Interview: Takt "Centre of Gravity" EP

Hey girl! Congratulations on your new EP, you have such a playful sound - It’s truly a gem. What was your creative vision/inspiration behind it and how did you go forward creating it?

Thank you for having me on the label! New releases and DJ sets by my favourite artists are what gave me the inspiration for the EP. I started making a rough draft of one new idea at a time, building the foundation first - using rhythmic kicks and the bass VST Trilian for the low end. Then I moved on to create the theme of the track using melodies and pads, whilst adding in percussion and drums as I went along. When I had some early versions ready of all the tracks I compared them and tried mixing them together. Then I made the finishing touches to them. At the end I felt the need to delete some of the elements and strip the tracks back down again, it happens every time! 

You recently changed name from Tina V to Takt. What was the reason behind the change?

During the past couple of years I feel like I am headed in a new musical direction, and my name change marks the beginning of this. I wanted a name that meant something more (Takt is a musical term in Norwegian) and I like that it is a bit more anonymous, something different. 

How would you describe your sound who/or what do you get your inspiration from?

Groovy, percussive, fast-paced with trippy synth lines. My biggest inspiration lately has been the sound of DJs like Marrøn, the artists in Hayes Collective, and all the amazing Brazilian techno with Marcal, Masseran and Aske at the forefront. 

We know you have a deep knowledge about the history and culture of techno, what’s your favourite moment in techno history and why?

If it's not too recent, I would say the summer of 2020 in Oslo! Although it was a tough time for our industry, good things happened as well. I think 2020 saw a small techno revolution in my hometown, which will have a lasting effect. When clubs shut there was a surge of DIY parties - outdoor events all around showcasing lots of great techno; the kind of stuff you would have to go to Berlin or Amsterdam to find previously... Techno hasn't been very big in Oslo for a long time. During last summer, people could go to open air parties every weekend. Now that clubs are open again they are looking for the same kind of music there, which is fantastic. 

In your long career as a DJ, you have played different venues all over Oslo, but also outside Oslo. What’s your favourite gig this far? 

Can I mention two? My second time playing for Techno Tuesday at Melkweg, Amsterdam. And the Cats, Dogs & People forest rave in August last year. 

Why do you think there are more female DJ/Producer representation now than before? And do you think there are more female represented in the Techno scene than other electronic sub genres?

I can only speak for Oslo, but in my opinion there have been a lot of female DJs for a long time. Shout out to Faia, Gori, Mørk, Plain Jane, Mira Mark, Villmonsen and Flux's very own Anémi for pushing the scene forward.

What made you want to DJ, and what made you want to produce? 

I started to DJ because I was intrigued by the industry and the music, and wanted to see what it was about. Production became a natural next step, I wanted to create my own sounds and test them out on the dance floor. I'm also a bit of a geek and love learning new stuff so diving into production was definitely the way to go. 

How do you see the future of Oslo´s techno scene and how do you think it will compare to other big techno scenes in other cities? 

The future is bright for sure! If the development keeps going at this rate then Oslo will be on Europe's techno map very soon. 

If you have to pick one DJ dead or alive to play b2b who would you pick?

DJ Rush, he is such a legend and at the top of his game still. The energy in his sets is insane and I can imagine it would be fun to play alongside him.

Do you have a technical tip to new aspiring DJs?

Mix as much as you can! And don't be afraid to explore looping, FX and more than two decks.