Roland Appel: Solo Soldier

Starting out as one of the secret hits of the 2007 Miami Winter Conference, Roland Appel’s Dark Soldier found its way into the sets of the likes of Laurent Garnier, Pete Tong, Tiefschwarz and Gilles Peterson soon after; its distinctive merging of dark, string-filled atmospherics and choral-like vocals helping it become an underground smash last summer.

This month sees the Munich-born producer release his debut solo album Talk To Your Angel. Previously a member of Fauna Flash, Voom:Voom and The Trüby Trio, his love affair with music began in his record-buying youth. “The starting point to everything was my record collection,” admits Appel. “When acid jazz and rare groove became popular I got the opportunity to DJ in my local community, as that was the sort of music I played. I was in different bands as a drummer and involved in various other music projects. All these things led me to start producing.” He began his recording career alongside fellow drummer and engineer, Christian Prommer.

“We were childhood friends and began Fauna Flash because we didn’t want just play drums in different bands but actually make our own music. As drummers, drum 'n’ bass seemed the most interesting sound for us at that time, probably because of its beats. However, we were also keen to embrace other styles.”

This led the duo to join Rainer Trüby and become The Truby Trio: “I knew Rainer as a fellow record-collector and he was also a long-time friend. With Fauna Flash we worked purely on drum 'n’ bass music but Christian and I were keen to work on more jazzy stuff as well.”

Roland later formed one-third of the house and techno-orientated Voom:Voom, again with Christian but also Peter Kruder of famed Austrian production-duo, Kruder & Dorfmeister: “We pooled equipment and ideas. I’ve always loved techno and house and it was great fun to create this sort of music in the studio with my friends.”

After producing for so many years with others, he eventually decided to strike out on his own and the end result was Dark Soldier, an unusual, epic slice of gothic-tinged deep house. “It was different from other music that was out at that time which probably helped it get noticed," he says. “I didn’t write the tune for a specific scene, I just wanted to write a song - it wasn’t techno, house or minimal and think that’s why it crossed over."

Its success has paved the way nicely for Talk To Your Angel, an album that retains the mysterious ambience of Dark Soldier and sees Appel retain the talents of singer Araba Walton. “I wanted to write real songs and to combine them with electronic music, rather than producing tracks purely for the dancefloor,” says Roland. “My solo work is far more personal than what’s gone before; I’m the only one who is responsible for the music… after 15 years of teamwork it’s a new feeling for me and I’m enjoying it a lot."

Araba is actually Roland's wife's sister, so his connection with her perhaps goes deeper than just an ordinary collaboration. “I’ve wanted to work with her for a long time but I’ve never had the chance. It was clear that she should be the voice for this project; I love the way she sings, she definitely has her own style – I think it falls somewhere between soul and new wave which makes it really interesting for me.”

In support of its release, Appel will be touring the new album as a DJ but there’s no immediate plans to take it out live - already he is working on new material as well as remixes for the likes of Two Banks of Four, Fredo Viola and Yellow Sox. With his new-found solo career making steady headway, Roland shows no sign of resting on any laurels yet.