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 With a name like Steve Brian you would think it’s an English producer behind the alias, but it is in fact a very talented German by the name of Stefan Brünig. He's pushed out some outstanding records on Lange Recordings since hitting the scene solo and there are plenty more on the way...
The producer behind Steve Brian is far from a new boy on the block. He's already had a successful stint as part of Marksun & Brian, a collaboration with fellow German Markus Pilar. They had a few notable released under the well known Euphonic label and should be ones to treasure, as Steve sates in this interview, it is unlikely we will ever see another track from the pair again. It’s not all bad news though because you’re certainly going to hear more tracks from Steve Brian. After the beautiful ‘La Gomera’ and one of his first for Lange Recordings ‘Starlight’ under his belt already it’s left us itching for more. His gorgeous touch when it comes to putting a melodic trance record together will be put to good use as he plans an album for later this year. We can't wait for that one and as soon as we get a sniff of any details for it we'll be the first ones to let you know. In the meantime we went to find out more about Steve Brian.
i:Vibes: Thanks for taking some time to talk to i:Vibes.nu. You have an English artist name Steve Brian, but are German and known as Stefan Brünig. How did you come up with the name Brian?
Steve: It is simply wordplay without great importance. The name Steve Brian is English and is pronounceable therefore also for everybody. If I used my German name, some problems would have absolutely to pronounce the name.
i:Vibes: You are living in Hildesheim, Germany at the moment. Is that were you also grew up? What was your childhood like?
Steve: Yes. I was born here and still live here. I had connected here a very nice childhood and youth with many great recollections. I also have here a lot of friends and nice friends whom I already know eternity. I like Hildesheim, although it is a small town and one no big choice has what concerns the nightlife. So I travel with pleasure in other countries & towns around to collect inspiration for my productions.
i:Vibes: Hildesheim is not exactly known for as a trance town. What is it like living there and can you get inspired there not being in a big city like Berlin or Frankfurt where there is more of a music and club scene?
Steve: Because it is a provincial town, here one can be relaxing quite well, differently than in cities where extreme traffic and a lot of hectic rush rules. Absolutely Hildesheim is not famously for the trance scene, but here in future I will organise now and again in smaller measures some trance arrangements under my radio show motto "Calera Sessions". There were the first Calera Sessions party already in April in a known club bar called J's and ran really well!
i:Vibes: You had quite a few musical inspirations growing up like Paul van Dyk and ATB, but what made Kyau & Albert so special?
Steve: Paul van Dyk & ATB have brought me to it, in the trance scene to dive in. However, Kyau & Albert have me totally enthusiastically with theirs own and above all new sound. And this motivates one to experiment of course, also with new sounds.
i:Vibes: What was the deciding moment were you knew that you wanted to make music?
Steve: In 1999 / 2000 I became more interested on this music and became more and more curious and had the desire after hearing a lot more of the music. Afterwards I had always put to myself the question as how is this music done.
In 2001 I have already got to know Markus Pilar (also from Hildesheim), a little longer in the trance scene was active. What I have seen with him, that he was working with Steinberg Cubase and started showing me some compositions. it there was with me to no more holds and I tried days & nights with this program. From then on it was clear to me that I cannot stop with it any more.
i:Vibes: The record label of Kyau & Albert Euphonic got your foot into the trance scene. How did this working and friend relationship with the German duo get started?
Steve: Well, it started with tapes and several demos. Good God, we have sent a lot of demos to Euphonic. In 2004 Ralph Kyau announced to himself to us firstly with Markus. It was about "Et Teragiz", which has featured on the positive Ways 3 Compilation. A few months later we have sent "Gran Rey" to Ralph. They found them great and our first double single Gran Rey / Et Teragiz became in the beginning of 2005 with hammer Ronski Speed Remix pressed on vinyl.
i:Vibes: Your first known track was Gran Rey as Marksun & Brian in 2005. How has your sound since then developed?
