Ralph Kyau and Steven Moebius Albert are known to the EDM world as Kyau & Albert – possibly one of the most original DJ/Producer duos in the modern day Electronic Dance Music circuit. The two Germans have produced such massive club hits like "Made Of Sun", "Velvet Morning", "Walk Down", "Kiksu", “Are You Fine?”, “Always A Fool”, “Megashira”, “I Love You”, “A Nigth Like This” and “Another Time”. One little known K&A fact: all male vocals come from Steven Moebius Albert himself! In 1997 Kyau & Albert founded their record label Euphonic. With world exclusive artists like Ronski Speed, Stoneface & Terminal, Marc Marberg, Cressida, Sebastian Sand and Mirco de Govia, the label is one of the top brands in dance industry today.
Nights Awake is Kyau & Albert's third studio album and was released in spring 2013. Utilizing their skills as songwriters Ralph Kyau and Steven M. Albert have crafted a timeless album that fans of electronic music, no matter their genre of choice, will absolutely fall in love with. Many insiders are calling Nights Awake their best work to date. On 07. March 2014 Euphonic released the album Nights Awake – Remixes. Great talents from around the world took the challenge to translate into their own unique sound tracks from the album. Fantastic new interpretations are included ranging from deep house to progressive and electro house to big room epic trance. Shato & Paul, Andrew Rayel, Joseph Areas, Ronski Speed, Steve Brian and many more did their best to bring a whole new meaning to the awesome originals.
What is more Kyau & Albert are super busy touring the world and meeting fans on various cities all over the planet performing dynamic dj sets that make the world go crazy. Also every month they produce the magnificent Euphonic Sessions radio show that includes only the very best in electronic dance music. Their radio show " is syndictaed on 24 FM stations around the globe and has now over 27.000 podcast subscribers on iTunes. It is streamed on 1mix radio amongst many other stations worldwide. Finally they performed on Armin’s van Buuren event ASOT650 in Utrecht with big success and they were invited to compile and mix one of the four CD’s of the official compilation for the event.
Certainly is very productive period for them and it seems the perfect time to request an interview with them that I’m very glad that finally accept it and you can read it straight away. Enjoy their answers.
Interview was written and conducted by Dimitri Kechagias, Music Journalist, Radio / DJ
Dimitri: First of all I would love to congratulate you for the album Nights Awake that included fantastic tracks. It would be super cool if you can explain us why you named the album Nights Awake and if there were other possible titles as well.
Steven Albert: We named the album “Nights Awake”, because our lifestyle is being nights awake!
Ralph Kyau: Of course we had more names, but we keep them secret as we are already working on the next album and maybe one of the names will be used for the new album.
Dimitri: Would you like to recall some of the best moments/incidents that happened to you through the recording process of the album that you would like to share with our readers?
Ralph Kyau: Best moment was when we the album was finished and made the master for the CD pressing plant.
Dimitri: Do you consider Nights Awake as an easy to accomplish album that creativity was flowing uninterruptedly or you pass through some tough moments during the recording of it?
Steven Albert: It took a long time to make it, but we had experience as it's our 3rd studio album. In total we made almost 40 demos for the album and then selected the best ideas.
Dimitri: For the technology freaks out there would you like to describe the equipment and software that you use to produce Nights Awake and if there is certain software that you really adore to use?
Ralph Kyau: We use Cubase on PC and too many synths to pick out one particular.
Dimitri: On your album you have some very cool collaborations with other artists. Would you like to tell us the process of producing them? Did you actually met with Stoneface & Terminal or Ronski Speed in the studio or you work through internet by sending files back & forth?
Steven Albert: As all guys also live in Germany, we met a few times in the studio. Additionally we sent parts via Email back & forth.
Dimitri: Is there something new that you learn as artists from the recording of this album that you didn’t know or you were not aware of?
Ralph Kyau: No. Not really.
Dimitri: In 2014 you release the remixes for your album. Was easy to select the remixers for your tracks and what kind of criteria you had in your mind while you selected them?
Steven Albert: The biggest problem was that the majority of the remixers couldn't hold our original deadlines, so we had to push the release date a few times.
Ralph Kyau: Main criteria in the selection was that we like their sound and could imagine that sound will work for the track to remix.
Dimitri: Are there any remixes that you received and were not good enough to release them officially?
