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2014 Celebrates our 10th Anniversary! Stefny has wrapped some of Archipel' signature tracks into a dance oriented Mix! All for your hearing pleasure!
Read Interview below for more information on this anniversary mix, Stefny's profile and projects as well as her Charity Record Label - Goodnight Moon Recordings!
--> Hi Stefny! Please tell me a bit about yourself, where you are from etc...?
It's hard to say where I am from exactly except: California! I was born and raised there. I say it so vaguely because we moved so much. I lived both in northern and southern California plus in the middle.
What can I say? My mother liked to move. I went to 10 or 11 different schools. Then I moved to Colorado for short time and then off to New York. I really grew up when I moved to NYC in my 20's. That's where I became serious in the music Industry. Then I got married and moved to Montreal.
I am a warm, cuddly, fun, emotional, person who loves pizza, oysters and champagne! ;)
⇒ What made you merge from Dj-ing to Production? A need in particular that was not fulfilled anymore?
I have written music since I was a child. I was in school bands playing the flute, violin and piano. Before I was a Dj, I was always fiddling with my friends’ synthesizers and machines in the early 90's. I never got really serious about it until early 00's when I moved to New York. I had a lot to motivate and inspire me. I was offered a remix that was released in 2005.
⇒ What are your current projects?
I am actually working on a live set with Pheek and we will play our first here in Montreal May 2nd.
⇒ Please tell me more about your SWACK project?
In the past 2 years I have been focusing on playing live.
SWACK = Stefny Winter And Claire Kenway. We started off as Dj+Live debuting at Picnik Elektronic, here in Montreal in 2010. Now it has become an all live and mostly analogue set.
⇒ What was your aim for this mix?
My aim for this mix is to celebrate Archipel's 10 years of putting out incredible music, as well to show that Archipel has some really good dance tracks.
All the tracks within the mix are Archipel tracks. I chose these because they make me move. I had fun playing and recording the set in the studio. I also wanted to showcase some of the tracks from the label in the early years when I first got to know it.
⇒ What was your approach to this mix? Did you try to evolve alongside Archipel's signature over the 10 years or was it more of a medley?
JP (aka Pheek) gave me most, not all of the releases from the past 10 years to go through and these are what stood out. I wanted to make more of a "dance to" mix since all the podcasts are more experimental. I think it showcases a good amount of diversity of the sound that Archipel has put out over the years in less than an hour otherwise I would need a few more hours!
⇒ Any particular event worth remembering?
I would have to say 2009, Archipel vs. Minus at Picnik Elektronic here in Montreal. It was Pheek, Barem, Ambivalent, Richie Hawtin and myself.
It was, ironically the day after our wedding so there was lots of love in the air that particular day ;)
⇒ You experiment with recordings of your son and your own vocals? How does that work?
Yes! Whenever I hear something interesting from what my son is doing or sounds that he is making I just push record. For example, in the track "My Digital Playground featuring Téo", released on the Archipel 100 Compilation I recorded him playing in the park and in the bath tub. Then I splice, loop it, put effects and so on. I just play with it, see what I can make of it in a track. Same case with my own vocals.
⇒ Would you like to tell me more about your Charity Record Label - Goodnight Moon Recording? When, how and why did you come up with that project?
It started in the beginning of 2013. I wanted to do some sort of non-profit organization or something that could help an organization that involved children. My son was really sick the first year he was born. Luckily now he is super healthy. I feel for those families who's children are diagnosed with an illness. A lot of which are lacking in funds for research. I couldn't imagine having to go through that everyday, 1 year was hard enough. So, I decided to start a non-for-profit record label (since music is what I know best as well as my passion.) We do bi-monthly events to help raise money and all the wonderful artists on the label donate their tracks. I have a big heart and so do they for putting their time and effort towards this. I really appreciate it! I know it's not a lot of money, but at least it's something. Proceeds go to The Montreal Children's Hospital Foundation.
⇒ What are your plans for 2014? And beyond?
This year I have a few good releases plus remixes coming. June will be a 2x EP on Third Ear Recordings. I was asked by the same label to do a versions track from Quest's Mind Games featuring Liz Torres, dating back from 1985. A track that helped shape the Chicago house scene. I am really honored to be a part of that amongst other great artists.
Plus a track for a compilation on Klangscheiben and for the Archipel 10 Year Anniversary Compilation.
I am traveling a bit more this year. Playing in Chicago and Denver in April, NYC this summer and trying to set a European tour hopefully for September for my 2x EP. Beyond, I am hoping to have more gigs in the next couple of years. I am ready to get back out there. Then who knows?!
Interview by: PH PARADIS.
More Info:
https://soundcloud.com/stefny
https://soundcloud.com/archipel
http://www.beatport.com/release/contemplation/1118475
https://soundcloud.com/goodnight-moon-recordings
http://goodnightmoonrecs.tumblr.com/
http://childrenfoundation.com/welcome/?gclid=CL-VtvL0iL0CFaVQOgod12gA9w
- Genre
- 10 Years
