“Warehouse techno mixed with early UK dubstep” – Scottish newcomer Sebmann introduces his music and explains his varied influences.
Who are you?
I am Sebastian Mann. I’m based outside of Edinburgh and I’m 20 years old. I’ve always had a deep passion for music which started from playing drums for around eight years or so in bands (of many musical styles) and has evolved upon being introduced to electronic music. Originally hardstyle… haha! I’ve probably been producing seriously for the past two years or so now. I started off making more ‘future techno’-(ish) music similar to guys like Clouds or Tiga’s early stuff, which was fun but definitely wasn’t me.
What do you sound like?
I’d like to think more warehouse techno merged with the early UK dubstep sound. Personally when writing music I don’t particularly go for a certain sound, I just go for what I’d like to hear in a club. At the same time, as my music is mainly focussed around club play, I like to explore aspects of sound design within it, trying to create natural sounds with synthesis.
Why should we listen to you?
Erm, tricky question. I guess you should listen if you’re into UK techno/broken beat stuff, mainly made from analogue gear, which is a huge passion of mine.
What have you released so far? What else have you got coming out in the near future?
So far I’ve only done the one release, ‘Time’. and that was for free download through a local label, Witness, who run a cracking weekly night in Edinburgh down at Sneaky Pete’s with a great vibe and always absolutely rammed with a really friendly vibe.
I’m very excited about my first EP, Shtun, which will be released via London-based label Nineteen89 on the 18th of November. The EP consists of two tracks of mine, ‘Shtun’ and ‘Kase 2’, along with remixes from extremely talented producers Llesca and Viers who have really delivered some impressive work.
What song sums you up? Why?
Seeing as though I haven’t got that many of my tracks released as yet I’d have to go with ‘Shtun’ as it was a fusion of genres and I think projects my sound.
What or who is your biggest influence and why?
My main objective when writing music is to put across my own sound and just be as creative as possible so I don’t tend to go for a certain sound that an artist has used. Saying that, I tend to find that hearing music in a club does influence me, especially going out in Glasgow where the atmosphere is a completely different vibe to anywhere else. You perceive music differently to just listening at home, probably down to having quite a bit to drink and seeing a lot of happy faces. However I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a few favourites – artists like Even Tuell, Innerspace Halflife, Basic Soul Unit and guys like Boddika, Blawan and Marquis Hawkes. For me I’m mostly influenced by artists who have a very analogue sound which you can tell as you can hear the life in the productions – you get a sense the tracks have often been done live or hear subtle mistakes and happy accidents which you don’t really get with just using software. Label-wise, Nonplus, Workshop, Hemlock and Church on the techno/house side of things and for the dubstep/bass music spectrum Swamp 81, 2nd Drop and of course Hessle Audio, who are one of my all-time favourite labels down to the originality of all their releases.
Where can we hear your music?
SoundCloud for official released tunes and you may find the odd clip of unreleased bits from me in the near future…
Where will you be in five years’ time?
Hopefully to have a little studio space somewhere interesting and inspiring, out of my parents’ place. I’d also like to have the opportunity to work with other artists who I look up to, and to own loads of outboard gear!
Tell us an interesting fact about yourself.
I can wake up (without an alarm clock) at the exact time I tell myself before I go to bed.
The Shtun EP is released on 18th of November by Nineteen89. Find Sebmann on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.