Interview: Camea

By Kyle Marno on March 9, 2015

Soundspace

So who is Camea?

Camea

I am an American tech house and techno DJ/Producer. I was born in Seattle, moved to Brooklyn and now reside in Berlin. I once owned and operated Clink Recordings, which I put on hold in 2011 because I was touring so much and it became hard to keep up. Now I’m currently signed to Bpitch Control. Right now I’m flying from Berlin to Vilnius, Lithuania. I play there tonight at Opium Club.

Soundspace

You made the move from the US to Berlin, what influenced the change and how do you feel it has helped you as a DJ?

Camea

I moved to Friedrichshain (East Berlin) in 2007, and I was a very different person then than I am now. When I first moved there from Brooklyn I was all about the cities music and parties, we were coming over and party hopping between Bar 25, Watergate, Club Der Visionaere and Panorama Bar, trying to experience as much as we could.

I fell in love with Berlin’s laid back atmosphere and the freedom we felt being able to hear great music, hang out by the river and not have a closing time or expensive drinks to worry about it. It felt natural and free, there was no bullshit. I felt so inspired that I decided I wanted to live there and moved over on July 4th, 2007.

After a few years I began to see past the music scene and fell in love with the culture and beauty of the city, it’s people and it’s mysteries, and I find it very inspiring for my production and DJ sets.

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Soundspace

Is their a certain approach you take when playing for a Berlin crowd, in comparison to a US one?

Camea

The Berlin crowd is a very experienced mix of weathered locals and techno tourists that follow every beat of the scene via the internet, and there’s at least 10-15 great parties to chose from every Friday and Saturday night.

You can walk into a seedy old warehouse building in East Berlin that you have never heard of and find it packed with people dancing to techno, it’s amazing. Berliners, both the natives and expats, want the real deal – no cheesy vibes – so the more you dig the more they love it.

The US does have parties like these however not nearly as many, it’s a big challenge to find a great space and I have a lot of respect for the promoters and club owners that are trying to do it. I often find that private venues and afterparties are fun because people can relax and you don’t have to worry about early closing times, expensive drinks, etc.

Musically I approach both crowds the same and let their energy direct me, I always stay true to what I like to play.

Soundspace

Last year you switched from laptop DJing to playing CDJs and vinyl, why the move?

Camea

I started out playing on vinyl in 1999 and spent most, or should I say all, of my money on vinyl until around 2005 when I decided to try Serato. Then we were still using turntables with it but it was an exciting concept to expand our music collection for performing.

The software continued to get more advanced and I switched to Traktor and eventually ended up playing with that and two midi controllers for a few years, but it started to feel too mechanical and I was really missing the traditional feeling of DJing. I decided to take a break for awhile and haven’t looked back since, it’s great to be out from behind the laptop screen.

Soundspace

Your most memorable experience as a DJ?

Camea

I’ve had so many, it’s hard to pick one, but I would have to say playing at Burning Man. It’s such a beautifully twisted, artistic place and I loved every minute of it.

Soundspace

Your ‘Neverwhere EP’ really marked a milestone in your career, can you talk about how the EP came about and your own thoughts on it’s success?

Camea

The Neverwhere project was really fun as I have classical piano roots and had strong training in composition, and I wanted to fuse that with what my idea of modern “dance floor” tech house is. I was really happy with the way it turned out and the concept of the project, so I put together a vinyl only remix EP with producers that inspire me: Locked Groove, Deadbeat and Lee Jones.

I also collaborated with Berlin Film Director and Director of Photography, Riza-Rocco Avsar, to create the videos. We went out on cold, grey Autumn mornings to shoot images at empty fairgrounds in East Berlin. It was sort of eerie, lonely and beautiful all at the same time, to see this dying culture and the people who still run it, and laughing children waiting eagerly for these vacant, rotating colourful machines. It was a stunning contrast of old and new.

I have enjoyed the Neverwhere experience so much because it inspires my imagination, and I was happy that people could relate to it. I am launching a Neverwhere Radio show on Digitally Imported in April, which will further explore the sound concept.

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Soundspace

It’s been quite a while since we heard an original production from you, maybe 2015 will bring some new Camea sounds?

Camea

Yes! I have two deep tracks coming out on the Get Physical Full Body Workout series at the end of April, I will also be doing the DJ mix for the compilation.

In July is my next Bpitch Control EP, and I have a few other exciting collaborations getting confirmed right now which I can’t announce yet. There will be lots of stuff happening in 2015.

Soundspace

Tell us something we shouldn’t know about you?

Camea

I did not read Fifty Shades of Grey, if that’s what your asking..

Soundspace

Your dream collaboration, either living or past?

Camea

I would love a day (or week!) in the studio with Four Tet, his music blows me away.

Soundspace

Can you talk about any plans you have for the future?

Camea

More music, more travellig, more dancing.

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