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An awkward elevator ride to the seventh floor is totally worth a night in Canvas. The Volkshotel celebrated its first birthday after their renovation and with great food, a killer view and a massive bar Canvas has everything, apart from a distinct musical direction. Until now that is. Canvas appointed three residents that will host tree club nights to give the club more character. Philou Louzolo presents Hotel Tropique, Max Abysmal hosts Bonanza and Tim Jules gives us Cosmodrome.
What are you, as residents, going to add to Canvas?
Jules: “Canvas had a fresh start after the rebuilding of the Volkshotel and is still developing. We’re at the beginning of our career as well, so we can help each other getting to the next level.”
Philou: “We’ve all been playing at Canvas for a long time so our profile fits the club.”
Max: “Canvas has no signature sound yet. And that’s exactly what we’re going to bring.”
Do your styles match?
M: “I’ve played b2b sessions with both Philou and Jules and we adjust to each other very well.”
P: “Max plays a lot of records I would play at the exact same moment when we perform together.”
J: “Every time I find an amazing record and tell Max about it, he’s like ‘I already have it on vinyl’. I never played with Philou before but I like tropical as well. If I play a solo set I’d break to different tempos more often by throwing in different styles like hip-hop, jazz or soul.”
How are you filling in your club nights?
P: “Tropical (even though that sounds corny) with African influences and trips to other genres such as Chicago and Detroit house, as long if it has a soulful edge to it. It must be warm music. You hear that in my sets as well. If I play something like techno it must be warm and funky.”
M: “I just like vague stuff. If you would put a bushman on LSD, put him in a record store and let him make a selection, that’s what I would play. I want to hear music I’ve never heard before. Bonanza means digging for gold and discovery.”
J: “What connects all my music is funkiness. A lot of different styles have funk and I like to bring those together.”
What artists are on your ultimate wish list?
M: “Young Marco b2b with Wolf Müller!”
J: “Madlib, even though that’s not really disco. Theo Parrish and Mr Scruff are two of my favorite artists so that would be amazing as well.”
P: “I get a lot of inspiration from artists that aren’t DJs but musicians. I’d love to let a live act flow into a club night one day. There are a lot of cool vague artists that make African folk that’s really danceable and accessible. Esa Williams is someone I admire. For his Highlife World series he brings musicians and producers together in a studio in different African countries.”
Jules, you’re changing your name from Jules de la Courgette to Tim Jules. Was it time to get serious?
J: “One of the tracks on the upcoming Lumberjacks in Hell compilation is my first release. Marcel Vogel (The Lumberjacks boss) questioned my name, what made me decide to change it. Jules de la Courgette started as a joke but it was working against me. It made sense to change it.”
Philou, you live in Rotterdam but now you’re a resident of an Amsterdam club. Are you considering moving?
P: “Nope. It might not be extremely handy at night but I’m used to hanging around and then taking a morning train back home. People in Rotterdam are more down to earth and you see that in the nightlife as well. That’s the same vibe I want to bring to Canvas.”
Max, you’re from Australia. Does being a resident here make you feel more of an Amsterdammer?
M: “That’ll never really happen. I’ve spent my entire youth in Australia, I wasn’t even planning on staying here. I came here to learn more about technique and recording music. I used to listen to a lot to psychedelic, reggae and hip-hop. My dad listened to a lot of house and I used to hate it when I was younger, although I did secretly appreciate it after a while. I had an eye opener when I went to a house party here, things just escalated and I never left.”
Finally, can you give me an example of a track that could be played at all three club nights?
P: “It’s tropical, disco, funky, a little obscure and different.”
Feature image: Raymond van Mil.
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