Project Description

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Gratts, Alexander Flood

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Congratulations on the release of Sun Circles Reimagined! How did the collaboration between Gratts and Alexander Flood come together?
Tristan: Thank you! The original ‘Sun Circles (For Leo & Ziggy)’ is a song I wrote for my sons that came out in March last year (it featured Nathan Haines from Wellington on sax and flute, Mr. Beale from London on vox and three musicians from my home town Leuven in Belgium: Levi Wynants on keys, Jasper Hautekiet on bass and Frederik Kuehn on percussion).
Fast forward half a year to when the amazing Alexander Flood and I teamed up for a gig at Adelaide’s Oddio, where he joined me on percussion. It led to us talking music and we bonded over a shared Berlin connection (we both spent quite some time there, separately that is, recording, gigging, etc).
As I really rate Alex’ original music – it’s exciting and unique sounding stuff – I wondered if he’d be up for diving into the studio with his band to record a “live remake” of ‘Sun Circles’. He was immediately excited about the idea and I couldn’t be more happy with the version they recorded.
The lineup: Alexander Flood (drums, production), Kara Manansala (vocals), Jack Strempel (keys), Dylan Paul (bass) and Tom Noonan (flute). They didn’t use any of the original parts, but re-recorded a gorgeously fresh and exciting new take that ups the tempo from the original.

Alexander, Sun Circles Reimagined with a jazz quintet brings a fresh take on the track. What was the most challenging and the most rewarding part of this recording process?
Alexander: We actually put this track together completely DIY without any crazy studio gear, no expensive mics, engineers etc. We recorded all the parts live in a little home studio which I set up and engineered myself (5 of us crammed into a small room), with a minimal mic’ing setup (we were restricted to only 12 lines and my budget mic collection). Obviously right from the start this already presented us with challenges and limitations, but I think ultimately this is what helped us go deeper in finding the sound and aesthetic of the track, and making it work to our advantage. I’m a nerd for sound and sonically pleasing things so it was actually a great experience mixing this track to elevate the DIY sound to be something much bigger, which has been super rewarding. It’s also proof that music doesn’t always need to be made in the best studios with the best gear on big budgets. Having great musicians, a clear direction and goal, as well as the knowledge and experience to get there is sometimes all it takes.

Tristan, can you tell as more about the original Sun Circles and how you drew inspiration from your sons Leo and Ziggy?
Tristan: When I first started writing ‘Sun Circles’, we were living in a small apartment in Berlin Kreuzberg, mid pandemic, and it was a pretty harsh time to be in for various reasons… That’s why I decided to write a song for my sons, basically to tell them, everything will be alright… A simple, sometimes much needed positive and comforting message. And of course my kids play a major role in my life, I spend a lot of time with them, so it happens quite organically that home life seeps into the music…
At the time of release, a UK radio DJ wrote the following about the song, which meant a lot: “Sun Circles could be a therapy session in a track, so soothing and dreamy.”

Tristan, what are the big differences for you moving from Berlin to live in Australia, and how has this impacted you creatively?
Tristan: I lived in Berlin for the past 8 years before making the move to SA… As people sometimes point out, the difference between those two places could barely be bigger, haha… I do still very much miss our Kreuzberg life… the apartment, the studio and record shop (The Consulate)l, our street soccer team (Una Vida De Barrio). I am trying to stay focused and live a pretty straight and boring monk like life here these days.
Creatively, the overseas change wasn’t so bad.. When first landing down under, the car rides inspired me (“Meditation Nocturne” was inspired by nocturnal rides into the Adelaide hills, whereas “Euphoria” with Brian Ruiz was inspired by coastal rides).

