Interview with Peter Rauhofer

Here’s an excerpt from Emily Tan‘s interview with Peter Rauhofer available on allnightclubs.com.

Widely revered throughout the dance music community by fellow artists and fans alike, Peter Rauhofer is distinguished in innumerable ways. With roots in his native Vienna, Austria, Rauhofer made the move to New York in 1995 and has considered it “home”, ever since. As exacting and precise in his art as in his trade, Peter Rauhofer is the hands-on creator and label chief for the acclaimed Star 69 record label, turning out a steady lineup of world-calibre artists and chart-topping hits.

Tan: Almost everyone knows that you won a prestigious Grammy Award in 1999 for “Remixer of the Year”, even though you downplay it and you are so modest about it. What track did you win the Award for?

Rauhofer: Back in 1999, the Grammy Award was called “Remixer of the Year”, and you won it for six remixes you did in that year. Now, they have changed the category to be called “Remix of the Year” for only one track. I won for Cher’s “Believe“, Madonna’s “Nothing Really Matters“, Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right But It’s OK“, Everything But the Girl’s “Five Fathoms“, Funky Green Dogs’ “Body“, and Donna Summer’s “I Will Go With You“.

Tan: You have famously remixed Madonna’s “American Life“, “Nobody Knows Me“, “Nothing Fails” and “Get Into The Hollywood Groove.” You have also remixed Britney Spears’ “Me Against The Music: A Duet With Ms. M.“, Yoko Ono’s “Walking On Thin Ice”, Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful”, Seal’s “Get It Together” and Annie Lennox’s “1000 Beautiful Things”.
How do you approach a track when you’re doing the remix?

Rauhofer: I mean, it’s not hard. First, I get the vocals. I get the CD with all the parts of the song already separated. Then, I choose what I like. For example, I might only take an a capella. I put the vocal into the computer, and I time stretch it into the desired tempo that I want to have it. Then, I program the drums to it. And, I also check out, what I mainly do is, I play different types of records and I check out what kind of groove fits best. Then, I put drums to it. Once that’s done, I put a keyboard on it. Bass, various sounds, maybe come up with samples. And then, I put everything in place and make the song structure. Then, it’s the mix-down.

Madonna’s Peter Rauhofer’s Remixes for 2003 include:
Madonna’s “American Life” (Peter Rauhofer Remix)
Madonna’s “Nobody Knows Me” (Peter Rauhofer Remix)
Madonna’s “Nothing Fails” (Peter Rauhofer Remix)
Madonna’s “Get Into The Hollywood Groove” (Peter Rauhofer Remix)
Britney Spears’ “Me Against The Music: A Duet With Ms. M.” (Peter Rauhofer Remix)

Read the full interview at allnightclubs.com.