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This month Carhartt WIP shades some light on Magazine records, mixed by its label co-owner, DJ and producer Barnt. The Cologne based artist is one of the few new faces in the global electronic music scene, whose music makes a fine distinction and turns established formulas against the grain. Beside being a DJ since 20 years Barnt is also a producer with releases on labels like Cómeme, Mule Musiq and Hingefinger already under his belt. Furthermore he is also co-founder and co-owner of the label Magazine, that he established with his old North German friends Jens-Uwe Beyer and Crato in 2010. For Carhartt WIP Radio Barnt took a ride through the Magazine catalogue that consists of work by artists such as Jens-Uwe Beyer, Barnt, the super group Cologne Tape, Wolfgang Voigt, or Wendy Gondeln among others. Barnt's mix features some of their music as well as some soon to be released, new material from unknown artists for the unwritten Magazine future. As usual we accompany the show with a little interview that we did with the person behind it. Read below what Barnt has to say and don't forget to tune into his mesmerized Magazine mix.
Hey Barnt, can you introduce yourself and your label Magazine shortly to us?
Barnt: Magazine is a depot and a serial publication of contemporary contributions run by Crato, Jens-Uwe Beyer and me.
What are some of the people, places and things that inspire Magazine?
Barnt: Waves working worlds.Do you think there's a special Magazine sound? What process do you follow for getting new artists?
Barnt: We only release music where all of us three feel an energy. We have to have the feeling that it is an urge for the artist to do the kind of music he does, no matter what it sounds like. That is what we mean by energy. The opposite would be someone who just tries to sound like something. You can’t fake that energy, it won’t be in the music file.
What do you find most challenging about the work you do as an artist? What are currently your main compositional- and production-challenges?
Barnt: Exactly that. No one can radiate that energy mentioned above all the time. A work is good if you get to the core of your desires. That is sometimes hard, but when it happens you know. How important are the non-musical components of your releases, i.e. packaging and album art? And what do they reflect/mean to you?
Barnt: We see them as equally important. Also, a "non-musical component“ like a cover, a collection of images or even an exhibition (there currently is a Magazine show at the Ludwig Forum für moderne Kunst Aachen) might not be associated with music in first place. But they contain structures like patterns, rhythms, timing, etc. that feel „like music“. They look back at our music in a way music understands.
How long do you generally play a track in clubs before releasing it?
Barnt: It really depends. Sometimes the release date can get pushed back months or even years due to unforeseen circumstances. Also, as you know, right now the pressing plants take months to produce a vinyl release. And we don’t want to publish the files before the physical release. But we believe every track has its time(s). So sometimes we share it with a few DJ friends. It then just exists in clubs for a while, meaning it is only being witnessed at very loud volumes before it can be heard privately. Actually we like that.What advice would you give to producers, DJs who are just starting out?
Barnt: Be aware of your own excitement.Please recommend three artists to our readers which you feel deserve their attention.
Barnt: This very minute? Maybe Rebolledo, Lighter, Hodge.How did you select the tracks for your Carhartt Radio show?
Barnt: This is less of a DJ mix than a picture of the core of Magazine.