Marsel Van Der Wielen has been running Delsin Records since 1996 and has managed to release some of the best 12″ releases spanning through Detroit influenced soft-techno to straight out experiments in sound engineering.
While most of the back catalog unleashed gems in the form of 12″ EP’s, Delsin has silently pushed forward and have moved into CD releases in full LP mode by artists such as Future Beat Alliance, Aardvarck as well as compilations such as ..Going thru Life and the upcoming Day by Day compilation.
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Igloo: When did Delsin Records start, and what was your initial intention for the label?
Marsel: Delsin started in summer 1996 –originally started to put out my own music. i didn’t want get others involved before i got the whole thing going. to do, if, to do the thing ok
Igloo: How would you describe the overall feel of Delsin records to your audience?
Marsel: Straight from the heart, pureness & beauty, transparent, true life..
Igloo: You’ve brought much attention to Detroit-techno influenced soundscapes to Delsin.. How is the scene in the Netherlands?
Marsel: There are many lovers around, still enjoying all beauties Detroit brought to the world, but I think the electro-scene is even bigger over here, but luckily those are merged.
Igloo: Was Delsin originally aimed at bringing 12″ EP’s to people? With the release of ..Going Thru Life (Comp.), Aardvarck’s Find the Cow and Future Beat Alliances’ Disconnected it looks like Delsin has silently moved into CD releases. How did
this come about?
Marsel: In the beginning both financial as well as artistic the time wasn’t right for whole albums. In the meanwhile most of the artists have become capable to handle the span of an album. It has never been part of any plan, as there isn’t any plan – it just goes where it goes.. but with albums i also think the artists and their music get the attention they deserve.
Igloo: I haven’t been able to keep up 100% with every Delsin release, but the grooves on each record are always packed soulful Detroit-infused soft-techno. What is your reaction to this statement?
Marsel: Ha, soft-techno is what was called before techno. If you hear old Detroit and Chicago stuff, just being called techno and house, that has more to do with soft-techno, then the so-called techno of nowadays. It’s somewhat strange to have to come up with a new genre (not you personally) – because shit music claims to be techno. Shake’s old records were just being called techno when they came out, but now it should end up somewhere between broken space beat and semi-soft-techno. Well, whatever, but I hope the people recognize some pureness in the Delsin outings, and what they call it, they may know themselves. If you ask me, the things on Delsin are techno, breaks and house, and all very soulful and pure.
Igloo: Where would you like to see Delsin head? You mentioned there was no plan, so this might be hard to establish. You’ve definitely introduced many key players with Delsin ie) CiM, Norken, FBA, Optic Nerve etc. What would you play on the turntables if you weren’t running Delsin? What are your influences?
Marsel: Delsin will keep on running as long as I like.. I don’t mind if the label will go more broad – it already did if you ask me –but I would love to do some even more soul/hip-hop-like things, Aardvarck together with Jill Scott or some.
…and on my turntables? There would be the same as if I wasn’t running Delsin – now there are India Arie, Lauryn Hill, a lot of hip-hop as well, Gangstarr, Quasimoto, Mos Def, Hi-Tek, .. and all nice things from Domu, Nubian Mindz and Seiji, and all beautiful old Soul-Techno from Mr. Fingers, Model 500, MK, Carl Craig, Marty Bonds, etc
Igloo: Can you tell me a little about the artwork with Delsin both on the website and in releases you’ve unleashed? Much of it highlights the beauty of life, women, music and having a good time. What is the general direction for the visual aesthetic of Delsin?
Marsel: Hmm, I don’t know, I just scan the web, make pictures, – and what it represents I do not really think about. It comes straight from the heart so to say. I never understood why electronic music had to go with ‘digital computer art’ – to say it roughly.
Igloo: I totally agree with your thoughts about “computer-digital-artwork” and the mess of technical artwork on releases. I guess the proper assumption would be that Delsin treads the more relaxed, easy to absorb/feel characteristic over all else. Focused on sincere soulful electronic music with a passion for Detroit styled landscapes.. –statement.
Marsel: Nah, almost. It’s not that it’s all relaxed or some. Some of the artwork is meant pretty serious as well. It’s just all with a feeling, with soul.
Igloo: How do you view the direction that electronic music has taken?
Marsel: It exploded all the way. In the beginning it was only ‘house’ – techno was part of house, acid was part of house, etc. but now there are so many, many genres, sub-genres, etc etc. when I read through a magazine like Grooves, which is more IDM-based I hardly know anything of it, same goes if i read the glossy Muzik Mag – and still I buy lots of new music – and it’s all electronic. I mean, I just want to say it has become big.
Igloo: Do you think that because electronic music has “become big” that it may potentially side-wipe the quality music from its core listeners?
Marsel: No not really. But because of the overload of twelve inches, a lot of core listeners switched to albums. That’s a reason for Delsin to do albums as well.
Igloo: You mentioned that the electro-scene is pretty big in Amsterdam. How does this affect your musical taste? Or does it?
Marsel: No, it doesn’t really. It isn’t that big either. It’s hard for me to say how much we influence each other in Amsterdam. I doubt it, as the labels and artists do not have that much in common, beside living in Amsterdam, and sharing a big love for music..
Igloo: Obviously inspired by all things Detroit/313 related, it looks like Delsin are beginning to touch into other electronic fields with releases such as Aardvarck’s new Find the Cow. Do you
feel that most of the Delsin roster are much in line with the overall aesthetic? Or is there one to begin with?
Marsel: They all are in line, but the lines are loose if you listen to CiM (5dsr) or Lucky & Easy (7dsr) were both more in the IDM-field –but Cellvoice (3dsr) and Aardvarck (6dsr) were in the jazzy field, where as Newworldaquarium (10dsr) already was into house. To start with it’s best to pick up a compilation like ..Going Thru Life, which was on purpose pretty tight. The new compilation Day by Day will be the opposite, showing Delsin on it’s most broad wings.
Igloo: Do you feel that the online world has made things easier in terms of correspondence with artists etc., or has it made people less apt to socialize outside their computer screens? Much of the Delsin roster seems to be located outside of the Netherlands, hence the question.
Marsel: It has made things a lot easier. Although FBA still hasn’t any email –but I think Delsin couldn’t be, what it is right now, if Internet hadn’t been there.
Igloo: Not having heard the upcoming Day by Day compilation, can you give
any indication as to the direction this will head? You mentioned that it would show Delsin on its most broad wings.. assuming that artists such as D5, FBA, Aardvark, CiM and the current roster will make an appearance?
Marsel: Yeah, they will all do. It’s like the previous compilation, getting a selection of the vinyl tracks on CD –but with ‘broad wings’ i mean it will include Newworldaquarium’s “Tresspassers” on one side, and the jazzy broken beat “Zwepg Typis” remix by Relaxo Abstracto on the other side, as well the electro-vocal track by Optic Nerve. The tracks on ..Going thru Life were more strict to soul-techno.
Igloo: Are still working under the Peel Seamus alias? Any new developments with this project.. Shifting Gears was the last EP on Delsin thus far.. have you targeted other labels for release?
Marsel: Nope, there has been a track on an Emoticon Sampler. But a new 12″ is to come before summer, and an album somewhere autumn. Finally have more time to do music again. Previously most time was consumed by running the label, beside a regular job. I also got my studio more together, so can finally sit down and make music.
Igloo: What is your affiliation with Forcefield Magazine?
Marsel: Owner, founder -another addiction to music.
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