
Interstellar Funk
Interstellar Funk is always exploring different sounds. It would be easy to repeat the tricks that saw him breakthrough, but instead, he prefers to have fun mixing up the old with the new and join the dots between inspirations from the past and take risks on unknown futures. That way, he manages to keep both himself and his dancers on their toes.
Olf van Elden has proven this time and time again with the breadth and depth of sounds he has served up. As a producer, he continually explores the fringes of the electronic universe. Working under this alias but also Private Eyes and Faster Action, he effortlessly switches up the mood, tempo, and atmosphere of his music on labels such as L.I.E.S., Berceuse Heroique, Rush Hour, Dekmantel, and his own Artificial Dance.
The label doesn’t specialize in any particular genre but evolves with each new release be it an unearthed cassette, reissue, or a record by an upcoming artist. And the label head himself is no different having recently shifted away from club sounds to investigate his own world of synth-based textures, ambient music, and effervescent beats.
As a DJ, van Elden is known for serving up the unexpected at clubs and festivals all over Europe, Australia, Asia, North and South America. In autumn 2021, he debuted his live show at Draaimolen Festival and Amsterdam’s Muziekgebouw concert hall where listeners were mesmerized by towering layers of synthesizer and constantly morphing drum machines. On top of this, his carefully curated and brilliantly obscure Artificial Dancers — Waves of Synth compilation on Rush Hour became an instant classic with unknown gems from the likes of The Human League and Chris & Cosey.
This love of transcending sounds and scenes, genres, and generations comes from years working at the famously influential and eclectic Rush Hour record store, as well as traveling the world and picking up his own global influences. Next up for the former Trouw and De School resident is a debut artist album, Into The Echo, on Dekmantel in 2022. The innovative record mixes up pensive melodies with haunting post-industrial soundscapes and euphoric synth arpeggios. It is the latest chapter in the ever-evolving story of this restless musical investigator.