This was the question Radio 1's 'One World' Show were asking 3 years ago and the answer was the same then as it is today, there is a wealth of exciting music coming out of the city. Alexander Hirchinhauser kick started the nu-Viennese music scene when he launched a club night called 'Soul Seduction'. This led to the development of artists such as the duo Kruder and Dorfmeister who have been top DJs/Remixes/Record Bosses for about 10 years.

I want to build bridges with crossovering different kinds of music and cultures

What's coming out of Vienna now? Last year K&D's G-Stone label released The Hunter Files by Rodney Hunter which is the No.1 all time top selling album at Soul Seduction (see below). Another hot DJ/Producer, Stereotyp has released an album with Al'Haca called Phase Three (Klein Records) towards the end of last year and it's the best example of hip hop ragga dancehall euro dark techno dub you are going to find anywhere. Another name that does not like to be pigeon holed is Sascha Weisz aka MEGABLAST. Not only that, he's been very busy of late with 4 releases on 4 different labels.

How excited were you when you got Laurent Garnier's reaction to 'Jubita' (which featurres Marija de Silva on vocals) - "C'est absolument superbe: J'ai adoré. Ça rentre direct en playlist sur pbb, ainsi que dans mes bacs a disques. Bravo, c'est magnifique.")?
Sascha Weisz: I was very happy to hear that. I really like the work he is doing and it shows me that he seems to be very open-minded for any kind of good music.

I've described the A-side as the 'Broken Nu-Soul Sound of Vienna', would you agree?
Yes I agree because I know that people/listeners need categorising music styles. I've heard very often after I released my debut album Creation (Stereo Deluxe, SD 107-2) that people call it "future soul" or "nu-soul”. I work a lot with real "soul" vocalists like ex-Tower Of Power singer Hubert Tubbs or Aminata. Both are for me the greatest singers in town. And we do music with soul and it comes from the soul ya know. I am currently working a lot with Hubert. We became real good friends and I respect him very much. He is a great guy. We did a rock tune together called 'Sunshinebaby' and we're already 6 weeks in the local FM4 radio charts at number 3!!! (See link below to hear a sound clip).

How would you describe your 12" that's just out on One Eye under the name Luv Lite Massive (which features Coalman, 3gga, Aladin Sani and Subrinah)?
The Luv Lite Massive thing happened because I met the Pressure Drop guys and they were interested in this project. Luv Lite Masssive is collaboration between some friends of mine and is influenced by our musical roots. I grew up on one side with hip hop / ragga / dope beats and on the other side with acid house, 80s stuff. That's why I am not scared to crossover all different kinds of styles. I love music too much. But the latest two releases on Pressure Drop's oneeyerecords were definitely very dancehall/ragga influenced.

The Flex club is one of the best Sound Systems in Europe. The whole stage is a big subwoofer and when you are spinnin' in front of it.....your nuts will get a fuckin' massage...hahaha

MEGABLAST's 'Over' (Remix) with the vocals of Cesar (Stereo Deluxe, SD 116-1) included a dark remix by Stereotyp and one by Yam Who. Yam Who is nearly as in demand as Timbaland on the remix field at the moment. How did that deal come about?
Yam Who really liked the track and they really did a great job. The remix files were perfect for them. Cesar's voice is one of the best Vienna had to offer and they really enjoyed doing this mix.

Are you doing any remix works yourself at the moment?
I'm currently working on a remix of Rodney Hunter's 'Find It' featuring Farda P with Marcus Wagner-Lapierre (aka Wagner aka Makossa). I really liked the vocals and we decided to make a kind of dub/breakbeat tune. We just remix stuff we really like; it makes no sense to remix everything.

You collaborated with Wagner on 'Inside' (the B-side of 'UFO in Brazil' by Weisz on Afro Art) and that had a broken reggae African vibe. Reggae/World music seems to be a common influence in the Viennese scene. Is there a particular reason why this is?
I think it has nothing to do with Vienna but if you collect experiences of other cultures and other countries you always will be confronted with a new input. I was always very interested in black music and culture and nearly all of my singers are black.

When I was a kid I liked to play with drums and percussion and most of the samples I use, I play myself. I am a big Afro fan. I like the grooves and I try to make something new with it. I want to build bridges with crossovering different kinds of music and cultures. I think music can be the most spoken language without knowing any regular languages. It's about the deepest emotions.

The WEISZ / WAGNER collaboration is a project that should represent fresh advanced music outta Vienna. I live in Vienna and love this town. It's already my homebase because I used to live in the countryside. I travelled a lot last year. I had a MEGABLAST tour (Mexico, USA, Paris...) and so I collected new inputs, got exchanged with other people ready to bring this gift back home to Vienna and put it into music. That's why we are influenced by world music because we are interested in looking over the borders to get fresh inputs.

Vienna is cool to chill down. It's a slow town. Perfect for couples to hang out in spring time but also great to lock yourself in the studio and create something new as long as you travel a lot.

Any festival/event in Vienna for 2005 to look forward to?
There is always something happening in Austria but I am not informed yet. I always get a phone call from friends if something special is happening.

What Club would recommend a visitor to go to in Vienna?
Vienna's best club and Sound System? Definitely Flex! Monday night at the legendary dub club. The Flex club is one of the best Sound Systems in Europe. The whole stage is a big subwoofer and when you are spinnin' in front of it.....your nuts will get a fuckin' massage...hahaha

Well that should get you checking the price of flights. Clearly there's more happening in Vienna than you would think!

For sound clips, click on the links to Soul Seduction below. Don't forget, Richard Dorfmeister himself originally recommended 'UFO in Brazil' to Mr. Afro Art! It has resurfaced recently on 12” and is featured on the must have CD Compilation, 'This Is Afro Art'. 'Jubita' is currently available in the UK from Selectadisc (Berwick St, London & Market Street, Nottingham) and all other good record shops. It's as good on the inside as it is on the cover.

Links:
Sascha's new website

www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/urban/oneworld/vienna1.shtml
www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/urban/oneworld/vienna2.shtml
www.soulseduction.com [Top Sales]
www.soulseduction.com/ [Jubita]
www.soulseduction.com [Over (Remix]
www.soulseduction.com [Original]
www.soulseduction.com [UFO In Brazil]
www.g-stoned.com/
fm4.orf.at [Sunshinebaby]
www.oneeyerecords.co.uk
www.flex.at/
www.selectadisc.co.uk