[New York, USA. November 7th, 2009] -- Truth be told, this NYC native is a killer deejay. A self-proclaimed “vinyl purist,” this energetic, seamless mixer
has been holding it down in New York since its techno genesis. Reade Truth has been on the scene's forefront since the 90's and earning accolades from Adam X and
Frankie Bones (two of the city’s legends). He has released a handful of records—most recently on Carl Craig’s
Planet E), and has stood behind two production
outfits (Path Records and r-kade Studios). Prepare
yourself for one of the more proper dance explorations of the mlat podcasts…
What is your background and what would you say are your artistic influences? Help us to get a sense of where Reade Truth
comes from.
I am part of the beginning of the techno scene in New York. I was already djing regularly industrial and EBM parties at clubs like
Limelight and The Building around '90-91. The music started to crossover and split up into either rock or techno styles. I went electronic. Soon afterwards
I met up with Frankie Bones, Adam X and the Brooklyn Crew and we immediately began throwing underground parties all over Brooklyn. We did very good events like
Electronic Underground, Mental, etc. It got to the point where we would say nothing on the flyer and hundreds of people would somehow find out exactly where to go.
The love for the music was so strong back then, we were all completely obsessed...
At this time I got hired by Mute records to work the NovaMute catalogue including Tresor II and Plastikman releases, afterwards... I did more promotion for Antler-Subway
and then on my own, as Truthink. In 96 Adam X decided to move Bones and his record shop into Manhattan, and it became "Sonic Groove". He convinced me to come on board and
I worked with them for 6 great years. It was the centre for techno in Manhattan. Our store was known as the best.
I had been working on music all along, but the first release arrived via Jimmy Crash's Direct Drive label in 1994. Since then, I have done a lot of tracks and always a
little under the radar. I have to say I’m pretty sick of that, its time that people hear my productions because they are some of the best, there's no question. And this
year Carl Craig of Planet E took notice, and he put out the "Crimen Excepta EP" which I’m very, very proud of. Its very original and different sounding, some fresh ideas
for our genre. Naturally it turned quite a lot of heads and I'm happy to say things are rolling now - There will be some other really nice EP's coming up soon, on my new
imprint "White Label" and also on Roy Dank's "Wurst Music."
"I only spin VINYL. I resent mp3s for destroying an entire subculture of record shops, record stores, etc. these equated to behind the scenes jobs -
my friends all over the world have suffered because of this."
I think this all started with my bloodline. My Grandad was a trumpet player in the 20's. My dad played professional baseball for the Yankees in the
70's but he had this side-hobby : collecting jazz. He liked some of the more Avant-garde stuff like George duke, Miles Davis, weather report, passport
and parliament, and oh yeah Jean-Luc Ponty. He would be jammin' out to these sounds when we would drive to the stadium. I got really turned on to the
synths in this music, they just reached inside me and grabbed my attention. The sound of the electronics it just hypnotized me.
Could you name off who some of the more important musicians to you are, and why?\
The Police, Depeche Mode, Cabaret Voltaire, Severed Heads, Throbbing Gristle. Skinny Puppy. Johnny Cash. The Doors and Mauritz Von Oswald too for
defining the sound later on. The Police was really the first band I ever liked. I went to the concert with my older sister when I was 11 and it changed my life. I knew
music was what I wanted to do. Depeche Mode was the band that made me a collector. Their crazy catalogue made me have to have every limited release, obscure remix,
whatever ca,me out! Hahah. Now, for the sounds -- Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle really opened my mind up. These were the bands that influenced me most to
start my own productions. Severed Heads, Carl Craig compared me to them. And I really appreciate that. They always had this do what you want to do attitude that I
think the minimal and techno scene sometimes lacks. Artists like Johnny Cash and Jim Morrison I get a certain feeling from their productions. I see them as similar
souls trying to express something greater with their music, which is what I am trying to do - its more than just dance music. I want to leave something memorable behind.
So I try to describe what I am feeling and seeing in a unique way and in my own style. It’s a question of perception.... And success is, it’s like being immortal. So that’s
part of this. By the way, speaking of Johnny Cash, I think I found a "June Carter" equivalent! This project will be arriving very fast in 2010.
What is your deejay setup like, and how do you prepare to perform? You are known for these seamless, energetic mixes
that range from 1-6 hours or more.
I only spin VINYL. I resent mp3s for destroying an entire subculture of record shops, record stores, etc. these equated to behind the scenes
jobs - my friends all over the world have suffered because of this. Yeah sure it’s functional. but... vinyl works for me. At the end of a day of using computers and a
mouse, the last thing I do is want to use one when I am behind the decks. DJing is the best thing in the world. I love it. Its absolutely when I am the happiest. I play a
lot of newer records because I think this is a fast moving scene focused on what’s happening now so its important to be current and represent what’s in our producers'
minds right now. But there should always be a nod to the past, of course, so I throw in a lot of classics and obscure rarities here and there. I love turning people on
to stuff they didn't know before.. If I personally know some of the people who are gonna be out than I will often bring stuff that I know they like, so they will snap
when they hear it and it just adds to the fun. Its all about getting everyone on the same vibe. Yes, I am a blender through and through. I pride myself on long mixes
where the tracks just flow together smooth as smooth. I enjoy long sets. The longer the better. I think it takes an hour or so for the DJ to get comfortable with the
setup and equipment and then more time to test out the crowd and get an idea of what are the boundaries. Once all that is settled it gets to be really spiritual, one
groove for all minds. Its the best thing you can experience. A room of people smiling, dancing, letting go. To make that happen is very special.
