Icelandic recording artist Arnvidur Snorrason – Exos – has just delivered his fourth studio album, ‘Indigo’, nearly 20 years after his last. Its intricate electronic soundscapes and alternatively blissful and austere dub techno are a beguiling combination. We took the opportunity to put him through our quick-fire Q&A.
Why music?
It’s the quickest fix of healing.
If you weren’t making music what would you be doing?
Working in a box factory.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Be a man, not a fucking mouse.
What inspires you?
Jeff Mills and Solomun.
What’s the next big thing?
Colombia.
Best club experience?
Ostgut in September 2001.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
Concreting pavements in the cold winter of Iceland for 15 hours a day when I was 18 years old.
How do you know when a track’s finished?
A track is never finished, the sound can be changed again and again.
What was your last day job and when did you realise you could give it up?
Not sure to be honest, my life is a bit blurry from time to time.
Which song do you wish you wrote?
Donato Dozzy & Anna Caragnano – ‘Parola’ (Rework).
What’s the easiest way to make it in the music industry?
Botox and a strong Instagram account.
What’s the worst track you’ve ever released?
I always thought ‘Nuclear Red Guard’ was pretty bad, but then it was picked up 15 years later and got me back on touring.
Recommend us a film.
Recommend us a book.
I hardly read.
What or who is underrated?
Honesty and trust.
What or who is overrated?
Tech house with a bad mixdown…
What are you addicted to?
Getting a private SoundCloud link from Bjarki, drinking coconut water, driving fast, chilling out, visiting temples, listen to techno and calling my family 2 times a day.
What do you lust over?
Old vinyl records that have been locked down in dirty basements since the 90s.
What is your greatest regret?
After thinking for an answer to this question for 20 minutes I honestly can say that I can’t think of anything.
What one thing would most improve your life?
Waking up earlier.
What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played?
An old club in Iceland asked me to help them to book a commercial 90s party for them in 2011. With music like Haddaway and 2Unlimited. I said sure and booked a few DJs for the event to help them out.
Only one of them came to the gig and he had to leave 30 min before closing. I had no choice other than play random 90s tracks from his CD case which he gave me to play. The first track I put on was ‘Saturday Night’ by Whigfield without realizing it. Full club though…
Collaboration: rich creative experience or pain in the ass?
I always like it.
What’s the secret to a great mix?
Track selection and great techniques, I don’t believe in those stupid dance moves.
If you could only listen to one more track, what would it be?
Dead Can Dance – ‘Musica Eternal’.
How do you relax?
Lay down in complete silence and meditate.
What one piece of software/kit could you not do without? Why?
Fab Filter, because I need to cut down those freaks.
Art or money?
Art definitely, but only if you have money!
Ronaldo or Messi?
Love both of them because they hate the Icelandic football team as they couldn’t beat us! It was nice to see them pissed them off.
Strangest place you ever wrote a track?
Airplane.
Must-visit record store?
Spacehall, Berlin.
What’s your single biggest frustration in the music business?
People should not become DJs for the attention.
What’s your favourite label? Why?
Basic Channel, Axis Records and Chain Reaction, because they shaped the sound of techno as most of us know it today.
What’s the worst thing about making music?
Never really knowing how it actually is going to sound at the end of the day.
What’s your motto?
Catch it on the flip side.
Name something timeless
Model 500 – ‘Starlight’ (Maurizio Mix)
Tweet us a tip. What’s the best production advice you can give in 140 characters or less?
Depends on what kind of music you want to do. Don’t be afraid to experiment as much as you want and don’t listen to the opinions of others unless it’s about the sound, mixdown and mastering process.
Complete this sentence: At heart I’m just a frustrated…
No wait I am actually the greatest guy in the world, ohhhh yehhh bebe!
Can music change the world?
Of course, it’s the best thing there is.
What are you listening to right now?
Dead Can Dance – ‘In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated‘
What should you do before you die?
Keep on living my life on the edge.
‘Indigo‘ by Exos is available now.