Iloh also known under the alias PSEUDO500 is a techno producer, Dj and Live act from Lyon. In 2020, he won the Diggers Factory Challenge allowing him to have his first Ep “Resurface” pressed on vinyl. Since then, he keeps signing releases on imprints such as OAKHI Records, Aedi records Melifera records and his sub-label Polën. He comes back most recently with his ”States of Matter” Ep on Mind Games Recordings. The producer speaks about his hip-hop roots, his main IDM influences, his vision of mental techno, “Paradoxical Nod” Live project launched with his acolyte Baacus, his crew Analog Catharsis and his next Ep on Mühely among others.

Welcome, a glass of? 

London Mule.

Where do you come from and have you any music education? 

I grew up close to Paris in a small town called Bailly surrounded by forest and fields. I did practice guitar for 3-4 years from 12 to 16 in conservatoire but I got bored of classical music theory. At that time, I was listening to a lot of rap, and discovered Nujabes. He quickly became one of my favorite artists and went into electronic music after that. Few years later, I discovered Reason 4 and that I could produce my own tracks so I started to create weird cheesy hip-hop tracks with a friend (laughs). I immediately loved it and kept going for many years, tried Logic Pro and I have been using Ableton live for a few years now.

Why did you name your project “PSEUDO500”? 

I created this second alias 2 years ago to be more focused on club-oriented production. I guess my work with Analog Catharsis had a huge impact on me as well. I chose this name because I wanted to join the underground movement for which the main point is about music, not the artist. 

Who are your main influences?

I started listening to techno with Luigi Tozzi, Primal Code and Hypnus artists and I always come back to this genre that I love, with a minimalist approach to production and a great sound design. I also love textures and bring to life a track with noises and side-chains as Rrose, Function, Conceptual, Oscar Mulero and PoleGroup artists do. The third inspiration for me and not the least would be Electro break with an analog approach to it, and IDM genre, such as Drexciya, Oscean, Voiski, Helena Hauff, Aphex Twin, Legowelt… I can feel the freedom in their music, they get away from the techno rules and have no boundaries. 

You have co-founded “Analog Catharsis”, why did you choose this name? 

We play live and vinyl so « Analog » came almost immediately (laughs). We searched for few days and had so many names dropping but at some point « Catharsis » arrived on the table, we all liked it a lot and it describes perfectly what’s important for us.

What is your current Live setup and since when do you perform?

I’m actually working on a new live set with fewer instruments than before, getting the most of two or three machines maximum, and adding more attention to the mix and effects chains. I’m using at the moment the Elektron Syntakt for the bassline, textures and drums, Arturia Microfreak for arpeggios, and Elektron Sample for drums 707, 808, 909 samples. In comparison, with Paradoxical Nod, my duo project with Baacus, we have a full-machine hardware setup and it’s also super fun and cool to use only the synths, drums and effects that you have. 

What prompted you to produce? 

I always had a producer approach when it’s about music, listening to tracks over and over and trying to understand how they do this or that, replicating melodies on a piano or on my DAW. My first goal was naturally creating great tracks and albums that people could listen to at home or in clubs. I got into Djing few years after and loved it as well.

How did you link with Luca Maniaci at the head of Mind Games Recordings? 

In 2022, I released an IDM album called « Origins » with my first alias Iloh, and I worked with Hervé Ak from Inclusif records for the promotion. He sent my album to many Djs and producers and Luca was one of them. He sent me a really nice feedback on my work and I started to follow his work with Mind Games, listen to his productions and played it a lot in my sets. Two years after, I sent him my EP « States of Matter » and I was so pleased that he agreed to release it on his label. 

What kind of gears did you use to produce “States of Matter”? 

I mostly used the Moog grandmother, Korg minilogue and Microfreak for the synths. The Syntakt is great for textures and noises. Most of the drums are produced inside Ableton, with operator most of the time for cymbals and midi sample for claps and kicks. After that, for textures and percs, I use a lot of randomization to create movement. 

What is your favorite part of the creative-production process?

My favorite part is when you open Ableton and start a new track, searching for new ideas, turning knobs on the Moog and starting to hear something interesting. I get quite quickly to a 1-2 min track that I really like, then I’m struggling (laughs).

