Metronome #045: Superlover

Insommiac’s Metronome series features mixes from some of today’s fastest-rising electronic stars, as well as championed legends. It takes listeners deep across a wide range of genres, movements, cultures, producers, artists and sounds that make up the diverse world of electronic music.

You’d really have to go out of your way not to swoon at the ear-enveloping sounds Ferri Borbás is bringing to the dance music table. The house music heartthrob from Berlin has become an expert at hitting the pleasure points of both body and brain via an irresistibly engaging output under his Superlover pseudonym. He’s a party provocateur at his finest. Having raised hairs and heart rates with releases on Exploited, No Brainer and Mother Recordings, the German hip-gyrator keeps the juices flowing by returning to the latter with his Love Flute EP, featuring two steamy cuts that could charm the pants off any dancefloor.

Borbás shows some love to our Metronome series with a mix that will shoot sensual grooves straight into your system.

Your Love Flute EP has been jumping the charts. How would you say this release stacks up to your previous work?
I am totally overwhelmed by the success of this release. “Love Machine” in particular seems to have struck a nerve. At this point, I can say that this has been my most successful Superlover release ever.

What has been your favorite moment of dropping either of the two cuts thus far?
The weekend before the release, we had a Mother Recordings showcase at Ritter Butzke club in Berlin. The moment I played the first bars of “Love Machine” and heard and saw their ecstatic reactions, I knew I was on to something special here.

How, if at all, does being based out of Berlin speak directly to your music?
Not much. I think the Berlin context is not really audible in my music—at least not as much as it used to be. The kind of house music I do is more of a niche thing here in Berlin. Apart from Oliver Dollar, who is also from Berlin and to my ears has a similar sound, there aren’t really any other similar producers that immediately come to mind.

Do you think the city has lent you an upper hand in your career that you might not have been afforded elsewhere?
Hard to say. I never really played the Berlin card. I tend to think that if you are good and hardworking, you can probably make it anywhere. But a big city certainly provides some logistic advantages in terms of travel connectivity.

What’s one thing every tourist must make time for when visiting Berlin?
Berlin, which was once divided into East and West Berlin, has a thrilling Cold War history to offer. Take a walk along the former Wall that once cut through the city. But also, get to know how beautifully green Berlin is, and visit Schwanenwerder Island. In any case, you should time your Berlin visit to coincide with one of the infamous Mother Recordings label nights at Ritter Butzke. It’s always packed, and the vibes are fantastic. You really shouldn’t miss out on that.

Music is not the only thing doing the talking for the artists anymore. What aspect of your marketing strategy/branding would you say is the strongest?
Haha, if I only knew. I guess it’s the name “Superlover” itself.

Name the most crucial piece of gear or software in your studio.
The prize goes to (snare roll)… Universal Audio’s Apollo. First of all, it’s a fantastic audio interface with great converters, which gives you realistic feedback on what you are doing in the studio. Second, it houses a DSP farm to calculate all my UAD plugins, which are an essential part of my music. I think 95 percent of all the plugins I use are from this company. You’ve got to love the almost analog-like sound character of these plugins. The Apollo interface is without a doubt the best piece of gear I have bought in the last 20 years.

Do any of the featured cuts or transitions you pulled off in your mix really stand out to you?
The opening track from Hanne & Lore always gives me goosebumps. It has such a chill vibe, and is funky and deep at the same time—sensual, in a way. Definitely a special tune.

Can you share the best advice you’ve ever received on love and relationships?
You have to be able to love yourself in the first place, before you can expect someone else to love you.

What do you love most in the world?
Palacsinta. (Look it up!)

What do you have lined up for the rest of the year?
The success of “Love Machine” opened some new doors for me, so there will be a couple of Superlover remixes before the end of the year, as well as original material. At this moment, I can’t reveal too many details. Best is to subscribe to my SoundCloud account to be the first to see (and hear) all the news.

Track List:: Hanne & Lore “Karma Supra”
Onsra “Funky Town”
Aussteiger “Bangbao”
White label (unreleased)
Martin Waslewski “Chain Gin”
Cubus, What Ever “Calypso”
Superlover “Love Machine”
Purple Disco Machine, Robosonic “Viel Fein”
Onsra “Burning Up”
Nhan Solo, Dilby “Home”
Superlover “Love Flute”