Steve: In my opinion my sound has totally changed. Particularly as I now solo since only beginning of 2009. I have also noticed that I very much produce slower productions. The 138bpm time is over with me definitively. With 130bpm if I feel substantially finer. Earlier I have never experimented with vocals work, which will change this year. But of course I also produce, with pleasure, Instrumental tracks.
i:Vibes: Marksun & Brian produced a few tracks for the cult German label Euphonic, but were never able to gain stardom like the acts like Ronski Speed, Stoneface & terminal or Mirco De Govia. How tough was producing in their shadow?
Steve: I would say that we have made not enough. During the last years it became to sting more and more difficultly, from the mass. But since I only produce, I'm substantially more active I and produce even more than earlier. So I keep my fingers crossed.
i:Vibes: “Neno Itome” brings back fond memories from the trance scene in 2005. What made this track so unique in your mind in 2005?
Steve: The Main part! The Lead Synth comes from the Access Virus B, where we put on an arpeggiator. This combination has made the unique sound within the track.
i:Vibes: It seemed like you took a short musical rest in 2006-2007. Was there any particular reason for that?
Steve: I also do not know. I had a quite unmotivated phase and during that time the music produced concerned me. It concerned me at the time and also a lot around my education. Well, the time is over thank God and I am present again fully.
i:Vibes: Is Marksun & Brian still together?
Steve: There will not be a production from us both in the near future. Markus has a predilection for Funky House and at the moment that’s the direction he’s looking to produce in. However, if it fits us both again one cooperation will give, then becomes the absolutely not trance or Funky House. Probably something other, what exactly? Now I cannot say. For those trance productions I will be responsible furthermore.
i:Vibes: Since 2009, you are producing as Steve Brian. How would you describe your current sound?
Steve: I would say sometimes, my sound sounds after summer! And exactly this wants, I’m also within my sound reach. There will soon also be an album. This will still sound even more after summer! ;)
i:Vibes: You have done quite a few remixes in the last year. What is the most important thing that a Steve Brian remix needs to have?
Steve: One must recognise anyway my sound again. The original tracks have to go for me and I also need an interesting subject, so that I feel inspired.
i:Vibes: Your remix for “Sahara Nights” from Temple One is very nice. What was the most difficult thing that you had to do to get this remix perfect?
Steve: Well, actually, it has functioned with the Sahara Nights Remix really well. It gave no difficult places. I say sometimes in such a way, if I get a good original with a great melody, then I never have actually problems with the remix ;)
i:Vibes: “Starlight” is also a beautiful track. How important is the combination of a beautiful melody and a breathtaking atmosphere in your tracks?
Steve: Atmospheric pads infers with a nice melody is incredibly importantly for me! You will ascertain this also with my coming album. Of course the groove must be also right. But, nevertheless, nothing goes about one perfect melody in a track.
i:Vibes: How did it feel having a second record of the week for TATW six years later with “La Gomera?
Steve: Very much very cool! It is just a great feeling, if one with such titles for his Work is recompensed. This motivates of course to become even better and produce better records!
i:Vibes: What was your inspiration behind “La Gomera”?
Steve: As the name says. La Gomera is a small island of the Canary Islands, where I was this year meanwhile to the fifth one sometimes. For me one of the biggest ones the inspirations which produce I to collects. The place Valle Gran Rey on La Gomera is dreamlike. Not comparably with a normal vacation in one State kind All-Inclusive Hotel at a touristic in character place. The atmosphere there, the nice Spaniards (and amusing hippies), tasty food, the very tasty ones Juices and a lot more.
i:Vibes: “Fire Sign” featuring David Berkeley is an amazing track. Is it more difficult for you to make vocal tracks then instrumental tracks?
Steve: No, completely and not at all. With David Berkeley''s voice it has been incredibly fun to produce.. I love his voice. How he has sung Fire Sign it is just fantastic. David with trance ordinarily has nothing to do. From there if I found especially interesting to produce from it a trance bomb.
i:Vibes: You remixed “Evolution 2” from Mirco de Govia in 2008. Mirco may be one of the most underrated trance producers in the world. How has he inspired you as a producer?