Your definition of mental techno?

Technically speaking, I would say that’s something hypnotic, textured, driven and repetitive with a great attention to details. We hear mental everywhere now but I think there is also a conceptual aspect behind the word « mental ». For me, it is more about using all the textures, noises and high-end elements wisely to make you breathe with the music and creating a space where you can feel a tension, a release or a vibration growing and mutating.

How was your jam session with Polën at La Vallée Electrique last Summer? 

It was amazing, one of my best experiences I had on stage. I still have goose bumps when I speak about it (laughs). From ambient to techno in 3 hours, the crowd was completely into it with us, a magical moment in the forest.

What effects are you looking for on the listener? 

Movement, Abandonment, Inspiration

 “States of Matter” in 3 words?

Deep Groove, Hypnotic, Textured

What is the biggest inspiration for your music? Are Sci-fi a part of your influences as well?

I think the biggest inspiration is other people’s music, ambient music especially. I spent a lot of time listening to ambient, drone and IDM stuff on Bandcamp when I’m traveling or working on something else and it gives me so many ideas of new sounds, textures, effects… I watch a lot of movies and series too, and yes Sci-fi is one of my favorite genres. I guess unconsciously it influences me in my music.

If I mention you Rrose, what comes first to your mind?  

The first time I saw her playing live, at Nuits Sonores last year. It was so precise, deep and evolving smoothly between tracks that it blew my mind. This was a turning point for me because it shows me that there are no boundaries when it comes to live performance. After that, I found an old video of Seth explaining how you can create music in Ableton with only one filter, Filterfreak from Soundtoys and no instrument at all. I immediately loved the idea of creating sounds with nothing, experimented a lot and searched for a new approach to production.

Sun or moon? 

Definitely moon (laughs)

Would you like to launch your own label and why?

Yes for sure, I’m working on it actually, I hope 2025 will be the year! 

Your top 3 festivals? 

I like small festivals and in 2024 I went to La Vallée Electrique to play and Sonoka Festival - Focus festival click here - to listen and it was a great experience. The crowd was super nice and the music was amazing. The third one, I will say Stone Techno, I’ve never been there but watched so many videos that I want to go this year.

Your top 5 labels? 

With no surprise, Mind Games Recordings, Eaux (label of Rrose, Editor’s Note) of course, I really love also WSNWG Rødhåd’s label, Warm Up Recordings, and I have to say Tresor Records, especially a few recent releases of UFO95, Oscean, CAIV…

Recently, which Live set blew you away the most?

Rrose for sure and Colin Benders at Stone Techno, I wasn’t there but I watched it many times.

If you could teleport for a few hours…

Only for 7 hours, in Amsterdam, at a Stoor Live session (laughs)

Without music, life would be… 

Bleak

Your top 5 new releases? 

. Oscean "Blaster Imploder" [Tresor Records]

. Rrose "Spore" [EAUX]

. Function "Binaural" [EAUX1491]

. Luca Maniaci "Close" [Planet Rhythm]

. Ribé "Infinitum" [Warm Up Recordings]

Your top 5 oldies? 

. Drexciya "Andreaen Sand Dunes" [Tresor Records]

. Umwelt "The Zeta Reticuli" Incident [Satamile Records NYC]

. Oscar Mulero "The Flood" [Warm Up Recordings]

. Marco Bailey "Meditation" [Tortured Records]

. Jel Ford "New Home" [Jericho]

. And my bonus : Nujabes "Highs 2 Lows" [Hyde Out Productions]

Your projects for 2025? 

I’ve got a release on the 30th of January on Mühely which is a label from Budapest running by Obwigszyh, Adam Krasz and Norman Tamas since 2018. They released really great techno EPs and loved the vibe of the label. This release is more personal, with a lot of breakbeats, stereo noises and bleeps with a huge amount of work on pads and textures. We also have our 3 year anniversary at Loupika in March yeyyyy! We are also planning another EP for a label in Lyon. And maybe a release on an unknown label, with an unknown friend… 

Interviewed by Sabrina Bouzidi