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David Douglas lets us into his world
We chatted with David Douglas following the release of his new single, ‘Lucine’. The Dutch producer has been working his way up the ranks of continental house producers since roughly 2011. His 2012 debut EP ‘Royal Horticultural Society’ references Douglas’ namesake, the nineteenth century horticulturalist David Douglas. Much of Douglas’ work is thus nature tinged, giving it a spacey, deep sound which is great chill-out music.
Hey, how are you doing?
I’m fine thanks.
What have you been up to lately?
Right now I’m finishing my album. The tracks are finished, just got the last versions of the mastering in my mail, just listened to them and I’m really enthusiastic. Can’t wait to send them into the world.
Where are you from?
I’m born and raised in a very small town, Avereest, in the east of Holland. I lived there with my family in a house next to a big forest, and with a view across meadows. You could see very clear for miles. My father was a graphic designer and had a great workspace next to the house, so I had a great childhood painting, drumming and walking through the forest.
Where are you based and how long have you been there?
Right now I’m based in Amersfoort, It’s a place nearby Utrecht. I live there for almost a year. I’ve got the opportunity to build a studio in my garden here. I’m really glad with the result. It’s full isolated, so I don’t need to worry about angry neighbors anymore, haha.
Describe yourself in three words
Easy going, perfectionist, lover (of a lot of things in life).
When did you get into electronic music?
I’ve been into music my whole life. Actually I started listening to electronic music in my teenage years. While I was listening to hip hop and (indie) rock stuff when I was around 14. I discovered Madlib and J Dilla later. But Boards of Canada blew my mind when I was 16. It was like you entered a total new world.
If you had to list your three biggest musical inspirations, what would they be?
I guess a lot in life is an inspiration, not only music. It’s the whole journey itself. But when it comes to three artists - like I said, Boards of Canada was a huge influence. I like the atmosphere of Connan Mockasin and the old Krautrock band CAN.
What’s your creative process like when it comes to producing?
I love to make music, and I make a lot. The best way is when I’m inspired by a movie, a thought or a mood. Then I use music to express that feeling. At the moment I’m determined to work on new music as long as possible, so If I start a new song, I try to do everything in one night till I almost fall asleep or don’t have any inspiration. Most of the time the very first night you work on something new is the most magical one. Sometimes it feels like a song just arises from nothing.
Tell us a bit about the house/techno scene in the Netherlands
In Amsterdam and Utrecht there is a great house and techno scene, but I have to say I don’t feel part of one particular scene. We have a lot of beautiful artists, like Weval, Palmbomen, de Ambassade or Olaf Stuut. They all got their particular sound.
What is the atmosphere you try to evoke in your records?
Different things, but one, for example - with the new record, I was sometimes pretending I was walking this planet for the first time, like mankind would visit Mars for the first time. Suddenly you see Earth in a very different way, it’s far out the most beautiful planet in the milky way. I then try to capture that virginal atmosphere I feel into my music.
If you could put anything in your pipe and smoke it, what would it be?
I guess the whole universe at once.
Which is your favourite David Douglas track?
Every time I’m working on a new track, at that moment that’s my favorite.
MP3, CD, vinyl or tapes?
In the studio I use a lot of tape machines to get the right sound for my music. So you can make me happy with old tape machines, any kind. But for music I listen a lot to vinyls at home. And since some years I’m also streaming music. It’s easy when you travel and a lot of music is there without the heavy vinyl.
What are you listening to right now?
Haha, this is a good question, its 10 o’clock in the morning and I’m doing this interview with background music indeed. Right now I’m listening to Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, four seasons. Perfect wake up music.
What is the worst job you’ve ever done?
When I was 16 I’ve worked for the park service in my summer vacation to earn some money. It was terrible; we needed to clean the park gardens. The guys who worked there all year long didn’t want to work, so everyone worked as slow as possible… In this situation time goes so slow.
What music did you grow up on?
My father worked at home, he had an atelier next to our house. He always played classical music while he was working. That’s a strong memory, I guess that’s also a reason I play a lot of classical music. And there was also a lot vinyl - Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Creedence, Lou Reed. I remember I needed a chair to switch the LPs. Digging through my father’s music.
What’s your favourite place to hang out in Amsterdam?
I have a lot of favourite places in Amsterdam. For music I love to go to Concerto (record store), spent my morning there. It’s a records shop, with a lot of old vinyl.
What are you most looking forward to?
I’m really looking forward to get my new album released. I’ve worked so hard on this second record. Now it’s time to give it to this planet. Curious what you all think of it!
