RA Sessions: Steevio | Resident Advisor

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Modular magic from the Freerotation co-founder.
Back in the mid-'00s, Steevio was a regular user on the production section of mnml.nl, a popular message board at the time. Its users would regularly ask him questions on all aspects of the production process, and he was always happy to help, offering authoritative advice backed by years of experience. Though he was never secretive about his craft, an aura nevertheless built up around him-a dreadlocked former free-party organiser holed up in North Wales with a killer setup. These days Steevio is most widely known, along with his partner, Suzybee, as the founder of Freerotation festival, which next month reaches its tenth anniversary, but he still seems as passionate as ever about the possibilities of electronic music production (even if running the festival means he has much less time in the studio than he'd like). He gets his kicks from a modular rig that itself has become a little mythical. The full setup is Keith Emerson-esque, and has only been used live a handful of times outside of Freerotation (Steevio offered to bring it to London for this film but said the whole process would have taken a week in total).
Building the rig has been worth the effort-it's helped Steevio develop a style you could spot in a blind test. He's fond of slippery melodies and subtly broken beats, a sound that comes from a desire to stand out in the house and techno pack. "I got bored of hearing the same 4/4 motifs like snare drums and claps on the beats 2 and 4, which is the common house method of punctuating the rhythm," he said in 2012. These one-take jams usually end up on his own Mindtours label, although there have been releases on UntilMyHeartStops and Schmorgasbord as well. Barring any further delays at the pressing plant, there'll be a new Modular Techno EP on Mindtours and a track on a compilation EP for the Freerotation label (alongside tracks from Anthony Child, Duckett and Tom Ellis) in the coming weeks. For now, put aside 15 minutes and watch Steevio weave his modular magic.
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Credits:
Director - Patrick Nation
Producer - Debbie Butts
Camera - Patrick Nation, Debbie Butts, Guy Clarke
Sound Engineers - Rich Cufley

[@DavidFlorer]

Swingy, shuffly, FUNKY AF and full of variation and attitude. His ability to tune his VCOs to such complex voicing... polyrhythmic polyphonic melodies...Brilliant sound design and production. So much modular music is boring quantized dribble with little variation. This would be amazing music even if produced in a DAW with all the amenities. My hats off to Steevio, a huge inspiration of what can be done with gear. Sheer brilliance, 10/10

[@korberd]

Amen ☀

[@suzybeeMINDTOURS]

thank you!!! x

[@adg648]

First time I've heard Steevio and I goddamn love it.

[@raskolnikov1242]

;) how s'goin' since then? H'n'K'

[@barlobarlo303]

The way this starts, the way it builds, the way it evolves, the way it ends - Steevio is the master.

[@thephantom8865]

Honestly one of if not the best RA session I’ve seen. I have this downloaded on my phone and I listen to it almost every day during my commute. I need more steevio sets!!!!

[@lcaise]

that's what I call TECHNO

[@City2x]

I keep coming back to this video. Best live modular set I have ever seen or heard. He has complete mastery of his gear. Amazing!

[@symm8318]

The setup it's out of this world. This man is ahead of its time.

[@swarm69]

modular is 70's or 60's tech so not really.. but its rad as fuck!

[@toonertik]

From 1971 .. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2bXiHV4mLeMmq8 I memeber when this first came out... still does it for me... and it's bigger than mine.. ;)

[@SchooloftheArts]

watching this guy 'ave with that t-shirt & drealocks brings a smile to my face

[@biokode]

this is high level jazz, and it's most likely improvised? the genius of this man can not be understated

[@GregQchi]

Agreed.

[@JohannesLind]

Not to be like that But it Should be ”overstated” :P

[@biokode]

@@JohannesLind haha yes that is true

[@sunburst3353]

This is simply the most amazing thing I have ever seen or heard done on a modular setup with no keyboard, played by a real musician!

[@MrDschiesus]

what is a real musician?

[@mikerowland7820]

he was an accomplished guitarist met him in his early days when he did his first 303 records

[@PtheTinTHE]

@@MrDschiesus one that practices A LOT and doesn't SUCK

[@earlgrey2130]

​@@PtheTinTHEi'd more say its one that isn't imaginary 😅

[@okiokic]

Electronic just evolved..wonderful man!

[@stoodmars]

4:40 such a trip - those high hats keep you from floating off with those ghostly pads, such a joy to listen to

[@mwa1254]

Next tier up this 🔝 I don’t think I could handle spending a day in your head, if you come up with these sounds, I think when I came back into my own head life would never be the same again! Just whoa!!!

[@yaroslavvdovenko3482]

It's not music, it's a miracle of the Universe

[@psycox8758]

Fooky Nail ! Why have I only just found this ?Stunning!

[@Tolivar]

This is jazz on a modular :O LOVE IT

[@medellinstyle]

where he was all this timeeeee wait for him at FREEDOM 2020 in Medellin Colombia YASSSS!!!!

[@camiloalvarezt]

👽👽

[@quiddam]

how is the low end of this so,,,,,,(chef's kiss)

[@Spacechord]

Steevio I love 💕 you 💕 Freerotation always in my ♥️ thank you 🙏

[@owenthesoyboy]

Intricate and subtle touches with skilled craftsmanship, this is such a terrific piece of work! Mellow and deep sounds its a great set.

[@Rossyj2]

10:00 onwards is absolute magic.

[@weave_of_k]

Getting some "Bitches Brew" vibes here and I'm digging it.

[@mdmelectronicmusic]

Steevio is the man! Great artist, great person.

[@gavinkerslake]

love this

[@mimoincc]

Last 3 minutes blew my mind. Wow.

[@hrznrecordings9573]

Absolutely amazing!

