Ewan Pearson, producer, DJ, and writer extraordinaire, leaves the snowy climes of Berlin this Saturday for a gig in Playa Del Carmen for Mexican outfit Cobra Voyage. The multi-talented artist sat down with Pulse and Cobra Voyage to talk about what he’s currently playing, the evolution of his music, and longevity in the scene. Listen, and read, below, and buy tickets to the event here on Pulse!
Ewan, what excites you about coming to Playa Del Carmen, to play for Cobra Voyage on the rooftop of the beautiful Reina Roja hotel? Well I'm tempted to say the thought of getting out of grey freezing Berlin is the thing that's exciting me most! But seriously, I've always had great gigs in Mexico and I'm looking forward to coming back to Playa - I had a wonderful time on my last visit.
Do you tailor your sets for different crowds? For example, Mexican audiences versus European or North American audiences? Probably not by geographical location so much these days - in the Internet age people are very knowledgeable wherever you go, but you always change what you do a bit in relation to the size of the club and the time when you play and the general context. I'm playing a lot of stuff that is between 110 and 115BPM at the moment for example, but there are some moments when you can't play that kind of thing as a guest, no matter how much you'd like to. In the clubs I play regularly I often ask to play earlier and for longer so I can play more of this kind of thing.
Your production history goes back over a decade, yet you've still found a sound relevant to some of today's most sought after underground labels like Visionquest and Crosstown Rebels. Have you approached music differently over the years? How have you stayed fresh? I think as long as you're excited and interested in what's going on then you can't help but stay fresh in some way - I certainly have no problem with changing what I do and exploring different things and I hope that my production and technical abilities have got better as I get older. The irony is having been around for a few years (!) some of the things that are popular right now with people that are younger than me - the 90s house revival thing for example - I find completely boring and unremarkable because I was there the first time. I think we still need to change things and give them a twist. I'm still excited to hear things that surprise me.
You're a man of many trades - DJ, producer, writer, philosopher. What projects currently excite you the most? I think philosopher is stretching it a bit, to be honest! I'm lucky in that I enjoy all the different things I do - playing music, producing and mixing other people, remixes, original stuff and writing. I'm very lucky to be making a living from it.
Are there any artists, established or up and coming, that you're excited to collaborate with? I just found a new band online that I really want to work with, and maybe put out on my label but I'm not going to tell anyone who they are yet, I'm afraid! The other people I'd like to work with are all technicians - engineers who I can learn new things from. I feel like I'm not nearly good enough at my job yet.
What, or who, inspires you today? It's always the same thing - trying to do good work, something that gives you a strong emotional reaction, to make something beautiful or well made or hopefully both.
You must meet a lot of young, rising talent as you tour and produce. In your opinion, what's the secret to success and longevity in the inde/underground dance scene? Does it differ from succeeding in commercial arenas? I don't really know how you have a long career - I certainly am glad that I started when I did and that I'm not just starting now when there are so many people making things. That said, the qualities you need to succeed have always been the same - some talent and imagination, a lot of stubbornness, hunger, curiosity and a lot of luck.
Do you have a mantra? If so we'd love to hear it. Slowly, surely.