CJ Bolland Interview: Techno Legend Talks Electronic Music Production and the Gear He Loves

video upload by Honeysmack

This one is in via supporting member Honeysmack.

"CJ Bolland discussing how he makes music and the gear he loves: TR-808, MC-202, Quadrantid Swarm, Arturia synths, Korg Flanger pedals and more!"

"Legendary electronic musician, DJ and techno producer, CJ Bolland sat down for a candid unscripted interview in my studio in the first week of 2023 discussing his approach to making music and how it has evolved over the years, through to revealing the synths and drum machines that have shaped his work.

CJ Bolland is a pioneering techno artist from Belgium who first released his seminal early techno tracks on R&S Records in the early 1990s. Since then his electronic music production and projects has him weaving through a combination of techno, pop and electro genres over the past 3 decades. He provides insight to how he creates and the music technology that he loves. CJ also reveals a few hidden gear secrets! Has a little jam in my studio and there's even a surprise guest.

Tracks featured in this video:
📡 CJ Bolland - Golden Dreams 1990, R&S Records
https://music.apple.com/au/album/gold...
📡 Magnus - What It Is 2017, Universal
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Axzi...
📡 CJ Bolland - The Fire 2020, Harthouse
https://www.beatport.com/track/fire-o...
📡 CJ Bolland - Horsepower 1991, R&S Records
https://music.apple.com/au/album/hors...
📡 Honeysmack - Entity, CJ Bolland remix 2022, Awesome Soundwave
https://open.spotify.com/track/7yUKUq...
*All tracks used with permission for educational purposes only.

CJ was in Australia for some shows in late Dec 2022 and we recorded this chat in the first week of 2023. Mr. Bolland has been a great friend of mine since we first met at the end of 1999. He's always been upfront, genuine and humble about his career for as long as I've known him and he knows I can be a professional idiot at the best of times 🤡 Thanks again to CJ for his time and friendship! This channel is supported by my Patreons, become a member here: https://www.patreon.com/honeysmack and yes I also offer one-on-one tuition/lessons/coaching on making and performing live techno."

Techno Beat Production: Honeysmack How I Make Improvised Acid Techno

video upload by Honeysmack

"This video was made for beat production students at The State University of New York (SUNY Broome County) back in October 2021 during the pandemic. It was recorded in my old studio before it was redesigned in early 2022. Here I discuss my overall approach and philosophy to making and performing live improvised techno. Performing with my "studio instrument" is at the core of what I do as live techno improvisor. There are excerpts from live performances throughout the video, with detailed explanations. This channel is supported by my Patreons, become a member here: https://www.patreon.com/honeysmack and yes I also offer one-on-one tuition/lesson/coaching on making and performing live techno.

00:00 Intro - who am I
00:53 How I begin - pairing machines
02:10 Improvised approach - no saving!
02:46 Programming the 909 + 303 + DFAM
05:59 Using sequences
06:23 Mysteryland 2020 performance (excerpt)
11:07 I am not a DJ, how my approach differs to DJing
12:30 Performing in my studio
13:10 Non-traditional approach to music making
14:05 Exploring textural qualities - dub techno with Buchla Easel and Pulsar23
18:50 How I prepare for a live show
22:00 Awesome Soundwave III December 2020 live (excerpt) from Carl Cox's garage
31:09 Outro

Full performances featured in this video can be found here:


⚡️Honeysmack Live at Mysteryland 2020 [posted here]
⚡️Honeysmack | Awesome Soundwave Live Online Festival III (performed and recorded at Carl Cox's garage) [posted here]

Modular Synth Improv Techno Jam

video upload by Honeysmack

"Modular synth improvised Techno jam with Intellijel 84hp Performance case with Roland TR-09 drum machine. Totally improvised, recorded in a single unedited take. This wasn't planned, I was eager to hear what this new rack configuration sounded like late one night as I'm preparing to perform at Awakenings in Amsterdam for Awesome Soundwave at ADE this October! Might get a little crunchy at times 😁

