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Music

An Interview With Alexey Devyanin, AKA Pixelord

Alexey Devyanin has composed under various monikers over the past decade: Gultskra Artikler, Hucky O’Bare, Stud. But it’s his most recent incarnation, Pixelord, that has brought his sound to the ears of head-nodding, ball cap wearing squares from every co

Alexey Devyanin has composed under various monikers over the past decade: Gultskra Artikler, Hucky O’Bare, Stud. But it’s his most recent incarnation, Pixelord, that has brought his sound to the ears of head-nodding, ball cap wearing squares from every corner of the world. The hard beats and intensely layered synthesizer work of his 2011 EP Fish Touch appeal to tastes that developed from a steady diet of DJ Premier and Aphex Twin side by side, with frequent Game Boy breaks in between.

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The Moscow-based producer is about to drop a follow-up EP this month on Leisure System, an established Berlin party organizer that’s trying it’s hand at releasing music beginning with Pixelord’s Iron and Cream. Good bet. Pixelord recently gave us his side of the story.

NOISEY: You've released work under a number of aliases (Pixelord, Gultskra ARTIKLER, Stud, Hucky O'Bare). What's the idea behind each one? How are they different?Any others we don't know about?

PIXELORD: In the past I've used a few aliases, but the main ones were Gultskra and Pixelord. Others were temporary stuff for growing my music. I mean, Stud was some really simple mellow electronic music from when I just started learning things about production, like ten or twelve years ago. Then I made up Gultskra and it went pretty good. I released a few cds, vinyls, and EPs, and lots of free music as well. Gultskra is ambient, avant garde noise music. I'm having a break with it right now, but I hope I'll do something again in future. Pixelord is more for performing live, for DJing, for clubs and festivals. It's more fun to make this music for me now.

Your new track "In The Mine" is pretty sick. What can we expect from your upcoming EP?

The new EP is called Iron and Cream, and "In The Mine" (hear below) is a track title from it. I'm very happy about the EP. It's totally made for vinyl. It has 50% hard dance floor action tracks and 50% smooth garage beats with light vocals. Thats what I love; the mixture of two sides of myself. It's good that the EP is eclectic.

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B2 In the Mine by Leisure System

Is this the first time you're working with Leisure System?

I'm working with Leisure System for the first time, and I'm the first release for the label. They are just starting as a label, but they have a long history throwing regular parties in Berlin. I like how these guys have passion and they have awesome releases planned after mine, like Eprom and Lando Kal. These guys are not joking. People ain't ready. Watch out for Leisure System!

Fancy Mike - Ramachandran Pixelord remix from pixelord on Vimeo.

What is the best thing you have heard in recent days?

The best thing I've heard from new releases is Machinedrum. He's the man of 2011, I'm telling you. His new LP is the revolution. I love it, all things perfect, every track.

Outside of electronic music, what kind of stuff do you listen to? Anything that would surprise us?

Outside electronic music, I listen to 'other electronic music.' I like John Maus' new LP. It's like the Joy Division of now days. It has great synth work and raw sound. That's what I love.

Any pieces of equipment that have changed the way you produce over the years?

Yeah, this new Maschine from Native Instruments has it all. It changed the speed of production. I can make some phat beats really fast and mess with it, swap sounds on the go. I like to perform live with it, mainly.

If you could go back in time and give your young self some records right when you started producing, what records would you choose?

Oh, tricky question! Maybe some Groundislava records; it's the best in 8bit synth + beats action. Harmonic 313 for sure! And Burial I guess. That would have been handy twelve years ago.

After this upcoming 12", what's next for Pixelord? Performing? Touring? More releases?

Yeah, I'll make everything!