Skinnerbox

Berlin electronica eccentrics Iftah Gabbai and Olag Hilgenfeld tell us about the thrill of improvising dance music on stage, and their Max for Live gadgets that make it all happen

CM: How did Skinnerbox form? Olag Hilgenfeld: “We met at a house party 15 years ago, and had one of those typical jam sessions – playing instruments, making silly songs.”

Iftah Gabbai: “There was a rave renaissance going on in Berlin back then, and we built ourselves a portable PA system – a car battery powering a speaker, and me with a laptop. We became more and more ‘four-to-the-floor’, playing more clubs, and one thing led to another.”

CM: What is it about live performance that appeals to you both?

IG: “It’s our fascination with music in the moment. When we improvise on stage, the music is alive. For it to be improvised, it has to be alive. It’s our obsession with the idea of being completely flexible. ”

OH: “We like to create in the moment. It’s not only about the tones we play – it’s also about the atmosphere in the club. People demand more of the moment, and we can give it to them, and they appreciate it. You can feel that. If I play a loop with my right hand, and they want more, I can intensify it by opening the filter, for example.

You can’t do that with a ready-made recording.”

IG: “Also, every live situation is delicate. You may be turning up at a party that’s been going on for 48 hours, and you want to integrate. There’s a certain mood, and you don’t want to come with something too planned and out of context – you could, but it’ll only work in some situations. So you want to blend in and be flexible.”

CM: What about the tools you use?