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 | | | New Member // Mikael Stavostrand | Once again, we are very proud to present the newest pearl in our booking roster, Mikael Stavostand. He has been lauded as a key figure of the Swedish electronic music scene for his unique interpretations of minimal club techno as well as producing some of the most essential experimental electronic music of the past years.
He started to produce in the early nineties, but back then he was a part of the industrial scene he gained respect releasing some now labeled as "classic" records under different names. He has released over 40 12" Ep's and 19 Albums (CD, DLP, LP) so far and he has been featured on many compilation and mix records. He has been playing live sets around the world for the last few years. In Japan, North South America and all over Europe at respected clubs like the Panorama Bar, Fabric, Watergate, Arma 17 and many more.
Catch Mikael in action on the 29th of May @ Panoramabar / Berlin DE | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Markus Homm // podcast at Ibiza Voices
| Markus Homm has also been busy and has put together his favourite tracks for a podcast on Ibiza Voices. Let the summer begin ... please ... pretty please?
http://www.ibiza-voice.com/music/podcast/Markus_Homm | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Todd Bodine at Ibiza Voices
| Next to wax lyrical in our Down the Production Hole series is a man with a something of a Midas touch when it comes to house and techno. As a DJ, he started out with a residency at Tresor Club, and has since also adopted a formidable live format, which debuted in 2007 at Panorama Bar. A prolific producer, he's been making tracks for near on a decade, releasing material across such labels as Morris Audio Citysport Edition, Tresor, Immigrant, mothership, and, of course, Highgrade. His third artist album, Forms, came out on Highgrade just last year and, naturally, he had a major hand in the label's recent Mikado compilation. He's a huge proponent of hardware, good speakers - and talent. And has got his fair share of all of these things. So find out more now, as we ask Berliner Dierk Draeger, aka Todd Bodine, DJ/producer, label manager and A&R at Highgrade Records: what the f**k do you know?
http://www.ibiza-voice.com/story/news/2227 | | | read more (PDF) + |
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| | | | | |  | | Markus Homm at Junodownload
| The Juno minimal podcast celebrates its 30th – and to mark the occasion we’ve enlisted the help of our friend Markus Homm to mix this edition.
The Romanian producer has released music through Highgrade Records, Ostwind and Freunde Tontraeger, developing a style which nestles in at the deeper end of tech house.
He now bases himself jointly in Moscow and Hong Kong, globetrotting from one continent to another for a steady stream of DJ sets.
You can subscribe for free in iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=297332013
http://www.junodownload.com/plus/2010/02/01/juno-podcast-minimal-30/ | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Highgrade on air
| Check out the following broadcasts:
Highgrade Show with Jens Bond:
22.01.10 on Sceen FM - 9.00 p.m - 10.00 p.m
www.sceen.fm
27.01.10 on Play FM - 0.00 a.m - 1.00 a.m
www.play.fm
Highgrade Show with Benno Blome:
27.01.10 - Highgrade Show on Bubbles on Air (Argentina)
www.bubblesontheair.com.ar
Highgrade Show with Tom Clark:
30.01.10 on Radio LUZ - 7.p.m - 9.p.m
www.radioluz.pwr.wroc.pl
Highgrade Show with Mihai Popoviciu:
29.01.10 on Sceen FM - 9.00 p.m - 10.00 p.m
www.sceen.fm
03.02.10 on Play FM - 0.00 a.m - 1.00 a.m
www.play.fm | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Highgrade iTunes podcast
| What comes after an amazing 2009? That's right, an even better 2010! We have some great new releases for you and the brand new Highgrade podcast, where you will find our latest releases, videos and regular exclusive mixes from our artists. To subscribe to the free podcast in the iTunes store click below or use the RSS-Feed. Have fun listening and watching.
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=333626336
feed://www.highgrade-records.de/podcast/highgrade-podcast.xml | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Highgrade podcast at Juno
| For first label podcast of the year Junodownload welcome Highgrade Records - one of the labels that has built the musical soul of Berlin. Simply put, the city would not be the same without it.
