Timo Maas has been around in the dance scene now for longer than most of us care to remember. In actual fact, it took Maas quite some time before his claim to fame was officially recognised by the greater dance community, his breakthrough ‘Music For The Maases Volume 1’ more of a “best of” than a debut. With that in mind, it would be futile to ignore that Maas has been a true pioneer in instigating a new breed sound. What a great way to end the last month of summer, than with headliner Timo Maas at the Good Vibrations Festival!
Speaking with Maas at the tail end of the year, I thought I’d begin by asking how 2006 had panned out for him. “Everything is coming upward for me… [I’ve had] extremely exciting traveling, extremely exciting residences, it’s been a really hard but a really good year”. Having had a residency at the famed club DC10 in Ibiza, I am sure no one could disagree that Timo was going to be having a pretty good time! Of course Maas has also played in Australia several times before, and he looks back on these tours with good memories. “Genuinely in Australia I’ve had an amazing positive experience”. He answered with enthusiasm and excitement, especially when he realises he’ll be leaving Europe in the winter to come and play at Good Vibrations in the peak of Australia’s summer. “Everyone is really nice, really relaxed people, always laid back and up for a party”. It’s a compliment we should be proud of, especially coming from someone as well traveled as Timo.
Heading to a club, compared to a festival, does have its pros and cons as a patron, and likewise as a DJ. With such a sensational line up at Good Vibrations, the hardest part of the day will no doubt be deciding who to watch at any given time! I asked Maas what he thought of the clubs vs festival debate. “Clubs have a very intense atmosphere,” he remarked. “Whereas at festivals I am reaching out to people who may never go out to a club to listen to me. [Festivals] are not just for playing at, but for hanging out and listening to the other music”. Obviously, playing to a crowd in the thousands is going to have its challenges, but as Maas simply put it, “Australians are good people and they know how to party”. He himself was checking out the line up while we were chatting, “I’m already excited as a music lover, and I’m very much looking forward to that”.
It would be fair to say that Maas did not start out with a conventional or traditional sound, in actual fact it was rather unusual to many at the time. Maas explains, “we had problems in the beginning that [the music] didn’t sound like all the others, it did disturb us that it didn’t sound like all the others but now that’s the trademark,” he continues, “the normal, the usual, its just not enough!” I could sense his annoyance of ‘the norm’ down the phone line. I guess now we can all be thankful that there are some who are strong enough to take on the challenge and make something new.
Maas has been working on a new album that is due to be released sometime near the end of 2007. This presented a good opportunity to ask how one begins such a task? With Martin Buttrich, Maas’s long time friend and sound designer, they sat down in the studio with a new management team and begun brainstorming. Where does the inspiration come from though? Especially when you’ve been producing music for over 20 years, like Maas. “Life is the best teacher,” he explains. “I mean, I really love what I do, I really love music.” It’s great news for us too, as Maas may give us a sneak preview of one of his new tracks at Good Vibrations, as the track is scheduled to be released in March.
“I just cant stand still, I’m having the best time, I want to go on and I will go on,” he says, spoken with conviction and determination. I can’t help but get excited about what he’s going to do next!
Timo Maas tours Australia on the Good Vibrations Festival in February:
Feb 10 – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Feb 11 – Doug Jennings Park, Gold Coast
Feb 15 – Tank, Sydney
Feb 17 – Centennial Park, Sydney
Feb 18 – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth
richcur says...
Also playing at the Family on friday 16th Feb.