How did you start?
Rather natural. listening through my mothers record collection and trying to find music that resonates with me. The same process you go through in a record store. Then shitty music programs that could barely make a sound but experiment with programming beats. The switch to start buying records and practicing to DJ. Then the first MPC 2000XL which opened doors through sampling. I took some piano and drums lessons and also have a degree in audio engineering. But most things I’ve learned through my quest of listening to hundred of thousands of records and seeing bands.
Where are you based?
I am based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Please give an example of your music creative process?
Very often it starts with a sample. Sometimes a remix. And then I layer , beats, claps, loops. I frequently work with different musicians and let them add what they come up with. I go through it and keep what I like and delete what doesn’t fit. I usually have a vision of where I am aiming at but it’s often difficult to get there for me. I also work with singers and sometimes I write the lyrics too. I wrote Moonchild and Human Being.
What are you working on right now?
I always work on multiple projects at the same time. About to finish an EP for lumberjacks called Brown Curls that has been in the making for much too long. I have a lot of versions of the track but I ve never been happy. But I think I am almost there now. I have a couple of things that rather funk based and a couple of things that are rather house based. I hope to release two more EP’s this year.
Obviously my labels are a whole other beast. LUMBERJACKS has about 6-7 releases planned for the rest of the year ( probably some will come early 2018) and INTIMATE FRIENDS another 3.
What is your gear setup?
Right now I am heavily Laptop based as I moved two time sin the last six months and a lot of stuff is in storage. I have some bits and pieces but also rely on the sound the musicians bring I work with.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
I run, Yoga, currently I really enjoy reading the newspaper. But most things are connected to music in one way or another, so it’s hard to name things outside of music.
How would you describe your music genre?
soulful music.
Do you know any music theory?
I know some but not enough.
What are your plans for the future?
Keep on doing what I do. Work hard in the studio, as a DJ and with the labels. Evolve in all these aspects.
How did you get into music?
I answered that above.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids – We Be All Africans
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Theo Parrish
James Brown
Moodymann
Q-Tip
it’s even hard to name a fifth. if you say top influences. it makes it very universal. but of course there are tons of people like
Questlove, Dilla, Peven Everett, Osunlade, Rahaan, on you focus and each of them and study them and then you move on and
take with you whatever lesson it is you were able to learn from them. it’s an endless list really.
When are you playing next?
I am playing almost every weekend. This weekend I ‘ll be in Rotterdam and Nomads festival in Amsterdam.
https://soundcloud.com/marcelvogel
https://www.facebook.com/Lumberjacks.in.Hell/
https://www.facebook.com/DJMarcelVogel/