On Saturday 06 December, Swiss underground star Ripperton makes his DFTD debut as he headlines Room 2 of The Arches, Glasgow’s original superclub. Ahead of his appearance, Defected’s Ben Lovett discusses pre-gig rituals, his label Tamed Musiq and staying humble.

Swiss artist Raphael Ripperton Gros has been in and around electronic music for over 20 years now, and making an ever louder impact.  Born in the Seventies, he first discovered house as a teenager working in Lausanne record shop Tracks – those weighty Tony Humphries and Masters At Work imports would have an explosive effect.  Local DJ gigs followed, and then fledgling studio releases as aliases Soul Merge and Reasons, Diesel U Music awards (2003) and his first label Loveearth.

Gradually, the Ripperton solo brand emerged, headlining massive nights around the world and masterminding sleek tech productions for liebe* detail, Sthlm Audio, Dessous and Rejected sub-label Green.


Ripperton’s second excursion into label management, Perspectiv, did unfortunately lose momentum.  Five years of incisive releases by the likes of Agnes, Christian Vance and Behling & Simpson would eventually grind to a halt in 2012.  However, current venture Tamed Musiq (launched in 2011), is progressing nicely.  Early, divergent releases by Ripperton himself have segued into similarly expansive cuts from Isolee, Crowdpleaser/Otkay Uzcan and Matthew Styles in recent months.  It’s not that long ago either that Ripperton released his third album, A Little Part Of Shade; an acclaimed fusion of everything from acoustic soundscapes and breakbeat blues to minimal bass-throbs and sweet piano harmonies – all within the clear parameters of beautiful songwriting.  A Little Part Of Shade was a significant evolution from earlier long-players, 2010’s Niwa and 2011’s Lost In Colors.

How are you Raphael – what have you been up to over the past few days?

I’m good thank you. I was in Istanbul at Wake Up Call, a small and lovely underground club, last Saturday. I loved the party there! I'm just back and already busy with the family and also with the studio...there is a lot to do.  So I'm a bit tired but happy at the same time.

What are your thoughts ahead of playing Glasgow for DFTD later this week?

I’m really looking forward to it! It will be a first with Defected so I’m all excited and usually Glasgow is packed with nice smiling ravers, so let's see!

Any specific rituals before gigs?

Visiting the city I’m playing, killing a cat, disco nap and then good food and beers!

DFTD champions new ways of expressing the house sound – how do you look to evolve your own music?

I try not to over-think things; to keep it natural...even for myself. There’s always this ‘blah blah’ about hertz [sound frequencies] and business; it bothers me actually. For me it’s about staying humble and simply doing the things correct and staying as intuitive as I can as a producer and DJ.

We last spoke to you last summer around A Little Part Of Shade – there’s been a few things from your studio since....

Yes, I’ve released original material this year on Cocoon [‘Wet Dreams’] and Innervisions [‘Unfold’] and, as Headless Ghost, I also released an EP on Clone Royal Oak [the fantastic ‘Swept Illusions’] and one on Tamed Musiq [‘After Rhone 2013’].  Further I also teamed up again with Deetron under our Roots Panorama moniker, with an EP [‘Mars’] on his new label Character. I don't believe in releasing too much music but I think this year I've been rather productive.

Lots of fantastic remixes in 2014 too – what’s your view on remix work versus producing original material?

I work equally hard and with equal pleasure on every remix. As I work with other artists’ material it's for me equal. But I don't really see remixes as part of my discography. I prefer seeing them as style exercise. But it's always nice when some of them find a more extended audience!

Any particular learning experiences this year?

Maybe not immediately while on the road but I moved my studio this year and I was really anxious about doing this move. But in the end everything is way better where I am now. For the first time I'm sharing the space, and have other artists as neighbours and this is really nice. So once more I found out that it's a good thing to step away from habits.

You said last year that you were getting bored of instrumentals and wanted to focus more on songs - with that in mind how do you view the electronic music scene that you're a part of today?

Yes I said that and many other stupid things! The funny fact is that every now and then I forget how it is to work with singers! I can get bored of that really quick too! Maybe doing remixes of tracks that already contain vocals is the best deal, you know...? This year has been really nice in terms of music. I listen to a lot of ambient and independent stuff during the week to keep me inspired:  Lawrence English, Grouper or soul like Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens. But to answer your question with a house flavour: I am really impressed by the albums of Barnt and Juju & Jordash...they are really inspiring too.

You also talked about the need for a rational balance between working for art and for money - where do you find yourself between those opposites right now?

In general it [music] comes naturally...but as I live in an expensive country there is no way to let it go and not take it seriously. Lausanne is almost as expensive as London in terms of lifestyle. So taking care of the family, the label and all the business keeps me awake at night but also motivated!


How is Tamed Musiq?

It is doing great! You know…it's a little bit like one of your children in a way. I only like to release a few projects/EPs that I'm really proud of. For example, that amazing Matthew Styles EP we did this year [‘Communique’]. There will be a few more fantastic projects coming up soon: a killer Crowdpleaser EP, some Headless Ghost madness with Gerd as NY Stomp (with remixes), material from North Lake and my Swiss partners in crimes Agnès and Deetron.

What have you got coming up next?

I'm doing a release with DFTD of course.  Furthermore I've been busy working on remixes for some lovely people such as Joris Voorn, Flaunt, Hunter/Game and a fantastic folk band Legendary Lightness – the last one is for a new Swiss label from the Zukunft guys. There are also two new releases on Tamed coming this month.

And, finally, what do you want for Christmas?!

I love Christmas. Not all that shitty commercial stuff around it though. I don't play over Christmas and stay cozy at home with my dear family.

PS. Dear Santa Claus, I would love peace and health on Earth for everyone, and that ARP Odyssey [vintage synthesizer] re-issue please!

Words: Ben Lovett

Ripperton plays for DFTD at The Arches in Glasgow 06 December alongside Flashmob and Cristoph, with Defected In The House in Room 1 - click for full line-up and tickets