ADJF Interview: Kultrun (by Cupe)

[Cupe]

Kultrun is Melbourne based producer / DJ, Tony Stevens.

From early beginnings of playing the piano from the age of 5, up until studying music at Melbourne University. Music has always been a major part of his life.

Having studied and played classical music for the best part of his life, he was not very accustomed to the soundscapes of electronic music until much later in his life. Out in a dingy, underground club one night this young musician heard something that would change his life forever; electronic music on a serious sound system. The rest as they say, is history.

Using basic sequencers and computer programs to make odd noises come out of his speakers, he had no idea really what a DJ did, all he knew is he liked what they were playing and wanted to delve deeper into this mysterious world of electronic music.

Having no musical boundaries in the studio and setting the sky as the limit, expect the unexpected when you hear a Kultrun set.

"Placid" was charted by Jody Wisternoff in his September 2009 chart, "Drift Away" was played on Markus Schulz's "Global Broadcast" in 2009, whilst other productions have been played on radio shows / podcasts by Dennis Ruyer (Dance Department, radio 538 (nl),Wally Lopez, Reuben Keeney and Luke Porter and his songs have also been played by the likes of Dubfire, M.O.D.E, Eelke Kleijn, Hernan Cattaneo, D:FUSE, Nick Muir and even had a look in from Armin Van Buuren.

Current releases on Beatgeek Records, Jetlag Digital, Vinyl Pusher, Hypnotic Room, IF? Records, Jetlag Digital, Indigo Records, Digital Disco, Alterimage Records, Progress Recordings, Telepathy Digital, Hazard Minds Records and Underbelly Music. He also had music featured on television show "myDrive" on Channel 31.

What a history. It seemed you were destined to end up doing SOMETHING in the world of music!

Yes it would seem that way. I was bought up in a very musical family. My mum pushed me towards the piano at a young age and I've been playing it since I was 5. I absolutely love music, I couldn't imagine my life with out it. I still love jumping on the piano and going through my old repertoire. It's quite cathartic.

What gear are you on at the moment, and what are your more favoured DAW's?

I use a laptop with FL Studio, that's prett much it. Of course I have my two SL1200's and my collection of vinyl. Any DJ worth their salt should have that.

I've been using FL since 2001 I guess. I love the piano roll on it and the ease of accessibility. I messed around in Acid Pro around the same time but I found it really limiting and more of a toy, so went back to FL. I just upgraded it to 10 which should be interesting.

Tell us about your time at Melbourne Uni.

It was definitely interesting and eye opening. I learnt a lot about music and looking back on it I could have pursued a career in composing, but at the time the only real avenues available were performance and teaching. Let's just say my diversion into electronic music didn't really fit into what the course offered me. Plus the pay is lousy.

What are some of the more major events or people you've taken notice of on your journey into sound?

Ones that stick out are seeing / hearing; Plastikman, Sven Vath, Sander Van Doorn when he was playing side stages, Loco Dice, 2000 & one, Toby Tobias, Jaytech, Deepchild, Jamie Stevens, all the detroit guys. It's a really long list actually. So I'll just stop now or else I'll take half a page of names up. I take influences from absolutely everything I listen to.

What are you involved in currently? Do you have any residencies or otherwise you would like to share with us?

At the moment I'm playing at the upcoming “Prognosis” at Loop Bar which will be amazing, it's not often you really get to play stuff you're digging so I definitely make the most of it. Playing along side Steve May and the Substance guys will be fun too.

I'm also playing at “Trinity” at La Di Da with the likes of Phil K, Rollin Connection and Blinky. I haven't had the pleasure of playing with Bill (Blinky) yet, he runs Beatgeek which I have quite a few releases out with. So I'm really looking forward to that. It's often a removed process making music, you don't really get to meet the guys you're dealing with.

What sort of feedback did the exposure on 'Dance Department' (aired on Bris31) bring you?

It's crazy actually, I didn't expect my remix of “Big Jet Plane” to get the response that it did. I sort of made it for myself really and uploaded it to soundcloud, from there it got picked up by Dennis over at Dance Department and featured on a set with Avicii which gave it a lot of exposure. So that was a really nice surprise seeing all that happen. Plus Tim Burns over on KissFM gave it a big helping hand too which was amazing.

You have released music under a massive number of labels. Were you expecting to go this far when you started out?

Absolutely not. I didn't even know what a DJ was when I started making music on my computer. Everything that happens is a nice surprise and you take one thing at a time. I only send music to labels that I think my sound would compliment. Other times I get songs signed by other producers passing my name on, it's really quite random how it all happens some times.

How do you rate the dancefloor punters of Melbourne? Seen any extremely good/bad nights you want to make mention of?

Overall it's a positive experience playing out. Punter ignorance is a massive bummer. I've played heaps of different gigs and heaps of different styles, requests are always a pain in the arse, mainly for the fact that people who request things are the only people that want to hear it most of the time. People who take too many drugs / get too drunk are funny at first but quickly become really annoying. Although the one guy who fell off a tower of speakers while I was playing takes the cake for substance abuse. The guy who spilt beer all over the decks just as I was about to play is a close second.

What's coming up on the horizon for Kultrun?

Not directly Kultrun related but I would like to mention that Simon (DJ Hi-Shock) is releasing a compilation of four albums on Beatport through Elektrax in aid of the Japanese earthquake victims. So definitely check that out, it's an amazing cause.

I have my single “A Moment In Time” coming out on May 5th through Indigo which has the “F-Act “ Remix given airplay on Jaytech's podcast .

My vinyl release of Little Nobody's “Disquo” on IF? Records has recently gotten a digital release through Hypnotic Records which is available on Beatport.

My Slow Goat EP is coming out on Beatgeek soon as well.

I'm also in the very early stages of working out a live setup so keep your ears peeled for that one on the horizon.

Finally, the Melbourne shuffle. Cool or uncool.....?

Definitely cool. Everyone should do it at every gig they attend.

[Hobberz]

Nice one Cupe & Kultrun, great read.

[J0rdz]

Great read!!! Really looking forward to Prognosis

[eggssell]

nice one bruva. nice one bruva

[Cupe]

I SAID

NICE BRUV