Ralph Kyau: Yes, but wont tell names here.
Dimitri: It would be superb if you can give us a short comment about each remix or remixer on your album.
Kyau & Albert:
1.The One (Pingpong Remix) Kyau & Albert
This boy/girl deephouse band found the right sound.
2.Euphonia (Shato & Paul Rockseek Remix) [feat. Ronski Speed]
Nice remix from these 2 Czech deejays
3.Another Time (Airsoul Remix)
Very melodic work from this Russian talent
4.All Your Colours (Andrew Rayel Remix)
We play this remix in every set. People love the energy.
5.Do You Still Know (Joseph Areas Dirty Rock Mix)
This track was so hard to remix and Joseph from Miami made a perfect job! Playing this remix very often in our sets.
6.At Any Time (Togglehead Remix)
Great electro house remix for the bigroom deejays.
7.A Night Like This (Ronski Speed Remix)
Cool and modern remix by Ronski.
8.What Lovers Only Know (Steve Brian Remix)
Killer remix of Steve Brian. True masterpiece. We also love this 80's riff! In every set right now.
9.Could You Fall (Lock & Load Remix) [feat. Adaja Black]
Interesting Progressive house interpretation from these young Canadians.
10.This Love (LTN Remix)
We know Louis Tan from Indonesia already a few years. He did an awsome job here!
11.What Will Go (Jaco Remix)
Norwegian Jaco made a cool remix, which got heavy support from various deejay.
12.Nightingale (Club Rework)
Our own production rework to suit into our DJ sets.
13.We Own the Night (Mino Safy Remix) [feat. Stoneface & Terminal]
Mino Safy from Algeria is a hot newcomer who was winning the remix competition for 'We Own the Night' and for sure with his fat productions this guy will have a great future.
14.Encounter (Arisen Flame Remix)
The Polish Trance wizzard delivered an energetic monster. Playing it in every set right now.
Dimitri: We all wonder what is coming next after this remix project. Is there a new album in the pipeline?
Ralph Kyau: Very next is a new Kyau & Albert single including a video clip called “Are You One Of Us?”. Also working on our 4th sudio album. We hope to finish it later this year.
Dimitri: Your monthly radio show Euphonic Sessions is going from strength to strength with eclectic high class choices. Is it possible to take us through the preparation of the show. How long it takes to select the music and then to record it? Do you record it in one take or you go for several takes?
Steven Albert: We listen to hundreds of promos every month. Our personal favourites come into the show.
Ralph Kyau: Yes, we record the show in several takes.
Dimitri: What is your opinion about the big achievement of Armin van Buuren to reach 650 episodes of his radio show and what is most important to manage to a sold out an event in such a huge venue?
Ralph Kyau: Massive story about his super successful event and the ASOT radio show is already exsisting so many years now.
Dimitri: How was your DJ set at ASOT650 Utrecht? Did you have a great time?
Steven Albert: It was a great honor for us to play there. Great venue and setup. Wonderful vibe. For sure something to remember.
Dimitri: You did the mix for 1 of the CDs included on the official ASOT650 New Horizons compilation. Did you enjoy producing it and what was the idea behind your mix?
Ralph Kyau: We were surprised and also happy that Armin has chosen us to compile and mix one of the CDs. We invested a lot of time into the track selection.
Steven Albert: Already got a great response on that CD from so many people.
Dimitri: ASOT Utrecht managed to bring people together from all around the globe and more than 35.000 trance lovers. Do you believe that this is a sign that trance music is definitely back for good?
Ralph Kyau: Trance has many true fans all over the world. Not sure if it's getting bigger in the next time, but the scene is still strong and this is great. We see the strength of the scene every weekend in so many countries. It's wonderful to be part of this scene.
Dimitri: Are there any future gigs that you are looking forward to perform and have big fun with your followers?
Ralph Kyau: We have fun on every gig.
Steven Albert: For example our next destination is Cologne in our home country Germany, followed by a big show with Paul van Dyk in Czech Republic and then tours in the USA, Brazil, Indonesia and India.
Dimitri: Thanks so much for this great interview
Thanks so much to Susann at the Euphonic press office for her support to organise this very informative interview.
Thanks to Paul Aldridge for publishing the interview at 1mix radio web site.
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