Mixed by Tom Clark, the podcast features tracks and mixes from Tigerskin, Markus Homm, Phage & Daniel Dreier, Todd Bodine, Guido Schneider, Jens Bond and more…
You can subscribe for free in iTunes:
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=300853340
http://www.junodownload.com/plus/2010/01/15/juno-label-podcast-highgrade/ | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Markus Homm Interview at Name That Track
| A nice interview with Markus Homm at Name That Track.
http://www.ferntv.ca/Name_That_Track/Markus_Homm.html | | | read more (PDF) + |
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| | | | | |  | | Ibiza Voices // Interview Todd Bodine
| | Todd Bodine is well-known as one of Berlin's longest-serving, most creative DJs and label owners. His Highgrade imprint is home to the likes of Guido Schneider, Jens Bond, Markus Homm and co-founder Tom Clark. | | | read more (PDF) + |
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| | | | | |  | | | 365MAG // Interview Todd Bodine | | Born in Berlin, Todd Bodine is a musical child par excellence of Germany's capital of electronic music. Strongly influenced by the atmosphere after the fall of the Berlin wall he took his first credits as a resident DJ in the world famous Tresor Club. The place where he performs his action loaded DJ-sets once a month until today. | | | read more (PDF) + |
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| | | | | |  | | Interview Simon Beeston
| Sometimes you might have to reach the four corners of the Earth to understand what the music industry is all about. This is definitely the case with Simon Beeston who is ready to swarm the industry with his minimal tech house sound. He continues to push himself as well as the Highgrade Records sound into new and exciting boundaries. From China, to Aucklund, to Berlin, Simon has definitely learned through his journeys of what he likes and does not like. Now that he is dropping tracks like its hot it is no wonder that his music is like honey for your ears. Unfortunately, you might need a sting operation if you want to copy his sound. Name That Track was fortunate enough to bring you an exclusive interview with this artist who brings you some original and buzzing sounds to your ear.
NTT: How did all the DJing come about in China?
Simon: I went to Sichuan, China to do a job in graphic design when I finished university in 2000. I ended up staying after that job and living there, learning Chinese and teaching English. The music in clubs was horrible, we used to call it "Bubblegum Trance"! A friend of mine opened a bar and I started playing music there, not just electronic, but all sorts. After a while I started playing more House and Techno in bigger places and eventually a few big clubs, but it was always hard to get people interested in 'good' music!
NTT: Can you briefly describe the club scene in Auckland, New Zealand?
Simon: Auckland has a vibrant scene for House and Techno, but it's pretty small. There are some really good DJ's and parties if you know where
to look. There are also some nice venues but most of the sound systems aren't that great and the DJ's often play electro influenced, mainstream House or Breakbeat. I got frustrated by the lack of understanding of what was rocking clubs in Europe, that's why I moved to Berlin.
NTT: What is it like to be part of Highgrade Records?
Simon: It's great! I feel very lucky to be a part of the label. I met Tom Clark a few years ago in New Zealand and now the people running Highgrade in Berlin are good friends, and a really professional team. They have been very supportive of my music and I thank them for all the opportunities they've given me.
NTT: Can you name some of your greatest influences?
Simon: I got into club music through downbeat electronica. I loved the Kruder and Dorfmeister stuff and people like LTJ Bukem and DJ Shadow. New Zealand DJ's Matt Drake, Mark Bowling and Greg Churchill were major influences in my early years of DJing. Then it was artists like Mr C, Agoria, Tiga, Jesper Dahlback, Funk d Void, and Carl Craig. Berlin clubs and musicians have also had a massive influence on my current sound.
NTT: Your new release "Dusty Back Room" kind of leaves a "bee sting" on our ears don't you think?
Simon: It's funny you say that, because I used to play under the name 'Simon Beesting'. I went back to my own name when I started releasing music in Berlin. 'Dusty Back Room' is made up of reversed Middle Eastern instrumental samples, which give it a slightly offset groove and buzzing sound character, maybe that's where the 'bee sting' comes from!?
NTT: Can you name a track that you love to play and everyone wants to know the name of?
