Compact Disorder: always on the run for inspiration

Making people happy with his music is what drives DJ and producer Compact Disorder the most. Not only on the dancefloor but also with his own tracks. He is always looking for inspiration around him to create his music. We sat down to talk about creating your own sound, set preparations and developments in the scene.

Text Lie Kietselaer

Can you tell us something about your background?

I grew up in Leiden and then moved to Amsterdam quickly. There I went to live with my aunt and uncle because my parents could not handle me. My aunt and uncle coped very well with me. They also have a different view and vision on life, so I did not grow up in a village-like way, but very open-minded. My aunt also worked at the Roxy. She did the programming there. I don't come from a musical family, but I did grow up with music. As a child I played piano, saxophone, and guitar. I especially liked guitar and piano. I was always involved with music. I taught myself to read and write music.

How would your friends describe you?
Generous, musical, impulsive, and always cheerful. Although I am a little less impulsive these days and I think more before I act. Must have something to do with aging. I am also someone who likes to please others. Which also fits into the overall picture of an artist. You try to tease and please people with your music. That is my biggest motivation and drive. Also when it comes to producing music. Ultimately, I hope that my music will make people experience and express emotions in.

What does techno stand for?
Open-minded, freedom, happiness, being able to let go and be yourself. You see a lot of people who have been bullied in the past, or who just missed out, and who belong in the techno scene. Everyone is welcome. And I hope it always will be like that.

How do you describe your sound?
Contemporary and timeless. It is a sound that is not often played in the Netherlands anymore. But it will come back, I am sure. This sound will always remain and will not go along with the hype. I would also say melodic, high bpm, thoughtful, and compelling. I see a landscape where we walk a path together. This can be from the sea to a lake, to the forests, to the mountains. And at the end you come back to the sea again. That's the journey you make in your head.

How do you develop your own sound?
That goes without saying. I am always looking for new sounds. Nowadays I play with three decks. With a fourth deck I load samples to give more dynamics to my sets. Or I create sounds with my mixer using milliseconds of a track while only using your mid frequencies or high frequencies at that time. It's unlimited. That's the great thing about electronic music.

How do you get new music?
That remains one thing, finding new music. Scouring Bandcamp and Beatport. Check out release suggestions so you stay in an eternal loop through which you continuously discover new music. There are a lot of new tracks coming out these days. You have plenty to sort out.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
If you had asked me three years ago, I would mention DJ names. Nowadays it is not only other DJs that inspire me, but also movies and sounds that I hear around me. I'll go to the streets with my own recorder. I'm throwing trash cans. Recently I once chatted to a letterbox to get sound from it to record it. Inspiration is in everything around you. You must be open to that. Inspiration comes from within.

But if you would have to mention a name?
Legowelt is currently a source of inspiration in terms of production. Someone who is creating their own sound. Blawan & Pariah (Karenn) and Jeroen Search also in terms of productions. And Freddy K when it comes to sets and his leading label Key Vinyl. He is the biggest example for me within the techno scene. This guy is so versatile. And you see a lot of Portuguese labels now. Think of artists such as Temudo, Vil and Nörbak. They have created their own sound that many people get to work with. The tracks are pitched up, but they also represent this contemporary and timeless sound.

How do you prepare for a performance?
Based on the hours, I select old and new tracks. For a two-hour set I make a top-100. I can choose from this top-100. I don't allow myself to open other folders otherwise it will be chaos. If your set is longer, the top-100 could be expanded, but I've never had a set longer than three hours.

What kind of experience do you want to give ravers during a performance?
This is different for everyone. What matters to me is that people having a good time. That is why I also look at the audience whether something is successful or not. Sometimes you really must switch in your sound because it doesn't fit, people don't feel the vibe at that moment. You can't prepare a set and just run it. You must see if it catches on.

When are you satisfied with a performance?
Never. There is always room for improvement. You feel satisfied about the fact that people had a good time. But I will never be one hundred percent satisfied with the performance itself. By listening back and looking at how you can improve your transitions, I get a little better every time.

How do you mix your track to the next track? And how do you mix three tracks at once? You must coordinate everything properly. Every sound must fit at that moment. And there is always room for improvement. A transition can be flawless, but an improvement is still possible. The sound can fit together at that moment, but it still does not fit into the overall picture of your set.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Still performing within the techno scene. But hopefully I can earn my living with it.

Which clubs do you hope to play?
Berghain of course, but is that feasible? Kompas in Ghent and K41 in Kiev. The scene there is still growing and evolving. They really have to fight for a safe space in society.

If you could host a rave yourself, where would you do it and what would the lineup be?
I would like to host a stage at Draaimolen Festival. They stand for diversity and quality of music. All the people who play there are all sources of inspiration. My lineup would be Karenn, Freddy K, Luke Slater with LSD, and then I get to open myself. And of course three upcoming artists: Tromp, Lobster and Paul Laurens because they are really fantastic, hats off to these guys.

Which parties do you go to yourself and what attracts you to go there?
I like going to Radion in Amsterdam. One of the few clubs in the Netherlands that really stands for something. Ici Sans Merci is the booker of this club and he really took Radion to the next level. A platform where young talents and organizations can express their vision and music. He offers something for everyone. From techno to house to deep house, all kinds of electronic music get a stage there. I like that. Genuine love for the scene, art and electronic music. It comes closest to what Berlin stands for. The Netherlands is too brave in that regard. Dutch audience prefers to see four or five headliners at one party. Drop a headliner and let it do its thing for six hours. Or two headliners and four-hour sets, then a DJ can really show what he can do.

What development do you expect in the techno scene in the near future?
I hope people will look at music less obediently. It could all be a little looser, it doesn't have to be all so serious. Many organizations nowadays look at music from a business perspective. They book in terms of certainty and sound and how many people would attend. It could be a bit more experimental. Let the young talent, that does not fit within the spectrum of the Dutch techno scene, also play.

If you don't hear hard techno somewhere, it's no longer fun at that party. But is it all about hard techno? No, it's about whether a set is good or not. And of course, music is also a business but, in the end, the most important thing is organizing a good party where everyone involved has a good time and is valued.

Which values do you find important in the scene?
Acceptance. That everyone can do their own thing and no distinction is made. If someone wants to walk around naked, they walk around naked. Because this person is having fun. Just let everyone do their own thing. Especially after corona, I want to see more acceptance.

Our tagline is echo of your essence, what comes to mind when you hear that tagline?
Echo of my essence is where I bring my music to the audience: the emotion, confrontation, the feeling of being together and belonging together. Being one with the world of electronic music.

As with all our interviewees, we asked Compact Disorder to name three tracks that are somehow important to him.

Steve Reich - Drumming

Following their critically acclaimed 2004 Cantaloupe debut, Sō Percussion has re-recorded Steve Reich's epic Drumming. This is an inspiring track for me because of all the percussions, it has so much impact and character.

Joey Beltram - Energy Flash

This is the track I first heard in the field of electronic music. Released in 1996 old gold record!

The Who - Baba O’Riley

This track has played a lot of value in my youth which has made me driven to make and play music. My Mother raised me with music. When I hear this track I am immediately taken back to my youth.