Hey guys! Welcome to the Saisons family! It really is a great honour to release such an amazing and unique EP. Tucumán and Rembrandt captivated us from the start and create a truly unique and profound listening experience.

It would be great to go over some questions so our audience has a chance to now know you better.

Where are you guys from and where are you currently nesting?

Nils and Fabian are originally from the same small town in the South of Germany. Funny enough we didn’t know each other back then and eventually met and got to know each other through music in Berlin around 6 years ago. Bene is from Northern Germany and has settled in Berlin when the Kon Faber project started 4 years ago. We’ve all been living in Berlin for some time now, have been close friends for about 5 years and sharing this exciting artistic process ever since.

How did the collaboration start?

Our collaboration started about 2 years ago. By then Fabian had already made a remix for Kon Faber and we’ve also been hosting parties together in Berlin. So it was about time we started working on a project together. We started with Tucumán, created a second track shortly after but ditched that one a few months later and went for a third track: Rembrandt. We’ve met a few times in Nils and Bene’s as well as Fabian’s studio and did our best in fusing our visions to create something that sounds like all of us: “Kon Fabi” so to say ;)

A role model / inspiration in life?

To be honest, we take the strongest inspiration from our closest friends, girlfriends and family. As cliche as it sounds, we strongly feel that these are the people that shape us and the way we think. When it comes to music, it feels almost like we got musically united by O/Y when we did a workshop with him in Berlin and saw him play a fantastic set at fusion festival later that year. Also, even though our production styles might be the opposite of minimal, the three of us are extremely enthusiastic when we have the chance to dance to micro house together and surely also take some inspiration from there!

What’s the story behind Tucumán and Rembrandt?

Tucumán was probably the most special project for us because it was our first time together in the studio. It was a magical session, with all of us being in a really flowy state. All the main elements of Tucumán were already there after a couple of hours and we can’t even remember who contributed which element. Only that each of our unique ideas and tastes found their way into the collaboration. Once the idea was there, we spent a looong time perfecting the mix.

Rembrandt is the third track we created together. It came to life one evening after having dinner together where we had a long discussion about whether to drop the second track we made or create an entirely new one (every producer knows how tough it sometimes is to drop a track…). We decided to do a new one which evokes a similar feeling as Tucumán, is gentle and subtle but dancy and melodic. The result is Rembrandt. Fun fact: the decisive dinner discussion was at ‘Rembrandt Burger’ in Friedrichshain. So, now you know where the track name is from!

The two tracks have a very distinctive sonic signature? What was the creative process/approach behind them?

What connects us musically is the love for crunchy grooves, warm harmonies/melodies and organic textures. On the EP you hear self-recorded shakers and percussion, Fabian eating crisps and birds chirping in the South American jungle. The key elements, especially in the synth section, were created the most collaborative way possible: one of us playing the notes and the others modulating the sounds at the same time, which sometimes can bring forward really special moments and brings out the most emotional feel. Also, prior to our first session, Nils and Bene had just bought the amazing ASM Hydrasynth which inspired the atmosphere of Tucumán (and is generally an amazing machine). So, in the end, it’s a blend of own recordings, analog synthesizers, soft synths and endless modulations that will keep the track alive from beginning to end.

What’s your favorite studio instrument/object?

A synth that without a doubt connects the sound of both of us the Behringer Model D. Its warm and dirty bass sounds really amazing and is featured on lots of our releases - also on both tracks on this EP. Also we’re all in love with our Prophet 6’s and the ASM Hydrasynth.

What made you choose Saisons Musique for their home?

There are not many labels nowadays that constantly deliver soulful, classy music on such a high level. Saisons’ groovy, organic and finely selected releases have been some of our favorites for a while and we deeply connect with their vibe - of course we wanted to be part of this family and catalog! 🙂

What is on the horizon for the coming months? Any upcoming projects or shows we should keep on our radar?

Kon Faber: We’re currently working on our first vinyl EP, which will be out on Kamai this summer! Really excited about this. Furthermore we spent the past weeks creating tracks for our new peak time live set, which we already played at Kater Blau and Watergate (Berlin) and soon e.g. in Copenhagen, Milan and Zurich. The summer is also filling up with some nice festivals.

Fabian: I’m currently touring Mexico, escaping the cold Berlin winter for a while and recharging my batteries after lots of studio time in winter. I come back home for Easter and you’ll find me playing at Kater Blau that weekend! The next weeks will then all be about giving my tracks the last final tweaks to release them in summer, just in time for the festival season around Berlin. So much looking forward to that :)

Kon Faber: PS Fabian Krooss is sitting on literally +100 tracks, please let him know that he should just get it all out there!

A quote that inspired you lately?

We had played a gig on a private party in Poland. We were just resting outside and met this really funny guy. When he heard music from next doors, we thought about going there but were not sure if they would be open to strangers. The guy’s answer:

“Everybody is nice if you treat them nice, especially if you bring beers.” Still inspires us today. 😀

If you could change one thing in the world, what would it be?

Unfortunately there are so many things wrong in todays world, but we guess inequality in rights and wealth is the most pressing matter. Although not mentioning the climate crisis at this point feels wrong. Living in a sustainable and equal world would be the dream…

Quick quiz!

Night or day production?

Both at once! Our sessions can sometimes last for ages…

Synth or VST?

Synth!

Reverb or delay?

Delay!

Best snack?

Chips! (crisps)

Favorite country?

Fabian: Berlin ;)
Kon Faber: Bella Italia

Thank you guys for the amazing answers in our conversation. Happy release and see you very soon. :)

Listen & download ‘Tucumán EP’ here.

A conversation with Fabian Krooss & Kon Faber