INTERVIEW: Szafran
Like many artists, Szafran has seen his life take many unexpected turns in the last few years. But where a lot of us spent our free time in the fetal position, eating PB&J saltines, the Polish DJ, producer and live performer decided to put his vintage gear to good use and create some damn good music. HOME AGAIN 003 sees Szafran packing a couple of prodigious punches, and of course, this release comes with a few goodies, like a Leo Pol remix and a Dalibor Barić-produced video. We caught up with the prolific musician to talk about his crazy artistic journey and his creative process.
I'm curious to know more about the creative process surrounding the production of your new album. What were your circumstances at the time?
It is a very particular release for me. I recorded it in Berlin around two years ago. I have been trying to cut the story short, but I don’t think it will clearly describe the exact process.
There was an agency that was willing to take me on and one friend of mine, Jan, has motivated me a lot to make as many new amazing tracks as I can. He was coming to my studio on Frankfurter Allee near Stazi Museum to hang out and listen to me working on these tracks. It was a cold winter in Berlin. Middle of February 2020, I had a booking in Lisbon in Harbour Music Shelter - it’s a club run by a very good friend of mine Goncalo (known also as Midinoize).
A few friends joined me and we all stayed together for a while in Portugal, seeing every day in the news more and more info about COVID. It seemed ridiculous and hard to believe at that time.
I got back to Berlin, and all of my gigs got canceled. I sort of lost the ground under my feet. All friends in the music business were in a full panic. I packed myself, packed my machines, and came to visit my family in Poland to look for peace. I finalized the tracks there, in my home surrounded by my family and four lovely dogs. I finished the music then sent them to Nils - Home Again label head - and he immediately responded about how much he loves the tracks. He offered to sign me and release the record.
After that, I left for Dalmatian Coast in Croatia where I currently live. The feelings that followed me through these times of change are very hard to describe in words. I suppose that’s why I did it through music and the name of it is It's Just A Feeling.
I’d like to know if there are instruments, plugins, or mixing tools that have inspired you or helped you define your sound during the making of the album? What did you use them for?
I have used 303, 909, ARP 2600, and Space Echo on A1. ‘It's Just A Feeling'. I also chopped a drum loop of an old ‘70s cop show – for no particular reason, it just suits well!
On B1. 'You Don’t Know' I used an 808, the bass line/pads and lead was made purely with an Operator from Ableton Live. What makes this track special is that I have chopped and pitched samples recorded with my Zoom H4n in nature, and that’s what makes it stand out and gives it an organic breeze. It opens the track makes it alive and creates space within it.
B2. 'Infuse' the drums were programmed on an original 909, snappy snare, very raw hi-hats, and rides. I played a bit with the swing, recording the elements separately. I recorded the bass line on Roland SH-101 Blue which Pier Bucci left to me a few years ago.
I used a Roland D-50 and Roland XV-5080 for the melodies. I also used the vocal sample from Byron Stingily’s Get Up Everybody and sent it through my favourite effect – the Space Echo by Roland. It’s a pure, raw ‘90s house track.
Leo Pol remixed your track It's Just A Feeling to great results. What do you look forward to the most when your tracks get remixed?
Leo Pol did incredible work on the track. He has used my original melodies from midi files and sent them through his own synths. He completely reconstructed the track and put it in a totally different form. If you want to listen to what makes a good remix, listen to Leo Pol's remix and you will find out.
Another interesting collaboration surrounding this track is the animated music video produced by Dalibor Barić. I'd like to know how this collaboration came about.
Dalibor Barić comes from Dalmatia, from a town called Pirovac where I currently live. He was nominated for Best Animated Feature at this year's Academy Awards. I saw him on the TV and heard stories about him from my girlfriend and the locals.
I was incredibly amused by his works. His animations are surreal. I asked my girlfriend if she could put me in touch. I sent him the music, and he sent me back the animations. There were almost no words spoken in between. Afterward, Ali Nadaffi, another incredible artist from Berlin cut the animations for the purpose of the video.
In your bio, I read that you had developed some of your skills under the mentorship of acid house legend A Guy Called Gerald. I’m curious to know what are some of the lessons you’ve learned in your life as an artist that has made a difference for you?
Gerald is one of the greatest people I have met in my life. He has a huge heart and as an artist, he has always been a huge inspiration. He has inspired and motivated me to play live shows in different forms and to continue to pursue my music dream.
He was also there for me always - when I needed to speak to someone when I was just a young lost kid with a dream in Berlin. I’m constantly learning, but if there is one piece of advice I could share then it’s don’t run for success. Running for success is a trap.
It’s good to be ambitious but don’t make success your goal. Making music should be a success in and of itself. When you are ready, people will hear your music.
Speaking of influences, I know you listened to a lot of 90s dance music while you were making the album. Can you share with us a few of the tracks that have inspired you recently?
It’s the melodies that inspired me. This EP is a fusion between harmonies and melodies that are full of emotions like those known from releases of WARP, Squarepusher or Aphex Twin who are all about raw grooves.
That's how I like it - groovy and emotional so that I can dance and soothe my mind at the same time.
What's coming up for Szafran?
I'm going to be a father. I expect my beautiful daughter, Ayla, to be born on the 27th of February. That is the biggest thing coming for me. It makes me incredibly happy and thankful.
Regarding my plans for music, I have a few records coming up including a solo EP with a remix from Fred P, vinyl-only release on Gemiini from Berlin run by BioN, a good friend of mine. There is an EP, or more of a mini-album release in collaboration with A Guy Called Gerald, a very emotional EP on Wroclaws Kooky Music with remixes from Gogan and Schrill, a four-track record for Skylax in Paris.
I also recorded a track with Wareika for their 10-year anniversary album. I have a new manager, Eddie Kruse. It is going to be the biggest year for my music career and my private life. I’m visiting Belgrade now and working in the studio with my close friend Marko Nastic.
I will be throwing releases, recording music, performing, organizing events in Croatia, and continuing to pursue my dream.
HOME AGAIN 003 we be available next week. Click here for more details.
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Cover photo: Mika Knezevic