Over the years I’ve become obsessed with Kyau & Albert. They impress me every time they release a new single. I couldn’t wait when they announced NEVERLOST, their 6th studio album. They dropped a few singles in preparation for the album release, but when it finally dropped, I couldn’t stop listening to it. I am listening to it now as I publish this interview. From “Under Your Spell” to “Anything Goes” and “Bulletproof” featuring Hello Machines, this album is some of their best work to date.
Back in 2012 I got the chance to sit down with the duo to discuss their career. I did the same when they released 20 Years and when NEVERLOST dropped, it made sense for us to reconnect. These guys have become quick friends and I am hoping to see them live sometime soon. I encourage you to listen to NEVERLOST while you read this interview. I always enjoy spending with these guys and again, it is my pleasure to introduce you to Ralph Kyau and Steven Albert.
You just released your 6th studio album NEVERLOST. Tell me more about the release and what you hope to accomplish with a new album. It is really good, by the way.
Ralph Kyau: NEVERLOST is the album which we made in the shortest time, only took a year in the making. We had such a great flow of ideas. Also, I think it is the most diverse album we have ever produced.
Steven Albert: Yes, diverse, but of course it has the K&A signature you’re used to.
Kyau & Albert also own Euphonic, a record label focused on trance and progressive trance sounds. Tell me more about the label and some of the other artists you’re working with.
Ralph Kyau: There are too many artists to name all of them, both on Euphonic and our deeper imprint Euphonic Visions. Right now, for example, we’re preparing the debut album release of Canadian artist Bryn Liedl, a smart and very talented guy. We love to work with young artists. I feel it is inspirational in some way and many of them became good friends of ours, even if they still don’t make music or release on Euphonic anymore, such as Aly & Fila. In 2003 we brought both to Germany, rented a flat for them, and they released their debut single “Eye of Horus” on Euphonic. Also got them their first gig in Europe.
Steven Albert: To name a few names; we released a lot of music by Ronski Speed and Stoneface & Terminal, even released singles by Above & Beyond in the past and one single from Armin van Buuren back in 2004. But there are so many names. Best is to check out our discography. Also Euphonic was very good for our own career as Kyau & Albert to have our label as a platform to release our music and have 100% creative control, plus swift release opportunities for our own music. I guess without Euphonic we wouldn’t be able to release 6 albums. To release music on other labels often means to wait months for feedback.
Speaking of NEVERLOST, you released Part 1 and Part 2 before releasing the full album. What was the strategy behind that?
Steven Albert: We wanted to tease the album a bit, because today’s music is much more track based than in the past. The 2 parts had the advantage to have a better promo focus for the tracks and additionally we had time to prepare the full album release.
What does the DJ Mag Top 100 mean to you? I know you guys have been on the list before. Does being on the list help you get more/bigger gigs, or is it just a popularity contest?
Ralph Kyau: Definitively it is a popularity voting with some big influence how artists and managements motivate their fans to vote in the end. I am not sure if it help get bigger gigs. Possibly in some places, such as Asia. I don’t really know it as I am not a promoter. It has no meaning for us at the moment.
Steven Albert: I think nobody cares about DJ Mag in our home country Germany, even in the past it was not a big thing at all. Possibly DJ Mag is much more known in the UK and USA, because it was available as a paper magazine.
You have some big tour dates coming up. You did the NEVERLOST release party in Germany before hitting the road for a few stops in the United States. I might come over to Miami or see you at AVALON Hollywood in March. Do you have plans to add more dates to this tour to support/promote the new album?
Steven Albert: Yes, we will have more dates coming, but we don’t wanna tour every weekend anymore as we have families and really want to keep a work/life balance.
There are a lot of good songs on this album, but what are some of your favorites?
Ralph Kyau: Very hard question! I love all of them. I guess fan favorites are “Under Your Spell,” “Airy” and “Neon Sonnenschein.” I think “Restless” and “Reverie,” too. Got a couple of requests to remix “Restless,” but we haven’t decided yet.
Steven Albert: Don’t forget “Make It Home Tonight” featuring Jeza.
Speaking of Jeza, what was it like working with her on that single?
Steven Albert: We had worked with Jeza previously on a track called “Bring You Back” on our last album Matching Stories. We love her voice. Also a remix release is coming soon with 3 remixes of “Make It Home Tonight.”
Ralph Kyau: She just came to our Washington D.C. show in early January, as her mom lives in D.C. and she landed the same day without telling us before. It was a great surprise and the first time to meet Jeza in person as we did both tracks with her over the internet.
NEVERLOST is your 6th studio album. How has your sound evolved over the years from one album to the next?
Steven Albert: We grow as artists, so first it was mainly trance and ambient, but we love to experiment and that’s the great thing about an album.
Ralph Kyau: True. For example with “Mein Herz,” a German-English lyrics track with Steven’s voice. Originally just made it for the last album Matching Stories and fans went crazy, after they heard it. Even Armin said to us, when we’re playing it live on our guest mix on ASOT, that this tune is huge. We had big radio support in Germany and got plays on 30+ radios stations. This was never planned, when we made the track for the album, it was just something we played around with.
Speaking of Euphonic, you guys started that back in 1997. Why did you decide to start a label and did you ever expect it would be this successful?
Ralph Kyau: We simply started Euphonic to have a platform for our music. Luckily we knew a few producers such as Mirco De Govia and Sonorous, also Ronski Speed was there from the beginning.
What’s the meaning behind the NEVERLOST artwork?
Steven Albert: The idea came from a good friend of ours. No real meaning, just some nice art!
There are some amazing nightclubs in Germany. What are some of your favorites?
Ralph Kyau: I don’t have favorites. Berlin especially has so many unique clubs. I really love the venue where we do our Euphonic nights in Berlin, it is called ASeven Eventlocation. It is in the heart of the city and known for the best LED lighting in town, as it is a showroom for some LED company and used over the week for film recordings and concerts. We have our next Euphonic night there on Easter Sunday. Almost impossible to get a date at the venue, but we are happy that we saved two dates there for 2019.
What’s next for Kyau & Albert?
Steven Albert: Working on new material, nice collabs planned. More details in spring. We can’t tell names yet.
Ralph Kyau: Also there’s coming a new Kyau & Albert track on Anjunabeats Volume 14 compilation.
I interviewed you guys 3 years ago, so you know the routine. In all of the interviews I do, I always give the artist the last word. Go.
Ralph Kyau: Thanks for the interview, Ricky. Really hope to see you in the crowd at one of our March gigs!
Connect with Kyau & Albert:
Website: http://www.kyauandalbert.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyauandalbertofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kyauandalbert
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/KyauandAlbertTV
