2023-12-17 15:41:00
Stereoclip, whose real name is Maxime Merkpoel, is a Belgian DJ, from Ixelles, known throughout the world. With more than 1.2 million subscribers on the Spotify music platform, the 34-year-old producer is one of the big names in house music on the international scenes and is even one of the pioneers of the genre in Belgium. From Berlin to Canada, via Dour, Tomorrowland, the Olympia and many other stages on the continent and elsewhere, in 14 years of career, Stereoclip already has three albums under its belt. A fourth, called “Reflex”, is planned for March 1, 2024 and the first single “Stereofunk” is available everywhere.
Stereoclip: Belgian Daft Punk, from Braine-l’Alleud, releases a new song
Born in Uccle, Maxime spent his childhood in Braine-l’Alleud. He completed his studies at Cardinal Mercier College before completing them at the Riva Bella Royal Athenaeum. After finishing secondary school, he went to the graphic research school, ERG, in Ixelles. Initially interested in visual art and more in video, he quickly turned to music and charted his path.
Where did the trigger for you to start composing come from?
My parents gave me a computer for my studies. I might install lots of programs there, including one that a friend gave me. I first learned to deal with that and then I went to do a short internship of two or three months in studios. Later, I went to Berlin for a few days. If I listened to a little electronic music, nothing more, when I arrived in Berlin I understood more deeply where the delirium was. When I returned, I adapted what I was already doing with this new influence. From there, I made my first sounds then I started to have two or three concerts in Brussels.
Stereoclip en concert. © Geoffrey Hubbel
And why Stereoclip?
At 17-18 years old, I wanted to organize parties with a friend and we had written lots of words on a sheet of paper and when I had some sounds that I wanted to put on the internet, I looked on the sheet to see what sounded like it. better. Then I really liked the video at that time. It was quite evocative too.
You will release your fourth album in March, it will be the first as an independent, why are you launching this time without the intermediary of a record company?
After the experience of the last ten years, I know exactly what I no longer want. I want to try things. And the more intermediaries you have (record labels, distributors, platforms), the more you are dependent on everyone’s wishes. Everyone imposes things like adding their logo to the album cover, etc.
stereoclip, dj, Belgian, Walloon Brabant, music, techno ©cameriere ennio
And are you supported in this process?
I co-produced the album with one of my best friends. His name is Nicolas Scaravilli (Kid Crème) who is one of the pioneers of electronic music in Belgium. He toured a lot with Junior Jack, a huge Belgian name.
The people I work with are mainly friends or have become friends as a result of working together. I met one of my best friends through music. In fact, I found some super close friends through her. And above all, music has been the best life experience for me. To experience things, confront myself, etc.
How will the other pieces from Reflex compare to Stereofunk?
For singles, I always take key tracks to show what will be on the album. The next “Mystery” (in January) will be with voices. The one from February is a really club song. Mystery, I did it with a singer who produces very cool music, Mundungo. I produced with him and we recorded a sound: a synth, a bass, his voice, so everything you might find in a studio.
What are the plans for the future?
Here I started the promotion. It’s still a risk to have to do it myself, to step outside the framework of the last ten years. It’s also a slightly different album from what I’ve done. I want to see how people receive it. Frankly, the first single (Stereofunk) is quite far from what I’ve done before. But it’s really well received. And there is impatience at the production level because it is the best of the four. Even if the third is strong too.
I would like to defend this new album a little live on some nice dates. I have already done four which were focused on the presentation. And then, I’m going to think regarding what I’m going to do for the release. It will be in Brussels then, something in Milan, Istanbul…
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