We put 10 quick-fire questions to Irish techno talent Rustal
Rustal is the recording alias of Peter Sweeney, a producer, live performer and DJ from in Dublin, Ireland. An artist whose work explores the physical and psychological dimensions of rhythm, texture, and space, since 2008 he’s been developing a distinct voice within the underground electronic scene, blending analog grit with immersive sound design.
A dextrous musician and technician who likes to work primarily with hardware, his process is hands-on and improvisational, rooted in a deep relationship with the dancefloor and a commitment to sonic experimentation. Bringing together the best of traditional influences such as Luke Slater, Jeff Mills, Steve Stoll, Damon Wild, Surgeon, Basic Channel and many more, he’s carved out his own niche that displays an impressive nous for balance that is both hypnotic as it is visceral, that leans equally into the dub spectrum when the feeling takes him.
Peter got his first break releasing music back in 2015 via Canadian imprint Subspec and has since featured on the likes of Short Black, Gynoid Audio, Diffuse Reality and Blackcat Records, and there’s a lot to admire in his growing catalogue. Having been put in touch through a mutual friend (cheers Dave), we caught up for a chat over email to find out more about the person behind the most excellent music.
Here’s what he had to say…
Name your first love musically speaking (and any guilty pleasures)?
I’ve had a few different musical loves at different stages of my life. As a kid I was obsessed with Michael Jackson and those early records were the first time music really grabbed me. Around the age of twelve I discovered electronic music, and by thirteen I had my first belt drive turntables which opened up a whole new world. I also went through a big grunge / heavy metal phase.
In my adult life I have been deeply in love with the music of Jeff Buckley. His voice and songwriting still amaze me.
As for guilty pleasures I am not really sure I have any. If I like something, I like it and I try not feel guilty about it… ha ha!
What was the first rave or club that you attended?
I think the first proper club night I went to was around 2007. DJ Boss was playing at the Cavern in Dublin and that was probably my first real experience of a proper club environment.
To be honest I think the second time I was ever in a club was actually when I played at one. That was in a club in Rathmines in Dublin. I did not really have much of a clubbing phase before I started DJing, I kind of jumped straight in.
Who influenced you the most in terms of wanting to make music?
A lot of it started with my family. My cousin Sean and my uncle John were the ones who first got me into The Orb. At the time I did not fully understand techno because I was so young, but looking back now I realise I was already listening to a lot of deeper electronic music without even knowing it.
From there I just caught the bug. Being at events and seeing the magic of it all made me want to understand how those sounds were created. That curiosity turned into an obsession and eventually into finding my own sound.
How do you spend your time when you’re not in the studio?
I probably spend too much time thinking about what I am going to do in the studio to be honest. It is always in the back of my mind haha .
Outside of that I like keeping things simple. Spending time with friends. I go to the gym, I go to Pilates, I love a good sauna, going to the cinema and I’m big into cooking.
I also spend time with my girlfriend Marcela. We go hiking and get out into the wilderness whenever we can. Being surrounded by nature resets everything for me and it ends up feeding back into the music in its own way.
If you could go back in time to anywhere in particular, when and where would it be?
I would probably go back to see a band or an artist that I never got the chance to experience in person. Someone like David Bowie or The Doors or Rory Gallagher or even Thin Lizzy.
Who made it better: Maestro Echoplex EP-3 or Roland RE-201 Space Echo?
Space Echo all the way !!
How do you know when a track/EP is done?
I think you just know. Your gut tells you. If the feeling you get from the track is right, then it is finished. You can overthink these things forever, so for me it always comes back to trusting that instinct.
With an EP there needs to be some kind of story or emotional thread running through it. I have to put a lot of myself into it for me to feel satisfied. It is the same thing again really. You listen to your intuition and if it feels right then it is .
What are the best and worst records you’ve ever heard?
As for the worst, there are just certain sounds I do not connect with and I try not to focus on them. I put my attention into the music that draws me in .
One of the best for me is The Secret Garden by Luke Slater. It is an exceptional piece of music and I always go back to it. I will be cliché and say the Basic Channel catalogue as well, along with Rhythm and Sound. They really do age like fine wine. On the Detroit side of things I think Mano De Fuego is brilliant too.
When it comes to Guinness – where serves the best pint in Dublin?
We are spoiled for choice in Dublin because this is where it comes from, so Guinness is great almost everywhere. For me, it’s more about the company you’re with than the exact pub.
If I had to pick one though, I’d say the Lord Edward.
How would you describe your spirit animal, if there’s such a thing?
This is a mad question, ha ha. I have no idea if spirit animals are even a real thing, but if I had to pick one, I’d probably say a hawk. I’m always observing everything and taking it all in.
A wolf could work too, but let’s go with a hawk !
Last but not least: tell us about your next release coming out.
I don’t have a confirmed release date at the moment, which in a way is pushing me to finish the projects I have in motion. I’ve been rebuilding a lot of my setup recently. I swapped out some samplers for the Octatrack and I am restructuring how I approach my live set and my recording process. All of that takes time but it will stand to me over the next while as I move toward the next release.
It has been a busy year so I have also taken a bit of a breather to reset and refocus. I spent time in Berlin this summer working on a collaboration project and that has fed a lot of new energy into what I am doing. Hopefully I’ll be able to share more about that further down the line, when everything is ready.
For now it is about sculpting the new material, finding the right home for it and getting it to a place where it feels true to me.
