Dutch producer Yannick Roberts chats new EP on Freerange

Freerange Records welcomes back Yannick Roberts with his ‘All For You’ EP. The EP consists of four cuts that perfectly demonstrate Yannick’s knack for producing quality club tunes! Known for his releases on Sleazy Beats, Sampling As An Art Records and his own record label Dievegge Recordings under his former name Ouvrijster, his DJ sets reflect his productions inspired by the Motor City of Detroit. You’ll hear nothing but warm soulful sounds, solid vocals, and grooves from this vinyl only DJ and producer out of Amsterdam. On the week of his new release, we get the chance to get to know a little more about Yannick Roberts.

‍Thanks for talking to us. Where are you at this moment and how are you spending the day?

It is the day that the Netherlands are facing the English team in the European Championship. Hopefully, we’ll make it to the finals!

What do you love most about where you are living? What keeps you where you are today?

I am very lucky with my house, where I live with my girlfriend. Amsterdam has become crazy expensive and I think it will only get worse in the next years. As I am working in the cultural sector - outside of making music -  and my girlfriend is an artist, it could be very possible that we would need to move to another city in the next two years.

Who are the most exciting local artists that we should look out for on the Amsterdam scene in your opinion?

I would really like to recommend Retromigration, who is part of Sounds Familiar. That whole roster is great actually. Dam Swindle is still doing amazing including their Heist label, and Makèz who are also are releasing top notch stuff.

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What kind of artists, DJs, genres were you into growing up?

Like everyone, I got most of my first taste in music from my parents when I was younger. What is pretty funny actually, is that my farther was really into this Lounge/House/Ibiza music in the 90’s and beginning of the 00’s. For example Llorca - My Precious Thing. Llorca (Art of Tones) actually played my music a few years ago and together with my father and brother we saw him in Ministry of Sound in London last year. It is weird to have this genre to be dominant while growing up, but it definitely got me into house.

How long have you been making music? What were your first steps as a producer/ artist?

I have been making music for a little over a decade now, where I released my first record about 7 years ago. It all started when I heard a track by Dam Swindle, I believe it was Brotherman which was released on Freerange, in a club in Amsterdam. Hearing this sound, I felt the urge to delve deeper into the genre, which was starting to boom in Amsterdam at that time. Simultaneously, I was living with a DJ duo called Cleavage, who started released music on Spinnin’ Records and also released a track with Lars from Dam Swindle. They showed me some things to get started in making music myself.

What came first for you Djing or production?

I started out with producing and I still think I put that in the first place. I feel like there are many DJ’s that are only taking from the music scene without giving back to it, which I try to do with producing. Don’t get me wrong, I love DJing and see people dancing to my music, collecting records in recordstores and searching for new music. However, I can be quite critical about DJing. It has become quite easy over the years and in Amsterdam I see that it affects the clubs and the ability to create communities in nightlife.

You released previously under Ouvrijster. Is there a variation in style from Yannick Roberts to this previous moniker?

Yeah absolutely! When I released music as Ouvrijster, everything was sampled. Literally everything, which was actually pretty frustrating at some point. I wanted to make deeper music with baselines and chords, which are not always clear enough in 70’s Soul and Disco records, if they are not used yet. Using chords, basses, violins with the addition of samples makes it possible for me to search for a deeper sound that I have been longing for.‍

Where did your inspiration/ obsession with sampling old records come from?

I mean, obviously it comes with the genre. House music, just as Hip Hop, are known for evolving from sampling records from the 70’s and adding drummachines and synths. I like to hold on to this. Sampling makes me go to record stores, meet people and discover music I did not know, or maybe knew through the way it has been sampled. There is so much good music that has been released that I want to discover even when I will never sample it for a track.

Who do you think is great at sampling as an art?

There are so many. I mean within house music Moodymann of course, Matthew Herbert, Fouk, but also outside of house music J Dilla, Kaytranada, Flying Lotus. Too many to mention actually, but really, it is amazing to see how many artist do it so well.

Who do you think is making great music at the moment internationally?

I would like to recommend some artist outside of house actually, because there are beautiful albums being made in the spectrum of Nu Jazz and Neo-Soul actually. So, Sault, or actually everything Cleo Sol does, Rueben James, Nubiyan Twist just came with a new album, Adi Oasis with came with a great album end of last year. And I feel like Ezra Collective will come with a great album somewhere this year.

As a renowned digger, what is the most recent record you discovered?

I haven’t found this in the bin, but have been looking out for it for months: Stefan Ringer - Hymns Vol.1. Only 200 records were pressed and I pre-ordered it months ago. According to Deejay, there were not even able to get one over to Europe. Really hoping for an additional pressing! Such an amazing record.

