“My father was very particular with paying full attention to whatever you did. Listening to music was a sacred and important thing that he didn’t take lightly.” Sebastian Mullaert talks us through his musical education and picks out some all-time favourites.
What’s the first record you ever bought?
The first cassette I bought was a few classical recordings: Edvard Grieg, Brahms and Mozart. At this time I already started playing violin and felt very strongly for classical music. The first two LPs I bought were one by Madonna and The KLF’s album The White Room (I’m more proud of the latter).
The first time you remember hearing electronic music?
My father was a great fan of Pink Floyd, Tangerine Dream, etc. I have early memories of sitting in the music room at home with closed eyes, listening to albums from beginning to end. My father was very particular with paying full attention to whatever you did. Listening to music was a sacred and important thing that he didn’t take lightly. I’m sure this had a strong impact on the little four- or five-year-old Sebastian Mullaert. At the same period of time I had long freestyle sessions with our big Yamaha electric organ and when I got a bit older I started to jam with my father’s 808 and Juno-60.
Your favourite ever record?
I don’t really like to answer these kind of questions – comparing and making lists is not for music, in my opinion. There are so many great albums released and they can all be magical in their way. But I can pick one amazing album that meant a lot to me in the time when I both played in pop bands and started to experiment with electronic music together with my friend Christian: Londonium by Archive.
The guaranteed floor-filler
Mathew Jonson – ‘Typerope’. Mathew has made numerous tracks that rock the dancefloor, but for me it’s especially his older works that both hold the hit factor, psychedelic deepness and personal touch. There are many to choose from.
The last track of the night?
Gunnar Jonsson – ‘Massage Rutin 1’. Henrik Jonsson has many aliases, Gunnar Jonsson being one of them. Beautiful soulful music, giving the last dancers a healing melody for the road home.
The best chillout record?
Oh my god, there are so many amazing ambient records. One of my all-time favourites and probably most played ambient artist is Wolfgang Voigt’s Gas project, first released on the amazing label Mille Plateaux. This music has inspired me very very much. Kompakt released a four-CD box with the complete Gas catalogue. This box is highly recommended. It’s called Nah Und Fern.
The best record for a family party?
For a party with the family, gathering and uniting different generations, I would choose a record with energetic and danceable world music … Maybe from West Africa, Balkan or some modern Latin American music. The band Faela (based in Malmö) is a great example of the latter. I’ve heard them live a few times and never saw a living creature stand still! Their latest album is called Conmigo.
The soundtrack to a lazy Sunday afternoon?
I love simple, beautiful pop music. Erland Oye and his Kings Of Convenience project can never go wrong for a soft and lazy Sunday afternoon. This is also a good example of a track that opens my heart and makes me cry at the simple joy of existence. It’s so painfully beautiful.
Patrick Siech and Sebastien Mullaert’s ‘Rivers Will Turn’ is out now on Drumcode Limited. Find Sebastian on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.