Eurorack modules featured:
Endorphines Queen of Pentacles [909-ish sounds and techno stabs]
Cwejman BLD-2 [303/101 acid synth voice]
Noise Engineering Loquelic Iteritas Percido [digital craziness from synth to percussive sounds]
Noise Engineering Basimilus Iteritas Alter [digital percussive synth]
Noise Engineering Mimetic Digitalis [main sequencer]
Make Noise Mimeophon [delay and reverb effects]
Michigan Synth Works SY0.5 [analog synth percussion]
ALM Busy Circuits - Pamela's NEW Workout [modulation source]

Interested in learning more about making and performing improvised techno with hardware, modular synths and everything in-between? Perhaps you've already bought a heap of gear and need help making sense of it all. I'm now offering 1-on-1 personalised tuition. If you'd like to know more please email with some brief details of what you'd like assistance with to coachedbyhoneysmack@gmail.com 🤓

Audio mixed live through a Playdifferently Model1 DJ mixer and Elektron Analog Heat (off camera). Originally streamed live on Instagram.

Follow me here: http://www.instagram.com/_honeysmack_"

One Minute Acid Jam with TR-909 and 2x TB-303s

video upload by Honeysmack

"Quick little jam with 2x 303s and the TR-909, no additional sounds used.
Effects: Eventide Timefactor and Space (off camera). Elektron Analog Heat on the master bus. Improvised and recorded in a single unedited take.

Incoming new release, Entity Remixes out Feb 4, digital and vinyl through Awesome Soundwave: https://bit.ly/HSBCENTITY"

Honeysmack | Awesome Soundwave Live Online Festival III

video upload by Awesome Soundwave

Excerpt followed by full multiartist set below.

Honeysmack live at Awesome Soundwave Live III (excerpt)
Honeysmack

"Here's a little excerpt from the online festival Awesome Soundwave Live III. All live acts, no DJing. See the full show here: [embedded below]

Big thanks to Awesome Soundwave: Carl Cox and Chris Coe for having me. Shot by Ben Willis."

More live Acid Techno:
http://www.instagram.com/_honeysmack_
https://open.spotify.com/artist/20KZS..."

Awesome Soundwave Live Online Festival III | Carl Cox, Christopher Coe & friends
Awesome Soundwave

"Awesome Soundwave returns for AWESOME SOUNDWAVE LIVE III. Supported by Amsterdam Dance Event. Powered by Funktion-One. ►► Help us support Crisis Kitchen Bali via https://bit.ly/ASWLIVEIIIFundraiser OR https://bit.ly/CCMIXESASW"

Honeysmack Live at Mysteryland 2020

Honeysmack

"Live and improvised, all hardware Acid Techno set at Mysteryland 2020 on the Carl Cox presents Awesome Soundwave stage. Audio of the set can be streamed from other platforms here: https://snd.click/HNSMKMYSTERY

Thanks to Mysteryland and everyone at Awesome Soundwave.
Video production and design: Richard De Silva
Thanks to Carl Anderson (two4k), Kevin Karlberg (stablemusic.com.au) and Mike Callander for their assistance.

No computers or DJs were harmed during this performance."

http://www.instagram.com/_honeysmack_

https://open.spotify.com/artist/20KZS...

Honeysmack LIVE at Mysteryland - Let's Get High 2020

Honeysmack

"Live stream of Honeysmack LIVE at Mysteryland - Let's Get High 2020, on the Carl Cox presents Awesome Soundwave stage"

Oolluu - Awesome Soundwave / Beatport Live

Published on Apr 28, 2020 Ehsan Gelsi

"Featuring - Ben Crook & Nord Drum 3p, Moog System 55, Novation Peak, Elektron Digitakt & Digitone"

https://oolluu.bandcamp.com/ & https://awesomesoundwave.bandcamp.com/

Honeysmack Live set @ Awesome Soundwave | Beatport Live

Published on Apr 25, 2020 Honeysmack

► DONATE NOW: https://bit.ly/ASWLiveFundraiser

"All the money raised will go to the Crisis Kitchen Bali, to support those in need due to the current COVID-19 crisis, and also to our artists, to provide them with support during these challenging times in the music & events space.