How big is your record collection/ obsession?

Luckily, it is not getting out of hand yet. I do have some records that I would need to give to the record shops again, because I don’t play that sound anymore. It would give me more room as well to buy some more haha.

Is there a secret spot that you will divulge to us to dig?

Go to Killa Cutz in Amsterdam, and if you are here then Rush Hour too of course. And Waxwell! I also go every year to Paris and dig records with my brother in Superfly and Syncrophone. In Berlin I always go to Hardwax and OYE. There are many others I visit whenever I am in a city, but I can’t tip them all.

Is it correct that you never play digital?  

I actually started with digital this year. I hate using digital files, but not everything I want to play is coming out on vinyl. So I am trying to get used to digital mixing and finding my way in files and bits.

Do you bother with digital promo services?

Like all things, there are good and bad sides. It is amazing to see who is interested in playing my music and also to get a comment on how they think about it. On the other hand, some people might be getting promo’s while they are already the people who are DJing in large venues and collecting big fees.

Tell us a little about your label Dievegge.

I started it to search for my own sound while still releasing music I was making and to also manage the other side of music. The first record actually went quite good, but with the second one the sales were not enough to recoup the costs. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to release music yet from some artists that were sending over really great stuff, cause I did want to make sure I could pay people. After that second release, I was able to release on Sampling As An Art, which shifted my attention of the label into my releasing on other labels again.

‍Is the label vinyl only?

It is!

Is it challenging in the current climate to run a label?

It is really challenging to run a label now I think. Taste in music has been shifted over the past ten years and more smaller labels in this genre of house have disappeared.

How did you first connect with the Freerange guys?

I believe I had just sent a message with my demos. Jamie had heard my Sampling As An Art release and was positive about the demo’s I had sent.

The labels output is pretty solid. How does it feel to have your release on Freerange Records?

Absolutely amazing. The label has put out so much amazing music from so many great artists. I incredibly honored to be contributing to that. Also, as I mentioned, I think it all started for me when I heard the music of Dam Swindle who released on Freerange. So releasing on Freerange has come full circle for me. And on top of all of that, everyone working for Freerange is really great and so kind. It a real pleasure working with them all.

This is not your first outing on Freerange. What was the first EP?

It really was s shift between what I did as Ouvrijster and what I do now.

Tell us about the new EP and the initial idea.

All For You EP really introduces the new sound I have been working on the past two years. More heavy basslines and moody chords to get into this deeper sound I want to discover. Also I finally introduced some 909 drums in the productions. In some of the tracks, the samples have been pushed to the background or the details, while in other they are still the main element. This really is a record that contains a sound that I searched for in the recent years.

What are you most proud of with this release?

Releasing again on Freerange is such an honour and their support gives me such a nice reassuring feeling. I hope the record will be picked up by the scene. That always strikes me with every Freerange release.

What was the most challenging part of bringing the release together?

The EP was actually already done last year, but the A1 then contained a sample that was a bit problematic. So, I had to create a new A1, which you can imagine was quite a struggle cause it is the one track that really needs to stands out and to define the EP. Luckily, I made Grace in the months thereafter and after finishing it I am actually pretty glad that the previous A1 is not being released.

What drives you to create music?

That feeling of having your own music on vinyl in your hands is incredible special. But I just love all the bits of the process, from finding samples in recordstores to creating something in my house and from playing my music in a club to having contact with record labels.

What has been one of your favorite moments from the past year?‍

Last year I had my first ADE gig. I wanted to be asked instead of pushing myself on a line-up somewhere. The distributer of Dievegge Recordings, Inch By Inch, had a pop-up store during ADE and asked my to open up their last day in Amsterdam. They collaborated with Varia and had a RDM40 there, which is an incredible mixer. I met many very kind people, it was such a pleasure!‍

Where do you find the most inspiration when it comes to discovering new music? ‍

I mean, I can’t deny that Spotify is your friend. The platform is just so good and so much music is available in great quality. Dive into a playlist, artist radio’s or song radio to get general knowledge regarding genres, artists and dominant sounds in certain decades including instrument usage. If you then enter a record store, you bring more knowledge with you that makes it far more easier for you to find something you’ll faster. I know some people also sample using Spotify or something like that, but I would suggest to go to the recordstores. You’ll always find something you wouldn’t have found anywhere else (much is still not online!) and you’ll listen differently! Trust the process. ‍

What can we hope to see next from Yannick Roberts?‍

I hope this release will take me some places, since I would love to play some music here and there. And of course, I will keep on making music so keep an eye out for that!

Buy/listen to Yannick Roberts - All For You here