Down with Prince (sort of)

Over the years Hendrik Weber has gone by a few names, most notably Glühen 4 and Panthel. But it is his current work under the alias of Pantha Du Prince that has resulted in his most prolific output. He's foundhis home at Dial, the Hamburg-based techno label curated by Carsten Jost and Lawrence. His sound is deep, dark, experimental, minimal and has earned itself a well deserved fanbase across the globe. What does Hendrik believe is the background to his sound?

“When I was a child I listened to my parents' music a lot, like The Beatles, J S Bach, Pink Floyd, Schubert, Liszt and also early synthesizer music. In my teenager years I got really into noise pop bands like Ride and Slowdive, but I have always been listening to a great variety of music since the early days.”

"As I was always playing instruments since I was a teenager and my family have always been into music, sound experiences were always around. I started experimenting with electronic music in 1999, beginning with noise music, mixer feedbacks and an Atari computer with a ESI sampler."

The speed of technological advancements must have had an effect on an experimental electronic artist whose career spans over a decade. How did it affect him and how do today’s productions differ?

"It was a lot of work those days to create music with a sampler. Later I got really into hard-disc recording and soft synths; I was basically waiting for the software to break down. After, I tried to influence the breakdown and record what was coming out while the computer created error after error, I recorded onto a minidisc. So I come from a more experimental approach.”

“As a DJ I use vinyl only, when I do a DJ-and-live combination I use Ableton Live along with vinyl. I think everybody should find a way that is suitable for them. In my studio I use field recordings, synthesizers and drum machines. I always ensure I have my recorder with me when I’m travelling.”

While he may have a clear and direct approach for creating his own sound, is a different approach needed for his remix work?

“Well my approach is always different, it really depends on the source material. Basically I’m looking for sounds first, sounds that have something to tell, sounds that create an atmosphere that I can work with. Normally I start from there. So far I’ve done remixes for Depeche Mode, Animal Collective, Bloc Party, The Long Blondes, Phantom/Ghost and a few others.”

Aside from his remix work, Hendrik is putting the finishing touches to his new album, due for release in February next year. “I’m preparing a new live set just for it and I’m also working on a dance theatre project for 2010.”