“History has spawned hundreds of genius double acts where two minds and talents collide to form something innovative and artistically challenging. Unfortunately, Spirit Catcher are just a pair of European weirdos”. Spirit Catcher is Jean Vanesse (Belgian engineer) and Thomas Sohet (keyboard player). Two guys performing live techno using analogue/digital devices. Together, they take you on a timeless journey, of harmonic sounds… funky and fresh techno… a cosmic boogie.
Visao: Looks like both of you were born to play music, share the same passion in influence and modern music. How did the name Spirit Catcher come about?
SC: The name ‘Spirit Catcher’ came from an art piece in Ontario of the same name. It’s a huge steel “bird looking” spirit catcher, based in the middle nature. We really loved how it looks and how it’s involved in it’s surroundings. It has a real touch with your soul when you watch it, and we wish to have the same kind of feeling when you listen to our music. It’s a mix between modern art and solid techniques from the past. We wish to work in the same vein when we produce music, involving old analogue machines with the latest music production technologies. Our approach is to make the most timeless music we can by giving a true expression of our spirits, more than trying to get involved in the latest hypes.
Visao: Can you tell us what you’re currently doing in your live performances?
SC: Well, we like to mix all the styles we’re inspired or influenced by, it ranges from older funk based elements to techno. We come on stage with all our analogue apps and use our fingers on white and black keys, pads and knobs 
Of course we use laptops to run the basics of the tracks, but most of the things are controlled by analogue devices.
Visao: You guys toured Japan in 08’ and looks like you fell in love with the culture. What were some highlights from that year?
SC: 2008 was indeed a crazy year for us. We were always on the road (or should I say in the sky);-)). Of course we’re fallen in love with Japan. Lots of djs/producers who played there will have the same kind of discourse about the Japanese crowd. With their energy, they’re really able to push you out of any habits you can have when you’re constantly touring. It’s like a ping pong between you and the crowd, if you give more, they do too and nobody knows where it gonna stop So it’s a never ending climb to a climax that stops with the last bit of sound of your set, it’s just the way it is, when the Japanese goes to the clubs!
Now, i must say that we have a lot of other highlights from 2008, or 2007, etc.. Different from Japan, but outstanding too. Actually, we couldn’t really say a place we shouldn’t have been. Each one has it’s own style and that’s what makes this life we live, a real blast!!
Visao: You’re on tour now how’s it going so far?
SC: It’s good man! We had a really nice time in Denver and Smart Bar in Chicago. Some people were expecting us for a long time (it’s not so easy to organize a tour in the US for a live duo), so it was really good to finally get here. For the rest, beginning of this week was a great time in Chicago, visiting the city. Enjoying American culture with architectural stuff and good food! Yesterday, we had the best cheeseburger EVER, in my life!! ;-)))) I’m just wondering who’s gonna make one better than that. You could even feel the SOUL of the cow in the meat. lol
Visao: I completely fell in love with the Sedona E.P. on Systematic, it’s simply fresh and very fashion forward. Tell us your approach on this E.P. and Marc Romboy’s interest with you guys on the label? Also, “Secret Stranger” on Rebirth?
SC: Hmmmm, that’s a huge question. It’s not quite that easy to explain how a track is born and how a relationship with a label can start on good basis. I think it’s a question of a vibe we were able to produce on Sedona, Marc Romboy and us are probably on the same wave length on music. Secret Stranger, was a one off track we did for an album on Rebirth, in then we ended up releasing it as a maxi.
Visao: If you could picture Spirit Catcher as an 80’s game, movie or toy what would it be?
SC: It’s funny that you ask that because before coming in US, we were in Japan (again ;-)) and we visited a vintage video game spot with all the great game boards from 80’s and 90’s. We were super excited and put a lot of pictures of those jewels on our Facebook. Many of those games can really depict our style of music. Now, I’d have to say without a doubt, the movie “Tron”.
Visao: Can you tell us a little about your next album to be released on Systematic?
SC: Like for our live show, we wanted to involve the widest range of our music likes and influences. There’s a lot of down-tempo tracks inspired by the 80’s made for home listening and some uplifting dance floor tracks made for a party and/or fast car listening. It’s a challenge and taking us a longer time to pull all those elements together without a feeling of a ‘compilation CD’, it’s going to vary quite a bit, but in a good way. We hope that now, nobody will be tempted to push skip button when they listen to it! I say this for the people who will make the effort to buy it for the ‘album CD’ which is less and less the case with Beatport, unfortunately. We’ve included a lot of transitions and interludes between tracks which acts as a transit from one universe to another one.
Visao: What are your interests outside of the music?
SC: It quite different for Jean and I. Jean is a really big fan of cinema. It’s awesome to explore his DVD collection because you can choose to follow a director or actor of a certain period. I(Thomas) actually like architecture and interior design and sketching out cities and characters. Check out our Facebook, there are few sketches from me. It’s nothing real serious, but it’s a pleasure when I can free my mind… Maybe one day, we’ll do a comic strip talking about our experience of gigs and travelling. Jean being the director involving his passion for cinema, and me and the drawings. 😉
Visao: What is your long-term goal or dream with the music you guys create?
SC: Our dream is to be able to continue to do music that really comes from our heart. We wish to continue in this business without starting to do mainstream shitty music just for making money and boost our tours. It’s a big deal nowadays, because with all the changes operated in the music business in the past 5 years, it’s not easy to keep that focus. So in other words, our dream is to keep our spirit free and be able to catch our own one first, before getting other people’s spirits!
Mighty presents Beat Market featuring Spirit Catcher Live (Belgium) – Friday, May 14, 2010
Press Photography by Fred Pauwels and Leslie Artamonow.
Interview by Alex Trujillo.