In The Studio With
Having created 50 tracks in two years, Danny Turner chats to bass producer Simo Cell about the identity crisis that led to his mystical debut LP
After a tumultuous period of anxiety and self-doubt, French producer Simon Aussel (aka Simo Cell) found himself drawn to various spiritual philosophies that would only exacerbate his fragile state of mind. Coming out the other side in 2020, he embarked on a furiously productive creative period during which the self-confessed ‘sine wave sculptor’ produced 50 fully completed tracks departing from his affiliation to the Bristol bass scene.
Whilst sifting through and collating tunes for what would later become his debut Simo Cell LP, Aussel decided to build a mystical story arc relating to his period of personal crises. The resulting album Cuspide des Sirènes is an introspective, character-driven and scope-broadening adaptation that moves Aussel beyond his club identity into boldly creative yet unfamiliar territory.
As soon as you hear a Simo Cell track, it’s clear that you’re fascinated by sound. Where did that curiosity originate?
“I don’t have borders in my head and that probably comes from my dad being a classical guitarist. He’s a soloist from Argentina who chooses his own repertoire. During his concerts he might start with renaissance or baroque music, but will also play stuff that’s more contemporary and modern, which is weird in the world of classical music because you’re not supposed to do that. That curiosity probably answers why I wanted to play different types of music in my DJ sets, where it’s all about trying to build bridges between rhythm and melody even if other people can’t see it.”
Did you pick up a guitar before becoming interested in electronic music?
“Guitar was my first instrument. I went to music school from the ages of eight to 15 but left because it was too academic and cerebral and I hated it. When I stopped playing I had to take a break from music for a year or two, which is when I discovered electronic music through various internet forums. I found it to be such a different approach because there were so many different ways to achieve the same sound. I tried using Reason, then started using Ableton about 12 years ago and still use it now.”
Your latest album Cuspide des Sirènes has a strong narrative. Do you find it necessary to have a concept to write towards?
“Not really, because up to now I’d only been releasing EPs, but making my first album seemed like a much bigger step. When I was a kid I used to draw a lot and loved creating stories, but I didn’t think electronic music was a good place to do that because club music is more restrictive and that’s h