Simon: There are a couple of records I've been playing for a long time that always attract attention and trainspotter requests. One is a remix by Sebo K and Metro of King Roc's "Welcome to Zion" on Simple Records. The other one is "Coconut Blues" by Gabriel Ananda, on Treibstoff Recordings. Enjoy!
www.myspace.com/simonbeeston
www.highgrade-records.de | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Todd Bodine at Get The Curse
| We are proud to present Todd Bodine at Get The Curse.
www.getthecurse.com | | |
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| | | | | |  | | Highgrade labelfeature at subculture
| | Highgrade gilt in unseren Breitengraden als ein Aushängeschild des neuen Berliner Clubsounds und somit eines der wenigen Labels, die musikalisch den Ton der Stadt nach außen tragen. Mit konstant einem Single-Release pro Monat, zwei Alben pro Jahr und einem einer Single-Release des Unterlabels Highgrade Digital liegt die Messlatte für qualitativen Output des Labels sehr hoch. | | | + read more |
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| | | | | |  | | interview tom clark
| ELECTRONIC BEATS MAGAZINE 03/08
"The charming born and bred Berliner Tom Clark has been a fixture of the local and international DJ circuit since the nineties. In 2000, he also started his own label, Highgrade Records, and although he could quite easily see himself living in another place – South America, for example – he admits that while working so actively in the electronic music scene, there´s simply no better city than Berlin." | | | read more (PDF) + |
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| | | | | |  | | Interview with Tom Clark
| MELBOURNE, 2009 BY PETER CHAMBERS
Melbournians are used to hearing guest DJs from Germany on a Saturday night: Sometimes they´re great, but oftentimes they´re just producer/DJs who get blown away by the local residents - sorry, but it´s true. But Tom Clark is no studio head spinning to pay the bills and build a profile, he´s a proper DJ with chops, honed through years of warming up for guest DJs at Berlin´s legendary clubs Tresor and E-Werk. Since that time, Tom has gone on to start up his own label, Highgrade, which showcases his vision of minimal house/techno, strongly influenced by Tom´s combined passion for the raw, stripped back power of Chicago house grooves and the development of new electronic sounds.
Tell us a little about your musical development
´´My 12-year-older half brother had quite an influence on my musical taste. He was a DJ in a club that played hard rock. I used to browse through his record collection and look at the covers, so it´s not surprising that I went out and bought my first record when I was 13.
That was Kiss´ Dynasty, then I crossed over to hip hop and through bands like Stereo MCs, Jungle Brothers and De La Soul I slowly moved in the acid house direction, beginning with stuff like Mr. Fingers, DJ Pierre and Phuture.
What has had the greatest influence on the music you make now?
´´I went to my first acid house party in 1988. The atmosphere and the music and the volume of it just mesmerised me. That´s when it grabbed hold of me and hasn´t let go ever since... Generally, I think the whole Chicago and Detroit scene influenced me a great deal. Chicago tracks have always had these forceful grooves, and these sounds are still an integral part of my set and sound today - forceful grooves with a bit of house on top.´´
You DJed for many years at E-Werk and Tresor. How did these experiences shape your understanding of house/techno? What did you learn there? What are some of the craziest, stupidest, most interesting experiences you had there?
´´A residency in a club always teaches you a lot. You learn to feel what the people need and when they need it. I used to play warm-up sets for guest DJs for a long time, and this is a skill that´s sometimes missing in this young generation of DJs. A DJ has to put his ego on a backburner for a while and warm the crowd up properly. A lot of DJs have problems with their egos and aren´t good at that kind of thing. ´´There were always some embarrassing moments in the beginning, when I was new and nervous and not as experienced as I am now, where I´d mess up a mix or the needle would jump. Back then I was really embarrassed by that kind of stuff - I can deal with it better if it happens nowadays.´´
With the benefit of experience/hindsight: what are the biggest changes to the music since the mid-´90s? Where do you feel it´s at right now?
´´The spontaneity and the easiness of the earlier days have gone a bit. It´s a harder business now. It´s a shame, but that´s the ways it goes. But the last years have been really good to me, and I´ve seen a lot of new organisers with new ideas, as well as a revival of the Sunday afterhours scene. I think that techno and house has fought its way back to its original position, away from those big raves and back to the cooler clubs.´´
What can we expect from your upcoming set here in Melbourne?
´´Another wasted German DJ!´´ | | |
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