The hero of our next podcast,  Ahmet Sisman,  comes from Turkey. Especially for our readers, the Slash imprint owner prepared a nearly two-hour groovy mix which has a lot of unreleased material oscilating around the house and techno sounds.  In addition, the artist talked to us in an interview about his beginnings and his love for electronic music.

BIOGRAPHY

Between Istanbul and Essen, Ahmet Sisman is moving through different worlds. Influenced by many cultural impacts, his sound has always something dark and powerful. Combining traditional elements in a unique and post-modern way; Ahmet has created his own style very quickly and it was just a matter of time that he gets his first appearances on several labels.

The 'multiculti' guy has made his debut on the French/Belgian Label Lessizmore beginning 2008 and finally after the Stock5 Release in June 2008 he got the attention of the big names in this scene.

Like Sven Väth who played at this Summer his track 'Buiya' on Cocoon Amnesia the whole season and finally licensed the African influenced tribal track for his next Mix Session 'The Ninth Season'.

Having proved that he wasn’t just a one hit wonder and that his sound was something that was only going to further develop and evolve, he launched his own imprint called Slash with his friend Pherox in February. The label’s first release ‘Saruka EP’ kicked the imprint off in an exciting and creative direction with two tracks that sounded entirely unique. Now comes the 'Esraj EP' on Lessizmore, a four tracker of sublime organic drums, hypnotic rhythms and beautiful instrumental moments, which is an impressive continuation of a very special sound.

What makes Ahmet Sisman stand out above all else though, is his consistency. Some may point out that the tribal African/Middle Eastern influence has been heavy in techno and house for years, but Sisman’s approach goes well beyond samples and gimmicky breakdowns.

The way his music is structured, and the way his rhythms evolve and grow in potency is very much intrinsic to the musical culture of the region where he was born. It’s pure. So let's hope that this is the beginning of a New World Order for techno, and Ahmet Sisman is merely the tip of the iceberg.

INTERVIEW

 electronicmusic.pl: How are you and how was your day?

Ahmet Sisman: Hey im fine, busy us usual, but i like it as it is, so i don't complain :)

Please tell us about your first steps in electronic music, how you got involved, your first influences, inspirations.

Well i dont listen to techno for a long time. I came to Germany when i was 18 and get involved into the techno scene around 2005. I started to make some parties with my friends and learned how to dj.

When i got totally flashed from this music, i deciced to do my own sound, so here i am now :). Im taking a lot of influences from very different kind of music, so its hard to point out a certain artist, label or music direction.

You came up with your first release in 2008 on Lessismore records. Does this mean that the music production is your new passion?

I was very lucky with getting my first release on Lessizmore. It was one of my first demos at all and they took it right away, so it was a very quick entrance into the music business.

So i just kept on to do my music and worked hard on it. Actually 24h during the day im just thinking of music :) That turns me sometimes mad, but i can't avoid it!

Slash Records released fifth EP already, are you happy with how it all works with your label?

Im very happy to run the Slash Label with my friend Tim (aka Pherox) for nearly one year now. We keep groving slow but steady. The way it should be in my point of view.

The main focus is on releasing the music we like to listen and play, so we built up a small artist rooster for now with me, Tim and Nico, but we always keeping an eye for new artists!

You see things very different when you run also a label besides doing music. So for us its a useful experience and its keeping us thinking more innovative and ambitious for what we are doing.

What instruments do you use during the production process and what kind of performance do you prefer: DJ or live?

For my producing i use a lot of software, like drum machines, different plug-ins with synths and percussion instruments. Every kind of instrument can be very useful for you production, also some live vocal recordings etc.

For perfoming: i like both ways to play, as dj and live. Doing a liveset needs certain circumstances, like the right place and time for it, and when it flashes the crowd in the right way, then anything is possible as a liveact. You feel more like a puppetmaster and having the total control of the dancefloor :) Djing has a different approach for me, if you play longer than 2h you can join together with the listener to a musical trip, which i also very like.

What is your first association when you think about Poland? Have you ever been here? Do you know some Polish producers?

No, i wasnt in Poland yet! My first association: well im not sure, and actually i dont want to play with cliches or stereostypes. Of course i know a lot of polish producers, usually the female ones:

Magda, Marget dygas and so on, but my favorite one is Jacek Sienkiewicz who making amazing music, very hypnotic and emotional.

How and where was the mix recorded?

The mix was recorded at home with vinyl and also traktor scratch because i played also some unreleased or only digital stuff!

Your favorite track in the mix?

My favorite track in the mix is the last one:) Its a new solo ep coming out from our loveley Nico on Slash, the title called "Call Girl Storm" and it will be out around Mid February.

Can you give us some top album picks you listen to at the moment?

I like the albums from Mathias Kaden, Petre Inspirescu and Phil Kieran right now at most. Besides techno music i listen a lot of to world music right now, also some hip hop und funk/ trip hop stuff.

How can you describe your own music?

Well that's very hard, i guess very dancefloor oriented with a mixture of house and techno, something between. For me the essential thing is the groove and the magic touch of lower frequencies.

Besides that i really like to tell a story in my tracks and putting a certain soul into it.

DISCOGRAPHY

Releases:

Ahmet Sisman - Hiyan EP [LIZM04] Lessizmore

Ahmet Sisman – Yagmur EP [LIZDG01] Lessizmore Digital

Ahmet Sisman – Yakin ve Uzak … Near and Far [Stock5LTD2.0]

Ahmet Sisman – Saruka EP [SLASH01]

Ahmet Sisman – Esraj EP [LIZM06]

Ahmet Sisman – Miami Bass Machine [SLASH04]

Ahmet Sisman – Candela (Nico Purman Remix) [SLASH05]

Ahmet Sisman – Hit Me Low [DUMB UNIT 054]

Remixes:

Calapez – Flight Case (Ahmet Sisman Remix) [WEAVE 027]

Elon – Fxck Cuba (Ahmet Sisman Remix) [DUMB UNIT 051]

Franco Cazzola – In Mexico With You (Ahmet Sisman Remix) [CARNIVAL01]

(also on the next Sven Väth Mix CD “the 10th Season on Cocoon)

Upcoming:

Cesare vs. Disorder – Coka Zero (Ahmet Sisman Remix) [SERIALISM07]

Ahmet Sisman – tba [LIZM07]

Martini Brös – Flash feat. Berlin Symphonie Orchestra [POKERFLAT]

Remix for Johannes Heil [tba]

V.A. Ahmet Sisman – 5 Years Stock5 Compilation

Appearances:

“Buiya”/Sven Väth – the Sound of the Ninth Season [Cocoon]

"Candela"/Martin Eyerer - ONLYFORDJS Vol.6 [Wagram Music]

“In Mexico With You (Ahmet Sisman Remix) / Sven Väth – the Sound of the 10th Season [Cocoon]

“Baze” / Secret Cinema – Mix Compilation on GEM Records

LINKS
www.myspace.com/ahmetsisman
www.slash-label.com