EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Within contemporary techno, few artists have
constructed a universe as personal, immersive, and spellbinding as IGNEZ. At the helm of Somov Records, which now celebrates its fifth anniversary, the Dutch artist stands not just as a DJ or producer but as a visionary curator of emotional depth and hypnotic resonance. A decade ago, IGNEZ was merely another curious adolescent wandering through the industrial cathedrals of Amsterdam’s nightlife, an impressionable spectator enchanted by the refined chaos of Club Trouw. Today, he operates as a conduit of those formative vibrations, channeling them into a sound that is both fiercely independent and transcendently communal. With each release and performance, IGNEZ offers more than music, he delivers an experience, one that dissolves boundaries between artist and listener, between sound and emotion.
My conversation with IGNEZ reveals an artist grounded not in ego or ambition, but in deep-rooted conviction and a relentless dedication to the craft. His words flow like his productions, deliberate, intuitive, and rich with unspoken undercurrents. As we dissect his journey from starry-eyed clubgoer to label head and globally respected tastemaker, the nuances of independence, collaboration, and sonic identity unfold with the gravitas of someone who has not only lived their story but has felt every beat of it. To speak with IGNEZ is to engage with a mind that has mastered the art of
subtle disruption, a sonic architect designing
cathedrals of feeling and frequency that stretch far beyond the constraints of genre.
A Foundation of Obsession and Instinct
“Club Trouw in Amsterdam played a big role in it for me. I was very (too) young at the time, listening to all the carefully curated artists at the club. My whole life, I was heavily surrounded by music, but it was in those years that my obsession with electronic music took off and shaped my interest. Going to an Ostgut Ton showcase hosted by Dekmantel was one of those moments. I was DJing for some years already, and was excited for my first proper event showcasing music that I only knew from home. I remember leaving the event, coming back home, blown away by what I witnessed. It was hard to process for me at that moment, but I knew very clearly that the magic and sound are what I want to create.”
These early memories form the emotional and creative architecture of IGNEZ’s current ethos, an intersection of immersive listening, introspective resonance, and finely calibrated musical curation. The seeds planted during those transformative nights now blossom in each carefully constructed release and heartfelt performance.
“I was a bit intimidated by the labels I wanted to release on, and no one was replying to my emails at that time. Instead of waiting for others to find my email, I decided to take it into my own hands. It was important for me
that my music was put out in the right way, as it is such an intimate part of me. Also, taking the responsibility of overseeing the artwork and vinyl pressing felt like the coolest way to share my music with the world.”
The birth of Somov was less a business decision and more an act of creative resistance and radical self-trust. Amidst financial constraints and industry skepticism, IGNEZ held his line, refusing to compromise on vision or quality.
“There were some hurdles right at the start, a lack of money, and pressing records is expensive. And no distribution wanted to take my records into their hands. They told me there is an IDM and ambient track on the EP, and it’s not going to sell. 90% of the new labels don’t sell. What also did not help I only had 100 followers on Facebook. Mainly my friends. But I believed in my music too much not to press the records. After receiving 300 copies of the first release on my doorstep, I sent an email to Hardwax, they wanted to buy 50 records. Delivered by myself, it was the beginning, the rest is history.”
FROM INTUITION TO CURATION
“The tracks are mainly inspired by DJing so much lately. They are all made not long after a gig, fuelled with inspiration, in the plane or my studio. I make the best music not thinking at all, I guess being sleep deprived and still in a somewhat of flow from the night before helps. When everything comes together, playing it out loud on a special moment is just the best feeling. Like ‘Immersion’ on a Sunday morning in front of thousands of people at Fusion Festival during sunrise, playing together with Rødhåd.”
There’s a bodily spontaneity to his process,creation not as calculated composition but as muscle memory, fueled by communal energy and the echoes of shared transcendence.
“I need to feel it. I can’t say much more about it. If it touches my heart and I think the world needs to listen to it, I release it.”
When asked about his selection process as a label head, IGNEZ responds with the brevity and certainty of someone who doesn’t merely hear music, but deeply feels it.
“I will stay true to myself without following any trend whatsoever. That will be the most important for the label’s identity. I guess the label will always be a reflection of who I am. And what inspires me creatively. There is so much I still want to do with Somov that I am sure it won’t be just techno. Soon, there will be a remix EP coming out on the label, giving a fresh look at some older tracks on the label. Also, a blend of upcoming talent and longtime techno pioneers.”
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