Getting To Know… Rasmus Faber

feeder: Hi Rasmus Faber, it’s a pleasure to chat with you today. How are you?

Rasmus Faber: Thanks, the pleasure’s mine! I’m doing well—probably juggling three musical projects at once and trying not to spill coffee on my synths.

f: Please tell us a little about yourself, where you’re from and how you started making dance music?

RF: I’m from Stockholm, Sweden. I started out as a jazz pianist, but in the early 2000s, I found myself drawn to house music. There was something about the groove, the emotion, and the way people reacted on the dancefloor that felt powerful. Once I figured out I could bring my harmonic sensibilities from jazz into a club context, I was hooked.

f: Who did you listen to growing up, and do they influence your music career at all today?

RF: A lot of jazz—my dad was a jazz musician, so there was no escaping it! I also loved Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, and later, Masters at Work and Blaze. Those artists still influence me today, especially in terms of chord progressions, rhythmic feel, and just chasing that musicality in dance music.

f: You’re well known for creating your distinctive Latin House sound back in the 2000s. How did that all start?

RF: It wasn’t a grand plan; it was more like following what made me feel good. I was always drawn to rhythms with natural swing and syncopation, and Latin percussion just made sense. I had friends like Thomas Eby (who I still work with) who could bring that energy live. Suddenly, I found myself layering congas over Fender Rhodes chords and thinking… yep, this feels right.

f: What was your first release?

RF: My first release was ‘Never Felt So Fly’, featuring Melo, which came out in 2002 on Black Vinyl Records. It really opened the door for me as a producer.

f: Which of your own tracks was the biggest labour of love to create / personal favourite?

RF: I’d say Seem To Last, actually. It’s a track I kept returning to for years, trying different tempos and arrangements before it finally clicked. It feels like a bridge between who I was and who I am now.

f: And your most successful release?

RF: Probably ‘Be Real’. That one just connected with people and spread far beyond my usual audience. It still surprises me how many playlists it keeps popping up on.

f: After a couple of decades of releasing some incredible albums and touring with your band, you’ve recently returned back to your Latin House Roots with new Farplane label singles, ‘Seem To Last’ and your new single, ‘Está Loca’. What fuelled your decision to make Latin House again, and how’s it going so far?

RF: I guess I missed it. I’d gone deep into other areas – soundtracks, orchestral work, even ambient releases, but I kept thinking about the kind of energy I used to love in clubs. That sense of joy and movement. When I played a show last year with Melo and Thomas Eby, it reminded me how good it feels to make people dance like that again. So far, it’s felt really natural coming back to it.

f: Tell us about ‘Está Loca’ and what we can expect to hear?

RF: This one’s been with me for over 10 years as a musical sketch. The core idea came when I discovered that a classic Latin piano groove I love actually fit perfectly with a soulful chord progression I had lying around. That little “music nerd” moment lit the spark. From there, I built the track around it—live percussion, funky bassline, and a vocal sample that just cuts through. It’s loose, sweaty, and unapologetically Latin house.

f: And what are the plans for your Farplane label moving forward?

RF: I’m bringing it back to life properly this year, releasing a full series of new singles, each one rooted in that warm, musical house sound. It’s not about quantity, just quality. Each release is going to tell part of the story, leading to a new artist’s album.

f: In addition to dance music, you’ve released a wide spectrum of music, including many albums, crossing Jazz, Broken Beat and Neo Classical genres, along with compositions for anime, VR platforms, and soundtracks for major games. Which aspect of your musical career has been the most rewarding, or would be a highlight for you as an artist so far?

RF: That’s a hard one. I think scoring anime and working games like God of War: Ragnarok has been creatively fulfilling in a very different way. But playing live jazz shows in Japan with Platina Jazz, or watching people dance to one of my house tracks in a sweaty club – those are just as powerful. Each one feeds a different part of me.

f: You’ve worked with the likes of Axwell, Deadmau5, and Kaskade, to name a few. Who else would you most like to work with, or do you actually prefer to fly solo?

RF: I love collaborating when it feels natural. These days, I’m drawn to working with people who bring something unexpected. It doesn’t have to be a big name, just someone with taste and instinct. But yeah, I also like flying solo. I’m a bit of a control freak in the studio.

f: Looking back, what precious music career advice would you give to your younger self?

RF: Take your time. Don’t rush to define your sound. And don’t assume the most visible path is the best one. The long game is where the good stuff is.

f: What’s your favourite classic dance track?

RF: ‘Deep Burnt’ by Pepe Bradock. Eternal. Or maybe Nick Holder’s Summer Daze (big Metheny fan!)

f: Who are your top 5 current producers?

RF: Changes by the day, but off the top of my head; Crackazat, Atjazz, Beau, Hosiannah and Pastel!

f: What else are you working on at the moment that you can tell us about?

RF: Besides the next few singles and an upcoming album, I’m gearing up for new Platina Jazz recordings and shows in Japan. I’m also exploring spatial audio with a portable Dolby Atmos rig—so maybe something immersive is around the corner. But for now, it’s all about groove.

Rasmus Faber ‘Está Loca’ is out now on Farplane Records.