How are you and what have you been up to recently?
Hi! I’m doing great — I just bought some new analog synths. I want to focus more on production and I’ve managed to build up a nice setup at home, with good monitoring and some nice gear. Another thing that’s been occupying me recently is the workshops I organize together with my mates from Aura.Karma. They’re geared to beginning musicians and DJs who are interested in electronic music. We’re trying to enable young talents by helping them build their DJ and production skills. A second project of ours is Aura.Karma.Records, our new label. We’ve some really exciting releases coming up. The next one will feature a stunning double pack by Optimist — a side project by Hiver — and a great remix from Bleak which is also included in my Ilian Tape Podcast.
How is Munich City?
I love Munich. There’s a large variety of cultural and art events and outlets that I make constant use of. If you like to have fun like I do and keep an open mind, this city can always surprise you with something new and exciting. You can get around quite well — and it’s really charming in its own Bavarian way. I discovered electronic music through my visits to the now defunct Ultraschall located in Riem, just outside Munich. This club was the original influence that formed my interests; with that, I became part of the scene starting 1995. After gaining a lot of experience, in 2012 I’ve become a resident DJ in my favourite club, Rote Sonne. This was a huge achievement to me.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would you choose and why?
Levon Vincent and Stenny are musicians I really look up to. I find their work impressive. Levon shakes the scene with each new single he puts out. There’s something about his take on music, and how he arranges his tracks. Besides he’s a damn good DJ with a lot of experience and knows the dance floor really well. One of the best I had the opportunity of hearing for sure. Stenny, from Italy, is one of the upcoming talents. Each of his tracks is exciting, and in some way special. He keeps on pushing the envelope. His tracks are really fresh. I love how he combines breakbeats with beautiful melodies and complex rhythms and he’s a great guy, and a lot of fun to hang out with.
What annoys you or has pissed you off lately?
I’m really annoyed by people who are pigheaded. People who can’t reflect on themselves and their mistakes. I mean nobody’s perfect, me either, but it’s important to learn from your mistakes, to better yourself. Too many people don’t care about their environment. The world has suffered a lot by the hand of man and many of us lead their lives in a very selfish way. Even though we depend on nature with our lives. Take Fukushima for instance. But we’re not only talking about a problem for Japan, this is global. A lot of people are too short sighted about this. They think: „Japan is far away — why give a crap? But the damage to the oceans, to the environment, and the animal world is tremendous and in the end it will influence all of us. So people need to think twice before they act in a way that will have negative consequences for all of us. A lot of us add a lot to the issue, and that just makes me sad.
What excites you besides music?
Hanging out with my friends and my girlfriend is a great way for me to spend my time. Meeting new people and having interesting conversations. Art. I love to look at paintings or graffiti.
Who would you choose to compete in a Wrestling match and why?
Hahaha! That’s a really interesting question, but to be honest I’m a very peaceful person. I would never compete with anyone in a wrestling match. I’ve never been a great fan of this sport, even on the TV, where it’s all for show. It’s just not something I’m into. Thanks for the interview.