LAMP Weekly Mix #129 feat. Funkwerkstatt

LAMP Weekly Mix #129 feat. Funkwerkstatt

We are really excited for this run of guests we've got on LAMP for the next few weeks kicking it off with a superb mixtape from the LOPEZHOUSE boys last week. Today we have the honor of featuring Berlin based Funkwerkstatt on our Weekly Mix series. Founder and purveyour of Superfancy Recordings which is celebrating 10 years means that you're getting some choice cuts including a special edit that opens up this mix. Funkwerkstatt first came onto our radar back in May when MR PUZL reviewed one of his latest tracks 'Bam Bam Buhle'. The group started over 15 years ago evolving and adapting to many phases that electronic music has gone through. Now as a mostly solo act Funkwerkstatt continues to purvey quality house music and embodies a sentiment that we closely share; music is a labor of love.MR PUZL: First off congratulations on your 10th anniversary of Superfancy Recordings. It's an amazing milestone. Tell us a little bit about how you first started the imprint.Funkwerkstatt: We started the label in 2006 as a “bedroom label“: we had no office, hardly any budget but a lot of enthusiasm and love for electronic music. Our motivation was to be able to release our own records and to have full control over the product – including layout, mastering, distribution etc.Over the years the label has become more professional. We got more and more demos and thus, we started to release not only our own music but also tracks from friends and newcomer artists.MP: You make a point to be highly selective on the tracks you release on the label. How does this reflect in your own music process when creating as Funkwerkstatt?FW: In terms of style Superfancy Recordings is open to any kind of electronic music. But the music needs to have a good groove. It needs to excite me. It needs the people on the dancefloor to get going. So, on Superfancy Recordings I only release tracks I would play myself in a club. In the end it's all about good music and being authentic as a DJ and head of label.MP: We all like a good story and mixes can reveal a lot about their creator. What have you got in store for our listeners with this guest mix?FW: I developed the mix spontaneously. It's tracks I've been playing in clubs lately. The opening track is by Funkwerkstatt. It's called Bam Bam Bule - the piano edit is unreleased so far and has been designed especially for LAMP to give the mix a special flavor. The closing track is one of my all time favorites: Slam's “lifetimes”. It's been released in 2001 and it's still an amazing track you just want to hear over and over again.MP: You mentioned in your interview with Screen.fm about the fact that making good music is no longer sufficient in the industry. Often, talented artists with no PR or budget go unnoticed. What advice then would you give to people just starting their career in this industry?FW: Well, networking with other artists, promotion on social media etc. is important, of course. But what's even more important is to be patient, believe in what your are doing and be authentic. Love what you do.MP: We reviewed 'Bam Bam Buhle' a little while back and I did a little bit of research on your career. You've been around for over 15 years and first started as a band. How did the project first start and how do envision the creative direction for it now and in the future?FW: My best friend Nicola and I founded Funkwerkstatt in 1999. Between 2008 and 2012 we performed all over the world – supported by singer Dan Morro. Back then, he did all the vocals for Funkwerkstatt. Since 2013 Funkwerkstatt is a solo project. Traveling and gigs all over the world were quite time consuming. Therefore, my friend Nicola quit to spend more time with his family. We are still very good friends though.Today Funkwerkstatt is me - as a DJ in the clubs and in the studio. The sound has changed over the years just like electronic music has changed. But the core is still the same: a good groove, catchy bassline, Detroit and Chicago as well as basic channel and Italo disco influences.MP: You're obviously a fan of legacy hardware and have mentioned that you can't do with out your Roland TR 909 and Moog Rogue.FW: Legacy hardware has an authentic and unique sound. Therefore, I like it so much. But, of course, I also use digital equipment like Cubase and Ableton as well as several plug ins.MP: Berlin has always been a thriving city for electronic music and it seems that everyone is very supportive of each other there. How does that differ from other cities and countries you've visited?FW: I've never experienced something like the electronic music scene in Berlin elsewhere. It's unique. When it started in the early 90ies – shortly after the fall of the wall - everything was possible.People improvised underground parties in abandoned houses in east Berlin. This special spirit has been conserved. Today, Berlin is a melting pot of creativity. DJs from all over the world come to Berlin and provide new influences. And of course, there are many highly innovative artists in Berlin, who support each other. Our studio, for example, is in a building with seven or eight other studios. We often exchange ideas and collaborate for certain projects.MP: If you could pick some new rising artists to work on remixes or even release material on Superfancy, who would you consider?FW: My label is open to all good artists – no one in particular. What's really important is: their music needs to excite me.MP: If you could curate a stage at a festival like Fusion or Melt, who would you book? What would you call the stage?FW: So many artists, they wouldn't all fit on stage... But my dream line up would be Kraftwerk (live), Jeff Mills, Derrick May, Basic Channel live!, Laurent Garnier, Aphex Twin, DJ Koze, Spirit Catcher and DMX Crew. They had a big influence on my music.

Tracklist

1. Funkwerkstatt – Bam Bam Buhle (Piano Dub) – Superfancy Recordings2. Dj Linus – Casa Musica – Go Deeva Records3. German Brigante – Samoa – Dirtybird Music4. Dennis Cruz – New Life – Snatch! Records5. Mystic Bill – Invisible (Sonny Fodera Edit) - Defected6. youANDme feat. Brothers Vibe – House Will Survive - Suara7. Riva Starr – Velvet Zone – Toolroom Records8. Rare Candy – The Bottle – Dancefuel Recordings9. Phillip Bader – Get Up Now (Sven Tasnadi Remix) – Rules10. Shiba San – Got Drunk (Emanuel Satie Remix) – Suara11. Geeeman – Bang`t – Clone Jack for Daze Series12. Riva Starr & Dajae – The Midnight Hour - Cajual13. Slam – Lifetimes - Soma