Akesson
A young producer from the south of Sweden (lund) who is not totally new to the scene. A few years back, he was 50% of the project: Havannah, the name behind the successful self-entitled track 'Havannah' which was highly supported by some of the world's leading DJs such as Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren and Above & Beyond.
He is currently developing his own sound, producing uplifting tracks that have a summer vibe, electrifying beats and raw basslines that can impact any DJ set. Be sure to stay tuned cause there is lots more to come...
Interview made by Mihai Clipa (TranceSound.net forum moderator) 7th September 2008
1. Bjorn Akesson, one of the youngest and most promising producers nowadays. Could you please introduce yourself to the people that never had the chance to know you by now ?
Akesson: I am a trance producer from south of Sweden, most recognizable for my releases 2008 and my collaboration 4 years ago 'Havannah - Havannah'. I released music on labels like Armada, Fraction Records, Offshore music and Mondo Recordings.
2. When did you start your career ? Can you please tell us how was the 'taste' of the EDM industry when you got in for the first time ?
Akesson: Since a small kid I grew up with the dance music during the '90s, but got introduced to the more 'underground' EDM through a PlayStation video game called 'Wipeout'. Shortly after that some class mates showed me some real trance/club music. Then we produced some music together with a music program where you simply added pre-made loops. I got more interested in making my own loops, and I started to use more advanced programs while my friends stopped. I was about 14 when I first ever started producing like this.
3. You released many tracks under multiple aliases such as Level B and Polarstate. Recently you adopted your real name as scene name. What made you change your aliases during your career ? Were there any legal issues in the middle ?
Akesson: My production under those aliases consisted in my first professional trance tracks and the track under Polarstate was finished by 2004. Those aliases did not feel 100% me so I wanted a fresh start. It took also 3 years for my next release after those. So it was a personal choice.
4. 'Perfect Blue', the tune of the week in 'A State of Trance 337″, is one of the 'Must have' tracks. You released it recently under ASOT Recordings/Off Shore music and it was spined by many Djs worldwide, names like Armin van Buuren, Tiesto, Above & Beyond, just to name a few. I must say that this track has a lot of feeling, making us wonder if you created it in a special moment of your life. Could you please share with us the details beyond the stage regarding 'Perfect Blue' ?
Akesson: I was up one autumn night, couldn't sleep, and I was feeling a bit sad. I started to play around with some notes and suddenly the melody appeared. The next day I extended more the melody, making it the final melody for the track. Then I started making the beats and finishing the track. It took me about 3 months to finish it with several breaks between, loving and hating the track. I sent some previews to my friends and they were all very amazed so it was not an hard decision to finish it !
5. Trance Sessions and Trance Cube are as far as I know your future gigs for the next month. Please tell us more about these two events.
Akesson: Yes, they are in fact my very first international gigs and I am very excited about them ! 'Trance Sessions' is held in Czech Republic with me as a headline, playing with Eddie Sender, Nifra, Re Order, Anguilla Project and many more. I also heard the beer is very cheap down there so I am sure it will be a great time. The week after I will fly to Germany for 'Trance Cube' where I will play with Kyau and Albert and Activa, which will be also amazing ! I hope to leave a good impression so I can come back and play there again.
6. Can You please tell me further details about Your radio show called 'Threshold', aired/broadcasted at After Hours FM and who were Your guests, if You ever had or intend to have any ?
Akesson: 'Threshold' is a new radio show which includes tracks I love at the moment and which doesn't necessarily mean they are only new tunes. Since it's hard to go up 'against' Djs like Armin and Tiesto who get the newest tracks first. Therefore I choose to mix both new tunes and some old gems, plus a monthly classic track. Since the show is only 1 hour per month I choose not to have any guests. Maybe in the future After Hours will let me make a special big show and in this case I would have guest mixers.
7. You receive a lot of support and appreciation from the Dj community, can you name a few of the projects you have been involved in with other producers or Djs as well, and which was the artist you had the best collaboration with ?
Akesson: The only collaboration I had was with my friend Dreas. We made the track 'Havannah - Havannah' back in 2004 which was a huge success. I will soon collaborate with some new interesting producers, I can't say who yet, because I want to keep it as a surprise but there are many interesting producers out there that I want to collaborate with !
8. Your first remix was 'Ali & Fila - Lost Language'. Talking about this new area can you give us more details about your remixography ? Which was the track you liked to remix the most ?
Akesson: 'Lost Language' is my favorite remix, it was not that popular but I really like it. Lately there I had many remixes requests but I simply can't take all. Getting to remix 'DT8 - Destination' was a very good experience because it was a vocal track. It was quite a challenge though because I choose to make a whole new background music to the vocals instead of using the same harmonies like everyone else. When I remix I take it very seriously and try to create something different from the original and also I try to make it as good as possible instead of copying one of my tracks and just changing the sounds. I think this is very appreciated by labels, artists and the music buyers.
9. Talking about the remix of the track 'Dt8 Project - Destination', which is a track that I love very much, I was wondering if you have more details about this. Thank you indeed.
Akesson: As I described before it was quite a challenge to remix to make new music that fits the vocals. It will be release on Mondo Records later this year and my remix with be available both as vocal and instrumental. It reminds a bit of 'Perfect Blue', so the people who enjoyed that track and not only them, should check out the remix.
10. Do You have any future projects that You would like to tell us about, so that makes us the first to know ?
Akesson: I don't have anything to tell yet, as I try to keep my current projects quiet so I don't get stressed by people asking for previews and in case I would like to delete the project. That's the way I work best.
11. We have reached the final step of this interview but before this can You please say some words to the people who are reading this interview right now especially to the TranceSound members ? Thanks
Akesson: Thanks for reading this interview, I hope you will like my future productions and keep on supporting me!
