Camiel Daamen // Tzinah Podcast // Interview // December 2014

camieldaamenWay back in the nineties Dutchman Camiel began losing himself in synths, computers and other noise making machines, already fascinated by sound at a young age. It is for this reason that he is a producer who is happy to lock himself down and work on a track for days on end, honing and honing his music for maximum dancefloor effect.
After many years of practicing and collect- ing experiences, the man has now released on imprints including Act Natural Records, Serkal, Natural Rhythm, Inmotion, Deep Tech Records, Klopfgeist and Steve Lawler’s ever on point VIVA music label, collecting praise from players like Loco Dice, Brothers Vibe and Maya Jane Coles along the way. And it’s no real surprise given the aesthetics of his music sleek tech house lines with jazzy influences, deft percussive details and a true sense of groove all permeate his sounds and make your mind work as much as your heel.

Releases such as these have understandably brought a lot of attention Camiel’s way, and as such he is an ever more in-demand live performer having first cut his teeth on the Dutch scene. Now you’ll find him playing across Europe in Germany, England, Malta, Ibiza and Poland, often weaving together sets made up primarily of his own unique productions…. Studio 80 (24 Hour Party People resident), Amsterdam Open Air festival, Rockit Open Air Festival, Have a Nice Day Festival, Out- door Stereo Festival, Catwalk Rotterdam, Katerholzig (GER), Wilde Renate (GER), Reineke Fuchs (GER), Public Life (UK), Brixton Clubhouse (UK), Café 1001 (UK), Zoo Project (Ibiza), Club Anony- mous (MALTA) are just some of the places to have fallen under his spell in recent times.

Looking to the future is just a good a prospect for Camiel: he has more productions and remixes lined-up for tastemaker labels while his live bookings continue to pour in.
Camiel Daamen on Facebook

Tzinah Records: To start with, please, recommend us something to listen to while we go through this interview. It can be anything.
Camiel Daamen: Ah that’s a good one, you can listen to a collaboration of me and my friends called 4 Guys 1 Cave. We locked ourselves up in a basement for 3 days and jammed away on the machines.

Tzinah Records: Could you remember when and where have you felt it for the first time that you were to become a music artist?
Camiel Daamen: I felt that the first moment I opened a program called Fasttracker 2 for ms-dos. The ability to make music with a computer inspired me to start the journey in to the music. I would have never guessed that it would keep me busy till now and eternity probably.

Tzinah Records: Why did you choose to create and play this particular type of music? Are there any artists that touched you deeply while developing your own style?
Camiel Daamen: I think I choose electronic music because it’s the music from my generation and I grew up with it during the 90’s. From the beginning it has been a journey trough lots of different genres and sub genres leading me to what I’m making at this moment. I’ve been inspired by so many artists along the way and lately a lot by Minilogue, Tini, Ion Ludwig, Daze Maxim, Masomenos, Malbetrieb and several others.

Tzinah Records: Please, briefly, describe for us, the current state of the underground music scene in the place you come from. Is it any good?
Camiel Daamen: Myself I’m from Holland and we have a very nice electronic music scene. From the main cities Rotterdam to Amsterdam to Utrecht and Groningen it’s all very inspiring and there is lots of different music to explore. These days I’m not really sure what is underground anymore but at least there is enough good music to enjoy if you look for it.

Tzinah Records: Without giving out too much about your secret weapons, please tell us how does the magic work in your production routine. Software? Analog? What does your DJ set-up imply?
Camiel Daamen: I use a Nordlead 2 and an Elektron Drummachine for my beats and sounds. Next to that I use Ableton and plugins to make music. Sometimes I record some things from my Roland Piano as I did on the remix I did for the Boussous EP on Tzinah. Dj-ing wise I use cdplayers in the club, at home I have my turntables but for gigs I prefer having my usbs with me. I’m thinking of getting a small fx/loop device to be able to play around with loops and fx during my djsets.

Tzinah Records: What are the aspects of your daily life that are influencing the shape and sound of the music that you currently make?
Camiel Daamen: My friends with whom I connect in daily life inspire me with things we talk about, movies and ideas we share and such. Also I get very inspired from running and doing yoga lately, it makes me feel fresh and the scenery while running, the parks, the area’s I run trough ease my mind to get focussed in the studio.

Tzinah Records: Which underground house DJ or producer would you love to take out for a summer picnic? With which artist (from any music genre) would you spend 24 hours stuck in an elevator?
Camiel Daamen: Hahaha I’d like to go for a picnic with Mr. G, he seems like a very friendly guy and I love his music and his livesets. The energy and the way he plays is very enthousiastic and inspiring to me. For the elevator I’d like to be stuck with Hannah Reid, she’s the singer of London Grammar and I’d like to marry her just because of her voice and looks.

Tzinah Records: Have you already played in your most-dreamed about venue? Which one is that?
Camiel Daamen: I’ve played a lot of cool places till now but I would love to play in the Panorama Bar in Berlin. Also Sunwaves festival or DC10 in Ibiza would be great. As long as there are like-minded people im up for it anywhere anytime.

Tzinah Records: What motivates you to be an active part of the underground movement?
Camiel Daamen: The music got me here and is the reason im still doing this after a journey of already 17 years of making music. I don’t know what motivates me I just have to do this. I wouldn’t want anything else than travelling around and meeting likeminded people and beautiful places.

Tzinah Records: What’s your favorite type of breakfast?
Camiel Daamen: I actually don’t have a favourite type of breakfast. I do like a nice sandwich with avocado, shrimps and parmazan cheese. You can also wake me up for just eggs on toast or some cornflakes whatever.

Tzinah Records: What do you do when the music is not playing?
Camiel Daamen: When the music is not playing I’ll be sleeping.

Tzinah Records: What’s the story behind your Tzinah Family Podcast? How did you record it and are there released or unreleased tracks?
Camiel Daamen: I recorded the podcast on a Sunday afternoon in my living room. It contains some old tracks that inspired me and also some fresh promo’s I received recently. There are a two unreleased tracks in there from myself as well.

Tzinah Records: Are there any of your plans/upcoming projects that you would like to share with us? Where can we see you play next?
Camiel Daamen: As mentioned in the first question im working on the 4guys1cave project with my friends Francesco Robustelli, David Hulsken and Malbetrieb. We will do another week of recording in January and hope to come with sort of a release of our work in 2015. Next to that im working on my own album as well which im very excited about but I will take my time building it the way I want it to be. It’s going to be my first and I want to make something special. The next gig Im looking forward to is in Paradigm for NYE. We should go out with a bang this year in one of the most creative clubs of the world.

Tzinah Records: Supposing you come back reading this interview in 10 years from now; could you try saying something to your future-self?
Camiel Daamen: I’d say Hi Camiel! Have fun mehn! Hope you had a good time the last 10 years and that you made most of those years too 

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