I first came across Session Victim – Mattias Reiling & Hauke Freer – with their ‘See You When You Get There’ album on Delusions of Grandeur back in 2014. It knocked me out. Since then, I have continued to watch their understated cool evolve. Their newest offering comes via London’s Night Time Stories and is appropriately titled ‘low key, low pressure’. Lo fi, hip hop jazziness is the order of the day on this ridiculously good, languid long player. On the week of it’s release I get the chance to put a few questions to one half of the German duo, Matthias Reiling.
I’d love to hear about the initial idea for the album ‘low key, low pressure’?
Hey everyone, thanks for having me. We did not initially approach ‘low key, low pressure’ with a specific concept in mind, but at some point during the creational process it became apparent that the album became somewhat of a counter-draft to what was mostly happening around us musically at that time. What I mean is a lot of music right now wants to satisfy the short attention span of the audience – we wanted the opposite.
What was most important for you to convey through this album?
Attention to detail and an overall subtlety are keywords that immediately come to mind. We most of all want this album to be something you want to listen to from the beginning to end, a record to help you zone out, to find and enhance a certain type of vibe that will not be achieved within 5 or 10 minutes.
What are you most proud of with low key, low pressure?
I do think Hauke and I nailed the overall mood and atmospheric texture pretty much exactly in the sense of how and where we wanted the album to be. Truth be told, listening to the album now, we both feel like two really cool dudes who put together a really cool slice of wax.
What was the most challenging part of bringing this release together?
I don’t remember the whole process as very challenging at all. In fact, working at the studio, playing, chopping, arranging – all that is the most rewarding, least frustrating part of being musicians for us. Many challenges are actually fun to approach and tackle, and I can say with confidence that the sound lab truly is our happy place and has been for a long time.
I guess this album marks a lot of years in the music business. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how your creative process has changed and remained the same over the years.
Sometimes you get a new instrument or other piece of gear, or you learn a new method or a new twist to an old one, and all that is great fun, but I don’t think it matters that much to be honest. If I am able to approach playing music with a certain amount of naive excitement – I like to call it the kid in a toy store state of mind – it feels like anything can happen. That is the very best part, and it has been like that for a long time. All the rest is amazing, but secondary.
What drives you both to continue creating music?
All of the above mentioned, no doubt. We both need to do it, creating something that feels right gives us a satisfaction we cannot find anywhere else. It’s just the best.
What has been one of Session Victim’s favorite moments from the past year?
Spending ten days in the Spanish mountains at our long time friend and partner Tom’s place, where we set up a little studio.
Every day was breakfast, then playing some Magic the Gathering, making beats, lunch, more beat-making, some table tennis, cooking dinner, a few rounds of dobble, and then more beat making until we passed out. It does not get better than that.
Where do you find the most inspiration when it comes to discovering new music?
Inspiration when it comes to discovering new music? Hmm… I would say, go to a record store, listen to records and then hopefully discover something there that brings the inspiration. Not one specific store though – Berlin and Hamburg both have a great selection of record stores and I like to visit many of them.
You are releasing on Night Time Stories. What can you tell us about your relationship with the label?
I think the initial idea to get together came through Khruangbin. We remixed one of their songs shortly before they released their debut album with NTS, and that’s when we first heard about them. Paul, Siofra and everyone from the team are amazing to work with, as they really do care about the music but completely trust and support us with our vision and what we want to achieve at that moment. That in itself is a great feeling and we immensely appreciate it.
What is next for Session Victim?
Haha, I feel like I said the same thing more than once before but still: More jamming, more dancing, more playing out, more mixing records, releasing records, more card games, board games, video games more good food and good books. Give me that and a fresh pair of sneakers once a year, you won’t hear any complaints. Ever.
buy Session Victim – low key low pressure – Night Time Stories
https://orcd.co/lowkeylowpressure
www.sessionvictim.com
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