Playground magazine

A few months ago, we got an e-mail from someone answering to the name of 30drop, containing only a link to a website where you could hear several cuts of classic and space techno. The website is sober, with a well-designed image and there is no clue about the maker’s identity. But we liked the music, with markedly sci-fi titles, so we asked who it was. Without naming any names, we were given a little information about the project, which made us even more interested. We asked for a mix for this section, but whoever it is explained to us that he isn’t a DJ, and so proposed that we present the live show that he’s been working on for the last few months as a PlayGround exclusive. We agreed and contacted him again to answer our questions, so that we could see whether we could figure out who he is, or at least the reasons for his behaviour. The conversation takes place on G-Chat, where he speaks to us in perfect English, but we don’t know whether it’s just to throw us off the scent, or whether he really is a native English speaker.

There are no clues to your identity on your website or on Soundcloud. We imagine that this is something that you want to keep hidden, is that true?

30drop is a project focused solely on music and its interaction with image, which encloses the overall concept of the project. It is as far as possible from the fuss and personal egos that are unfortunately starting to reign in the world of electronic music, something radically opposed to the underground world in which it was born, and from which a musical movement was created that is basic today in understanding the evolution of music in general.‬ And to make it clear, no one has said that 30drop is a single person.

Could you say a little more about the graphic concept that you are pursuing?

Right now the project only includes music, although it has an important graphic support, as you can see on the website. Now the graphic support is being worked on for each one of the songs, as well as the live performance, that will give it greater significance. Later there will be a third phase when we’ll launch a new way of reaching our followers from 30drop, using new technologies.‬ There are sure to be many phases that will move the project ahead, but for the moment they haven’t even been thought up. What is clear is that 30drop is a constantly evolving project.

‪So I understand that 30drop is clearly focused on the area of the live show. Is that true? Or are you also thinking of presenting the project to a label?‬

‪100% based on songs that are a single unit (for 30drop the concept of the LP, EP, etc. doesn’t make any sense nowadays), and on a live show where we can show both the audio and the video interacting with these songs. Live there will not only be songs that were never created as such, but also in the live show itself songs will be created that will later take the form of individual pieces.

But they’ll never be released?

‪Like I said before, we are working on a new way of getting 30drop’s music to the people. 30drop will never create a recording company— that is already history as far as the project’s vision goes. But the door is never closed to labels that are interested in releasing our music.

Doesn’t that sort of contradict the idea that the recording industry is already history for the project?‬

Maybe, but to tell the truth, 30drop’s musical romanticism still exists and there are such legendary labels that have made so much great history... that you could never turn them down. And don’t ask me which ones.‬ On the other hand, the recording industry isn’t dead, what is dead - what is history - is the industry’s way of thinking. There is a need for thinking minds to create something new!

I see that there is a thoroughly developed concept behind 30drop. Is it the same person, or people who make the music, that handle the graphic images?‬

‪Yes.

Is 30drop your first musical project?

No, it isn’t the first project. There have been phases as a DJ or in experimental and later industrial music production. That is what would be part of 30drop’s background. As well as years on the dance floor, where you are really influenced and you acquire musical baggage that you later apply unconsciously in musical production.

What has led you now to techno in the strictest sense of the word?‬

‪Techno forms a part of 30drop’s DNA. It’s the music that we have danced to the most nights, the music with which we have come to understand the What, How, and Why of electronic music and the musical style that we think has best expressed the underground spirit of music (no offense to the industrial movement that Throbbing Gristle led for decades).‬ Techno producers and DJs like Maurizio, Jeff Mills, Surgeon, Steve Rachmad, Robert Hood, Regis and many others are direct influences for 30drop.‬

You have labelled your music as sci-fi, an element that has always been related to techno. What do you think of the current kosmische revival that is going on in different areas of electronic music? ‬

‪I don’t follow this kosmische revival that you mention. What I do know is that science fiction is a key element in 30drop and that the intention to mix techno with music that could belong to a soundtrack from a sci-fi film is something totally premeditated.‬ Although there is no one better than Jeff Mills and his label Axis to give form to that…

Is there a particular film that you have in mind that would fit in well with 30drop’s music? ‬

Many... from Tarkovski’s legendary “Solaris” or “Stalker” to “Logan’s Run”, “Silent Running”, “Alien”, “Forbidden Planet”...‬ We’ve even played around with putting sound to some sequences of “Brazil”. An interesting experiment. ‬

And will we be able to see the result of these experiments? ‬

‪No. We’ve always dreamed of being able to put sound to a sci-fi film piece...

Does the third phase that you mentioned before enter into your short-term or mid-range plans?

‪We have already started working on it now, and we hope that in September-October we may have a first result.

What platforms will you choose and how will you use them? ‬

The use will be total; that is to say, all of 30drop’s material will be moved from it. I still can’t say much about platforms now, but think of something singular, focused on mobile terminals such as smart phones or tablets.‬ ‪The concept is clear: for 30drop, music is no longer something contained in a physical format, and it becomes something ethereal that can be listened to without taking the format into account. Something that can be listened to from any place at any time. Listened to and seen, because like I told you, it will have an important visual component.‬

‪A visual component that, if I understand correctly, won’t be limited to a live show, but will also be an  at-home experience - whether that be via tablets, smart phones or whatever terminals you see fit, right?‬

‪Yes, exactly. Each song will be made up of an audio part and a visual part, forming a single inseparable piece. That is to say, forget about being able to listen to a 30drop song without watching the video that goes with it, unless you close your eyes ... even though right now you can, because in the first phase it’s the audio that marks the course.

What are the next steps for 30drop? Now that the audio part is fairly well developed, will you focus your efforts on the visual aspect? ‬

‪Without a doubt, we will start working on the visual part and on this new way of showing the final result. And especially we’ll be working on the live show and being able to reach some clubs.‬

So is the live show basically intended for clubs, or can it be performed in other settings, since it also has a visual component? ‬

‪We’ve grown up in clubs, but we think that now there are better places and times for a 30drop live show. But let’s not forget that in the first phase, the live show is only audio, but it also fits into other contexts.