Tristan – Having been active in the electronic music scene for over two decades, how do you feel your sound has evolved over the years? Are there any particular influences or experiences that have shaped your musical journey?
Tristan: This is an interesting question… I recently dug out a 2007 DJ-set from an old harddrive, and listening back I realized that I’ve always stayed true to my sound and my soulful house music roots. Quite a few of the tracks played in that set, I still play today.
There are those people that are always chasing trends to try and keep up and be “happening”, but that doesn’t work for me. I can only enjoy doing music if am honest and play what I like, truthfully.. Otherwise what’s the point, you may as well go and do a different job altogether.
One thing I’d probably say is that I play a bit more mellow, jazzy and organic sounding material than in my early days… (Hence hosting events like Mellow Magic Sunday, where we can play those tracks in their ful glory, on a big rig.)
Long story short, I started out listening to electronica like Orbital and Prodigy in the late nineties, rolled into jungle and drum’n’bass for a short stint and when that got too dark, I started collecting house and techno in 2001 or so…
Major influences that shaped my musical journey were starting to go to raves in the late nineties and hearing a wide variety of incredible DJs (Belgium had an incredible healthy scene at the time, and in my home town we were spoilt with DJ headliners week by week… People like DJ Sneak, Dave Clarke, Jeff Mills etc, the list is well and truly endless). Then moving to Brussels when I was 21 also changed my sound slightly… Leuven was always very warm and soulful, the capital a bit more spacious and synth driven I’d say… And of course moving to Berlin in 2013 shaped me as a DJ. I could play long sets on amazing sound systems, the energy exchange between crowd and DJ can be beautiful. You could let records run for 11 minutes with people still going nuts. So all of these things have shaped me to the DJ I am today.
You’ll always hear me play a mix of old and new records, tracks I consider timeless, and make them work together. I’m very much drawn to tracks that convey real emotion… They can be quite raw, as long as the emotion, the intention, the message is there. I’m not a music snob in the sense that a lot of cheap and unlikely records also find their way into my sets… After 25 years of DJ’ing I honestly still love it as much as when I first started!

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Alexander Flood

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What can you tell us about the Mellow Magic Sunday events you host in South Australia? What inspired these gatherings, and what kind of experience do you aim to create for attendees?
Tristan: Mellow Magic Sunday is a pretty special daytime dance party that only takes place about twice a year. It’s at my local yacht club in Brighton / Seacliff SA. Past guests have been my pal Alex Kassian from Berlin, Colleen ‘Cosmo’ Murphy from NYC (who coined it “the most balearic party in Australia”) and a heap of amazing local support DJs of course. The upcoming edition takes place this Sunday June 23rd: a special midwinter dance with guest DJ Ningaloo Records from WA. The aim with Mellow Magic Sunday is to invite unique DJs to come and do their thing in the most amazing circumstances: we equip the intimate, carpeted first floor function room with top notch Funktion One sound, there are food and drinks available all day, we start the afternoon with a record fair… It’s basically what my ideal party looks like. The lush seaside views, beautiful multi generation crowd and powerful but gentle sound system make for an terrific dancing experience.
This Sunday’s edition will also be the release event for Alexander and I’s new single / 7inch, making it extra special. Once again he will join me on percussion for my set, and we may even have a little extra surprise in store.

Tristan, What motivated you to start your own label, Be Strong Be Free, and how do you balance running the label with your own music production and touring?
Tristan: After running two music labels before (Ensemble and Cashminus Music), I had kind of sworn not to start a label again… But dealing with labels’ release schedules and that whole waiting game made me realize that I do enjoy having my own vehicle to send my music out into the world – completely under my own terms: with the mixdowns, mastering and artwork that I like, and releasing the music on the formats of my choice, with complete control over the whole process. Be Strong Be Free wasn’t really meant to be a “label label” as I mainly started it to release my own music… But I might open it up a bit more gradually… I’ve recently started a vinyl only series called ‘Mellow Magic Worldwide’ for instance, releasing tunes by worldwide studio buds. Part 1 just came out and the second instalment will follow later this year.
I do still also enjoy releasing my own music on friends’ labels, it’s the perfect mix of the both worlds. (Apart from future Be Strong Be Free material, I’ve got new EPs forthcoming on Bienvenue out of Montreal and Inner Balance from Lisbon.)

Alexander, Your music pushes boundaries across nu-jazz, house, broken beat, and more. Can you discuss your musical influences and how they have shaped your unique sound?
Alexander: I take influence from everywhere, every corner – I’m a sponge. So sometimes it’s hard to define a simple concise list of influences. Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of electronic music (90s house and liquid dnb), reggae and dub, Son Cubano and Guaguanco music, as well as always staying on top of new jazz / crossover releases out of Aus and the UK.
I began listening to jazz at the age of about 10, and I grew up on disco (thanks to my parents), so it’s like I’ve gone full circle and now these things really form the backbone of what I’m doing with my own music.

