You all know these mornings when you walk out of the club of your choice. You had a great night, the music was sweet like a strawberry margarita and moving like a train. Partly this, partly that.
But now on your way home it feels more like aboard a ship. Reason might be you're pretty drunk or similar. Next to you: your best friend. Undoubtly the perfect moment to come up with some wicked ideas. A bit tired, in an excellent mood and still thrilled by that last track.
Given the background that both of you guys are producing electronic music yourself, mostly together, you start to think about names for your project. What's a decent alias for a pair of Berlin youngsters who create an extraordinary kind of house music?
You walk the streets of the capitol, pass a restaurant and there it is. It's even written in stone. DÜRERSTUBEN, it says. The name of a restaurant. And you know you found it. That is going to be your name. Why not just take it? Other people "find" bicycles on their way home, you found your new alias. Like this or pretty similar is how Dürerstuben came to their name.
But this is not the only interesting story about the duo. Reason enough to welcome one half of Dürerstuben, Lasse Saamstrøm, for an interview. We're sitting in a café in Berlin Kreuzberg on one of the last sunny days. It's already getting cold in the shade. On the table: hot drinks and an MD recorder.
Propellor: Hi Lasse, I'm glad you could make it. First things first: Who are the people behind Dürerstuben? When did the project start?
Lasse: Dürerstuben, that's Kristian Staifn and me. We started producing music together by the end of 2008, but before that both of us were already creating tracks.
P: Your names, Lasse Saamstrøm and Kristian Staifn both sound a bit odd. I reckon they are not your real names. Could it be that you're playing with words?
L: Yeah, that's right. They are not our real names.
P: So?
L: I'd rather have people find out for themselves. I like that "Ah" moment when someone gets it.
P: Alright. Let's have people solve the secret themselves. Another thing, Lasse: When and where did you guys meet for the first time...are you both from Berlin?
L: Yes, we were both born and raised in the city. Kristian and me met about 3 years ago at a party. I djayed and he performed with his rap combo.
P: So you are both coming from a Hip-Hop background?
L: Yeah, pretty much that. I mean, of course there has always been other music as well, Classic music and Jazz...all kinds of music.
P: And when you guys perform, what equipment do you use?
L: We use a keybord, a midi controller and a laptop of course. For the future we're planning to invite a saxophone player to join us and to record a couple of percussion rhythms ourselves. But for our forthcoming set at Relais Club on October 16th, it's gonna be the first three elements only.
P: When I first listened to your tracks on myspace, it reminded me a bit of Herbert but even more of Herb LF and Westpark Unit. Would you say that your music sounds similar to any of these? Do you have any role models in house music?
L: Na...I wouldn't compare our music to any other. It's different. I mean, there are artists I like. Gorge for example, I really like his tunes. When it comes to electronic music, all that groovy Deep House stuff is what both of us like.
P: You already told me how you came to your alias Dürerstuben. Is there any deeper meaning behind it or did you just like the name?
L: One night we passed by that restaurant, saw the name and thought that it represents - of course in a slightly ironical way - what we try to express with our music: cosiness, comfort and unity. That's why we chose it.
P: I did a little bit of research and read some of the comments in the online guestbook of the restaurant. One person said that she really enjoyed the cosiness of the place at her wedding party and mentioned a DJ Deddy and a lady called Madame Uschi who apparently is the owner of the place. Have you ever been inside the restaurant and had a chat with Madame Uschi?
L: Hehe...no, ehm...yes. I went inside one time, but only to ask someone for a cigarette. Slightly drunk. But none of us has really spent much time in there. It's more the atmosphere we witnessed from outside that we liked. The comfort.
P: Ok, Lasse. Thank you so far. Concluding, I would like to give you a couple of names, always two opposing things. And you choose one of the two...ok?
L: Ready.
P: Early Hour or After Hour?
L: Early Hour
P: Common or 50 cent?
L: Common
P: Train or plane?
L: Train
P: Little money-good party or good money-little party?
L: The first one. For sure.
P: James Bond or Bourne Identity?
L: I prefer the Bourne Identity.
P: Cocoon or Robert Johnson?
L: Robert Johnson. The atmosphere in smaller clubs is just much better.
P: Haute Couture or 2nd Hand?
L: 2nd Hand
P: Coffee or Tea?
L: Tea
P: Live Act or DJ?
L: Live Act
P: Ok, that's it, Lasse. Thanks for coming and good luck with your next gigs. I'll provide a link to your myspace site where one can find more information regarding bookings and gigs and of course more of your music.
Nice interview. Do more about Dürerstuben.
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