Raumklang Music was founded in 2003 and is specialized in electronic music. Since its birth, it has released many successful albums including material by artists like Klangstabil or Patenbrigade Wolff. In 2009 a new chapter in the history of the publishing house was written and it turned its chief focus to IDM, Industrial and Electronica.
1 – How and why did you come about starting Raumklang Music?
I started Raumklang Music years ago because I felt that it was time to support music acts I really like. I wanted to give musicians a chance to release their stuff and I want to do that with my own label.
2 – When you started Raumklang Music, were there any labels that you could say were a reference/inspiration for your efforts?
Not really. Of course there were labels like Ant-Zen, Hymen, etc. but that’s not the inspiration for me to open my own label. I really wanted to start my own thing.
3 – Almost mandatory question, how did the name “Raumklang Music” come about?
The name Raumklang Music should describe how I feel good music. Raumklang is like ‘sorround’. It’s the feeling if you’re totally relaxing and listen to the music. The music is completely around you then. I don’t know how to describe it better. I mean, if you listen to good music, you allow it to take you into another world.
4 – Since the inception of Raumklang Music, are there any events in the history of the label that you’d consider as particularly relevant, from difficulties and setbacks to successes?
At the beginning of Raumklang Music I had no red line. I released everything and every kind of electronic muisc I wanted to release. So I had big problems to find the right audience for the releases. After the first releases my mind changed automatically and I decided to put Raumklang Muisc’s main focus on IDM and Industrial Music.
I think another important step for my label was the release of my solo project “Dirk Geiger” on Tympanik Audio in 2010. I became more popular and so I could build a very good network for Raumklang Music.
5 – So far what would you consider as special highlights (or successful) releases and artists in the history of Raumklang Music?
That’s hard to answer because I think that every release has its own successful story. If you ask for the most commercially successful releases it would be the albums of Tapage, Hotaru Bay, Grauraum and the newest release of Brazda Lui Novac for sure.
6 – Are there any releases in particular that you would recommend as good ‘introductory material’ to the Raumklang Music label?
I would prefer no release but, to have an idea how Raumklang Muisc sounds like, you can listen to Tapage’s “Seven” or Grauraum’s “Shades” for sure.
7 – Looking back, do you have any regrets with the label? If you could go back and change something, what would it be?
No, I absolutely don’t want to change anything. Raumklang Music wouldn’t be what what it is today without all I did in the past. Mistakes are there to be done and learn from them. So all is fine. I have no regrets!
8 – An obvious question, but what is Raumklang Music’s ‘relationship’ with the Internet? From promotion tool and digital sales to file sharing and piracy, how has it affected you?
Of course I use the internet a lot to promote the releases and I think that without it it’s impossible to work with a range of artists and customers from all over the world. It helps a lot to spread good music.
Piracy is a big problem, that’s true. I am happy that there are a lot of people outside who listen to this music and respecting the work of the artist and the label and pay for the release. Just grabbing music without giving anything back is shit and that really makes me angry.
9 – Slightly related to the previous question, how do you see the concept of ‘netlabels’ and, as a labelhead, what is your perspective as to the future and evolution of physical media (CDs, vinyl, etc)?
I run also a netlabel (www.format-noise.com), so I understand the philosophy of netlabels very well. There is too much good music out there to let it rot on a hard drive. Netlabels offer the chance to spread good music for free and that affects it a lot.
I think that a physical release is something totally different. There are a lot of people like me out there, they want to have something in their hands. Something to place on your CD wall. :-).
10 – Perspectives for the future, what lies in the horizon for Raumklang Music? Can you share some long-term goals and where would you like to see the label heading to?
On the 28th of November we will release two albums r.roo’s “Broken Time” and x3d5’s “Purple Face Of Chaos”. These are excellent IDM/Industrial works with a very deep mood. Of course there are other plans for releases like the album of “Alteranima” or the album of the newcomer “Cycler” for next year.
11 – What other labels/artists would you recommend at the moment and why?
This list is too long to be written here! But one of my absolute favourite labels is Tympanik Audio since a long time. I think they have a very good roster of artists. One of the most impressive artists for me is Subheim for sure. Every time that I listen to head music my head cinema is playing movies. It’s fantastic music.
12 – Thank you for your time, do you have any final comments?
Yes, please check out the last release by Brazda Lui Novac. You will love the mix between IDM and old school electro :-).
Thanks for your time!
Relevant links
— interview by Miguel de Sousa & Kate Turgoose (October 2011)