August 28th, 2013 
Brian Leak 
Under the Gun Review is pleased to bring you this exclusive interview with Swedish EDM producer, ESQUILLE.
ESQUILLE’s been on the scene for many years and after taking a brief hiatus from music, he’s back with a brand new EP, entitled Rock This Club Down. We recently reviewed the 5-track offering amidst taking breaks to get down, and shortly after had the chance to speak with the man himself.
Read through the interview below where we discussed his musical background, his new EP, and what he has in store for the future.
What can you tell us about the name ESQUILLE? Is there a specific meaning behind it or a story as to how you chose to use it?
It’s funny that you ask – it’s been a while since anyone has.
I was going to be a DJ at a party in my last year of high school. The girl who was giving the party didn’t think that my real name “Eskil” was hot enough so she changed my name to ESQUILLE and had it printed on posters. Everyone thought that it was a cool alias so the name also became my artist name in connection with me releasing my first single on WEA. Since then Esquille has been my official producer and artist name.
You have a rather deep history in music that’s spanned many years. How would you say you’ve changed as a musician over the course of your career?
I’ve seen many different music styles come and go and stars rise and fall. It was an exciting journey and it has made me humble over the years. I’ve always been a leader in the sense that I get things done, but today I have a completely different self-confidence than I had when I was younger. It means that I can reach goals quicker than before. If I look back I’ve hardly received anything for free which means that I believe in industriousness for gaining success.
Do you look at the music industry or the way you create now any differently than you did when you first began?
Oh yes, there is an enormous difference. My ideas and my musical flow are pretty much the same, but the technical development has made it much easier to work with. That the flow isn’t interrupted like in the old days. In a very short period of time music programs have been perfected. Fantastic tools, synthesizers and programs make it a dream to be a music creator/producer. The music industry has also developed drastically, unfortunately for the better and the worse.
What originally inspired you to get involved with music?
As a child I was surrounded by music. I started to play the piano at the age of seven and played it for over ten years. In my teens I started to play as a DJ and just loved funk, soul and disco stuff. I was fascinated by the rhythms and the groove that mostly black groups delivered and I began programming drum machines and synths trying to get the same sounds and groove. That led me into production and song writing.
You took a lengthy break from music some time ago. Can you explain what led to this choice and how taking a break from music affected your life?
I wanted to build a family and live a normal life. I had lived a hectic, action-packed life and I could barely listen to music without analyzing to pieces how a song was produced and arranged. It wasn’t easy adjusting from a DJ life, with mingle and night production studio jobs. It took more than a year before I started to enjoy music again. I withdrew a bit and lost many friends, but matured a lot as an individual and got a well-needed distance to the music industry. I got a grip on the mechanisms and began to understand why creative, sensitive musicians and money focused businessman perhaps don’t always work so well together.
What made you decide to get back into making music? Do you feel comfortable with what you’re doing after being away from it for awhile?
The more time passed the more I felt like doing music again. I set up a plan, started taking up my contacts and built a new production studio. I feel fresh, full of ideas and I’ve probably never taken music more seriously than I do now.
So you’re set to release your first EP in September since getting back into music. How would you say Rock This Club Down differs from your previous works?
Well this EP contains a mix of different styles. Happy dance music packed with energy for you to feel good! I feel free for the first time in my music career, completely independent – I think you can feel the happy vibes. A couple of the tracks might not sound like the latest club stuff but that’s part of my decision to bring in some of my old influences into newly produced music. I’m not trying to be the coolest dubstep producer in the world. I aim to bring you good, solid happy dance tracks, tracks that can be both danced to in a club and listened to in your headphones.
What do you feel this EP has going for it that sets itself apart from similar releases in the genre from your peers?
That’s a difficult question. I hope of course that the listener will think that my sound is so unique, the songs are so good, different but nevertheless connected, and that it feels interesting to have the EP.
Even being primarily instrumental dance music, would you say that this EP has any themes or concepts or would you say it’s just great music to dance to in the club?
The common theme in that case would be the energy in the songs. If you like me and my songs then play them loud, and be happy. If you want to sulk and be down or if you’re looking for angry music or heavy lyrics then throw Rock This Club Down in the trash.
Are there any particular artists that have made you want to work in electronic dance music? Are there any artists that you’d love to collaborate with?
It’s the styles that have come and gone over the years that have influenced me. Euro, French house, Italo disco, trance, garage, dubstep. No specific group. My idols only played funk and soul and they still inspire me when it comes to melodies. And yes, I would gladly collaborate with both new and old artists. I’m open to suggestions. I have realized my dreams and just got the rights to use musical parts from a well-known group from the eighties. The arrangement is modern, melodious and brings together the old with the new. It will be my single that will be released in the summer of 2014.
Now that your EP is completed and ready to be released, beyond the single you just mentioned, what have you been working on in the meantime? Any new projects you can tell us about?
The past year I’ve been very productive, and apart from club tunes I’ve written quite a few pop songs. I’ll be presenting these for other artists shortly. I’ve also discovered a very young talented singer I’d like to develop and produce songs for.
Do you have any touring plans in the works for the remainder of the year or do you just play clubs and such when the opportunity arises?
I hope to get booked to play at some big festivals soon. I have a set consisting of some upcoming hard trance/EDM songs mashed up with my latest hits like “I Take U Higher.” I’ll get any crowd going! Book me and you’ll have a blast.
Now that you’re back, are you here to stay or do you plan to take any more breaks from ESQUILLE?
No I’m here to stay. Whether it will be as a solo artist or producer behind other artists, I’ve understood that it’s my purpose to work with and create music.
Written and conducted by: Brian Lion – Follow him on Twitter
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