We Own The Night With Kyau &Albert

Hi Ralph and Steven it is such an amazing pleasure to be interviewing you. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do this interview for us..

How are you doing today If you were a song, what song would you be and why?

Ralph: Hello. Nice to mee you! Very hard question... Possibly “For an angel” by Paul van Dyk

This is a staple TIE questions, we know you have not yet visited our beautiful country South Africa. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear South Africa?

Steven: We have been there once and played 2 shows in December 2006! First thing about South Africa for me are lions.

To start of can you tell us a little about both of yourself on a musical front (how did your discovery of trance music happen) and a non-musical front and how would you describe one another?

Ralph: We discovered Trance in the 90's. Our idol was Paul van Dyk. I remember I saw him when I just left school in a 200 people club nearby were we live. These sounds changed my life. Steven had the same taste in music.

Steven: Yes, and therefore we were very happy when Paul ask us 2 years ago, if we would like to make a collab with him. Coming back to your question: as persons we are quite different personalities, maybe that's why we work so long successful together.

How did you two meet? 17 years of working with the same person? Did you ever think you would be together for so long? And what motivates you to keep going on.

Steven: We were born in the same town and went to the same school. We got introduced by a friend. Ralph had a schoolmate who wanted to sell me his MIDI interface and so we started tech-talk and later we made music together.

Ralph: In the beginning we just wanted to make a live act together for an EDM festival here. Never planned to work for such a long together. We were teenagers that time and we had the same dream to live from the music!

How would you describe the Kyau & Albert Sound using one instrument and why?

 Ralph: We love melodies and a warm sound. Our instrument is a PC!

Steven you sing on many of K&A tracks do you have any vocal training how did you fall into the role of singer as well? Ralph have you ever tried singing ?

Steven: I came to it like a virgin to a child. I was just singing a playback for a guest singer and Ralph said, we should use my vocal instead. And then this track became our first big chart and radio hit.

Ralph: So there was no way back for Steven! I never really thought about singing,  our trademark is Steven's voice. My voice is too low and bassy (don't know correct english term here).

Nights Awake (Remixes) is set for release, how did you select who to remix the tracks and which remix just goes off in the club?

Steven: We requested a few remixers we recently like and most of them had time for it. It took longer than expected to get all remixes, over 6 months. Originally we wanted to release the CD before X-mas.

It’s no secret that Velvet Morning is probably in every trance fans favourite tracks, it’s also a favourite by many DJ’s what was the inspiration behind the track and how did the track come to be?

Ralph: It was originally a boy/girl collab of Steven and Damae from Fragma. Therefore the original German release on Warner Music, which became a chart hit was called Kyau & Albert feat. Damae! Then Mirco de Govia should remix the song, but didn't wanna use the Damae's vocals. And his version became so popular all over the world. When Anjunabeats signed the single for the UK, they also didn't use Damae's vocals for their Aalto remix. Damae was sad about this, but we did not have an influence here. Finally she is in the official video clip and I am still in contact with her.

Why do you guys think music is so important to people and culture?

Steven: Love and music are the universal languages in the world.

Ralph: ...and everybody needs some entertainment in its life. Therefore most people listen to music. For me music can enhance my mood in different ways. I think a lot of people feel the same. Also music can bring the listener to another world which is outside of their daily routine, if you know what I mean.

Do you Guys remember the first gig you played at, what was the experience like, did you love it or hate it?

Steven: The first K&A gig was a big event with a 2000 people and it was great.

Ralph: Before that we already had a few seperate gigs as single artists. I remember I had one gig at a school event. Only a few people there understood EDM at this time. At my last school reunion a few months ago, one guy remembered that show and mentioned that noone there expected an international carreer, although it was already Trance.

There’s been a lot of talk around what makes a good DJ. In your opinion what makes a good DJ and what makes a good producer? Also what’s your take on DJs using pre-recorded sets?

Steven: We never use pre-record sets! And we play with CD players only, no laptop. After we decided to deejay as Kyau & Albert, I was deejaying with vinyl. Later we switched to CD. In the beginning of our carrier we did live shows and toured with a truck full of sythesizers and a stage crew through Germany.

Ralph: The live act was too complicated for an international carreer! In the vinyl days I was standing beside Steven and drinking a few beers. Never really got it with vinyl, but when we switched to CDs then I started to deejay, which was quite hard for me, cos we already had big international shows. Not every mix was perfect at this time. Luckely I would call myself a proper DJ now. Coming back to your question: A good DJ has the feeling to build up a journey for the crowd. A good producer is able to deliver hits which are still hits and rememberable songs years after.

The trance scene has changed so much over the years, where do you see trance in 5 years and what do you guys have to say to all the people who say trance is dead?

Ralph: Hard question. Really hope that Trance is not dead in 5 years!

Emerging technologies have had a significant impact on musicians’ careers. What do you think the next piece of music technology will be, after digital technology?

Ralph: I have no idea.

Steven: Me neither.

Lastly, what is the one thing your fans would be shocked to find out about each of you ?

Ralph: We both have kids! Steven has 2 boys and I have one boy. But we are both not married.

Steven: To much information, Ralph!!

It has been an absolute pleasure to interview you, we at TIE would like to wish you all the best with your upcoming adventures and we hope to catch you around the globe sometime soon

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