| Her debut album 'Polyamour' has made Clara Moto one of the most talked-about young artists this year, showcasing a unique take on melodic, electronica-tinged minimal techno. We interview the up and coming Austrian producer. |
  
Producing music and DJing since her teens, Clara Moto goes about her sets and live PAs with a sense of seriousness and determination. Her musical style on the other hand is characterised by a distinct and light-hearted playfulness, with which the young Austrian combines elements from minimal house, electronica and pop.
Weightless, drifting melodies and subtle, disciplined grooves lie at the heart of 'Polyamour', Moto's debut full length. The album's 12 tracks oscillate between bleepy minimalism and orchestral opulence, occasionally achieving a Moloko-like pop quality, especially when fellow Austrian artist Mimu lends her vocal talents to tracks like 'Silently' and 'Joy Of My Heart'. It is this cross-over appeal that makes Moto's music a perfect match for the renowned Infiné label, which is run by French techno producer Agoria and which is home to similarly genre-bending artists such as Danton Eeprom, Rone, and Francesco Tristano's Aufgang project.
Moving On
Originally hailing from Graz, Austria, Clara Moto was initially selected as a participant of the Red Bull Music Academy for its 2006 edition in Sydney, and, aided by a bit of luck, jump-started her international career through a chance encounter. "I met Seb (Agoria) in 2007 during the Montreux Jazz Festival. We were both waiting at the airport, waiting for our pick-up, which didn't arrive. We started talking, and he told me about his new label Infiné. We exchanged email addresses and two months later I sent him a few tracks. I didn't expect him to answer, as it was also the first time I had sent my tracks anywhere, but he mailed back within minutes, saying he liked my tracks. From there everything went really fast: I suddenly had a record contract, a few international gigs and a bit of attention from the press. All on a small scale, but for me it came as a complete surprise." Around the time, Moto left her South-Austrian home for Barcelona, her trusty DX7 in tow. She has lived 14 months in Catalan capital, but recently relocated once again, this time to Berlin. "Graz is a small city - there wasn't much to do, so I could work pretty well there. I often joined my friends from Soundsilo in their studio, where I learned a lot. It was still important to leave, since there were simply too few options in the long term. I had a great time in Barcelona, which is a beautiful city. It might sound like a cliché, but its a different mentality there, an openness, which doesn't exist in Northern Europe. I'm happy to be in Berlin now though - I enjoy the diversion and the metropolitan flair."
Old Friends, New Plans
One of Clara Moto's most frequent collaborators is fellow Austrian artist Mimu, Miriam Mone, who not only contributes vocals to some of Moto's stand-out tracks, but is also responsible for the lovely illustrations adorning Moto's releases. "Miriam is an old friend of mine and a very talented multi-disciplinary artist. We know each other from Graz, but she lives in Vienna now. Since I left Austria, we mainly collaborate remotely - I'm sending her tracks to write lyrics for. I also stay at her place whenever I'm in town." Other potential collaborators would be fellow Infiné artists, such as Danton Eeprom, Rone and Franceso Tristano, who share Clara Moto's talent for uniting different genres in a personal style. "I know Rone and Danton from gigs and really appreciate them as artists. Francesco lived in Barcelona as well and we frequently met up. It would be great to work with him sometime, as I think he is an exceptional artist. I also play a bit of piano, it is simply my favourite instrument. It would be nice to work with any of them really, since collaborations are always inspiring." For the time being however, Clara Moto is busy with touring for her album and settling into her new home, which leaves her precious little time. "To be honest, I rarely make concrete plans. I rather tumble from one thing to the next and let myself surprise by what happens. I know this is rather chaotic and not ideal. Now that I've graduated and finished my album I'll have to make new plans and make myself at home in Berlin. So far I've only experienced winter here and I'm happy that Spring is coming." |
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