Steve: Definitively with his melodies. What concerns this, he has it really on it. Epic monolith is my absolute favourite of him! Also even today I hear the record it fills me very much pleasure.
i:Vibes: What releases can we await from you in the future?
Steve: Oh, there thus something arises in the next time ;) Of course "Fire Sign" soon becomes released on Enhanced Recordings. I don't know the exact release date. The number becomes hot! ;) Then my first album + a single expected comes in June on Euphonic what I am especially delighted about. It becomes a really great summer album which I’ve worked on since February 2009. Approx. in August still appears my third single on Lange Recordings, what this time a double single becomes. So are curious! ;)
i:Vibes: You are also a DJ. What can we await from a 3 hour Steve Brian DJ set?
Steve: It depends with me probably always on it where I play. Whether it is a club bar, OpenAir or in a club. In a club bar / lounge I play always with pleasure more smoothly and more laxly. Best of all one is able to do it with the topical one Anjunadeep sound compare. I like this direction very much. But in clubs or at festivals it must be energetic for me. It must be danceable. Great trance tunes.
i:Vibes: What was your most crazy DJ experience?
Steve: With us in Hanover there was every year in summer the Reincarnation Parade. In 2005 Markus and I have made the after hour in the club of "Factory" (our old Resident club) after the parade. Directly after Dr. Motte at 4 o'clock in the morning we have started. The celebration mood was big and the people have for hours danced to our sound. Occasionally quite a sloping type came to the club.
He was dressed completely green (as Elf) would I sometimes say ;-) and had one Flute with himself. Well, then he has suddenly started to play with his flute to our sound. This was amusing quite funnily, however, also odd! Now, hours passed; sometime it was already 11 o'clock in the morning and now we already played 7 hours. However, the people remained. I had of the more often with hang up a micro sleep. Thank God I have not played alone, but with Markus together. Well, however, to good one last it became 14 o'clock of midday, until last (and it was actually, still many people in the club) people besought became so slow to go. We have played 10 hours in the piece. At the time still with vinyl and have during the last hours only the B sides played because we had played all records by then ;-). However, the evening had also set off very strenuous but also gorgeous!
i:Vibes: When will you DJ in the Technoclub in Frankfurt?
Steve: Well, this I cannot say you. I would become very much with pleasure to plays ometime in Technoclub in Frankfurt.
i:Vibes: If you could be locked in the studio with an artist for 24 hours who would you chose?
Steve: Quite clearly with Kyau & Albert.
(although Chicane would already be an interesting candidate)
i:Vibes: What is your impression of the current German trance scene?
Steve: The German trance scene – I would say sometimes, that to myself the scene here in Germany just recovers. Of the name trance became by the media here quite by the mud pulled. Then in the end of 2003 was the first end and nobody more what wanted to know about it. It needs just his time, till the trance in Germany gain a foothold. But by some regular events here it is founded slowly again on. Quite clearly, the Euphonic & Friends party with Above & Beyond this May (or the Euphonic Nights). Or the "Trance Only" events in Saxony-Anhalt. Not to forget the “Heavens Gate” parties of Alex Morph & Woody van Eyden. The Technoclub events with Talla. And there are still some which has not enumerated now. I am curious as it will develop!
i:Vibes: What are your five alltime favourite tracks?
Steve: Chicane - Saltwater
Marc Marberg with Kyau & Albert – Megashira
Dogzilla – Without You
Coast 2 Coast - Home
York – On the Beach
i:Vibes: What are your hobbies?
Steve: - jogging
- travel
- soak up the sun
i:Vibes: If you had to play one last track in your last DJ set what would you play?
Steve: Young Parisians – Jump the next Train (Kyau & Albert Remix)
i:Vibes: Thanks Steve for the chat! All the best in the future!
Steve: Thank you, the same to you!
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