MELONSOUND has met up with the five winners (Tobias Nawrath, Qaoz, Niño Herrero, Kunter:bunt and Object) of the Jay Brooks “ Get Up” remix competition, hosted together with Noiseporn.com earlier this year, in order to give you a bit more insight into the winners and who they really are.
Q: How did you get started in the music business?
Tobias Nawrath: It began in December 2007 when an old friend and I decided to start a DJ career. In the beginning we were the DJ duo called “Electrolyten”. In spring 2008 I also decided not to be active as a DJ only, but also try to be a producer. I made my first steps with the music production software “Reason” by Propellerhead. Some months later I had to buy a midi controller or something similar to this (I always needed knobs and faders as I knew them from my DJ experiences). So, I bought a Novation 25SL MkII Midi-Controller-Keyboard which I’m still using. In addition to this I began to produce with Ableton Live. My favorite music production software today. Always on the try to grow, I had some problems to find my personal style, because I never found a mixture between Electro House, Progressive House and a kind of psychedelic Tech House. Today my focus is on a techy beat with some electro and progressive elements in it.
Qaoz: I started making my own music in FL Studio (in those days “Fruity Loops”) when I was around 11 or 12 years old. Producing quickly became a hobby and then a passion. About 2 or 3 years ago, when I was 14, I started DJing with a friend of mine under the name “Drop Kontrol”.
Nowadays, music almost means everything to me.
Kunter:bunt: I’ve started making music in 2007 when I was visiting some clubs here. Every time I watched them Dj’s how they bangin the crowd and so i decided to start djing. But we all know about the technical details from turntables and a mixer its really expensive, so I worked every school holiday to earn some money and after a year I was able to buy my technics turntables and a little dj-mixer and so I started to educate my skills.
Niño Herrero: I began at 16 years, practicing as a DJ almost daily with a partner at the end of classes at school, then were slowly coming out party, and I meet people who were more entangled in the field, from there onwards everything getting better gradually, more parties have come, I’ve been perfected the sound that I want to propose to the public, and as for getting better production in terms of technique and I’m very happy with the achievements and comments received so far.
Object: If at all anything this would be my start. But as far as making music I have been doing it since I was 12.
Q: What would you like to see more of in the electronic music dance scene?
Tobias Nawrath: I would like to see more creativity and less commerce! Without naming some artist’s names now, the message of music is often a different one for them as it usually should be, you know?
Qaoz: I’d like to see to see more originality at the decks. Most of the club owners in Austria don’t care if their hired deejays have mixing skills or not.
Kunter:bunt: I think Electronic Music is to much commercial now, I would like to see that the electro music have to go back in the underground where it is born and have its home! People like David Guetta, Afrojack choose not the best way for the music but this is just my opinion.
Niño Herrero: As people enjoy the time on the dance floor, the amount of different sounds that can produce and how you carry these, in unimaginable states of total madness!
Object: Peace, Love, Unity, and Respect. You barely see it in the scene anymore.
Q: What do you do to find inspiration for your tracks?
Tobias Nawrath: That depends on various influences. Sometimes I sit in my home recording studio and try a lot of things with notes, samples or other noises. Sometimes I go outside in the city and record sounds to integrate them into my tracks and sometimes my current feelings get reflected in my songs, especially in my progressive tracks.
Qaoz: Every good track I hear is an inspiration, no matter which genre.
Kunter:bunt: Well there’s a lot of inspiration I think. Especially tracks from the 80′s and 90′s are my favourite source to find ideas for new works. But I also listen this new dubstep-hype, a lot of Breakbeat Tracks and alternative Music, every song got some parts innit which give me ideas to create a new work 
!
Niño Herrero: Parties, people dancing, that feeling that just makes you enjoy the moment!.
Object: Through all the music I listen to and my intense background of music period. Being a music major and living around music my whole life has shaped my musical being.
Q: What are your career goals within the electronic music dance scene; where do you see yourself in a couple of years?
Tobias Nawrath: Maybe to play on festival with lot of people who know my music; to get a certain amount of recognition. Also, to get into collaboration with one of the artists mentioned above! Where I see me in a couple of years? Oh I hope still in the music business! I’m studying business informatics at the moment and will go into the private enterprise that’s why I hope to make music still in the future…!!!!!
Qaoz: At daytime, I see myself in the studio making some good house music and in the evening I see myself spinning with friends. As it is now, only bigger. Let’s hope so.
Kunter:bunt: Oh this is a really difficult question. Of course to have some support from big acts or to be in the playlists of some well known artist would be awesome but I think growing up isn’t the reason for making music. I just make my things, my music have to impress my feelings and music is not a way for getting successful, making music is a way of life. So we will see what happen to me and where the music get me in to!
Niño Herrero: Would like to bring my music to different places, people from other cities listen to my proposal, meet different audiences, I think in this way achieved perfect my style and musical approach!
Object: I see myself as a successful producer. I want to gain fame in the scene while at the same time keeping the quality of the music at its peak. You can NEVER forget that with out the music you cant dance or have a scene. Music comes first. Period.
Q: If you had only five minutes back on earth and had to play only one song, what would that track be and why did you choose that track in particular?
Tobias Nawrath: At the moment this song would be “AKA AKA & Thalstroem – Springtide“…Incredible vibes and a great melody! The song pushes me into other levels! Love it! My summer tune in 2011! Hm… If I had ten minutes I would also play „Siwell – Hyperion (Sebastien Leger Remix)“ – Amazing tune! 
Qaoz: I think it probably would be the Nero Remix of “Blinded by the Lights” by The Streets, it’s a masterpiece and the track already has a thoughtful atmosphere.
Kunter:bunt: The Body Snatchers – I Like What I See (Hijack Remix). It was one of my first tracks I bought on Vinyl and its still a killer tune and the people celebrate it!
Niño Herrero: Modeselektor with Happy Birthday, is a track that I enjoy from start to finish, the mood swings makes me feel amazing, I can be sitting quietly and finish dancing like crazy with this track and if I only had 5 minutes on earth, definitely take advantage dancing like crazy to the rhythm of Happy Birthday!
Object: Dash Berlin – Man on the Run. No Doubt about it!
The Jay Brooks “Get Up (Remix EP)” will be available on all major digital download stores including Beatport, iTunes, Juno Download etc. on the 18th of July 2011.
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