Alex Makee:: Since a few months I play with Ableton Live and maybe next year my first liveact will be finished. The reason why another name for an live act is simply - I only want a cut between DJ'ing and Liveact. For sure it's also possible to do this all under 1 name - but I think in this way I have more free room to try live different styles.

VoiDeT:: True, I cannot wait to hear some live results from you. Give us all a background on minimal itself. A lot of the people who I have spoken with, although they love classic electro like Miss Kittin and Ellen Allien and the like, have no idea what minimal is. Could you explain to us where minimal came from or perhaps what your interpretation is of the minimal style?

Alex Makee:: What Minimal is? for me its complete the opposite to this Obvious music what we have this time. Its the organic, detaching and the not foreseeable. Its music and not a distorted drum all night long.
One of the Big Stars and Pioneers for this music are Richie Hawtin (with his Label Minus) and Ricardo Villalobos.

VoiDeT:: So what sort of sounds do you think minimal is? I mean should electro fans be expecting 80's leads? Or heavy kicks? Personally I see electro music, today, resembling minimal a lot. Do you think minimal has evolved from a form of electro?

Alex Makee:: Maybe yes, but I think Minimal is more a form of House Music. Not in the classic House style with vocals and so - you know - but from the basement. Minimal is clicking bling bling tech, with blubs and all these stuff - sometimes with Organicsounds, storm, thunder etc. - its atmospheric. Minimal Music has these magic hypnotic deepnes - such a intoxication.

{pagebreak} VoiDeT:: I will try to concentrate on your perception next time I hear one of your mixes! But now, the ultimate question, what made you turn from Hardtechno to Minimal and the slower side of life? I recall once you said: everyone slows down after a while? does that still hold true?

Alex Makee:: Yes - maybe that's the simple answer. It is the reason why I have done this. First I must say I don't really change my style for real. So I play since the beginning as Techhouse Dj (not in clubs - but on different after hour's). Then as I founded 'Exotoxic Records' and with the influences from Mhonolog, my softer side growing more and more in the background (but it was always there - from time to time I released mixes in the net). But after 3 years - I cant play & hear it anymore. You must know - I always searching for something new and Hard Techno is in the main - always the same - 4/4 distorted drum - like harder, faster, louder.

VoiDeT :: Excellent to hear. I admire that, how someone can go against the flow and do their own thing, a true pioneer inspires and paves the way for followers I say. So what is next for the upcoming years? Will we be hearing any vinyl releases from the minimal scope of Alex Makee?

Alex Makee:: I have always done my own thing - in mixing things or producing - so for me it's not against the flow. I never was be interested to do something what all do - like these hype thing (all people talking about - without anybody hear it - you know what I mean). Think a few years back - all talking about 'schranz' music - but only a few from they did know how it sounds. All what I do is complete my life - I dont do this as the reason from a hype.

So you ask me for some Minimal releases - yes it will give one (or maybe more). The first release that will come is 'Mit Neuen Ohren Hören' (with new ears hear) on my Minimalistic building site 'Delete'.

VoiDeT:: Definitely, you cant survive by tagging off others. Well thank you for taking the time to talk to us here to today. I hope this interview will inspire not only minimal, or want to be minimal, artists out there. So if you could say anything to them, perhaps they are starting a label or a minimal community, what would it be?

Alex Makee:: It was a pleasure for me to talk with you and for all these undiscovered newcomers out there: "everyone's a genius - just be yourself !"

VoiDeT:: I couldn't agree more with you! I must say to everyone, Alex Makee is a true genius himself. I have said this before, but, he knows what he wants out of life, and nothing stops him. I have had the pleasure to actually meet him in person, Alex is one of the nicest people you will meet. If you are lucky enough to catch him behind the decks at a gig be sure to try to catch him afterwards for a chat. I hope this interview has helped a lot of you to understand just how important it is to be individuals in the big pool of creativity, if we don't we are just replicating, and that, is boring!

Until next time,
VoiDeT