Interview With Reeko

Dark and twisted have become "catch alls" for anyone describing Reeko's work, many have already started criticising his work and comparing him to Regis and Surgeon - While he accepts that he is heavily influenced by both he's only just starting out on his path and we feel that he has a lot more to offer, he's young, sharp as a knife and has his whole career ahead of him.

He's now complete focused on live PA's - We're looking forward to more dark days in the not to distant future. I speak no Spanish, well short of ordering two coffee's, and Reeko speaks no English - so many thanks to Aitcho for bridging the gap...

Hi Reeko, how's life treating you?
Very well to be honest, I can't complain.

How was 2003 for you?
Without doubt it was the best year of my career, as in one year I have achieved much more than I could have imagined.

What_s the scene like in Spain these days?
I've no doubt that above all the level of producers and dj's is getting better day by day, even though it's clear that we've still some way to go. It has its good spells and bad spells. Everything changes.

Your singles have gone down very well in the UK, how does that feel?
Well... very satisfying and flattering above all coming from a country from where my influences come. Besides the good thing is seeing how your music is accepted in different countries. 

Are you planning to play much in the UK and overseas this year and can we expect live PA's or will you be on the decks?
I have something in London in May. I think that for the moment I'm only doing live PA's, I started as a dj but now I've moved away from it, I believe it's better to concentrate on one thing at a time.

When the world first heard of Reeko, many people accused you of being a Regis wannabe. What do you have to say to them now?
I have received and still receive a lot of criticism about this, I've always recognised this tendency and I think it is only a tendency. Besides in general people who comment on this listen to the record superficially. I think that the records must be listened to with more consideration. In all forms we must know to accept every type of criticism.

You do seem to be heavily influenced by the _Birmingham_ sound, have you ever been to The House Of God?
I haven't been but it couldn't be bad to do a live PA there.

Who are your biggest influences?
The Birmingham sound is without doubt my influence taken when I first started listening to the evolution of this sound. Surgeon since his initial releases has influenced me more than anyone but I have many more influences from other styles that have little to do with Techno. At times it surprises you where you can gain ideas. I think that the best thing is to take your influences from varying styles of music.
 
What was the first techno record you bought?
To be honest I can't say for sure, it was a developing taste because at the time there wasn't much techno to buy in my city. I think it was a compilation called "the History of Techno" with tracks like Flash by Joey Beltram.

What_s your all time ten 10 tracks?
Equinox - Into Battle (Joey Beltram rmx)
Jeff Mills - Life cycle - Tresor
Planetary assault system - in front the night - Peacefrog
Blue maxx - Smooth landing - Synewave
Karl O'Connor - Guiltless - Tresor
Surgeon - Basic tonal Remake - Tresor
Planetary assault system - Planetary funk 4 (Surgeon rmx)
Surgeon - Body request - Dynamic tension
Oliver Ho - Prima materia - Meta
Jeff Mills - The extremist - tresor

It's very difficult to choose but I can tell you 10 tracks in no particular order

Anyone else out there we should be checking out?
As for producers and live acts then without doubt Exium. As for dj's then there are so many who I like it would be very difficult to say whom.

Any plans for an album or more 12s?
There are a lot of plans. However those you could count are the March release of an album on Inceptive, a subsidiary of Surface. Very soon an Emergence 8, Intergrale Muzique 4 very soon and of course much more from Mental Disorder, I'll also be making an album there soon. 

What are you listening to at the moment?
I always listen to everything I can, I really like hip-hop there's a lot of quality stuff around and a lot of inspiration. Above all music with something dark to it but really I like something from all styles.

Any collaborations planned with Masters of Archae + Grovskopa?
Sadly they have split up. On Mental Disorder 03 appears a track by Archae + Grovskopa and one of mine, but from now on I'll be working with Grovskopa. We have been working on an EP for Mental Disorder continuing Reeko and Grovskopa. I think we have a really good understanding. There are many more collaborative projects on Mental Disorder than on Emergence. They are two imprints that go well together.

Where would you dream gig be and who else would you like on the list?
It is difficult to say, I like any well-organised place where people know me and appreciate my music. Maybe I'd like to go to Japan, and Tresor wouldn't be bad. But who knows if I'd get a good reception!