TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?
Hmm...I grew up from a very typical German family in a tiny village. Not so much inspiration from records my parents would listen to or friends surrounding me with a good taste of music. Other kids went to Karate class or played Soccer, I tried to get free rides to the bigger cities and would ask older kids in the streets if they can show me cool stores, bars, record shops.
WHAT COOL STUFF ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW?Well for me, I started BANANAS about 4 years ago and since my partner left it became my Baby. I do mostly everything, around it. Flyer-design, PR and of course show up and DJ with my new partner Dan Battle. Then of course I try to travel as much as possible to the capital (Beijing) to hang out with Wordy, record Mixtapes and play together.
Besides that I’m very much involved in the YUM YUM Parties, originally from Munich Germany; we started doing them now in Croatia, England, Russia and of course here in Shanghai. Together with K Swiss we launched a shoe and T-Shirts designed by The ZONDERS. The rest of my time I spend with my girlfriend who is a funky designer for suits. She often sends me to crazy factories in China where I have to eat interesting animals and drink gallons of rice wine.
TELL US ABOUT THE SCENE YOU ARE IN RIGHT NOW. WHAT’S HAPPENING IN SHANGHAI?
I go very often back to Germany, mostly Hamburg & Berlin. Every time I return then to Shanghai, I feel like I’m back in the latte 90’s. People still wear baggy pants, the clubs book Head Kandi DJs and Museums just about to discover Street-Art.
But I like it. I can be myself; back home it feels like it’s a competition. Who’s more funky, who can produce the weirdest track and who has the latest tweet about a new hip spot. Of course both places have a different vibe and I mostly manage to extract from both exactly what I want.
TELL US ABOUT THE KIND OF WHAT YOU DO ATTRACTS?
To quote my friend Ben Huang: “At Bananas people don’t dance, they jump.” I guess that’s it. We don’t have any rules. We are cheap, that everyone can afford it. But if you feel like, we’re gonna sell you a bottle, too and put sprinklers on. It’s just about to have fun.
ARE YOUR FRIENDS GETTING IN TO?
Well in my private-life there is an interesting social experiment going on.
My girlfriend comes from a very posh, champagne drinking, invitation only group. I come from bringing my own drinks in a back-pack to the party.
Since we are going out, we mix friends, restaurants, clubs, music and ideas.
And I think that’s is exactly what’s going on all over the world right now.
People put down certain rules and stop caring too much. Why not eat a burger at a 5-Star restaurant and why not buying LV sneakers if they are dope (and you can afford it)
I think people slowly try to have their own style instead of looking like a certain class, of course there will be always magazines trying to tell them what is new & hip. But with many blogs about fashion, where normal people report and post what they are seeing everyday, it’s not always about the latest Haut Couture from Paris.
WHAT WILL THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU?
Well I wish I would know. Things always repeat and I try to learn from my mistakes and make it better the next time. I’m turning 30 end of next year and never thought I would live in Shanghai or somewhere outside of Germany. I guess I go with the flow and sip the whisky before its getting warm.
HOW DO YOU PUSH YOUR MUSIC?
I guess like everyone else, send out zshare links with my mixes. But I try to be a bit selective. Mass promotion and being all over the blogs is what I think not the best way. I think if you work with selected people who have again their followers makes more sense then sending out and (annoying) email blast.
TOP 3 ALBUMS / TRACKS IN YOUR OPINION HAS BEEN INFLUENTIAL TO YOUR GENERATION?
Nirvana – Nevermind with “Smells like Teen Spirit
This album brought all the Skaters, Poppers, HipHoppers and Rocker together when I went to High School
Jay Z – Black Album “Every Track”
I don’t think it’s Jay’s best album but it showed a trend when he released the acapellas of it. Everyone can be a producer. How many remixes were suddenly all over the place from people all over the World. The peak of Mash Up’s.
Major Lazer - Guns Don’t Kill People. Lazers Do.
What started with Justice & Mylo is now continuing. Finally a new club sounds that doesn’t follow the Old School House rules.
CONTACT ARTISTS: AWE5OME
To quote my friend Ben Huang: “At Bananas people don’t dance, they jump.” I guess that’s it. We don’t have any rules. We are cheap, that everyone can afford it. But if you feel like, we’re gonna sell you a bottle, too and put sprinklers on. It’s just about to have fun.
ARE YOUR FRIENDS GETTING IN TO?
Well in my private-life there is an interesting social experiment going on.
My girlfriend comes from a very posh, champagne drinking, invitation only group. I come from bringing my own drinks in a back-pack to the party.
Since we are going out, we mix friends, restaurants, clubs, music and ideas.
And I think that’s is exactly what’s going on all over the world right now.
People put down certain rules and stop caring too much. Why not eat a burger at a 5-Star restaurant and why not buying LV sneakers if they are dope (and you can afford it)
I think people slowly try to have their own style instead of looking like a certain class, of course there will be always magazines trying to tell them what is new & hip. But with many blogs about fashion, where normal people report and post what they are seeing everyday, it’s not always about the latest Haut Couture from Paris.
WHAT WILL THE FUTURE HOLD FOR YOU?
Well I wish I would know. Things always repeat and I try to learn from my mistakes and make it better the next time. I’m turning 30 end of next year and never thought I would live in Shanghai or somewhere outside of Germany. I guess I go with the flow and sip the whisky before its getting warm.
HOW DO YOU PUSH YOUR MUSIC?
I guess like everyone else, send out zshare links with my mixes. But I try to be a bit selective. Mass promotion and being all over the blogs is what I think not the best way. I think if you work with selected people who have again their followers makes more sense then sending out and (annoying) email blast.
TOP 3 ALBUMS / TRACKS IN YOUR OPINION HAS BEEN INFLUENTIAL TO YOUR GENERATION?
Nirvana – Nevermind with “Smells like Teen Spirit
This album brought all the Skaters, Poppers, HipHoppers and Rocker together when I went to High School
Jay Z – Black Album “Every Track”
I don’t think it’s Jay’s best album but it showed a trend when he released the acapellas of it. Everyone can be a producer. How many remixes were suddenly all over the place from people all over the World. The peak of Mash Up’s.
Major Lazer - Guns Don’t Kill People. Lazers Do.
What started with Justice & Mylo is now continuing. Finally a new club sounds that doesn’t follow the Old School House rules.
CONTACT ARTISTS: AWE5OME
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