Exclusive Interview with Kyau & Albert

Siam2nite had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with Kyau & Albert, shortly before their performance at Narz Bangkok on Friday 1st March.

In 1996 you released your first single “Let me in” – that’s 17 years ago. How did you guys meet, how did you get in touch with electronic dance music and what made you start to make music together?

Steven Albert: We met the first time in 1994 and we are from the same town.

Ralph Kyau: I wanted to buy a synthesizer from Ralph. In 1996 we merged our studios to have more equipment and a bigger sound. Since then we work successful together.

How would you describe your music?

Ralph Kyau: It's catchy electronic music with influences of Trance & Progressive House.

Steven Albert: We are like a band, because I am doing all the male vocals on our tracks.

Out of all tracks you have made, which would you recommend to those that are not yet familiar with your music?

Ralph Kyau: Hard question, because there are too many hits over the years. People should just check out our “15 Years Kyau & Albert” album or our new album “Nights Awake”!

Steven Albert: Maybe “Are You Fine” and “A Night Like This”.

Last year you released an album called “15 Years Kyau & Albert” with selected remixes and reworks of your biggest and most favorite songs. How was it to reflect on 15 years of collaboration?

Ralph Kyau: It was a really special project which brought all our biggest hits into an up-to-date club sound. The whole “15 Years” project was very successful and it was also a good way to bring our old hits to our younger fans.

You are currently on tour to promote your just recently released album “Nights Awake”. The album – released in mid-february is already #2 on Beatport’s Trance Top 100 Releases and the single “What Will Go” is #28 on Beatport’s Trance Top 100 Tracks. What can you tell us about the album?

Steven Albert: “Nights Awake” is our 3rd studio album and possibly the one we put in the most time and production experience.

Ralph Kyau: The album features many male vocal tracks with Steven's very significant voice, which is already a trademark for Kyau & Albert. There are also a few collaborations on the album with artists, such as, Paul van Dyk, Stoneface & Terminal, Ronski Speed and Adaja Black.

Your radio show 'Euphonic Sessions with Kyau & Albert' is syndicated on 25 FM stations around the globe. What can you tell us about the concept of the show and where can people listen to it?

Steven Albert: It's available as iTunes Podcast and additionally as audio stream including tracklist at our homepage http://www.kyauandalbert.com

Ralph Kyau: Furthermore you can get the latest shows from our Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/kyauandalbert

What were your highlights in 2012?

Ralph Kyau: So many highlights, because we played almost every weekend around the world. Maybe Tomorrowland in Belgium or EDC in Las Vegas.

You travel a lot. What are the essential things you need to have with you at all times and what are the things you miss when you are on tour?

Steven Albert: Essential things is our musical equipment such as headphones, all the music and a laptop.

Ralph Kyau: I sometimes miss the proper German night-sleep, when we travel through timezones.

What was the best and the worst gig you ever played?

Ralph Kyau: Best gigs were too many to pick out one! luckyly we did not had so many bad gigs. I remember one gig in India, which was closed by the police right before we started to play and the promoter absconded and left us there without any info. Luckely some fans help us.

What was the funniest thing ever occurred during any of your performances?

Steven Albert: A few years ago we played in Shanghai. Spontaneously almost everyone on the dancefloor were in a polonaise or "train", while we were playing banging EDM music.

Are you adventurous if it comes to food? Do you try the local dishes of the countries you travel to, or do you usually eat what you know from home? Will you give spicy Thai food a chance?

Steven Albert: Last times in Thailand we already had spicy food and loved it. I often eat spicy at home.

Ralph Kyau: Steven won a spicy competition with a Mexican. He can eat very spicy, which is too spicy for me. And of course we often try to eat local food, when we travel around the globe. In general we prefer more Asian food instead of Western fast food.

You will return to Bangkok on 1st March to perform at Narz Club, where you have already performed in November 2011 and January 2012. Did you keep the gigs in good memory? Are you excited to return to Bangkok?

Steven Albert: It was always great to play in Bangkok. We know we have long-term fans in Thailand and hope to see again a few of them at Narz.

What can Bangkok expect of your performance at Narz Club on 1st March?

Ralph Kyau: Really looking forward to the gig! Of course we will play a few tracks from the “Nights Awake” album.