Get to know: Reinier Zonneveld

Catching up before his return to Egg LDN, we spoke to Zonneveld to find out more about his live techno tactics.

Reinier Zonneveld’s introduction to music doesn’t fit the typical trope of a producer currently barreling his way into the electronic music realm.

Born in the Netherlands, Zonneveld was immersed in the world of classical music, playing the piano from the tender age of three. Fast forward twenty years, two masters degrees, an unyielding passion for illegal raves and a well-spent study allowance on synthesisers, the young artist decided to follow music production full time.

A debut release on Oliver Koletzki’s Still For Talent led to further releases on Intec, Minus, and Suara, subsequently garnering a reputation as a highly skilled live techno maestro. With a sound incorporating a straight up, high octane debauchery, Zonneveld’s profile has risen dramatically in the last few years. Playing across terrain from Australia, Germany, Spain & more while running his own imprint ‘Filth on Acid’, Zonneveld’s career is well and truly aligned in the right direction.

Catching up before his return to Egg LDN, we spoke to Zonneveld to find out his live techno tactics and the increasing slew of artists pushing the projects and creations behind ‘Filth on Acid’…


What’s your approach to orchestrating live sets? Would you have a different mindset or attitude if you were DJing rather than playing live?

Prior to my gigs every week, I transfer my new ideas, new tracks, new edits etc. to my live set on my MacBook. By doing this every weekend for the past few years, my live-set has been growing in an organic manner and contains a great variety of my own productions. Fortunately, by working with this live set every week I’m extremely familiar with it and most of the time can find what I’m looking for.

During my performances, I combine the tracks and ideas in my live-set together with improvisation and ideas that I get on the spot and play live on my tb303 and machine. Nowadays I often use backing tracks, these are the kick, bass and special sound effects of a track, so I can play the melody and all other elements myself. In this way, I can control and adjust a track for specific for my mood and the crowd's reaction at a certain gig. 

 

Tell us about your label Filth on Acid? What artists have you supported and discovered through the platform?

About a little over a year ago I came up with the idea to launch Filth on Acid to enable me to put out music that I like. I’m really happy with what we’ve accomplished so far with Filth on Acid. The label released music by established artists like Oliver Koletzki, Emmanuel Top, Sharam, Secret Cinema, Coyu, Shall Ocin, Felix Krocher, Citizen Kain, Nakadia, but also some great upcoming names like Mees Salomé, Hidden Empire and Township Rebellion, to name a few. The main focus is to continue in the same manner as we did since the start of the label and keep pushing the music I love. I cannot wait to tell you what is upcoming next.

Next, to releasing music, I've got a residency with Filth on Acid in one of Amsterdam’s best clubs ‘de Marktkantine’. During these events, I play an all night long live set with all my studio gear out there, and in the middle of the set a special, unannounced guest will join me for an hour or two of back-to-back action. Currently, we’re working to organize these kinds of “Filth on Acid” events in other notorious clubs around the world!

You recently played the old classic ‘Insomnia’ by Faithless at Valhalla Festival in Amsterdam, much to the delight and surprise of the crowd. What other classics do you keep up your sleeve for the right moment?

Actually, the classic I played was a remix of me, for which I recreated all parts of the original except for the vocal. I’ve done this for a couple of more classics, but in order to hear them, you’ll need to be there on the dancefloor.

It’s your second time playing at Egg LDN, what’s special to you about London’s dedicated electronic music scene and the people involved?

Every city has its own special vibe which is hard to describe in words, special about London and my debut gig in Egg was how I and the crowd really experienced the story of my live set together from beginning to the end.

What projects have you got in the pipeline for 2018?

I'm looking forward to continuing my heavy touring schedule in 2018 at the best clubs and festivals and inviting some of my favourite producers to release on Filth on Acid, I’m also working on a new album.