10 Questions with Swedish DJ and Producer, Christian Smith
PUBLISHED July 28th, 2018 08:40 pm | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 04:54 pm
Describe your surroundings right now.
I am in Mallorca, Spain. I am very lucky, as my house is only five minutes to a nice beach. I find that living on an island gives me a better balance with my hectic travel schedule.
Do you remember the track that made you fall in love with techno music?
Yes, I do! D-Shake ‘Techno-Techno’ and N-Joi ‘Adrenalin’. These two made me move from being a house lover to a techno one! Of course, I liked a lot of other techno tracks too, but those were more house-like, so I think they resonated with me initially. Derrick May’s ‘Strings Of Life’ or Joey Beltran ‘Energy Flash’ were also hugely inspiring.
You just completed your Asia tour, how did you find the techno scene here?
The scene for underground techno is still very small in Asia, but it’s growing. I always enjoy going to Asia because even though the parties are smaller than in Europe or South America, the people are very appreciative that I take the time to tour in Asia. I also love Asia as a continent. It’s great place to go for sight-seeing, amazing food and meet such friendly people. I think a lot of DJs who play in Asia all say the same when they get back from a tour.
Your latest release was ‘Synergy’ (Remixed) which featured a selection of new and established artists both new and repeat names on Tronic – what made you decide to release a remix pack for this project?
This was a release which I loved making in the first place; it was a package with a selection of collaboration only tracks which I made all over the world in different studios. So it has a lot of stories behind it. With a remix pack, it’s always nice to be able to get different interpretations from artists you respect, from your original productions. In the case of this release, I think the balance was good, as we had some really cool new names appearing on the label, bringing a new sound to Tronic.
What’s the special track you often end up playing to close a set?
Maceo Plex – ‘Solar Detroit’
Tell us one thing people don’t know about you.Â
I used to be an investment banker doing corporate finance, before becoming a full time DJ and producer. Thank god my career in finance only lasted 2 years.
How do you stay sane on tour?
I stayed hydrated and speak to my family on a daily basis. My father was a pilot when I was a kid, and he only called once a week when he was on long trips because international phone calls were very costly back then.
But now thanks to the internet and all these amazing video call apps, I can speak and actually see my family every day.
What do you do in your spare time, away from music?
I like to go the beach, swim, and drink wine! I also love BBQs.
Who is an artist that you would want to work with, and why?
Grace Jones, because I love her voice and to me, she is the original diva.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve given or been given when it comes to music?
No one cares as much about your career as you do!
To stay updated of Christian Smith‘s upcoming gigs and latest news, follow him on SoundCloud, Resident Advisor and Facebook.
