Rising Diynamic talent David August is still, even by clubland’s youthful standards, wet behind the ears. The 22-year-old dropped his first EP back in 2009, with others successfully following, but their total has remained in single figures because of rigorous university commitments. Latest exams completed, August can now turn attention to debut album, Times, due next month (on Diynamic). Ahead of its release next month, Defected’s Ben Lovett caught up with the Hamburg native to get his own view on the project.
David August describes his album in accompanying press materials as a summary of his musical experiences to date, but are there really enough to go on yet?
“My experiences might not be as broad or mature as those of an older artist but that doesn’t mean that they’re not important” he opens. “Usually you do an album when you want to talk and I really felt like I had some big things to say. I couldn’t see a reason not to record Times. I gave the album that title because it reflects the major changes and moments that have been going on in my life; there have been a few different things. Nothing is slowing down either; this is a very personal album.”
According to August, Times also acknowledges the perpetual turn of musical history; an impressively lofty theme from one so fresh-faced: “You have to consider that we’re living in a era where we have the whole of musical history at our fingertips; that includes electronic music, which has developed for many years now but only really exploded in recent times. I wanted to combine different instruments and genres; I thought that it’d be really interesting to bring these different characters and tones together.”
Times steps to a house beat but cleverly, captivatingly assimilates the nous and musicianship of August’s long-term classical training. Track Hommage uses clarinet to deep atmospheric effect, while Blossom and Watch Your Step experiment strikingly with piano and guitar arrangements. There are powerful sweeps of light and shade here, August additionally – and appropriately – involving heart-in-the-mouth bass drops, mellow, melancholic passages of electronica, and his own supple vocals to help enforce the slick interplay of different moods and movements.
“I came into electronic music at the age of about 14 or 15, listening to groups like Massive Attack who completely opened my mind” he reveals. “It was more commercial stuff at first but by the time I was 16 I was diving into house and techno. The turning point came when my brother returned home with Logic [Apple’s music software] one day and I had the chance to play around on it. There were suddenly so many possibilities, so many amazing sounds.”
Inevitably, August’s first productions were just around the corner. “They were shitty records to start with” he laughs, “I was learning how to record and making mistakes along the way.” There was distinct promise, however, and by 2009, August had signed to Stil Vor Talent with debut EP Trumpets Victory. That cult release was enough to interest Diynamic Music boss Solomun who quickly paved the way for a 2010 follow-up EP, Instant Harmony - featuring dramatic, synth-stabbing, breakthrough hit Moving Day.
Since then, two further Diynamic EPs have materialised – Peace Of Conscience and You Got To Love Me (both 2011) – as well as remixes for Flight Facilities and Freerange’s Andre Crom, and another original outing on Stil Vor Talent. But that’s it. Aside from music, August has taken himself off to Berlin’s University Of Arts to study Tonmeister, a full-on fusion of sound recording (theoretical and practical) and classical training. A Tonmeister degree teaches students to interpret and perform music in the most effective ways, using appropriate technology and editing techniques to enhance the process. August’s time in academia may be restricting his career for now but it stands to benefit him massively in the long run.
“There are periods today where the studying is difficult” he admits, “I have to demonstrate good time management, focussing on university for a time and then, when I’m on academic holiday, my music and performance. I’m on a holiday right now so I can focus on the album and some shows around it but spreading yourself across so many things is tricky; my study colleagues think I’m mad as do some of my musical friends. I’m just fortunate I have the energy and enthusiasm to do it all.”
So he still has his eyes on the prize?: “Absolutely. Tonmeister is cool because you’re learning something about everything and that, I’m sure, will help me as my career progresses. I haven’t moved from classical to electronic music; I’m keen to keep learning about both and about other styles and influences. Learning about sound recording, musical structure and all of these things in greater detail will undoubtedly strengthen what I do as an artist.”
Does August feel that with increasingly intuitive music technology, the education and true artistry of DJs and producers is in danger of being eroded; lost, even? “I’m studying because that’s what I want to do but education really isn’t that important; it’s the results that are the core thing” he replies. “There are advantages to an education as we have discussed but also disadvantages. Sometimes I’ll be jamming on the keyboards and will find myself falling in behind musical rules that I don’t want to. When artists have no education, on the other hand, I think that it is sometimes easier for them to let go and the results are extremely interesting. Knowledge isn’t always good; I’m aware of rules and structures all the time and occasionally I’ll wish I can let go in the studio even more. I have to force a switch off in my head...it’s not always easy.”
But the Diynamic family has surely helped? “It really is a family” August enthuses, “a family affair. It’s hard to describe the atmosphere but it’s really good, and there are a lot of friendships. Everyone involved with the label basically picks one another up and offers support. There’s a culture where everyone will offer feedback and opinions on each other’s work which is really constructive. And then Solomun is such a cool person; so welcoming. It’s a great place to belong.”
Out on the road, away from ‘family’ things are equally positive. August’s bookings are growing exponentially, and he’s loving every minute of them. “I do really enjoy the touring” he confirms. “I have the stamina and appetite to do it, so why not? I’m discovering so many great new places to play, and meeting cool people with different views on things and different energies. You learn all the time.” Literally as soon as we’re off the phone, August will be high-tailing it to the airport to fly to consecutive gigs in Brazil, France, the Netherlands and then, of course, Miami. “It’s my first time in Miami, I’m really excited about it” he suggests. He’s sure to bag another lorry load of fans.
What’s lined up beyond the new album and mini tour? “I’m finalising a live set, something I’ve not tried before” he says. “I’ve been practising around my exams, which has been tough but it’s getting there. I didn’t tour much last year, because I was focussed on the album and university, so I’m really looking forward to getting back out there. Now is a great opportunity to share my music with people.” In the coming weeks, August will play Fabric, London, Watergate in Berlin, Paris and, this summer, Sankeys Ibiza - as part of Diynamic’s Neon Nights White Isle residency.
Momentum is steadily building. Has August dare looked beyond the next 12 months? Has he even had time to? “I am a planner it’s fair to say” he offers. “But mine are plans that I can easily change and react instinctually to. These days you need some structure but, as I was saying before, too much structure isn’t always that good. One thing I’d eventually like to do is set up my own festival event, based around my own personal world of music, friends and influences. I was talking about it to someone the other day; it’d be this cool festival fusion of band and DJ...acoustic and electronic, but I’m too young and not confident enough to try organising it any time soon.”
Maybe so, but David August’s promise is undeniable just as his current prowess is, all things considered, remarkable. The distant notion of promoting festivals may scare him for now, but there is real focus on the immediate future and the purest of ambitions to deliver cutting edge music to the global underground. Age is irrelevant.
“Age doesn’t matter; I don’t think about my age” he affirms. “It’s all about results. All music scenes have fresh talent and that’s that. None of the older artists I’ve met has been negative towards me and I don’t feel overawed by any of them. I have my own path and I’m concentrating on that. I couldn’t be more excited about the album, about my future and about where I go next.”
Words: Ben Lovett
David August’s debut album Times is released by Diynamic Music (Ger) on April 8.
