoog Voyager (my true love synth) connected to Doepfer Dark Time sequencer, Mother-32, Din Sync RE-303 for acid bass lines, RD-8 for 808 percussion, Pro~1 for noisy electro leads and my recent purchase: elektron Digitakt + Digitone. Everything goes to Ableton.

Tracklist:
Collin Strange - Sand In My Eye
Assembler Code & Jensen Interceptor - Pipe
Ctrls - Concept7
Пацаны44 - Mausoleum
Buzz Kill - War On My Mind
Jezebell - Dumbell (ADJ Rework)
Beverly Hills 808303 - The American Lie
Ben Pest - Titanium Bizness
Somnolent Works - ID
Maelstrom - Acid Zdoch
Somnolent Works - ID
Buzz Kill - Subcultist (Buzz Kill)
Ben Pest - 1 4 The Team
Liebknecht - Voula
Ludgate Squatter - DONT LOVE
Somnolent Works - ID
Somnolent Works - Inner Source

Follow:
https://soundcloud.com/somnolent_works
https://www.facebook.com/somnolentworks
https://www.instagram.com/somnolent_works/
https://somnolent-works.bandcamp.com/

Strange But Dance Music #128: Somnolent Works

Electronic podcast since 2016. DJ and live sets from artists and producers from all over the world.
The purpose and objectives of this podcast is not only to explore all sorts of different facets of Electro and Experimental Music, but also to reveal the influence on music through the location of the artist.