[@steelcitybudschannel2804]

Just a shame it’s not 12 hours long

[@SimonRedfernLondonBerlin]

Perfectly balanced, groovy, intriguing and gentle. Respect!

[@mathanmachlev]

Cant believe I didnt know him until now

[@SubRender]

always amazing

[@addyytzu]

What a pure legend!

[@joseph.nicolaus]

nice sounds!

[@skriptico]

great set... wonderful music. its the first time that i really like a modular set. :O

[@leninonacid2358]

Got many records from his "Torque" Label from the 90s, all of those records do have a MASSIVE sound which makes them very hard to add them in a DJ set because their sound makes other records sound pretty weak...

[@LoudPaul1]

I've looked online and can't find anything of theirs, any leads?

[@leninonacid2358]

@@LoudPaul1 then keep looking :)

[@Chasing_Thoughts]

If you’re here, you’re a fucking legend

[@foenzie]

very musical, top notch sir

[@jamiestewart1644]

Very nice stuff. And good to see him using Metasonix too!

[@______BS______]

so good!

[@WillisZzz]

This is brilliant

[@jsogman]

This is bloody great!

[@lewiglenismusic662]

Dude's the Gene Krupa of modular!

[@EntonDelMonte]

such an inspiration!

[@dcupmusic]

just that bit of swing makes it groov

[@WokeAssMessiah]

Astounding!

[@jakojako_live]

love it!

[@boybianchi]

Wow. Just wow.

[@modularnepl900]

amazing!

[@RalphBaumgartl]

Nice music and performance!

[@kalzonee9747]

He is possessed. Awesome!

[@MirrorLake_mx]

This is so cool!!!

[@jeanreibel5525]

Génial, d'une propreté d'exception :)

[@williamthazard]

oh my god. This is amazing

[@vampiresforesl]

Great to hear this much more clearly than his demo vids.

[@SoundDesignerslabel]

Hipnotic jazzy class!!

[@CO5MA]

I could think the Steevio's favourite album are Beaubourg and Invisible Connections by Vangelis.

[@TheTrancemaster90]

High Tech Jazz

[@thesnipecatcher116]

Dang, just found out about this man tonight. Absolute genius

[@nadiapopoffmusic]

wow Amazing !!!!!!!!!!!

[@adrianserranosanjuan8583]

AWESOME

[@playboxadministrator9229]

Bloody brilliant. You have a new fan Steevio. This is the live version of the Deep & Tech House events that my friends put on. Great stuff. :-)

[@sentientkeyboard]

so dope

[@hydrogxn]

Next level.

[@finncooney7449]

this is excellence

[@douglasnascimento1447]

Just insane.

[@lockylique]

Yessss!!thank you sir...33 :)

[@simetrip]

Qué pedazo de maestro el que va a tener el Freedom2020.

[@disectormusic]

UNDERRATED

[@davidgoodman6663]

YES!!!!

[@Drummer9027]

amazed

[@yanonayanonay]

did i heard groove? ohhhhh yyyyeeeeeesssssss this is groove !

[@spektrum4913]

Just what the uk festival scene needs.. cammmmonnn!

[@StuK157]

He runs a festival in Wales called Freerotation...good luck getting tickets though😝

[@marcneuron3506]

Top!!!

[@eatingmusic7873]

cool! electro jazz :)

[@VeliyevRauf]

bravo

[@derekcrockett6214]

🔥

[@laura.valdivieso]

just Wow

[@jamesmeustache7740]

classy man

[@phelipemidena9195]

4 dislikes ? must be david gueta fans

[@cassettehan8639]

Jajaja calvin harris fans gared xd

[@user-nm9tk5fe3l]

ya son 7

[@olecranonrebellion9976]

Not everybody likes hippie funk. Hes good at it for sure.

[@JEFFSP-ks5ez]

sooooo true

[@nordinoux]

dont like shit ghetta and that shit too.... bip bipp bop bop paf paf piff piff pouf piuf, groove is here but so shy, grooooooooove where are uuuuu, so much overrated

[@offworldnetwork]

Shwing !

[@viveknandur3470]

What a boss

[@purefilth4201]

the master

[@-KKIF-]

Bijoux!!

[@BurgBassBeats]

Fucking beauty.

[@zzzz-yw4zk]

thats a cool grandpa

[@deejaydubla]

Wow.

[@macz1984]

he have rhythm!!!!

[@LarcTald]

he have trigger riot. -)

[@FunkTree]

The best

[@OB1techno]

Ace!

[@THREEo3]

reminds me of exquisite corpse, you need to release this! could watch his passion for what hes creating all night, thank you

[@FregoniFOSK]

Went for a search on youtube for exquisite corpse: didn't sound anything alike tho

[@klane365]

Вижу Стивио, ставлю лайк.

[@proyectomuller1438]

M'agicoo!

[@ringtangting]

Which Moog box is that? Don't think I have ever seen it before. Great performance!

[@kokasharabidze2495]

voyager

[@Sklang32]

It's not a good idea to have this video available to people that have a new and serious modular addiction.

[@irenapetku7685]

Ovo je bzvz sluša se u mene Thompson zekooo pozzz košarkašima šibenske nksibenik glavu gore naaj funcutima

[@stanaminana6307]

Pls RA let us download this. pls

[@monome6296]

hi steevio, may i ask what the bitstream 3x is exactly controlling in this set-up please? the modular part seems to be much smaller in comparison with your usual set-up, is this a complete modular set-up please? thanks! Anyway, great melodies and rhythms!!

[@excaliburlakevold7574]

I'm also curious about the Bitstream

[@huangjiyang6533]

太牛逼了！！！

[@strawberrygrrrl1]

[@biokode]

time to start saving money (again) 😭

[@gilberto2764]

Mmm, nice.