I made it in the style of a mixtape you used to make for friends. This should be done far more often – it’s such a shame that making a mixtape is really out of date! Just imagine how much you’ll brighten up someone’s day! – Esther Silex

I read somewhere you moved around a lot growing up. Tell me a bit about that and how you got drawn to the club scene and the dj/production business.

That’s true, I’ve already moved houses 25 times during my life! My parents were highly creative and courageous people that loved children and traveling. Therefore I spent most of my childhood between France, Portugal, England and Germany or on the road with my 3 siblings in an old red VW bus. I am so grateful for their way of bringing us up. We never had a nanny or sorts, instead they would take us with them everywhere they went, which meant that we would come along, sleeping in the pram or on the sofas around when they went for a drink or to friend’s houses. It might sound outrageous to some, but children love being around people and being part of their parent’s life. Music and the club scene has therefore kind of always been part of our life. May it be Jimi Tenor, Sade, Sly & The Family Stone or Tchaikovsky, my parents eclectic record collection was always part of our lives at home.

At one point everything kind of broke up – to put it mildly – and my parents both moved away to different places. That’s when I really started digging all the old records they left me. I didn’t have a record player at home so I asked some friends who were running this Bar in Cologne if I could come and listen to the old gems I had found. They loved what I was playing which quickly got me my first gig! From there on I spent a lot of time looking for new music, going from Soul and Funk to Italo Disco and House and Techno. I started to play around with Ableton as well but quickly got very frustrated by just sitting in front of the computer screen. I learned that’s its easier to start making music with a limited vocabulary, the sorts that machines offer. Just 2 years ago I picked it up again, got myself a synthesizer and gave it another go. I felt more mature and ready to transmit my ideas of the sound I wanted to create into real music. My debut EP ‘c’ are the results of this!

Your DJ-mixes are really eclectic and with often unanticipated transitions. It feels like it’s a lot about playfulness and spontaneity. Could this be an accurate assumption and/or please elaborate a bit on how you work with them.

I love being surprised when I listen to other people playing, I love it when they take me on a ride, a ride I wouldn’t have even dreamt of. This what I am doing when I’m playing myself. Originally Techno was rebellion, it was a statement, a look into the future. It wasn’t supposed to please you or to be what you wanted to hear. I want to convey this feeling, this attitude, no matter what kind of genre who would could it. Help open up new strands of thoughts, new lights at the end of the tunnel by overthrowing any kind of musical-boundaries during my sets. This results in my gigs being very eclectic and playful!

You recently released your debut EP on Studio Barnhus. Tell me a bit about how you got picked up by the label.

The Studio Barnhus guys have been playing in Cologne for quite some years, so we’ve ran into each other a few times already. They’ve been on the list of my favorite labels for a quite a while now and as we liked each other instantly it made sense that they would be the first to be able to listen to my music. My friend Matt, who helped me with the release at his studio in Gothenburg and also has a tight bond to Studio Barnhus encouraged me to send it over, they loved it straight-away and we had a deal!

How would you describe the current club/music scene situation in Cologne, do you spot any trends or direction and which clubs and/or music venues can you recommend for visitors.

I would recommend Gewölbe and JackWho in Cologne. Fantastic bookings, location and sound and so many lovely people involved. For the good – there are loads of clubs in Cologne, and more coming, for the bad – there isn’t much interaction between the owners which is a shame as it would be far more profitable for everyone if at least musically wise they would work together. There aren’t enough people in Cologne for the wide offer of dance-nights, which means that big bookings often don’t get the attention they should. Too much going on in one night designed to address the same target group. If you want to hang out at a bar, I can warmly recommend Metronom, best drinks and jazz in town or King Georg which boasts by far the best booking of underground indie bands.

So what’s you future plans ahead?

Im going to be in the studio a lot during the next months. I used to be involved with tons of other projects and have now finally freed myself of all to just be able to concentrate on playing and making music. It’s a big step, and I’m so happy with the decision! Besides that I’m moving to Hamburg at the end of the month to go and live with the love of my life!

Upcoming gigs:

11.03 Wuppertal, Klub

12.03 Cologne, Heinz Gaul

24.03 Kopenhagen, Culture Box

08.04 Berlin, Katerblau

Credits:

Words by Gustav Bagge

Should I really refer to Makode’s (in)famous “Painful Cake” or remind of Zhala’s unconventional visual style and mantra-like music videos such as “Holy Bubbles” or ‘’Prophet’’? Do I even need to mention that the singer is the very honourable first artist signed to Robyn’s Konichiwa Records? Even though any of these well-known facts would be enough to attract crowds of culture-literate clubbers craving for a music experience, it seems that Makode and Zhala’s collaboration reaches even further.

The offical mixtape for the party, made by Zhala for us.

With the DJ sounds and live performances of such intriguing personas as Kornel Kovacs, Lap See Lam or the Venezuelan queen of electronics Aérea Negrot, the event invites to a hedonistic wonderland full of surprises. The slogan of the event is ‘’Release Body’’ and that is exactly what Zhala and Makode want us to experience: a carnal and spiritual indulgence in the wave of music and inspiring visuals. The most efficient connoisseurs of the corporal pleasures will have the opportunity to enter the obscurities of the Naked Room, curated by multi-artist Alexi Carpentieri.

Zhala – Slippin Around
Directed by Makode Linde

Credits:

Words by Weronika Pérez Borjas

For more information Grolsch Studios & Facebook event page

WHO: KORNÉL KOVÁCS

WHAT: DJ/PRODUCER, 1/3 OF STUDIO BARNHUS

WHERE: STOCKHOLM

Ambient mix by KORNÉL KOVÁCS: rfm by Theforumist.Com on Mixcloud

After living that jet-set, hustler life with solo DJ gigs all over Sweden, Tokyo, Mexico City, New York, London, Barcelona and Berlin and marking achievements like a spot in the 2008 Red Bull Music Academy and a legendary Sónar set in 2009, Kornél Kovács decided it was time flip the script. So, in 2010, along with Axel Boman and Petter Nordkvist, he formed Studio Barnhus, a “record label/dj trio/love thang” and the opportunity to collaborate musically and expand his creative reach in every other way.

Szikra, Kornél’s third Barnhus release, was dropped in March and recent remixes include Tevo Howard, Jenny Wilson and Let’s Play House. Look out for his next joint: a three track edit of songs from 1985 – the year of his birth – under the alias KOKO for HNNY’S Puss Label

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How would you describe your music, what are some of your influences?

I grew up on 90′s dance music, everything from drum’n’bass/jungle to cheesy eurotechno. I’m drawn towards those kinds of sounds and styles. I like sharp contrasts and unexpected combinations in music. And I tend to almost always use the human voice in some way, mostly through samples.

What/where is your dream gig?

I’d like to play at the sunrise set on a nice, big desert rave someday.

Why should people listen to your music?

To get a little stupid and pump that bass?

Could music have the power to make peace in the world?

I don’t know, probably. Maybe not. Music can be used for both peacemaking and warmongering I guess.

Why music?

It eases the pain!

Find Kovács on Facebook … and on Soundcloud

Credits:

In collaboration with R.fm and Gustav Bagge.

Words by Malina Bickford. Interview by Rebekka Alden.