MarcelDune’s latest offering, Buy Success, out December 13th on digital and vinyl via SPFDJ’s Intrepid Skin, is a captivating testament to the diverse musical influences of the London-based artist, originally from Athens. Their journey through the realms of jazz, opera, and the punk DIY scene births a sound that resists conformity while celebrating authenticity.
In this latest release, MarcelDune intertwines elements of euphoria with robust drumming, presenting an aesthetic that’s as fun as it is thought-provoking. The title track, Buy Success, showcases a sharp, industrial core paired with a groove that pulls you into its orbit. Following this, Remedy for Evil injects an infectious bounce with an undeniably heavy rhythm. As the soundscape unfolds, Tell Me Who They Are intersperses vocal chops over intricate percussive layers and glitchy machinery, crafting a sonic playground. The journey culminates with Romantic and Other Fantasies, where powerful percussion and a slew of effects create a thrilling sonic experience.
We had the exciting opportunity to chat with MarcelDune about their upcoming release and the premiere of their title track, Buy Success.
What aspects of your Athens upbringing have influenced your current musical style and artistic vision in London?
Athens is rough. Athens is a city that struggles in all very basic aspects. A city that lacks loads of social justice, especially in marginalised communities and individuals. Exactly, what makes young Athenian artists significantly creative and radical while expressing themselves through arts. The need for escapism from a conservative and judgmental society, but also the need to question all the paradoxes that we are living in, is what influenced a lot my practice in a parallel universe by living in London.
What inspired the title track “Buy Success,” and what does it represent within the context of your new release?
‘Buy Success’ is quite sarcastic towards this hyper-consumerism and hyper-fixation of material possessions and class. I say in the lyrics, ‘Face is not enough, talent is less, but I have money, so I can buy success.’
It is quite sad to think that you can have all the virtues and qualities, plenty of talent, but if you are not coming from a certain privilege, it is actually hard to find your way to break into a world that is extremely judgmental and constructed on narratives that mostly boost inequality.
What can fans expect in terms of sound and themes?
My EP is inspired by the vibrant underground club scene of the 90s and 00s and it blends influences from House and Dance Club music to Groovy Techno. I wanted to translate into my music the same sense of liberation, expression, and inclusivity that characterised those iconic gatherings.
What role does live performance play in your artistic expression, and how does it differ from your studio work?
Live performance is like a celebration for me! We party, we have fun, we dance—little kiki here, little kiki there! It’s a conversation you build live, on the spot, with the people, the vibes, the atmosphere, the setting, the lights, and the general feeling.
Performing live or having a DJ set is very relieving for me; it’s a journey! The studio is more nerdy work, more personal, more trial and error.
I love both! <3
How do your performances at renowned venues like Berghain and Tresor shape your identity as an artist?
How magical and liberating it is when you meet so many great – inspiring people in a night—you chat, you dance, you have a stroll around, then another one—and suddenly you feel that there is hope in this world!
How have your collaborations with labels such as REPITCH RECORDINGS and HAVEN influenced your artistic journey?
I feel very grateful that such legendary labels have given me a platform to share my work and be part of a community that truly pushes forward dance-electronic music.
How do you envision the future of dance music, and what role do you want to play in that evolution?
I think the future of dance music will continue to evolve in all exciting and unexpected ways.
New technologies will further advance the existing tools available, allowing artists to be more involved and creative.
My role in that evolution will be to take that opportunity and teach myself more about music, to encourage creativity but mainly make sure to support a diverse range of voices in the scene ensuring that dance music remains a liberating space for self-expression, connection, freedom and innovation.
What are the main challenges you face when experimenting with sounds and pushing the limits of your genre?
Sometimes I think I go too far with experimenting, which I think leads to clatter more than anything else.
It was only recently that I realised less is more, slow is faster, and all that.
Looking ahead, what are your goals as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My future goals are to continue growing creatively, build stronger relationships with my community and other artists within the scene who share similar values and aesthetics and collaborate on inspiring projects.
To achieve these goals I believe that it’s vital to stay true to myself and my practice by leaving the door open for more learning and experimenting with styles and sounds while collaborating with like-minded people.
Follow
@marceldune
@intrepidskin
Upcoming shows
WEEEIRDOS party on Thursday 12th of December at Säule / Berghain | Panorama Bar https://www.berghain.berlin/en/event/77952/
Buy Success is available to pre-order here: https://ffm.to/skin008_
