An Interview with Max Cooper
With thanks to Harder Faster…
Glade is well known for showcasing the best underground dance music in the UK English countryside, so who better to close the legendary Origin stage, than one of the most exciting and respected new artists to come through the scene in recent years, Belfast-born Londoner, Max Cooper. Internationally acclaimed and a true artist of electronica, Max eagerly anticipates his Glade debut “I’ve never been to Glade before, and I’ve heard that it’s amazing, so am well looking forward to it.” With over 100 original tracks and remixes to his name, the man of the moment took time out of his hectic schedule to chat science, Sasha and future projects.
You’re just coming to end of a mini-tour of the US and Canada, how has it been?
“It’s been great thanks, I’m currently on the flight from Calgary to Dallas, finally escaping the -30 degrees weather which will be a relief, although I’ll be back in Montreal to play an outdoor festival called Igloofest for more of the same – apparently everyone dances round in their big extreme weather one-pieces, it should be interesting!”
How does the current electronic music scene there compare with Europe? “It’s a lot smaller in general, at least for the slightly more obscure brands of electronic music, but the parties are great. They close a lot earlier though, which is a shame, there seems to be a really tight regulation there.”
“It’s been great thanks, I’m currently on the flight from Calgary to Dallas, finally escaping the -30 degrees weather which will be a relief, although I’ll be back in Montreal to play an outdoor festival called Igloofest for more of the same – apparently everyone dances round in their big extreme weather one-pieces, it should be interesting!”
How does the current electronic music scene there compare with Europe? “It’s a lot smaller in general, at least for the slightly more obscure brands of electronic music, but the parties are great. They close a lot earlier though, which is a shame, there seems to be a really tight regulation there.”
Since his first release in 2007, Max has been in-demand across the globe with a calendar full of international dates. “Amsterdam, Berlin, Cologne, Groningen, Porto, Paris, Seattle and Montreal” would have to be mentioned amongst his favourites, but he adds “Great parties pop-up anywhere”.
Yet an international music career hasn’t always been his ambition “I just set out to work hard on something I loved and see what happened. I was probably more planning on a career in science before circumstances led me in a different direction”. Having gained a PHD in Computational Biology at Nottingham University, and up until as recent as 2010, working as a Post-Doctoral Genetics Researcher at UCL, this Producer offers up sophisticated and thought-provoking masterpieces alongside dirty techno growlers. He notes the similarities between electronic music and science “Maybe it’s about patterns. Science is the art of looking for patterns in nature in order to compress information – simple rules yielding apparently complex behaviour. And music is fundamentally patterns in sound waves, with again simple rules often underlying what may sound complex.”His breakthrough trilogy of ‘Serie’ releases on Traum Schallplatten in 2009, saw each track inspired by a different scientific or mathematical concept.
Yet an international music career hasn’t always been his ambition “I just set out to work hard on something I loved and see what happened. I was probably more planning on a career in science before circumstances led me in a different direction”. Having gained a PHD in Computational Biology at Nottingham University, and up until as recent as 2010, working as a Post-Doctoral Genetics Researcher at UCL, this Producer offers up sophisticated and thought-provoking masterpieces alongside dirty techno growlers. He notes the similarities between electronic music and science “Maybe it’s about patterns. Science is the art of looking for patterns in nature in order to compress information – simple rules yielding apparently complex behaviour. And music is fundamentally patterns in sound waves, with again simple rules often underlying what may sound complex.”His breakthrough trilogy of ‘Serie’ releases on Traum Schallplatten in 2009, saw each track inspired by a different scientific or mathematical concept.
Scrolling through the pages of Beatport, you can’t help but notice the ever-increasing numbers of the ‘Max Cooper Remix’. Often praised for being better than the originals, and for adding new ‘freaky’ dimensions to a track, Max’s remix catalogue includes everyone from Hot Chip and Portishead, to Minilogue and Extrawelt. He even has a remix of Sasha’s iconic classic Xpander “I heard a rumour that it was being remixed so I gave him a shout. It turned out that he was looking for remixers right then and had me in mind so it was a matter of right time right place.” It sticks reasonably close to the original on the drops, but Max did exactly what Sasha wanted and “wonked the fuck out of it!”
What does the future hold for this unique and innovative artist? “I’ve got a Michael Nyman remix project out soon, my next EP on Traum in Spring, plus a few remixes in between. I did a remix of Agoria last year which has been smashing it for me playing out, hopefully that will be released soon.” Alongside the original productions and remixes, he is also working on a software project with the guys from Liine (who make the excellent Griid, Lemur and Remiix apps) and exploring more graphic & visual projects. Max has previously collaborated with visual artist Whiskas fX on a series of haunting and hypnotic mini experimental films. “I love visual art and am keen to get more involved there.”
Glade looks forward to hearing the Origin stage explode on Sunday night with an expertly crafted extravaganza, from deep within the brain of an original and exhilarating legend-in-the-making. “I never plan my live sets. I have everything I’ve made plus remixes available in one project so that I can experiment and play to the crowd. I guess I’ll try and make it a good party whilst pushing into weirdness as much as I can get away with, that’s the general vibe.”
Be prepared to have your mind massaged in its most hidden psychedelic places. Just what you need after 3 days in a field!!
