‘Perform and Smash the Place’: Oliver Deutschmann Interviewed | 23rd August at the KitKat Club

Driven by a sense of adventure, Oliver Deutschmann left the Black Forest for Berlin at the end of the 1990s. Here, the DJ and producer was musically socialised by the early Ostgut and Berghain scenes. It was at a Fête de la Musique party in the mid-2000s that he met his future Vidab label partner, Stephan Hill. Oliver Deutschmann has no Plan B other than electronic music, nor does he believe there is such a thing as the perfect DJ set. 

Who actually still buys albums these days?

There are still plenty of people for whom music is much more than just an mp3 file from download platforms like iTunes or Beatport. Music lovers who think it’s important to have a finished product in their hands. Ideally, an album is a self-contained concept, combining artwork, music and physical medium, and therefore much more than just a mere collection of tracks.

What is the significance of a debut album?

Producing an album is always a challenge. It’s relatively simple to make EPs with two or three tracks. My debut album is a big step forward for me. With all the EPs I’ve produced so far, I’ve almost exclusively appealed to DJs. With the album, as a techno and house producer, I wanted to break free from these ‘shackles’ a bit. I’ve been carrying this idea around with me for quite some time now. And once our new studio was finished, I could finally put all these ideas into practice without any disturbance.

Your label Vidab, which you run with Stephan Hill, describes itself as a platform for ‘Timeless Club Music’. What does that mean?

For me, a track only becomes a good track when you can’t tell when it was made. Timeless club music is disconnected from trends and hypes, which are the poison of our scene. I used a lot of hardware for my debut album. Almost all the rhythmic elements come from the Roland 707, the synth sounds from the Roland JP8000. I love the assertive power of these machines. Of course, you can achieve all this with plug-ins as well. But for me, the tactile side of it is extremely important. That’s how everything sounds that little bit rougher and dirtier.

What do you think is special about Berlin’s club and music scene?

It’s incredibly enticing and attractive, which is why so many musicians, DJs, and those who want to become one, move here. Loads of clubs, endless parties, people from all over the world with their influences and ideas. Right now, it’s definitely something unique – worldwide.

Oliver Deutschmann is playing on 23rd August 2019 at FourPlay in the KitKat Club.
Here’s the link to the event.

Photo: © Promo