Alexander and Tristan, How would you describe the music scene in Adelaide? In what ways has the city influenced your music and collaborations?
Tristan: Adelaide has a small but dedicated group of music lovers. It hasn’t quite got the critical mass such as a city like Berlin or Melbourne, but there’s a pretty healthy scene I’d say… Although I’ve only been here two years, so I’m still getting to know it.
One thing they say about Adelaide is true, though… It’s a bit of a nightmare to try and sell presale tickets to shows. Usually people decide very last minute!
Alexander: Being a small city with a small scene is sort of a blessing and a curse. Because of the size of our city we have a beautifully connected, supportive and rich scene, with so many different pockets that all overlap and cross pollinate but obviously with the smaller size there are less people to buy tickets and less venues to play, so sometimes the opportunities reflect our size.

Lastly, for the both of you, what advice would you give to aspiring musicians looking to break into the music industry, especially those interested in blending genres like you do?
Tristan: I think it’s especially important to find your own voice as an artist and do things the way you think is right. If you have authenticity and a strong vision, you know best. Stay yourself, don’t try and jump on trends, don’t follow, rather follow your instinct. Also: simply don’t stop. If you actually enjoy what you do and believe in yourself, it will pay off along the way.
On the blending genres tip, unfortunately it is indeed often easier in this world to be a one dimensional cliché, so people can easily categorize you and put you in a box… But way surrender to that simplicity. You can be all of those things, together.
Also – don’t expect too much too quickly. If you’re really serious about your craft, you’re in it for the long run, so if you stick to your guns, things will happen. And: Be Strong, Be Free!
Alexander: To begin to embed yourself in any industry I’d say it’s important to go to gigs, meet people, get together with people to make music and share new ideas, try to establish and upkeep a public profile online to build an audience, and ask questions! There’s so many people around (in your local scene or online) who are willing to share their knowledge and experience, so find people that you look up to that are doing what you are wanting to do, and learn what you can from them and their journey. I’ve learned SO much along the way from simply asking questions and being hungry to keep growing and learning.
As for the music, just trust your gut and make the music that YOU want to listen to, the music that stimulates your own brain and your soul and makes you happy first, and people will come. Over time your own voice and edge will naturally start to emerge from the creative process.

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More about ALEXANDER FLOOD

Alexander Flood is one of Australia’s commanding beat-masters, possessing a finessed arsenal of groove, power, and expertise on the drums. His unique sound and approach on the instrument has been crafted through many years of study, training, passion and dedication to music. Leading his own band from the drum chair, Alex’s music pushes a fresh rhythmic and dynamic realm of live dance music leaning on nu-jazz, house, broken beat, DnB, funk, and experimental sounds. In May 2023, Flood recorded his third album “Oscillate” with an all-star band lineup of Horatio Luna, Àbáse, and Paulo Cedraz in Berlin, released via Jakarta Records. Some notable collaborators of Alex’s include Horatio Luna, Vivian Sessoms, Nelson Dialect, Rob Edwards, as well as performances with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

More about GRATTS

A prolific agent of the electronic music scene for over two decades, Belgium-born Gratts first started DJ’ing and collecting records in the late nineties. After living and working in Berlin for 8 years, he now calls coastal South Australia home, where he divides his time touring, producing music, running his label Be Strong Be Free and hosting the Mellow Magic Sunday events. A seasoned DJ, he delivers an always-expanding, deep-dug repertoire of timeless tracks from the last 50 years. His vinyl sets move with powerful determination, all while maintaining an underlying groove that is testament to his Belgian roots. After releasing records under different projects and alter egos throughout the years (Ca$hminus, Icarus Traxx, etc), he unleashed his Gratts debut three years ago and hasn’t slowed down since: so far seven singles / EPs have seen the light of day, with just as many in the pipeline. With each release, he aims to create a moment. It’s safe to say his records haven’t gone unnoticed, garnering heavy global radio, press and dj support from some of the best in the game such as François K, Laurent Garnier and Groove Armada. Last year, singles ‘Sun Circles’ (a song he penned for his sons Leo & Ziggy’) and ‘Pretty Lights’ were both coined “track of the summer” left and right.

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Press Release 18th June 2024 (below) HERE

ALEXANDER FLOOD’s
gorgeous take on
SUN CIRCLES
By GRATTS

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AMNPLIFY – DB