French producer Mondkopf (aka Paul Régimbeau) has always seemingly stood apart from the musical trends that surround him since his arrival in 2008 with The (Declaration of) Principles EP on the Fool House label. Across two albums Mondkopf’s music has developed markedly from this early release, with 2009’s Galaxy Of Nowhere a sprawling collection of downtrodden electronica and widescreen orchestral moments melded with crunched and processed beats. His second album Rising Doom was an altogether darker experience linked wholly to the emphasis of his live set, embracing with real intensity the influence of abrasive forms of metal music. With The Nicest Way EP (Perc Trax), and memorable performances as a DJ in clubs like Berghain and Corsica Studios, this year has seen Mondkopf perfecting his cathartic approach to dance music. Also getting on his own terms and starting his own imprint In Paradisum with Guillaume Heuguet, he has united a team of artists all pretty much stand ing apart in the French scene and led by the same restlessness and ideals. The operation quickly connected to a flourishing international scene of forward-thinking techno and house, and is now allowing him to express his musical goals further. In the beginning of August 2015, Mondkopf will play at KRAKE Festival, the annual Berlin based festival for challenging electronic music.

Facts

1: I spend my time watching TV series.

2: I like to prepare myself club sand wiches.

3: I have telephone phobia.

Questions

What is the biggest inspiration for your music?
The small details.

How and when did you get into making music?
I was in college, trying to produce hip hop beats on the eJay software.

What are your 5 favourite albums of all time?
Of all time is to difficult, i’d rather give you my 5 favorites from this last months :
US Christmas – Run Thick In The Night
Leviathan – Scar Sighted
Kara-Lis Coverdale – Aftertouches
Oiseaux-Tempête – Ütopya?
Senyawa – Menjadi

What do you associate with Berlin?
There’s this restaurant I went to the first time I was in Berlin, that I never managed to find again.

What’s your favourite place in your town?
As we’re in this heat wave – but more generally – my place which stays fresh, more or less.

If there was no music in the world, what would you do instead?
I can see myself working with animals.

What was the last record you bought?
PainKiller – Buried Secret

Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I didn’t open up to collabs very much since I started, but for one year I’ve been more into that. But it’s people I meet mostly. So I can tell by advance the name of someone I would feel comfortable with. Maybe Radwan Miuneh, the musician behind Jerusalem in my heart. If the guy is cool, I’d be happy to make music with him.

What was your best gig (as performer or spectator)?
As a performer, wherever the soundsystem was perfect. I need music to surround me physically to be able to control it the best way and let go. As a spectator, the Lightning Bolt live set I saw this week is definitely one of my favorites already.

How important is technology to your creative process?
Important enough as I have different software and hardware, but I make the most of what I have, I don’t run after the newest thing.

Do you have siblings and how do they feel about your career?
I have a bigger sister. She does workshops of book binding with kids and adults. I don’t think I do the kind of music she listens to, but I think she’s happy for me.

Our Favourites:

Cause & Cure