10 Questions with Aera

PUBLISHED March 8th, 2017 07:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:55 pm

Ralf Schmidt, also known as Aera and the founder of Aleph Music, was right in the middle of the first waves of house and techno when it swept the suburbs in the early 90’s. Known for his intense and versatile live sets, we are psyched to catch him at his Singapore debut at one of our favourite haunts, Kilo Lounge on Friday, 10 March.

Before his arrival in Singapore, he took some time to answer our questions on his studio setup, his thought process when writing music and his hobbies.

Where were you born and raised?

In a small grey suburb in the northern German hinterland.

Describe your surroundings right now.

Right now I am surrounded by blinking lights, knobs, keys and cables in my studio!

Besides music, what are your biggest interests and hobbies?

I love reading, podcasts, and I try to work out regularly. Otherwise, I like to spend my precious free time doing not much at all. Leisure-time is one of the key-stones of creativity for me.

How would you describe yourself in 5 words?

Five words are not enough.

What is the most important record in your collection?

Always the next one!

What is your studio setup today?

Blinking lights, knobs, keys and cables. I just moved into a new studio-room some months ago, before that I had everything at home. It’s so nice to finally have a space where I can close the door, leave the world behind, and only make music.

Do you produce better in day or night?

It really depends on the task, for mixdowns it’s usually better to start early with a fresh set of ears, but for new ideas it’s better to get in the mood when it’s dark outside and everyone else is sleeping already.

When writing music, do you always start with a specific idea, or do you just experiment until you find something you like?

I usually start with a specific mood, a strong sound or melody, something interesting that holds my attention. Afterwards I try to fill the spaces that surround it. The quicker I get from the first sketch to something resembling a finished track, the better.

If you had to give one tip to an aspiring producer, what would it be?

Don’t listen to tips from random strangers on the internet! Be yourself and do what you love with all your heart. The rest will follow.

What’s next in store for Aera?

Besides a few remixes and edits and playing in amazing places such as Singapore, I have just started to work on my next album.

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To keep updated of Aera’s upcoming gigs and latest releases, follow him here:
Facebook | Soundcloud