Interview made by Mihai Clipa (TranceSound.net forum moderator) 7th September 2008
He is currently developing his own sound, producing uplifting tracks that have a summer vibe, electrifying beats and raw basslines that can impact any DJ set. Be sure to stay tuned cause there is lots more to come...
Interview made by Mihai Clipa (TranceSound.net forum moderator) 7th September 2008
1. Bjorn Akesson, one of the youngest and most promising producers nowadays. Could you please introduce yourself to the people that never had the chance to know you by now ?
Akesson: I am a trance producer from south of Sweden, most recognizable for my releases 2008 and my collaboration 4 years ago 'Havannah - Havannah'. I released music on labels like Armada, Fraction Records, Offshore music and Mondo Recordings.
2. When did you start your career ? Can you please tell us how was the 'taste' of the EDM industry when you got in for the first time ?
Akesson: Since a small kid I grew up with the dance music during the '90s, but got introduced to the more 'underground' EDM through a PlayStation video game called 'Wipeout'. Shortly after that some class mates showed me some real trance/club music. Then we produced some music together with a music program where you simply added pre-made loops. I got more interested in making my own loops, and I started to use more advanced programs while my friends stopped. I was about 14 when I first ever started producing like this.
3. You released many tracks under multiple aliases such as Level B and Polarstate. Recently you adopted your real name as scene name. What made you change your aliases during your career ? Were there any legal issues in the middle ?
Akesson: My production under those aliases consisted in my first professional trance tracks and the track under Polarstate was finished by 2004. Those aliases did not feel 100% me so I wanted a fresh start. It took also 3 years for my next release after those. So it was a personal choice.
4. 'Perfect Blue', the tune of the week in 'A State of Trance 337″, is one of the 'Must have' tracks. You released it recently under ASOT Recordings/Off Shore music and it was spined by many Djs worldwide, names like Armin van Buuren, Tiesto, Above & Beyond, just to name a few. I must say that this track has a lot of feeling, making us wonder if you created it in a special moment of your life. Could you please share with us the details beyond the stage regarding 'Perfect Blue' ?
Akesson: I was up one autumn night, couldn't sleep, and I was feeling a bit sad. I started to play around with some notes and suddenly the melody appeared. The next day I extended more the melody, making it the final melody for the track. Then I started making the beats and finishing the track. It took me about 3 months to finish it with several breaks between, loving and hating the track. I sent some previews to my friends and they were all very amazed so it was not an hard decision to finish it !
5. Trance Sessions and Trance Cube are as far as I know your future gigs for the next month. Please tell us more about these two events.
Akesson: Yes, they are in fact my very first international gigs and I am very excited about them ! 'Trance Sessions' is held in Czech Republic with me as a headline, playing with Eddie Sender, Nifra, Re Order, Anguilla Project and many more. I also heard the beer is very cheap down there so I am sure it will be a great time. The week after I will fly to Germany for 'Trance Cube' where I will play with Kyau and Albert and Activa, which will be also amazing ! I hope to leave a good impression so I can come back and play there again.
6. Can You please tell me further details about Your radio show called 'Threshold', aired/broadcasted at After Hours FM and who were Your guests, if You ever had or intend to have any ?
Akesson: 'Threshold' is a new radio show which includes tracks I love at the moment and which doesn't necessarily mean they are only new tunes. Since it's hard to go up 'against' Djs like Armin and Tiesto who get the newest tracks first. Therefore I choose to mix both new tunes and some old gems, plus a monthly classic track. Since the show is only 1 hour per month I choose not to have any guests. Maybe in the future After Hours will let me make a special big show and in this case I would have guest mixers.
7. You receive a lot of support and appreciation from the Dj community, can you name a few of the projects you have been involved in with other producers or Djs as well, and which was the artist you had the best collaboration with ?
Akesson: The only collaboration I had was with my friend Dreas. We made the track 'Havannah - Havannah' back in 2004 which was a huge success. I will soon collaborate with some new interesting producers, I can't say who yet, because I want to keep it as a surprise but there are many interesting producers out there that I want to collaborate with !
8. Your first remix was 'Ali & Fila - Lost Language'. Talking about this new area can you give us more details about your remixography ? Which was the track you liked to remix the most ?
Akesson: 'Lost Language' is my favorite remix, it was not that popular but I really like it. Lately there I had many remixes requests but I simply can't take all. Getting to remix 'DT8 - Destination' was a very good experience because it was a vocal track. It was quite a challenge though because I choose to make a whole new background music to the vocals instead of using the same harmonies like everyone else. When I remix I take it very seriously and try to create something different from the original and also I try to make it as good as possible instead of copying one of my tracks and just changing the sounds. I think this is very appreciated by labels, artists and the music buyers.
9. Talking about the remix of the track 'Dt8 Project - Destination', which is a track that I love very much, I was wondering if you have more details about this. Thank you indeed.
Akesson: As I described before it was quite a challenge to remix to make new music that fits the vocals. It will be release on Mondo Records later this year and my remix with be available both as vocal and instrumental. It reminds a bit of 'Perfect Blue', so the people who enjoyed that track and not only them, should check out the remix.
10. Do You have any future projects that You would like to tell us about, so that makes us the first to know ?
Akesson: I don't have anything to tell yet, as I try to keep my current projects quiet so I don't get stressed by people asking for previews and in case I would like to delete the project. That's the way I work best.
11. We have reached the final step of this interview but before this can You please say some words to the people who are reading this interview right now especially to the TranceSound members ? Thanks
Akesson: Thanks for reading this interview, I hope you will like my future productions and keep on supporting me!
Interview made by Mihai Clipa (TranceSound.net forum moderator) 7th September 2008
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