Monday, 10 May 2010 04:32

Kaiserdisco have been ruling the Beatport charts — fittingly, given that “Kaiser” is the German title for “Emperor”. (Like the Russian “Czar”, the word derives from “Caesar”.) Their rise has been lightning fast: since their first record in 2008, they’ve racked up records for Micro.fon, Style Rockets, Terminal M, and My Best Friend — four for the latter label alone, with another two EPs and an album on the way for the Traum sublabel.

Fortunately, Kaiserdisco’s reign has been a benevolent one. Making nice between techno, tech house and even good ol’ minimal, they turn out tunes heavy on the bounce and filled with trippy good vibes.

In celebration of their brand-new release for Adam Beyer’s Drumcode, the stomping ‘Le Feu’ EP, we requested an audience with the Hamburg-based duo, to find out what the view is like from the Kaiserdisco throne.

Kaiserdisco, ‘Vert’ [Drumcode]

 

 

How did you get started making music?

As Kaiserdisco we have been working together since 2008. But Patrick has been in the business for more than 10 years, and I’ve been working as a producer since 2003. Our first production was a remix for Phunklarique / Pierce. It was done mostly for fun, but as it sometimes goes, a bit of fun led to an absolute hit! You voted it to one of “Beatport’s minimal top 10 selling tracks in 2008”. Our first EP was signed by DJ Emerson for his imprint Micro.Fon, and after that we released our second EP on My Best Friend.

 

Phunklarique / Pierce, ‘Swoosh (Kaiserdisco Remix)’ [Yellow Tail]

 

 

Do you DJ or play live (or both)?

At the moment we DJ — we are playing together with two laptops with Traktor, its always great fun! But we will also start to play live with the release of our first album this year.

 

Where do you record?

We have a studio in Hamburg, because it is very important for us to have a place where we can concentrate and where we feel at home.

Preferred piece of gear/software?

We are working with Logic, sometimes we use Ableton for a few effects, but most of the time we are working with Logic only. We have lots of hardware standing in the studio but almost none of the gear is in use any more, because all the software is getting better and better. For us it is much easier and more comfortable to have everything in the computer, so we are even able to work on tour.

Morning people or night owls?

Frederic: I am a morning person, I do most of the office work between 7-11 am and after that I go to the studio.

Patrick: I am definitely a night owl. Hooking up with Frederic at 11 o’clock in the morning is almost a nightmare for me. I have my creative time more in the evening or at night. I am also very often one of the last ones to leave the club.

What inspires you when you go into the studio?

The whole life. Touring around the world, clubbing, our relationships, friends, everything.

Which record (by another artist, that is) do you wish that you had made?

‘Thriller’ by Michael Jackson and ‘Knights of the Jaguar’ by Aztec Mystic aka DJ Rolando.

If a tsunami were headed for your house, which *one* record would you rescue before the waves hit?

We would take our laptops with us, there is all we need and love on it.

 

Kaiserdisco, ‘Aguja’ [MBF]

 

 

What was the best gig/party you’ve ever attended, and why?

Love Parade warm-up 1997 in Berlin with Steve Bug and Sven Väth. Steve played an awesome warm-up and Sven kicked out the chairs.

What was the best gig/party you’ve ever played, and why?

Colombia was awesome this year, but there have been so many good gigs, that we can’t say that there was a best one.

Preferred vacation spot?

Patrick: Mallorca / Ibiza

Frederic: Couch at Home

When you’re not making or playing music, what’s your preferred pastime?

Frederic: I’m a huge movie fan. I think I’ve seen almost everything out there.

Patrick: Spending time with my girlfriend or meet friends and having a couple of beers.

 

Booka Shade, ‘Bad Love (Kaiserdisco Remix)’ [Booka Shade/Get Physical]

 

 

Tell us about your upcoming gigs and releases.

Upcoming gigs:

15.05.2010 Maria am Ostbahnhof – Berlin (Germany)
23.05.2010 Studio 80 – Amsterdam (Netherlands)
29.05.2010 Zoom – Nuernberg (Germany)
04.06.2010 Bosanski Kulturni Centar (BKC) – Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegowina)
05.06.2010 Domu Mladih (Palma) – Tuzla (Bosnia and Herzegowina)
11.06.2010 Great Stuff Night – Moscow (Russia)
12.06.2010 Douala Club – Ravensburg (Germany)
19.06.2010 The Arena Club – London (UK)
26.06.2010 U60311 – Frankfurt (Germany)
03.07.2010 Panoptikum – Kassel (Germany)
10.07.2010 Electronation – Amsterdam (Netherlands)
31.07.2010 Festival Solaris (Ukraine)
06.08.2010 Paradise Club – Pereira (Columbia)
07.08.2010 Centro de Convenciones – Lima (Peru)
13.08.2010 Insomniak @ Rachdingue - Vilajuïga (Spain)
03.09.2010 Tresor Club – Berlin (Germany)
11.09.2010 Mint Club – Leeds (UK)
18.09.2010 Sneaker Festival (Netherlands)
25.09.2010 Gallery Club – Bielefeld (Germany)

Upcoming releases:
Out now: Kaiserdisco & Flavio Diaz, ‘Le Feu’ EP [Drumcode]
June: Kaiserdisco, ‘Dulce Frutas’ EP [My Best Friend]
June/July: Umek, ‘No One Could Have Suspected (Kaiserdisco Remix)’ [1605]
July: Kaiserdisco, ‘Jaana’ [Kling Klong]
August: Kaiserdisco, ‘Remixed’ [MBF 069]
September: Davy Dee, ‘The Yellow Screen (Kaiserdisco Remix)’ [MB Elektroniks]
November: Kaiserdisco, ALBUM [MBF]

Source: Beatportal