Initiate on a sonic journey with Vincent Marlice, where melodies dance and creativity knows no bounds. Join us as we delve into the mind of a producer who defies conventions, crafting a musical narrative that transcends genres. Get ready for an interview that unveils the essence of his artistic evolution and teases exciting projects on the horizon in 2024!
Can you walk us through your typical production process when creating music? Are there any specific rituals or inspirations that drive your creativity?
There honestly isn’t a typical way or a particular protocol I follow when producing music. It can start with a simple melody I previously came up with in my mind or an idea created whilst improvising. It varies depending on the situation, but it generally starts with a melody. How these melodies end up in my head, I don’t know.
Having released on notable labels like Katermukke, Stil Vor Talent, and Poesie Musik, how do you feel your sound has evolved over time? Are there any particular tracks or releases that hold a special place in your musical journey?
Lately I have been focusing more on creating tracks specifically for the live set. I would say this is my only constraint when producing. I used to make music that didn’t necessarily fit well in the set when performing it live. The key signature, mood and tempo of a track would “condition” my live set (it would be difficult to squeeze in a downtempo track in G# for example), so now a days I try to keep the tempo between 120 and 124 BPM and in the key of G (or a fifth up, in this case D), which gives me more flexibility when changing the order of the tracks as well as improvising live.
The “Everglow” EP released on Katermukke is probably my favourite release to date. It also works great live!
Your upcoming EP, a collaboration with VRuno, is set to release on Tanzgemeinschaft. How did this collaboration come about, and what can listeners expect from this particular project?
This is the first track we produced together with VRuno back in 2022. It was the track that made us realize that we can create some really cool stuff together. It has taken so long to release because we were waiting for the right label to release it on, so we are stoked and super grateful to team up with Tanzgemeinschaft once again!
Are there specific artists, genres, or experiences that have had a profound impact on your musical style? How do you navigate incorporating diverse influences into your work?
I think the artists that have impacted me in my past (and now) are reflected in my music, mainly in a subconscious way. What I mean by that, is that I don’t consciously think “I will use this artist’s chord progression, textures, elements, etc. in the next track”. Maybe it’s because my main influences were never from electronic music artists, but rather artists from the rock or singer-songwriter genre, which in my opinion is more difficult to translate into what I do nowadays.
Your EP on Tanzgemeinschaft includes a remix by Paul Hazendonk. How did this collaboration unfold, and what was it like to have your work reinterpreted by another artist?
The remix is awesome! I’m happy Claudio (Tanzgemeinschaft) hit him up and Paul said “Yes”! It’s always fun to hear someone else’s interpretation of one’s work!
Being based in Berlin, a city known for its vibrant music scene, how has the city shaped your approach to music, if at all? Are there aspects of Berlin’s culture that consistently influence your work?
Yes, Berlin’s clubbing scene (specifically “Holzmarkt”) definitely had a huge impact in my career as an electronic music producer. However, lately, I have been taking a bit of a break from clubbing, which means that I find inspiration elsewhere, which has fortunately, in my experience, been a breath of fresh air. I mean, Berlin offers many other things such as its parks, canals, forests and lakes in the outskirts of the city, its beautiful architecture, etc.
What drew you to collaborate with Tanzgemeinschaft for this release? How does this partnership align with your artistic vision and goals?
I met Claudio a few years ago at ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event). We clicked and got along well, and that, for me, is a solid indicator for a good Artist/Label relationship. This is our second release, and I am happy to be working together with them once again!
Beyond this upcoming EP, do you have any exciting projects or collaborations in the pipeline for 2024? Any hints or insights into what’s next for Vincent Marlice?