In this podcast you go all over the place as far as style, but keep the mode incredibly upbeat and cohesive. Is this
representative of how you get down live?
Yes. Absolutely! I hate all the nouns. The music styles got way too carried away with labeling things and made adjectives way too important. I am equally into house and techno and I always try to give the crowd a mix of both. In the end it’s sometimes hard for me to define what I do and thank god for that, because it would be boring if I could be easily labeled a "minimal" or "house" type DJ. There is so much music out there and I would prefer to be known as that kick ass DJ who you really need to go out and live.
What are some of the best parties you've played at in the last 5 years? Of all time?
That’s hard. So many good times. I was living in Vienna for 4 years so a lot of the recent memories are from Wien. One of my best friends is Rainer
Klang. He is the best, easily one of the coolest promoter / DJs in Vienna. My goodbye Vienna party was at the Sass nightclub and I decided to rock some serious old school
New York gems and it was just... ridiculous. New York is for real you know our producers are solid gold. And our DJs are a cut above (you know the ones who actually came
from here, not the one's who come here and try to front). Another time would be of course a few years ago at the Flexx that sound system is awesome. I was also on tour
with DJ Denard on the Sonic Warriors Tour in Germany and we had an incredible time It peaked mostly in East Germany: Leipzig, Halle, and the Maria Club in Berlin.
Germans know how to party. I absolutely love them.
"I am a blender through and through. I pride myself on long mixes where the tracks just flow together smooth as smooth.
I enjoy long sets. The longer the better. I think it takes an hour or so for the DJ to get comfortable with the setup and the equipment"
As for the best party in my life it was probably the Mental / Sonic Groove party in 1994. The lineup was Frankie Bones, Adam X, Heather Heart, Carlos Tera, Abe Duque,
Patrick Pulsinger and me. Police showed up and we locked them out of the warehouse. They were banging on the door trying to get in and eventually - haaha - they gave up!
We made it twice as loud afterwards! I can also remember a live show I did under the Brooklyn Bridge in 2000 or so. Neil Landstrumm also played live and he tripped over
the power cord and knocked out all my gear right before I went on. I had to improvise and redo everything on the fly.... just broken up with a serious girlfriend and
those emotions, well they just saturated the place! Bones told me later it was the most intense things he ever heard me do. I like that a lot because I was able to
define a raw emotion of mine and transmit it to an audience.
Of all the music being released, is there anything that particularly stands out to you? Would you like to touch on who some
of your favorite artists?
Well I am buying a lot of records all the time. But the past 2 years have especially been great! Buying vinyl feels like it did in 1992 or
1993. Lets see: Levon Vincent, Dave Function, Dinky, Brennan Green, Lerosa, Motor City Drum Ensemble and Guillaume and the Coutu Dumonts. Every release with the latter.
I just really feel what it is he is saying. I caught him live at Panorama Bar / Berghain. it was truly perfect. Also awesome is Richard Hinge and my vocalist Natasha
Matria. I absoutely love her and what she is doing. You will soon hear.
What are your plans for the next 5 years? Do you ever look ahead this far, or at all?
God no, one day at a time. I only know I want to get to the top. And to play for as many people as possible. And for sure I also know
I will DJ until my dying breath!
| WEBSITE | MYSPACE |
1. Classic Flowers - Whichflower [Four Roses Recordings]
2. Efdemin - Sun [Naif]
3. Sascha Dive - Punte Duro [Raum... Musik]
4. Session Victim - Out on Love [Retreat]
5. 2 Armadillos - Hawthorne's Theme (Babies From Gong Rmx) [Bangbang!]
6. Candi Staton - mpt2 [bootleg]
7. Monobrain - Tin Tin Tin [Kurbits]
8. Reade Truth - Evidence - [white label rwl 002]
9. Hooved - Between the Evil (Mollono Bass Rmx) [Boquet Music]
10. A Work in Progress - Moment of Truth [Yore]
11. Tuccillo - Panorama [Delusions of Grandeur]
12. Prosumer & Murat Tepeli - The Jam [Ostgut Tonträger]
13. Seth Troxler - Panic Stop Repeat [Ghostly International]
14. Dinky - Butterfly [Wagon Repair]
15. Ali Nasser - Ooof [Soweso]
16. Frick Brauer Brandt - Iron Man [Tartelet]
17. The Mountain People - Mountain008 [Mountain People]
18. Mod Civil - Ghost [Rotary Cocktail]
19. Wah-Chu-Ku - T Times Too [Drumpoet Community]
20. Andre Lodemann - Vehemence of Silence (MCDE Rmx) [Room With a View]
21. Kai Alce - Polyester Static (KZR's Reshocked Mix) [Real Soon]
22. Ali Kuru - No Name Maddoxx [8bit]
23. D. Diggler - Signals [Level Non Zero]
24. Silent Servant - Negative Fascinations [Sandwell District]
25. Guillaume & The Coutu Dumonts - Les Gans [Musique Risquee]
26. Nicone & Sascha Braemer - Nur Mal Kurz (Philip Bader Rmx) [BAR25]
27. Jacuzzi Boys - Guindillas Picante [Below]
28. Soulphiction & Move D - The Limelight [Philpot]
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