For almost 20 years, Mike Parker has been delivering productions and gaining worldwide renown as a singular voice in deep and abstract techno. The producer, and fine art professor in Buffalo, NY has collaborated with like-minded heads such as Donato Dozzy, Sleeparchive, and Audion, and runs his own label Geophone as an outlet for his own releases and remixes.In 2014, Parker released a split EP with Sleeparchive on the Berlin underground techno label REPITCH Recordings, and now returns to the label with "10inch 03," a two-track single of looping and hypnotic techno abstractions. This is the third release in REPTICH's "10 inch" series, previously releasing split singles from a variety of artists on their roster, like Marcus Suckut and Marcelus. Parker distills melodies and slowly builds shifting and evolving loops to infinity, as evidenced in "Ketos Troias", the B-side track from his new release. "Ketos Troias" is premiering today on THUMP, listen to the exclusive stream below the interview with Parker.THUMP: Ketos Troias is the Trojan Sea Monster from Greek mythology—can you talk about how this creature inspired you, or in what ways mythology inspires your music?
Mike Parker: I've always been interested in the civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean, their artworks, monuments and mythological images. As some people know, I teach art at the university level, and figures from art history continue to inspire me. I wanted to evoke a powerful underwater sea creature with the track "Ketos Troias".Have you introduced any new gear to your studio that has had an effect on this?
Lately, I've been experimenting with a new Roland phaser module. I'm always researching new gear and ways to implement a spatial dynamic.Your productions are certainly characterized by loops, ever so slightly shifting and building, but rarely with a release or break in momentum, making them both ideal DJ tools, and also potentially difficult to present in a club environment. How do you think these tracks are best experienced by a listener?
Some people say my music sounded at its best during the outdoor Labyrinth festival in Japan. But I can place any of my tracks at the right moment in a club environment also. It's all about the pacing of the set, the peaks and the transitions…
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Mike Parker: I've always been interested in the civilizations of the ancient Mediterranean, their artworks, monuments and mythological images. As some people know, I teach art at the university level, and figures from art history continue to inspire me. I wanted to evoke a powerful underwater sea creature with the track "Ketos Troias".Have you introduced any new gear to your studio that has had an effect on this?
Lately, I've been experimenting with a new Roland phaser module. I'm always researching new gear and ways to implement a spatial dynamic.Your productions are certainly characterized by loops, ever so slightly shifting and building, but rarely with a release or break in momentum, making them both ideal DJ tools, and also potentially difficult to present in a club environment. How do you think these tracks are best experienced by a listener?
Some people say my music sounded at its best during the outdoor Labyrinth festival in Japan. But I can place any of my tracks at the right moment in a club environment also. It's all about the pacing of the set, the peaks and the transitions…
Jesse is THUMP's Intern. Follow him on Twitter.