Honeysmack direct from Australia as we go LIVE for Awesome Soundwave on Beatport Live.

Coming Up:

Saytek, The Oolluu, Hannes Bieger, Christopher Coe, Marc Romboy, Carl Cox

#Honeysmack #AwesomeSoundwave #Beatport"

Acidy Techno with MC-202, TR-909 and modular synth

Published on Mar 21, 2020 Honeysmack

"Little improv jam with the Roland MC-202 driving everything. Heavily features Make Noise Echophon, Noise Engineering Loquelic Iteritas Percido and Basimilus Iteritas Alter. Some support from Audio Damage Neuron. All done as a single take improv, no edits, no post.

My new album Post Acid is out now through Awesome Soundwave: https://www.awesomesoundwave.com/

http://www.honeysmack.info"

Acid Techno jam with TR-909, TB-303 Devilfish and Moog DFAM

Published on Mar 7, 2020 Honeysmack

"Live unrehearsed improvised jam with TR-909, Devilfish modded TB-303 and Moog DFAM. Effects from Eventide Space pedal.

My new album Post Acid is out now through Awesome Soundwave: https://www.awesomesoundwave.com/"

http://www.instagram.com/_honeysmack_
http://www.honeysmack.info

Happy 3.03 Day - Acid Dub

Published on Mar 2, 2020 Honeysmack

"A very happy 3.03 day to all my family and friends around the world. It is my hope in the not too distant future, people will celebrate 3.03 day as a high holiday across the world. In the meantime, here's my experimental acid dub jam to celebrate this day with 2x Roland TB-303 (one Devilfish), Elektron Octatrack live sampling the 303s and providing most of the effects. The Elektron Analog RYTM provide the drum sounds, with a little additional reverb from an Ensoniq DP/2 off camera.

Totally unrehearsed and improvised jam. No computer or DAW were hurt during the making of this video.

My new album Post Acid is out now through Awesome Soundwave: https://www.awesomesoundwave.com/

http://www.instagram.com/_honeysmack_
http://www.honeysmack.info"

Honeysmack Live Acid Techno Improvisation 40min jam

Published on Dec 1, 2019 Honeysmack

"All hardware, live acid techno improvisation set with modular rack, TR-09, TB-03, Octatrack and TB-303 Devilfish. All effects from Octatrack and Pico DSP, no other processing or editing – completely improvised in a single take.

List of modules in use:
Cwejman BLD-2
Moog DFAM
Noise Engineering Loquelic Iteritas Percido
Michigan Synth Works SY0.5
Erica Synths Pico Voice
Erica Synths DSP
Malekko Varigate 4+
Xaoc Devices Batumi
ALM Busy Circuits Pamela’s New Workout

New album available on Awesome Soundwave in early 2020, more details very soon.

http://www.instagram.com/_honeysmack_
http://www.honeysmack.info"

Modular percussion with DFAM, Avalon Bassline + A4 +TR09 +TB03

Published on Mar 20, 2019 Honeysmack

"Quick live jam on my small modular rig with focus on Moog DFAM. Support from Avalon Bassline, Analog Four, TR09 and TB03. Other modules in use include: ALM Akemie's Taiko, Mutable Instruments Plaits and Intellijel Plonk.

New album to be released later this year on Awesome Soundwave. Follow me for more details and other live electronica.

http://www.instagram.com/_honeysmack_

http://www.honeysmack.info"

David Haberfeld - Live from El Rancho studios (Carl Cox and Awesome Soundwave presents)

Premiered 15 hours ago Awesome Soundwave

"Our mate David Haberfeld (AKA Honeysmack) came by and showed us some of his gear and made this rather sublime techno track - live right then and there! After we tried to steal his gear we thought it would be a great idea to share this video with you!

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/_honeysmack_/

Website: http://www.honeysmack.info"