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Activated's Interview With Commander Tom If you are into trance, you have more than likely heard Commander Tom's stuff before. Hailing from Germany, the 34 year old runs the labels Noom, Noom UK, Deluxe UK and Deluxe Germany, and has released tracks on lables such as: Prolekult, Important, Le Petite Prince, Low Spirit, D Construction, Plastic City and more. He also has over 100 remixes to his credit. Bliss conducted this interview via the fax machine. Please tell us a little about the man behind Commander Tom. What were you doing before you got into this techno business, and what events led up to you getting into it? Commander: It was about '90, '91 when I heard about "techno" when we first hit nightclubs in Frankfurt (Dorian Gray, and The Omen). Dj Dag and Sven Vath played as resident Djs at those clubs. There was music from outta space and we almost never came home before noon. That was a strange new thang to all of us...and so we got infected. How long have you been Dj'ing? How long have you been producing? What do you like/dislike the most about each? Commander: I'm Djing (into) the 17th year now, and started producing after about 7 years playing other people's shit. In the life before techno Iused to play and produce strictly rap, hip-hop and shit like that. I think I still like it... You produce under different names (Commander Tom, Nexus 6, Tom Deluxe, Mandala, etc.)..Why do you do that? A lot of producers use different project names when working with different people or when they are trying to make different types of music. Is this why? Commander: To use different project names has a couple of different reasons. The first of all, and this i think is the main reason and is simple: would you release about 30 to 40 tracks a year under just one name?? The second reason is of course the constallation of the project. Different partners or friends which worked with me on these tracks. So, you joined Noom with Noom 005 "High Noom". How did you go from just being an artist on the label to actually running it? Commander: Wrong info my friend! I used to run the label Noom as one of the founders and A & R manager from almost the beginning. Mandala and Nexus 6 were just my first appearances on my own label, that's all... Ahh...I remembered that's the way it sounded on your bio sheet. People have labeled Noom with a particular sound that is unlike any other. Please, describe "Noomsound". Commander: Oh yes, I hear that very often. Everybody's always talking about the "Noomsound". Even me, that's really funny. I don't have a clue who first said it and why, cause believe me or not- the artists and the tracks I sign and release on Noom or Noom UK (which sounds completely different) doesn't have to sound like maybe the last 10 releases or even like my own ones. Hahaha...no way!! I listen to a track and it makes a klick or not...the klick in my head counts, nothing else. Any special upcoming projects? Commander: Yes, the end of '97 will be the year of the albums on Noom. After nearly 4 years I think it'll be time for the regular artists like maybe Nuclear Hyde, Cores and for sure myself expressing themselves in the form of an album. I just finished the "C.T. In the Mix" album this week, which contains The Advent, Luke Slater and much more real progressive labels and artists this time. Be prepared!! I've seen the partial list of places you've gotten the chance to Dj at (Energy, Universal Tribal Gathering, Love Parade, etc.). Pretty impressive. Which of these did you like/dislike the most and why? Commander: Oh, hard to say. I had very nice times and good vibrations in South Africa; I had bad experiences and killing vibrations in South Africa too.. So it doesn't matter where you travel or what you expect from a coun00tr00y far away from home... Shit happens everywhere, in Australia or 10 miles from home. I should say I loved so many beautiful places on Earth to travel them; but the dark side is, I go to these places to work and that can change everything. If i get home from a Russian trip where I enjoyed the wonderful country but the rave i was supposed to play was shut down by the police. No fun, no fee... After all that this trip doesn't get stored as a good trip in my memories.. Got me? Yeah, I can relate there... Explain to us non-travelling folks in the states what our country's rave scene is like in comparison to other countries around the world. Commander: I didn't play enough times and places in the USA to give you an objective statement to that. All i know is that America is coming out strong, and if this techno-train runs through your country, be sure I'm gonna sit on the first wagon! How do your records usually do over here in the USA? What places are buying the most? Commander: Ask the hard working Undercover Music Group/Intergroove team in New York! It's their fantastic job spreading my products all over America. I'm very proud of them, really! * What artists or Djs have influenced you or gained your respect along the way? Oh, who influenced me? Not a lot, but the ones that did...DID a lot! Good friends are first of all: Ciso and Collin (The Advent). Repect to them. Two Djs are on the circuit which i call anyone that, is Sven Vath and my very best friend: the main man Carl Cox! I think he's on top these days and he deserves it. There's really no other Dj who rocks me the way he does!!! Thanx for the interview! PARTIAL DISCOGRAPHY: NOOM 005 Mandala- High Noom EP 12"/CD Activated Online. |
