German trance duo Cosmic Gate chatted about their new album “MOSAIIK: Chapter 2.”
What were your main criteria for songs that would feature on the new album?
Our sound has been in transition for a while. Modifying it was something that we not only wanted to do, but also felt compelled to, so as to remain true to ourselves…
Through our weekly Wake Your Mind Radio show and the WYM Sessions compilation, we started to work in deeper edged cuts several years ago. The feedback was better than we could have dreamed of and that really opened the door to ‘MOSAIIK’ and all that’s come with it. So the criteria was anything that fitted in with that perspective.”
Do you have a personal favorite song on there, and why?
We don’t. Others might on their albums, but we can’t see Cosmic Gate tracks that way. To have one would in someway not do full justice to the others, which, at its heart is wrong from the creative perspective.
So, we don’t speak in terms of favorites. There’s also as aspect of mood to it too though. One day you’re more in the mood to work on track and then the next, it’s another … and so on. Essentially, we leave picking favorites down to the fans.
How would you describe the theme to the MOSAIIK album as a whole?
Deeper is one way of describing it, but that also might be oversimplifying it. We were looking to make music with even greater meaning. That involved working with different singers and songwriters to come up with something that could live even longer in the minds of the audience.
What we love to think is that after a gig or a radio show, fans would go away with, say, the words from ‘Blame’, or ‘Hear Me Out’ or ‘Emotions Of Colour’ or any of the other vocal cuts in their heads and start thinking more about their meaning.
Why did you choose to split the album into two chapters?
It’s very simple. In the album project’s fullness, we knew there would be too much music for one traditional length album. We just knew we had too much to ‘say’ with this new musical direction.
Separating an album into two parts also means we have longer to enjoy the process ‘in the moment’ as opposed to there being a big rush and only getting the full fulfilment after it’s all complete.
You recently announced a new North American tour for the spring and summer. How will the ‘MOSAIIK’ albums be incorporated into that?
Well, we now have ALL the music from the two albums to work into our sets, which will give fans the complete feel and experience! That means a lot to us, as the project has taken several years to complete.
Your latest single (“Emotions Of Colour”) features the English singer-songwriter Gid Sedgwick. How did you cross paths with him?
Gid originally came to our attention through some music he was making with Ilan Bluestone and a few other guys. He has an excellent voice, very strong and mature beyond his years. It was his lyrics though that struck us as much.
His themes, and the way he phrases his lyrics are really advanced in terms of their thinking, and that married perfectly with the music we were looking to put on the MOSAIIK albums.
Do you have a favorite motto that you live your musical life by?
We don’t have a favorite necessarily, but one we do find ourselves saying quite a bit is ‘in life what is the point in saying ‘never’!? You’d just don’t know what circumstances may come in the fullness of time.
Where do you see electronic music in the next 10 years?
In certain ways, electronic music has broken the decade-cycle of music… The 60s, 70s the 80s, the 90s, etc. So, what we see is that certain styles of electronic music (house, techno, trance and others) will keep cycling in and out as new DJs discover them, pick up on them and find new ways of incorporating them into what they do.
What does the word success mean to you?
Making our music and performing it in front of people who are feeling it. It really is that easy to define.
“MOSAIIK: Chapter 2” is available on digital service providers by clicking here.
To learn more about Cosmic Gate, check out their official website.
