Silk Music releases ‘Come Alive’, a collaboration between veteran electronic music composer Boom Jinx, promising California-based duo Z:N, and honey-voiced singer-songwriter Katrine Stenbekk, with whom Boom Jinx’s striking musical chemistry was first revealed on the 2015 album, ‘No Answers In Luck’.
It is no small moment in Silk Music’s label’s history to welcome Boom Jinx to their ranks, as his early works (including ‘Too Free To Follow’ and ‘Remember September’) were influential to the development of the label’s emotive, deep-progressive sound.
We caught up with the guys at Silk Music to understand how the label came into being, ‘Come Alive’ and loads more.
T.H.E – Hey Guys! Welcome to The Music Essentials. What have you been up to at Silk Music lately?
Silk Music – Hello! Very pleased to connect with you. Well, quite a bit: we have a new release every Friday and kicking off November, we released a 31-track compilation entitled “Only Silk 05,” featuring new music from a bevy of veteran label contributors. Behind the scenes, we’ve also been working on a Silk Music-sponsored tour in the States, slated for summer 2019, featuring some of our leading artists.
T.H.E – Your latest release, Z:N vs. Boom Jinx & Katrine Stenbekk’s ‘Come Alive’ is a mighty record, has Silk previously signed a track from the legendary Boom Jinx?
Silk Music – Thanks for the compliment. No, “Come Alive” is Boom Jinx’s official Silk Music debut — a huge moment for us, since we’ve admired (and were heavily influenced by) many of his productions over the years, including his earliest records, such as “Remember September.”
T.H.E – As Silk Music goes from strength to strength, what would you say drives the label forwards from year to year?
Silk Music – We’re just as passionate about electronic music as ever before, and we have our core artists to thank for that fact, as they keep exploring the new sonic terrain, all-the-while maintaining an emotive and intelligent aesthetic to their sound.
T.H.E – Let’s talk about your history. How did the label first come to being & what early factors influenced your trademark sound?
Silk Music – Silk Music dates back to July 17, 2007, when Max Flyant and Alex “Mango” Golovanov decided to launch a label together, based upon Mango’s unique brand of emotive and uplifting electronic music. Silk Music’s very first release (“Summer Day”) actually features a remix by Mango, as well as fellow label muse Arthur Deep. In January 2008, just after this release, future label director Jacob Henry connected with Max and Mango, as well as a few other members of the crew, such as longstanding graphic designer Mike Alexeev. Over the last 10 years, about a dozen other assistants and consultants have joined the staff, including Gorm Sorensen, Eliran Mukdasi, Aeron Aether, Laurent Sadeg, Roman Morozov, and Chad Phillips.
T.H.E – Where did the name, Silk Music actually come from?
Silk Music – The original label slogan was the following: “No synthetics. Only Silk.” Max liked the idea of a name that reflected a smooth, high-quality sound.
T.H.E – How do you feel Trance is represented as a genre, in the DJ Mag Top 100 polling this year?
Silk Music – The influence of trance & progressive artists in the DJ Mag Top 100 polling seems to have steadily declined over the years, coinciding with the rise of festival (EDM) artists. Truth be told: we don’t pay much attention to the DJ Mag polls, as our primary niche of the melodic progressive house has been almost completely ignored in these polls from the very beginning, with a few notable exceptions (e.g., Eric Prydz).
T.H.E – How do you find managing Silk Music Radio, alongside your busy release schedule?
Silk Music – It’s a labor of love, so we don’t mind it at all. It had always pained us that older releases had few opportunities to be rediscovered by a newer / younger audience; Silk Music Radio on YouTue, with the 24/7 “live” format, now offers us a platform for showcasing our favorite tracks since the label began. We no longer have to lose sleep over the relatively short promo periods of most single releases.
T.H.E – And finally, what can we else can expect from Silk Music, as we move into 2019?
Silk Music – In addition to a greater emphasis on live events, we have quite a few albums in the works, including new ones from Gregory Esayan and Vintage & Morelli, as well as the sequel to last year’s “The Midnight Remixed” project.
