Claude VonStroke Talks Experimentation, Surrealism Artwork and Extra: “I Don’t Assume There’s Sufficient Danger-Taking In Our Scene” – EDM.com
Claude VonStroke needs your bizarre music.
The Dirtybird co-founder and esteemed home music producer is presently on the hunt for the weirdest and most progressive music on the market.
“I hear to each monitor that’s submitted for consideration on Dirtybird,” VonStroke instructed EDM.com in a current interview. “It’s a vital a part of my day. However I really feel like every part that’s been submitted just lately sounds the identical. I wish to hear some new, bizarre stuff. That’s what I’m presently on the lookout for proper now.”
This shouldn’t come as a shock to anybody who is aware of and listens to VonStroke’s music. All through his final 17 years spearheading Dirtybird’s occasions, attire gross sales, and musical endeavors, he’s additionally managed to launch six albums.
Whereas the tech home style is understood to be considerably of an acquired style, VonStroke has been instrumental ushering it into the stateside dance music consciousness together with his catchy hooks and danceable beats.
VonStroke is stunned and humbled by the place he’s immediately. Having began his profession by sending demos to golf equipment and radio stations all through the U.S. and U.Okay., after which finding out and interviewing artists, he was finally impressed to launch Dirtybird. He didn’t know on the time that the model would go on to turn out to be one of many world’s main labels in home music, thanks partially to its signature “tech funk” sound.
However he is now prepared for some change. After focusing solely on home music, he hopes to see some experimentation and evolution in Dirtybird’s music and artists. And we’re already seeing one other facet of VonStroke, who has just lately examined the waters of various genres by incorporating parts of hip-hop, bass, and funk in music.
“Having enjoyable is what it’s all about,” VonStroke stated. “Dirtybird has allowed for experimentation within the music trade for years. I really feel now although that I’m virtually caught having to supply a sure sound. I wish to preserve enjoying round and experimenting with enjoyable parts and taking dangers. I don’t assume there’s sufficient risk-taking in our scene. I’m going to particularly push myself and my music this 12 months to do launch some cool, new-sounding issues which will sound completely different than what persons are used to.”
VonStroke, whose affinity for music experimentation aligns carefully with Dirtybird’s artwork curation, grew up as a fan of fantastic artwork and picked up surrealism paintings. So he yearly appoints and works alongside a visible artist to curate the vast majority of the label’s paintings. Since 2012, Dirtybird has commissioned esteened visible artists like Jeremy Fish, Dulk, Raoul Deleo, Charlie Immer, Birdcap, Felicia Chiao, Chema Mendez, and extra to seize the sound and essence of all issues Dirtybird.
And the weirder the music, the weirder the artwork will get.
“The visible element to music is simply as vital because the music itself,” VonStroke defined. “There’s an power and vibe to every tune. I like amassing items of artwork simply as a lot as I like amassing items of music. So I rent a surrealist yearly who turns into the ‘artist in residence’ for that 12 months. This individual is somebody who I’ve been following in magazines or on Instagram or somebody who I discovered murals. I’m at all times an enormous fan of the artist particularly as a result of its one thing that I can not do myself.”
Claude VonStroke.
Shauna Regan/Wikimedia Commons
VonStroke additionally helped launch the “Dirtybird Flight Membership” final 12 months. The digital assortment, which bought out in three minutes, options 9090 NFTs dropped at life by famend pop-surrealist Birdcap. The distinctive assortment unlocks numerous perks for token holders, resembling unique unreleased music, gated merch drops, and entry to Dirtybird-curated DJ units within the metaverse.
Persevering with down his path of experimentation and exploration, VonStroke is focusing extra on real-life experiences, he says, and taking day without work of social media. He’s planning on “experimenting” how a 12 months with out planning social media posts and dwelling extra within the second will do for himself and people round him, each out and in of the music trade.
“Social media is nice in a number of methods. It may be such a useful software, particularly if you happen to’re simply beginning your profession in music,” VonStroke explains. “However in 2022 I wish to go to locations and spend time with folks with out worrying about getting a photograph or video to seize my experiences on a telephone. I’m taking this 12 months to only make some cool new tunes with some cool folks. I’ll admit that I’m ready the place perhaps I can get away with not doing socials for a 12 months however I believe I’ve earned this place by busting my ass for 20 years.”
Set to headline Tucson’s Gem & Jam Music Competition this weekend alongside STS9, Liquid Stranger, Shpongle, Lotus, Opiuo, and extra, VonStroke hopes to see a 12 months stuffed with reside performances and curating extra Dirtybird occasions for his followers.
“Gem & Jam Music Competition can be cool as a result of I get to play a set for individuals who might not have heard my music earlier than,” VonStroke stated. “I like enjoying at Dirtybird curated occasions for followers who know my music, but it surely’s at all times an incredible expertise getting onstage at a competition realizing that somebody can be listening to you for the primary time.”
Tickets to Gem & Jam Music Competition could be discovered here.
