TALKING SHOP

The minimalist maestro on sampling, J Dilla and his debut album Alone Together

All the way from Steve Reich through to Ricardo Villalobos, minimalists have recognised the fundamental truth at the heart of the old cliché, ‘less is more’. While the uninitiated might accuse minimal music of soullessness or vacuity, those acquainted with its charms know that the opposite is true; sparse arrangements serve to heighten the listener’s focus, revealing new levels of detail while amplifying the emotion and drama inherent in their constituent parts.

This is something Viken Arman accomplishes masterfully on his debut album, Alone Together. Arman’s been around the block a few times, releasing five EPs over the last decade while carving out a reputation as an acclaimed international DJ and live performer, and that confidence can be heard in the nine tracks that make up his first full-length project, the French producer’s boldest artistic statement yet. Where Arman’s early releases perfected a menacingly funky take on minimal house, his debut release expands this purview, channeling inspiration sparked by ecstatic moments on the dancefloor through weighty grooves that borrow from jazz, hip-hop and world music to drape Arman’s skeletal beats in vivid new colours.

We caught up with Viken Arman to hear more about his unique approach to music-making, his beloved compressor chain and the classic analogue synth he describes as a “masterpiece”.