Pitto’s debut album offers a suitably reflective title – Objects In A Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear. But has the Dutch music-maker had time to stop and contemplate his recent, meteoric rise?
“Things happen as they happen” he opens. “I’m aware that more and more people are finding out about me and love what I’ve done so far. I’m also aware of the support from a number of my peers. That’s all great but I haven’t dwelt on it too much. I’m busy, sure, but even if I had more time then I’d use it to make new music rather than analyse my profile.”
Pitto, 30, is fiercely dedicated to his craft. Based in Utrecht, the Dutch DJ and producer – real name Geurt Kersjes - has spent something like four years making Objects, studiously perfecting its eclectic ebbs and flows. Pitto’s original line-up of over 40 tracks was slowly filed down and reworked to just 20, and then re-worked some more into the final track-listing of 13. Such painstaking preparation is not for the faint-hearted.
“I survived” he jokes. “There were challenges but they were exciting to overcome. The challenge of time was considerable. One of the tracks on Objects is nearly eight years old, for example; I really wanted to include it but so many things have changed in music in the past decade that re-styling was required in order to make it more relevant. The whole project has been really organic, nearly all of the tracks changing several times over many, many months.”
A release date, however, has finally been scheduled for later this month. Has drawing a line under all those intense studio twiddles and tweaks proved difficult? How could it not? “I did feel a rush of relief putting this thing to bed” he confides. “It never concerned me that this was going to be my debut; the pressure came in the final production. I’d be polishing tracks up, over and over, and having to force myself to cut off and accept that they were done. It wasn’t a scary pressure or anything, but there was a pressure there.”
In Pitto’s case, pressure applied to perfectionism equals extraordinary results. The intelligent dancefloor drive of his earliest singles – mature tech-house workouts Aphex (2007), Sexvibe (2008) and Feelin’ (2009) – is wonderfully present on Objects but there is room, too, for assured ventures into fragile, electronic pop; into deeply contemplative vocals and instrumentation, and other fresh, freeform ideas. Pitto is able to convey much through his first album; it’s an interesting, impressive mix of moods and textures. No wonder Laurent Garnier and Luciano are fans….
“Emotion is a word that can be over-used and under-valued by artists when talking about their music” Pitto explains. “I can only say that, for me, it’s a very important thing. I don’t make music in a weapon-like way. I’m not an assembly line, nor is my music just about blowing up dancefloors and moving people physically. I invest a lot of time in the studio trying to coax out the real feelings of something; that is the really beautiful thing about producing.”
If Objects wasn’t complex enough already, then there is the matter of Pitto’s vast supporting cast to consider – everyone from local singer Lilian Hak to talented London percussionist Manu Delago. “I couldn’t find any vocalists at first, so I tried singing myself” Pitto says. “I’d sampled my own vocals before to use as a trick in my live shows, so I felt comfortable enough. But once Manu and Lilian, and people like Alice Rose [Cologne-based singer] got involved things really opened up. Getting people together was easy enough, and they really helped bring my ideas to life; often adding some of their own style into the process. I was constantly inspired.”
Two others who added input throughout were Joris Voorn and Edwin Van Oosterwal. The Amsterdam pair had previously released Feelin’ through their well-established Rejected label. That track was enough to spark meaningful dialogue with Pitto about a long-player via adventurous sub-label Green; then again Pitto had long been building his name as promoter and DJ for events hosted by Basic Groove and some of his own party projects, namely Mood Engineering, Mood Elevator and Stekker.
“I owe a lot to Joris and Edwin; they’ve given me huge amounts of freedom to create what I need to” Pitto says. “I was surprised for quite some time that they were actually letting me record an album like Objects because it’s quite a lot different to the house and techno they’re usually associated with, but they were totally supportive. I’d put some random nu-jazz sketch in front of them and they’d be really enthusiastic about it and suggest all sorts of good ideas. That open-minded support was priceless.”
Is Pitto concerned that the public might not understand what he’s rather boldly trying to do; especially considering his more-rhythmic and punchy displays as DJ and live performer? “I wouldn’t say I’m worried” he responds, “more curious about how people will react. I like the idea of people coming to see me play out and not entirely knowing what they’re going to get – euphoric techno or ambient, or a blend of the two…. I think the reaction to Objects will help determine where I go next with my career but feedback for the opening single [Where My Soul Is Now, featuring Leonie Muller] has certainly been fantastic.”
At any rate, Pitto is planning to release a “dance version” of Objects – entitled Are Closer – in the months head; the spin-off project, packing energetic new arrangements of Objects’ original cuts, will be supported by a live concert concept set to tour the Netherlands before possibly heading around the world.
“It’s hard for me to say if I prefer the studio or the stage” Pitto ponders. “I think the studio probably just edges it - making brand new music is an incredible feeling. But then the Are Closer stuff will be really cool. There’s going to be a whole live band going on, and we’ll head to a few festivals and big venues and see where that all takes us. Our aim is to get people moving and having some fun; I can imagine the atmosphere already but there’s a way to go yet!”
Pitto has been in music for over 12 years – promoting, performing and, most recently, producing - but it’s now that things seem to be properly shaping up for him. “It definitely feels like a great time to be doing what I’m doing” he concludes. “The electronic scene in my country has exploded in the last few years and, for the kids, it’s kind of the social norm. That doesn’t mean that every single kid is engaged in the music; I’m sure many just follow the fashion. But there’s a still a good climate for pushing the boundaries of electronic music and engaging people. I can’t ask for much more.”
Pitto’s album Objects In A Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear is released on Green Records May 15 (Benelux) and June (worldwide).
