M W Daniels is a writer, director, music composer, and wicked techno producer based in London.
If you are in search of proper and dark techno tracks, then ‘Seasonal Ritual’ is a track you must hear. Find out more about this producer in his answers below. Enjoy!
Hello! Thanks for your time! How would you introduce yourself to our audience?
Hi, my name is MWD and I’m a techno producer from London, England who also makes Hip Hop, House, Disco and Electro.
The reason for this interview is a release named Seasonal Ritual. What can you tell us the idea behind
it?
Seasonal Ritual is very much inspired by the occult as are all my techno tracks under the MWD name. The track is about occult rituals that take place in different seasons of the year.
What more can you tell us about this track selection?
The Techno I make I call occult techno or witchcraft techno, I selected it as it really stands out and it’s dark but also has a catchy feel to it too. It seems to work on many levels and has really caught on with people which is amazing. I can imagine the track at full blast in a club with people going crazy!
Being a music composer and an Award-winning Film Director, what inspired you the most to
make art and music, how was your journey?
In 1978 I was 8 years old and my brother brought home an album by Japanese electronic classical composer Isao Tomita and it was a version of Igor Stravinsky’s The Firebird and that album put me on my path especially years later working with electronic music. The journey is both a fascinating and demanding one to get to this stage, demanding in the sense of the work that’s put into each track.
Tell us something more about your transition into electronic music?
Well I was always into electronic music and in 1996 I started an extreme electronics project called survivalist and I was working with very full-on and high-volume electronics. At that time in the 90s I was experimenting with electronic soundscapes and beats but not as sophisticated as I do now. Throbbing Gristle, Coil, Arne Nordheim, Burial, Brian Eno, Boards of Canada, Regis, Early Tangerine Dream, Kraftwerk, Skinny Puppy, Tomita, Aphex Twin and Jeff Mills are some all-time favorites of mine.
How would you describe the current situation on the global electronic scene?
I think it’s cool but I don’t really pay much attention to it as I work very isolated. There is some great music being made out there and some very talented producers and DJs.
How would you describe your techno sound?
I’d describe my techno sound as very left field really, but coming from a place not too far from Regis or Surgeon. Dark and witching but also catchy and memorable at the same time. My sound is extremely individual.
What’s your opinion on the current live streaming trend among DJs?
In the current situation in the world, it’s a good thing as it keeps things going and keeps things fresh. The public can hear new tunes too. Not going out to a club is frustrating for club people but at least this is something to help keep the ball rolling in the dance music world.
What is underground for you?
Underground to me is to stay true to your values and your sound, never change for anybody just keep doing the music you are passionate about. Big labels can be a rip off in the long run so being underground is far better and far cooler in my opinion. You have full control of your music.
Do you believe that an artist has to be both producer and a DJ?
No, not at all. Many excellent producers such as Burial have never been a DJ. I think there is a huge difference between the two. I find being a producer is more personal than being a DJ, it’s like a DJ goes outside with the sound and to the people in a club but a producer goes inside with the sound sometimes, more isolated but more to maneuver.
What are your top 5 techno tracks at the moment?
I listen to all old stuff and very rarely listen to new stuff so this would be my top 5 and 1 new one in there.
1.Regis-Rites
2. Jeff Mills-Step to Enchantment
3.Surgeon-Prowler
4.Aphex Twin-Start as you mean to go on
5. Jose Baher-Friend of Evil
Are there any new projects you are working on in near future?
I’m working on an album next year. Let’s techno will release 2 eps as well and one of the eps features Seasonal Ritual.
