| Trotter - Interview |
 Mason BZ: Hey Rodrigo, thanks for sitting down with Below Zero to talk about your music. My first question is what does your name mean… Trotter?Trotter: It is about horses, we are farmers from my Mom's side, and low profile life-style, easy going feeling, just keep the Trot . Mason BZ: When did you first get into production and music and what lead you into the world of down tempo? Trotter: I'm Brazilian , and I always had that "Bossa Nova Feeling" around me, but was missing something, maybe because I'm quite young for understand Bossa Nova, so the first time I heard Kruder & Dorfmeister I said to myself, "Its that" at least I heard that mood, but in a different way, with some new elements, electronic music elements, and this combination made great sense to me. I think Vienna "HUG" Bossa Nova, and took it to another step in music. That is why we had so many great artists and labels releasing so many great compilations & albums, just like 'Vienna Scientists', 'Eclectic Sound of Vienna', 'G Stone Records', all this is a mix of Bossa Nova - Reggae - Trip Hop - Drum & Bass, so this was the right music for me. Before that I use to listen reggae, love old school reggae & Brazilian music. I started making music almost 10 year ago, started in the software Fruit Loops, after one year i was already in Logic 4 or 3, don't remember anymore... always had that downbeat feeling; so I released in many downbeat labels such as: Indica Music ( Italy ) - Chillosophy Music ( Sweden ) - Kagdila Rec ( Portugal ) from around 2003 to 2006. Mason BZ: Tell us about your connection to Timewarp Music, you are located in Brazil and they are in Greece! You were on Royal Soul Records? Trotter: I always loved all the Timewarp Music releases, I would buy all the releases... around 2005 & 2006, when i get the Quasamodo album "Truth to be Told" I was really connected with that album. I sent one email to Dimitris (Quasamodo) , and we started a friendship, so I sent him one of my tracks, and he asked me to remix one of his, for the EP, "Truth to be Told Remix Vol.1", so i did the remix and it was released on, "Quasamodo - Party Time (Trotter Remix)", after that Dimitris intoduced me to Timewarp Music's CEO, Angelos. Since that time I was looking to release my own album, and I asked about the possibility of doing it for Timewarp. Angelos asked me for few tracks for one EP, after that we released my debut EP, "Trotter - Faixa Preta". Many people loved the EP, so I started to produce the entire album. So I guess you could say, that this is all about friendship. I must say thank you to Dimitris (Quasamodo) and Angelos (Timewarp Inc & Timewarp Music) as it is a dream that has come true. I'm really happy about it. As for Royal Soul Records, that is my own record label. It is my second label as the first one I tried with another producer from Brasil, "Son&Sen Records" in 2005, we released one 12", after that we choose different paths in music and we closed the label. From there I built my own, as a Producer & DJ for the last 10 years. I have played all over Brazil and share the stage with many great artists & DJs. Playing in all the major cities in Brazil I decided to select one theme to represent my work, Royal Soul Records. Originally, I'm from Sao Paulo, and the label's first release was a 12", after that the last South American vinyl factory was shut down, so we started to release digital EPs. We are now up our 7th EP and it is going very well. Mason BZ: Where do you get your main inspirations from when it comes to your creating your sound and the album “Positive Culture”? Trotter: Brasilian landscapes ... and the parties over here, we have just been going for it for 10 years playing in many great festivals. I tried to bring back the 1970's feeling connected with 1990's & 2000's, with many reggae & bossa nova ideas. Not sure if is that , but I tried. This album is a mix of many tracks that I have been making all these years. There is also a big influence from House music. I was missing some positive points of view, hard to find these days, on this planet, but I think I found them and hopefully will make people listen and think in a different way, give a chance for the positive stuff that happens in this world. My main influence is from: Noel Rosa - Wilson Batista - Jazz - Soul - Latin Music - 70's Disco Boogies - Bob Marley - James Brown - Jorge Ben - Tim Maia - Quincy Jones - Afrika Bambaataa - Richard Dorfmeister - Baby Mammoth - Bozzo Bajou - Malente - All Good Funk Alliance - Quasamodo - Timewarp Inc - Fort Knox Five - and Neighbour. Mason BZ: You are also a DJ going under the name Soneca? What does that mean and what and where do you play out? Trotter: Yeah , DJ Soneca , it is me , well I'm a DJ here in Brazil, and that is just my nick-name. I have had it since i was really young. These days though I'm focusing in on Trotter only... but Soneca in Portuguese means sleepy, heheheh, its a very old nick-name. ;) As Soneca I have played in so many different places such as: Glade Festival 2009 - UK -- Sonica Festival 2005 / 2006 / 2007 - Italy -- Boom Festival 2008 - Portugal -- VooV Experience 2006 - Germany -- Sutra Lounge 2007 - NY : USA -- Saphire Lounge 2007 - NY : USA And of course all over Brazil, I just came back from one GREAT festival that happend here; Savassi Jazz Festival (In Belo Horizonte City) You guys can check the pictures HERE. This is my press release for 2008 as well, which needs to be updated a bit. Learn more about Trotter
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Trotter: Humm, great question, I love Brazilian food... rice, beans; the perfect dish for me is: Feijoada... and to drink, Caipirinha, you can learn how to do it