Exclusive Interview with Reworck’s Pole Folder

Exclusive interview with Pole Folder about his label Reworck:

What is your background in the music industry?

My education in music started at the age of 5. I started out by learning to play the trumpet and guitar before later learning the art of composition that lead me to perform with a symphony orchestra and in brass ensembles and jazz combos on regular occasions.

At the age of 16 I started my first rock band, playing guitars and songwriting, and at 20 years of age I joined ‘Just Good Friends’ with whom I recorded the album ‘Some Pictures of You’ on Big Bang Records.  We toured extensively in Belgium and also performed in Germany.

With influence coming from the thriving techno scene in clubs like Le Bocaccio, At The Villa, Extreme and La Rocca around that time, 1992 saw a change of direction for me through the use of electronic sequencers.  A by-product of this saw the launch of my professional studio in Brussels with my long-time friend and sound engineer, Alain Bultot.  It was here that we began work for Indian Chief Records.

Several tracks were created, the most notable of which, “I’ll Be Right Here,” became an anthem in the Belgium club scene thanks to DJ Philip.  The track also gained the attention of Sony Records Benelux, who signed the track and proposed a publishing deal.  This arrangement quickly developed into a production role for many artists of which Sony were supporting.

In 2000, I met studio partner DJ CP with whom I produced a series of new tracks influenced by the sounds of DJs such as John Digweed and Sasha.

Our first collaboration, Apollo Vibes, was quickly signed to John Digweed’s own label, Bedrock, and two further singles followed; Moon In A Blue Sky EP on Sunkissed Records and Protected on Mo-Do Records. In 2002, John Digweed commissioned an album deal, and I joined an elite club of one of few such artists to be granted licence to undertake such a project for the prestigious Bedrock Records.

After almost 2 years of careful planning and studio sessions with Alain Bultot and various vocalists including Shelley Harland, Sandra Ferreti and Kirtsy Hawkshaw, I delivered the debut album, ‘Zero Gold’.  Several album tracks have been featured on hit TV shows including ‘CSI’ and ‘Nip Tuck’.

2006 saw the launch of ‘Destinations’, my fledgling radio show on ‘Frisky Radio’.  The show predominantly features live sets recorded from various locations whilst touring.  The show has garnered a huge following and led to Frisky approaching me to recreate the concept of the show for their first compilation, ‘Destinations’.  This project utilized both my regular Pioneer DJ set-up and a number of live instruments.

Having dipped my toe into the water of record label management through ‘La Tour’ and ’80hz’, I launched my new imprint ‘Reworck’ in 2010. Reworck is managed as a multi-genre library, delivering music I like to play or hear. The label has received consistent support from DJ tastemakers such as John Digweed, Laurent Garnier, Hernan Cattaneo.

What are your influences in terms of label? producer?

As a producer, a huge and eclectic range of sounds and names spring to mind.

Starting from a classical repertoire incorporating the likes of Bach, Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, to the jazz artists who influenced my trumpet school years, King Oliver, Louis Armstrong and Glenn Miller.  The discovery of bands and artists like Peter Gabriel, Depeche Mode (all the albums made with Alan Wilder), Pink Floyd, David Gilmour and Lindsay Buckingham as guitar heroes, Alain Bashung, Etienne Daho, Dire Straits, Talk Talk, Tears for Fears, Nirvana,  but also Faith No More with their album Angel Dust, Massive Attack, Nine Inch Nails, producers like Flood and William Orbit.  More recently, the discovery of bands like Queens of the Stone Ages and Apparat projects have inspired me, without forgetting the music writers for motion pictures like Ennio Morricone, Danny Elfman, Georges Delerue, Hans Zimmer.

The DJs and electronic music producers I have discovered since the year 1990 also need a mention.  My old friend ‘CP’ along with his vinyl collection totaling in excess of 60,000 vinyl, Marko from the famous La Rocca club, Phi Phi from Club Extreme, and of course the foreign DJs and producers like Digweed, Sasha, Moonface for his awesome Bedrock warm up sets, Danny Tenaglia, Deep Dish, Paul Kalkbrenner, Kollektiv Turmstrasse and more recently Art Department with a stunning set at the Amsterdam Dance Event.

In terms of labels, I follow ‘BPitch’ closely, which delivers an eclectic collection in a range of genres and of course, Bedrock. I’ve also been inspired in the past by labels such as R&S.  It’s harder to forge an identity as a DJ when you explore different genres, but the richness and diversity of one’s catalogue is, I believe, a key element in showcasing integrity as a performer and, essentially, a music fan.

What are the new releases for 2013?

The back catalogue of Reworck is revisited as the ‘Reworck Sampler’ collection, with releases and remixes from the likes of Amine Edge, Oliver Schories, Sven Jaeger, Ryan Davis and DJ Peet.

This will be followed by an excellent EP from the talented Russian producer ‘Paronator’.

We also have an EP from ‘Arquette’ (a side project of Marquez Ill) a very good single from Holbrook and Sky Keeper of which I have produced a deep remix and two new Pole Folder singles.

Can you introduce the next label party?

As usual, these are organized with Labyrinth Productions, a big event company from Belgium, with excellent club ‘Café d’Anvers’ in Belgium hosting.  Having already invited the likes of Sasha, Christian Smith, Nick Warren as headliners, this time we will welcome Edu Imbernon.  As is our policy, we will have two artists from the label on the line-up and the next event welcomes CP and Amine Edge.  Reworck has organised events in Holland, Belgium and Germany thus far, and the events are a great opportunity to embrace the sound of the label.

Café d’Anvers is a perfect location.  Situated on the ‘Red District’, the venue has already witnessed some of the pioneers of the electronic scene perform, such as Laurent Garnier, A Guy called Gerald and John Digweed, dating back to 1989.

How do you see the future of digital music?

It’s hard to say, but I know that music will be always a part of everyone’s life. The way it’s delivered to the consumer has been a constant source of change for 30 years the new era of the digital distribution is evolving too.  All I know is that we follow these changes carefully to do our best to provide the Reworck catalogue in the best way for everyone.

Interview by Vincent Quittard

Reworck is an independent belgian electronic label owned and managed by Pole Folder.  Since 2010, Reworck provides an eclectic collection of tracks all under the banner of the electronic music without boundaries of genres. The result covers right now 14 releases in Tech House, House, Breaks, Deep House, Progressive House, Electronica, supported so far by major league DJs as John Digweed, Hernan Cattaneo, Laurent Garnier, Hector Romero, DJT., ….

The latest Reworck release is out February 8th exclusively at whatpeopleplay.com:

Paronator
Where Are You Going?
Reworck

Maxi Single & EP
RW16
Out (exclusively): 08-02-2013

Just in time to start the new year with the Reworck team, Paronator, a russian DJ and composer, delivers a high quality funk house release as 16th imprint on the belgian label. Paronator who saw already his productions ending on the selection of John Digweed and Pole Folder, handles a nice curve on his sound with an EP ‘à la Maceo Plex’. Dancefloor filler, this EP is a pride for Reworck and launches a new artist signature on the label.

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