Interview with Ultimae Records

Panoramic music for panoramic people
An interview with Sunbeam of the French label Ultimae Records

Interview with: ULTIMAE RECORDS


Date: Aug 15 2006

Vincent Villuis aka Aes Dana

How and when did the Ultimae label start? What’s the goal of the label and what place has it gained in the world of downtempo ambient music?
Ultimae was founded by Vincent Villuis in late 1999 and launched its first release Asura’s album “Code Eternity” in 2000. The aim was to produce artists’ albums and compilations, starting with the Fahrenheit Project series, to distribute other labels releases (since a while they also distribute the releases of the Dutch ambient label Databloem; BS) and to create a portal for ambient lovers and activists. Now six years down the line I think we gave voice to some amazing artists and managed to establish a wide network of Panoramic People, and the magic is that it is ever expanding.

What’s the Fahrenheit Project all about, are there more forthcoming projects or concept samplers?
When Vince and I decided to create the first compilation we had the idea of temperature and soundscapes, that’s where the name Fahrenheit comes from,and it was our first combined project. We had planned a triptych but the demand for more was so high we decided to carry on. There’ll be an end to this collection though. Nova launched a new concept with “Albedo” last year, and Mahiane presented “Oxycanta”. Other projects will surely follow.

What musicians can be found on the label? Can you introduce them a bit and
do they also perform live?

The core of the label are Aes Dana, Solar Fields, Carbon Based Lifeforms,
H.U.V.A. Network, SYNC24, Asura, and artists like Cell, Hol Bauman, Between
Interval, and Scann-tec. And there’s Antonio Testa, with whom Vincent is planning a collaboration.
Aes Dana is mainly Vincent Villuis, with the collaboration of Mahiane and Pascale Auffret. Vincent experiments with deep hypnotic ambient, destructured rhythms and morning trance. Solar Fields is Magnus Birgersson, we first heard his music on MP3.com and felt a strong connection with this guy through sound. We released his first album “Reflective Frequencies” in 2001. His music is powerful, atmospheric, deeply electric, emotional. Magnus introduced us to Daniel Ringström and Johannes Hedberg, aka Carbon Based Lifeforms, with whom he used to perform with as TSR. Their sound really caught us, it’s melodic, pure, it’s got that deep bass line and gentle pads. H.U.V.A. Network is Vincent and Magnus’ joint venture. They compose together whenever they meet and alone in their studio sharing ideas and sounds via the net. SYNC24 is Daniel Ringström’s solo project. They all perform live, often at summer festivals like this year’s Sonica (Italy), Rhakti Dei (Belgium), Sunrise (Great Brittain), …and other parties around the globe.

Can you tell some more about the background of Vincent Vilius, aka Aes Dana?
Vincent has an industrial, coldwave background, and already started making music in various formations when he was 14 years old. In 1995 he met Charles Farewell and they founded Asura. Later Maze joined them, and together they produced an excellent kicky downtempo ambient, mixing ethereal pads with ethnic textures. Vincent started Aes Dana in 2000 after meeting Sunbeam to explore another type of sound.

Aes Dana also successfully collaborated with Solar Fields. Who’s that guy, what’s the magic between those two? Do they collaborate together in the studio, or is this an tape exchange/internet matter?
Aes Dana and Solar Fields met in the summer of 2001 in Lyon when Magnus came to master his first album. It was instant recognition which sparked into creation. They work together whenever they can, e.g when they meet either in Lyon or Göteborg in Sweden, but also when playing abroad, in airports, or via exchange through the internet. “Distances” is the fruit of this collaboration. They put the basis to the album when Vincent stayed a fortnight with Magnus in Göteborg. Back home each of them developed the tracks in their own studio. They explore a different sound from their respective projects, introducing a bit of triphop into the atmospheric float, progressive grooves, and electronica landscapes. A new album is in progress…

Who is Huby Sea, who seems to be of Dutchman?
Correct, Huby is from Maastricht. He’s been living in Lyon for many years and worked with us from the very beginning. He’s been one of the major keys of the Ultimae sound and developed a real feel for ambient along the years and the productions he has been mastering. He currently works for the Lyon Opera House as stage sound manager. He also masters productions for many ambient labels as well as trance and various other labels in different musical styles.

What else is there to tell about Ultimae?
Well, our hobby-horse for the years to come is getting film scores and synchronisation work for the Ultimae artists. We are also working on a new space on the website for all Panoramic People. When they log in they will find screensavers, unreleased tracks, and all sorts of goodies. The Rhône Alpes region we are based in supports the digitalisation of our musical patrimony and we are developing a database for all our regions artists and label to present their work and save it.
Finally, there’s this idea of an ambient festival co-organised by a few event organisers and labels joining forces to present most of the ambient artists and influences from the planet. Will surely be continued…

Website: www.ultimae.com

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