Hi Jayce and thank you for the opportunity to ask you a few questions about you and your recent Armee der Tristen remix. Would you also tell us a little bit about yourself? How you got into music, your way to the point up to where you are now... so people can get to know you better.
I have been doing music all my life really, I first got into music when I was very young. The rock band Queen is what made me get into music, and so from there I have been a drummer, a guitarist but most notably a solo artist under my own name 'Jayce Lewis'. That's when things really came together for me, and actually that's how I got to know Rammstein. Its been an interesting life.
Have you been a fan of the band before or did you just discover them through that remix? Would you tell us what your favourite song and/or album is? And your thoughts about the band in general.
Well... like most people, I have been intrigued by the band, I wasn't so much of a fan at the start. But, when I saw them perform a festival that I had also performed at I was BLOWN AWAY!! That also was when I met Christoph, from there I was so taken in by their show that I just had to to understand better what they were about, it was like discovering a band halfway through their career but rewinding the discovery backwards and learning from the beginnings, I love everything they do, Christoph has such a solid groove, Paul and Richard just have this incredible sound, and decades of riffs, the keys work from Flake is the icing on the cake, and Tills poetic vocal style and very clever wording is what themes the whole band. A Story and Rhyme kinda thing. You couldn't expect anything more from something so well orchestrated.
How were you approached and who approached you about the remix?
It was something I approached Christoph Schneider with, as soon as I heard the song I messaged him right away with my thoughts of how much I'd love to do a remix for it. He agreed and the wheels were in motion from there. I actually created the remix two months ago.
Do you know why you were chosen to do a remix?
Well, myself and Christoph have been speaking to each other for a long time, 11-12 years so, he as been aware of my music for many years and lately, my recording studio and production capabilities. I speak with Olsen often too who works with the guys closely, so we have a great respect and friendship amongst us. It really made sense in the end to do this with them in the end.
Were you free to choose the song you wanted to create a remix for?
Yes, as mentioned. As soon as I heard the 'Zeit' album, I asked to do a remix for that song, I just kept returning to 'Armee der Tristen' on the album, for me that should have been a single of theirs, it's just so catchy, so memorable, makes you move in a great way, its also so powerful live.
Were there any guidelines you had to work by or did the band/management give you all the freedom to do what you wanted?
There were no guidelines at all, it was very relaxed. They really have a great team, a great infrastructure so, they just let me get on with it. Olsen made a small but fair suggestion at one point, which was just a lyric based idea, as I don't speak German. So I changed that one part, everything else is as I composed, produced and mixed it.
Did you have a vision for the remix of something that you wanted or tried to do with it?
Absolutely, as soon as I heard the song I had ideas right away. In my remix the only thing that is there from the original song is Till's vocals, and a tiny drum roll which I got form the song on CD, haha. Everything else was programmed by myself. The biggest challenge was if I should make it a full-on House 4 to the floor kinda 'Boom Boom' remix, or create a little bit of both, keep a journey, but also make it Pump. It was important to keep that movement of the original song. Create new sounds but make the dynamic a little more linear.
For anyone who doesn't know you: which song of yourself would you recommend to listen to first?
I would say to check out 'Electric Medicine', '= Pure', 'Daw Martyr' and 'Shields'. They all have music videos that go with them on YouTube too, that's probably the best place to listen and watch, so check them out.
Thank you for your time and the remix you created.
Thank you, kindly. I am grateful.