SHA Podcast & Interview // NSFW

We continue our trend of giving you the lowdown on the new talent of the World, only a week after we caught up with Bedrock’s young prodigy Ritchie G we today present an interview and excellent disco house mix from Sander Kleinenberg and This Is Recordings own boy wonder, NSFW. SHA’s Craig ask’s the questions…

NSFW

Hello Alexander van Cappellen aka NSFW and welcome to SHA. How are you today?
Hi I’m very good, thanks for having me.

First up, can you tell us about your artist name? NSFW is a common abbreviation for Not Suitable For Work an internet expression for links to watch out for when on work and public computers. Why did you adopt this name?
I thought it was a cool name since it’s modern and also carries some tension – I wonder if there are a lot of pervs listening to my music.

You are currently based in Amsterdam, did you have much of a musical upbringing and did you always want to be involved with music?
My parents used to listen to a bit of music when I was a child, but I think it was when I was around 12 when I got into electronic music, thanks to songs like Mirwais – Naïve Song. From then on I started listening to the typical artists like Depeche Mode and Daft Punk and started playing around in Ableton when I was 16.

Your debut production ‘Coconut’ was released on This Is Recordings in 2011. How did the link up with Sander Kleinenberg’s label first come about?
I’ve known THIS IS’ A&R Jordi Kramp for some time, we initially “met” thanks to the Redondo boys, but we only spoke through chat – one day I sent him Coconut and he and Sander Kleinenberg liked it so much, they wanted to sign it.

Sander has been one of the very first influences since I got into electronic music, so releasing on his label is quite an honour. The This Is crew have been of incredible help since my debut release, so here’s a big thank you to them.

Your music definitely has a house and disco vibe running through it. This is evident in your remix of Kolombo & Oliver Klein’s new single ‘Espionnage’, which has a distinct Donna Summer feel. What artists inspire you when working on a new production or remix?
Any artist or track out there that gets my attention in a positive way inspires me, for example when I made the Faithless rework I was listening to a lot of tracks by Maya Jane Coles, which were a like a fresh breeze for me since most music in that genre sounded the same . At the moment I’m really into the more trippy kinda sound that i.e. Hot Creations so well represents, but it all changes from time to time and that’s what keeps the creative juices flowing for me.

Your next release on the label will be the track ‘Let U Go’. Tell us a bit about the track and the story behind it?
Before I made Let U Go I was listening to a lot of tracks by Giorgio Moroder and 110 BPM-ish tracks by Daft Punk. You know, the more sensual, slow kind of tracks.. so those really inspired me to make a really nice and slow groover, yet keeping that 80’s atmosphere. THIS IS loved it too and Kraver supplied a more upbeat remix – I’m really happy with the overall package.

You have remixed Faithless track One Step Too Far which is available to download for free on your soundcloud page. Which artists would you love to work with given the opportunity?
The’re a lot to choose from since there’s so much talent around, but if I had to pick a few I’d say artists like Kolombo, Danny Daze, Perseus..all artists that have this really distinct, original sound, really refreshing and inspiring to listen to.

Aside from receiving support from Sander and the This Is artists you can rank Aeroplane and The Magician amongst your admirers. How does it feel to have such heavyweights behind your music?
Feels great; I’m really glad these guys dig my music and share it with the people they’re playing it for. Also, it’s a sort of validation confirming you’re doing something right with the music you’re making.

As a dj you have been featuring at This Is events in the Netherlands and beyond. What has been the highlights of your dj career and where would you love to play in the future?
Opening for Sander Kleinenberg was definitely an experience I look back on with a smile on my face. I’d really like to play an outdoor festival since it fits the music I play, though I think you can create a cool party anywhere as long as the ingredients are right.

Finally, aside from the new single, what else can we expect to see from you in 2012?
I’ve got quite some remixes lined up, as well as some new collaborations. Besides that there’ll be more originals, and I hope to play more gigs in The Netherlands as well as outside Dutch borders!

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