Ten years have passed since Belgium’s Maxime Merkpoel launched his Stereoclip project and started turning heads within the dance music space. But with a decade of ups, down and musical reverie also comes reflection and inner conversation, of deconstructing past events and accepting the blur and general chaos between the past and the present. Looking within has ever been vital to becoming a better version of one’s self, and that’s exactly where his third album comes in.

Colored by nostalgia, hope and honesty, ‘Echoes’ reflects on ten years of frustration and joy, headaches and abandonment, accomplishments and determination, love and hate, and travels and encounters. With singles such as ‘Moonlight Drive’, ‘Sunset Drive’ and ‘Inner City Angels’ taking a leading role, the ten-track album mirrors the drive to look beyond the limits, all the while demonstrating the impeccable inter-song synergy the world has come to expect from every Stereoclip product.

More so than merely sending out sounds in hopes of call and response, the concept of ‘Echoes’ is about soaking up the feedback to use as new input for the ever-evolving cycle. And it is within that cycle where personal growth can be found. And in this case, ten examples of excellent music too.

“It’s been ten years since the Stereoclip project started, and I felt it was time to reflect on some of the choices I made, both good and wrong”, Stereoclip says. “With this album, I wanted to push myself beyond my own limits and wanted my music to be a better version of itself. This album is inspired by ten years of failures and successes. It’s full of nostalgia, hope and honesty.”

WWD: Hello Stereoclip! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today! Congratulations on your latest album ‘Echoes’. Can you share with us what the production process was like for this body of work?

It started during confinement 1. I did not plan to start an album but it came out naturally after creating several new tracks in a row. It started to look like an album after all 😊. I was kinda stuck with my music back then, I didn’t really know where I was going but I knew that I wanted to create more of the club vibes that I always loved so much. My live set was always for the dance floor but in the past I’ve experienced some difficulties with including the tracks I put on Spotify, so for this third album I tried to make sure it was suitable for both the dancefloor as well as streaming platforms.

WWD: The album represents ten years of Stereoclip. Can you walk us through some of the highs and lows these past ten years that have inspired you when creating this album?

My biggest challenge is definitely my technique, how to have good drops, a great sound. I think it’s easy to have good ideas but to transform them into a finished song is the most difficult part for me. I’m trying every day!

Looking back at some of my past live sets where my music sounded terrible, I didn’t have the same punch as the others DJ’s and producers. It pushed me to keep practicing for many more hours to understand how a kick should sound like.

I can’t say that I have had my big breakthrough moment in my work. Of course I did have some magic moments… Maybe in the future I will reach one, my goal now is to produce the track of my career, the track that will really change things. But you know in the end I just feel blessed to be able to make music everyday and do what I love most 😊.

WWD: You mentioned you share your studio with other artists and that they played a big part in creating this album. What was it like collaborating with other musicians for this project?

Collaborations were key for me to be able to create better music. I chose to share my studio with Kid Creme, Dim Kelly, Oton and some other artists. We ended up all involved in each other’s tracks, it was a great process. I created my last album together with Kid Creme and I have a featuring with Dim Kelly. We are all in a cool house studio in the country side of Brussels, it give me so much inspiration as a person as well as for my creations.

WWD: The return of live shows has seen you begin to take the stage again in clubs. What has it felt like getting back to performing in front of full crowds?

I’m very happy to play my new tracks! Let’s see how things will evolve… I believe it’s important to share some moments around music, not just for me but for everyone. When 1000 people are on the same vibration it feels like a ceremony, it’s a great feeling!

WWD: Has not being able to play live for nearly 1,5 years had any impact on your production process?

Yes definitely, I took time to think. At the beginning it was cool to have some extra time, to be able to take my time to try new stuff. After a while I felt like I created enough tracks to see where this was going, so I decided to take some time for myself as well.
I was at home and my friend Kid Creme at his studio and I started collaborating with him, I was sending my ideas to him so see if it was sounding well in his studio because my speakers at home were shitty 😊.

WWD: How have you continued to stay healthy, both physically and mentally, during these difficult times? Are there any tips you can provide to fellow artists who might be struggling with that aspect of their careers right now?

When I was younger music defined myself too much, it even blocked me in my creation process. Now I see my music as a small part of me. How my music is or sounds isn’t who I am, it is a part of my taste but not all of them. Of course I can’t produce something that I don’t like, I wouldn’t have the inspiration do to it.

I will say that personal grow pushed me to have a better vision on what we are doing on earth including music, I am so much more at ease now. I am feeling more free and that influenced my creation in a better way I guess. Physically, I think that alimentation is the key to stay healthy, and of course working out as well.

WWD: Now that your album is out, what can we expect from Stereoclip in the new year?

I am working on new stuff again. I already want to do a new album but first, let’s enjoy this album and maybe release a few new single tracks. I really want to push ‘Echoes’ as far as I can and I want to continue this Stereoclip project for many more years to come 😊.

WWD: Finally, do you have any words of wisdom for upcoming producers in this current age, trying to come up with a sound of their own?

Try to be creative, explore the possibilities, don’t try to copy, use what you like as an influence and make it your own.