Interviews

Following the release of his 'Melodies & Harmonies EP', German producer Christophe Salin discusses the house music-focused project inspired by self-reflection and his time in Spain. He delves into his musical upbringing near Hamburg, his discovery of house music's positive values, and his journey through studying sound engineering to co-founding Salin Records.

Hey Christophe, How're you today?

I'm doing very well. Thank you very much.

You've just released 'Melodies & Harmonies EP', talk us through the release?

The ideas for the EP came about during the promotion phase for my album. I gave a few interviews and was ‘forced' to reflect on my own work, roots and influences. That was very inspiring. The second source of inspiration was the place I was in at the time. A small coastal town on the Mediterranean in the north of Spain. All the track titles are taken from places that inspired me. ‘Cala Sa Sabolla' is a small secluded bay where I had a yoga session with my wife (Daria Salin). Afterwards, we jumped into the sea. ‘Llane Gran y Petit' is a beach where I spent a lot of time listening to DJ mixes on SoundCloud, which really inspired me. And, ‘El Gato Azul’ is a wonderful restaurant in the old town/village centre where we spent wonderful evenings with great people. The whole EP is dedicated to house music. This music has given me strength and positive energy for many years. My aim was to write tracks that work in the club and above all trigger emotions. That's why I focussed on melodies and harmonies.

Where did you grow up, and how did your environment shape your relationship with music?

I come from a small town in the north of Germany, near Hamburg. My parents always gave me the opportunity to make music. During primary school I had cello lessons, later I learnt to play the guitar and as a young adult, I studied sound engineering at the SAE in Hamburg. My best friend and I discovered house music together back then. The record shops, the clubs - the scene in Hamburg. I was lucky, he was 6 years older and had a driving licence long before me. I went to a house club in Hamburg for the first time when I was 16. That was a great time. French house was at its peak (Daft Punk, Bob Sinclar, Roulé,...), ‘Kings Of Tomorrow’ had released ‘Finally’... On Fridays, we hung out in front of the radio to listen to Boris Dlugosch's latest mix and on Saturdays, we usually went to ‘Rocco’ to buy records. I fell in love with this music back then because I perceived the message as so positive and liberating: Respect, equality and love. I still believe in these values and house music still stands for these values.

When you think back to your earliest projects, what’s something you would do differently now?

I wouldn't do anything differently. There is no release that couldn't have been better. There's always something you would do differently today. But you would only do it differently today because you've gained the experience of releasing a track. That doesn't mean simply releasing everything you produce, but also not being too hesitant. You only get better through experience.

What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned throughout your career?

That the reason for making music should always be the joy of making music, but you constantly forget that because you have to be omnipresent. Key point: marketing, social media.

Who’s been your biggest supporter throughout your career, and what’s their impact been on your success?

My wife Daria, without a doubt. She supports me in achieving my goals and is my biggest critic, in a positive sense. For this question, we need to define success. If success is the number of followers, I'm not very successful. If success means being happy and having found a balance in life (even if this is a constant process), I am successful, and I owe this especially to my wife, who has been working with me to find this balance for over 16 years.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about the music industry that surprised you?

Thousands of songs are released every day, and I don't think anyone can keep track of it all - and yet the scene feels very family-like. I realize that the people I work with appreciate the fact that we've been working together for a long time and are happy to share things that happen in our personal lives, not just business topics. It's not just about the plays and the $.

What’s one of the biggest sacrifices you’ve made to stay committed to your music?

I don't feel like I've sacrificed anything. Let me tell you how I started and how I got to where I am now. I started buying records when I was 14. I made my first beats, mash-ups, etc., when I was 16. I did it with full enthusiasm and conviction. That doesn't mean that everything I produced was good, but it was honest. Then, I studied sound engineering because I wanted to become more professional in my work, which was good but also a first step towards commercialisation. Later (around 2005), I actually produced EDM-influenced tracks and wanted to please labels. When I realised that I had sold myself (which didn't really show financially), I stopped making music, cancelled gigs and left Hamburg. - Shortly afterwards I met Daria and we inspired each other. She started painting, and I felt like making music again, just for myself. Later, we founded Salin Records with the aim of sharing the many positive and magical moments in our lives with others. Today, I have to be careful not to lose sight of this jewel because I feel driven to be ‘professional’ again or to conform to what seems professional to us. I mean professionalism in a business context. When it comes to sound, professionalism is very important to me.

Check out the latest release from Christophe Salin.