Dance punk player HEADMAN talks about the Big '80's, Output Records' closing and his funkalicious new record On.

Stamp of approval by: Thomas Cesa

Where must the time go for Robi Insinna? As a world renowned DJ, label head, graphic designer and producer, the Swiss-born Insinna appears to be a man who enjoys wearing many hats. But does he have enough heads? Actually, he does. Under his dance punk guise Headman and his space disco plume de nom Manhead, Insinna bangs out dance floor madness on a consistent basis. Many artists have problems producing quality tracks under each and every moniker. But Robi has never had a problem with channeling his varied musical passions into tightly-focused productions.

Robi began recording as Headman in 2000 for the then upstart German label Gomma. In 2002, Headman re-rubbed the quirky pop of Seelenluft’s track “Manila,” which brought him to the attention of clubbers all over the world. A massive crossover track, “Manila” put Headman on the lips of the world’s top DJ’s, the same way “Never Be Alone” catapulted Justice to stardom.

After a remix hits the big time, fans typically begin to call for original material to see if the man can live up to the hype. Robi answered, unleashing It Rough; a stunning debut that met with both critical and commercial success. While continuing to drop mind-blowing singles (“B.S.W.D.”) and remixes (Mylo, Franz Ferdinand and Annie), Robi started to work on a Manhead album, which he released on his very own Relish label. With an international DJing schedule keeping him on the run, his music continues to find favor with everyone from Pete Tong to Tim Sweeney.

Where does all his musical inspiration steam from? “ Production wise, I would say the early ‘80s electronic scene. There was some crazy stuff going on in Switzerland - Yello, who were the most famous - loads of unknown, post punk new wave electronica.” Yet he also noticed the cultural exchange going on between forward thinking Swiss artists and American artists. “Ed Balham from 99 Records was producing Stephan Eicher records and Liquid Liquid were collaborating with Swiss artists,” he explains. “There is a no wave funk electronica heritage, I would say.”

It’s from this combining of early punk funk and alternative electronics, where Robi developed his dual musical personalities: Headman and Manhead. Says Insinna: “When I started doing Headman, I wanted a raw, live sounding dance sound. I started using loads of bass, real drums…but I was also into disco, Italo, cosmic, Balearic.” Rather than creating two sounds under one name with each fighting for creative control, Robi felt it was better to separate the two, allowing each to breathe and reach their creative potential. I ask him who would win in a fight, Manhead or Headman? To which he replies: “I guess Headman - it’s harder and less soft disco. But you never know, Manhead could be really persistent and win in the end.”

With the recent release of Headman’s record On, you might think that Robi is feeling “harder,” if harder means throbbing basslines and thundering kick drums.  However, On took a while to come together. So much so, that a Headman hit from 2003 (“So Now!”) appears on the album. “So Now!” was something I always wanted to put on the record,” Insinna explains. “When I started working on the new album, “So Now!” was the first new song…It took a long time to finish the album and for it to come out.”

Some of the delay may be blamed on the extensive amount of guest vocalists on the album, a veritable Who’s Who in the modern disco punk scene. Radio 4’s Anthony Roman, Soulwax/2 Many DJ’s member Stephen Dewaele and The Rapture’s Mattie Safer all stopped by to record vocals for the album. While Robi himself both wrote and provided vocals for one track (“Do U Feel”), most of the guests wrote their own lyrics, a process which sat well with Insinna. “Mostly, I gave a selection of tracks to the singers and they were free to pick what they liked.”

One of the most interesting and amusing tracks on the record, “Everybody,” has guest vocalists Ben Rymer (Fat Truckers) and Trash main man Erol Alkan. The track was a result of good friends just ‘fooling around.’ Says Insinna: “I was at Erol’s studio and we were joking and jamming. It just kinda happened. We came up with ‘Everybody loves Headman.’ You know the English, always thinking of the double meaning…one innocent, one filthy.”

 

While still bathing in the success of On, Robi is not complacent. He is often on the look out for new talent for his Relish label. “I started Relish as soon as I did the first Headman record on Gomma,” he says. “The first years I just kept it really small and did 1,000 copies, distributed only in the UK.”

Already considered an underground giant, Relish has seen solid releases from upstart acts like David Gilmour Girls and Riot in Belgium. But Relish’s honcho has a lot planned for the label in the next few months. “I have loads of releases coming out: a label compilation, Franz & Shape’s new album and a new David Gilmour Girls 12”. I’m really excited.” Relish is also about to release a new track from UK dance funk legends, A Certain Ratio, much to Robi’s delight: “Manchester and Factory (Records) on my label - I never thought it could happen!”

Robi is saddened by the recent closing of like-minded compadre Trevor Jackson’s Output Recordings, a label which released his productions in the past (Manhead’s “B.S.W.D.” and a remix of The Rapture’s “I Need Your Love”). “Trevor is a friend and I find it really sad that such a visionary label as Output stopped. In my eyes, it was the first label to start doing loads of punk funk new wave stuff. I could mention loads of artists who were so progressive at the time they came out on Output. Let’s not forget the visual and artistic integrity on the (album) sleeves - R.I.P.”

But it looks as if Robi will be carrying the torch for forward thinking artists. He continues to create Relish’s artwork as well as his own including the cover art for On. He is already looking toward creating his next album. After a few riotous sets here in the US, Robi hopes, “The US gets Headman.”

When asked if the US will ever be privileged to see the live Headman experience someday, Robi says we might have to wait. “After the next Headman album I will decide if and how Headman will play live. At the moment I’m just doing Headman stuff, but I think the next album might be a fusion of both [monikers].” Maybe we’ll find out what happens when Headman and Manhead square off after all.

Robi ends the year with DJ sets in the UK, Italy and France.
Look out for Headman’s new mix of Gossip’s “Standing In the Way of Control.”
For more information, please visit: www.headman.org.