Berlin-based DJ/producer, naïf label head, and Berghain resident Efdemin returns to North America with a highly anticipated performance at this summer’s edition of Re:Form.
The Dirty Epic team is excited for what’s sure to be an incredible weekend of Techno, House, and Experimental Re:Form. For many of us, Efdemin is among the highlights of this incredible lineup. It’s been said that his last visit to LA, back in 2017, was a masterclass in the art of DJing by those who attended the warehouse party thrown by LA’s very own Incognito and Dirty Epic. We wanted to ask Efdemin some questions before his upcoming set.
Dirty Epic: How did you first discover Electronic Music, and what made you dedicate so much of your life to it?
Efdemin: I became a huge fan of early Depeche Mode when I was six or seven years old. I remember very well listening to “Dreaming of me” and “New Life”. These tunes produced by Vince Clarke hit hard on me. When “Construction Time Again” was released, I was completely blown away. I still listen to this album from time to time. Later on, I was seduced by everything Trevor Horn did, especially “Frankie Goes to Hollywood” and “The Art of Noise”.
DE: What’s been your biggest hurdle in your career, either as a producer or performer?
E: My daily challenge is to find the right balance between my daily routine, family, organizing my work in different fields, and being creative. It’s a problem unsolved. DJing is a lot of fun—it is well paid—but it steals a lot of your life and studio time.
DE: What have been your greatest sources of inspiration?
E: In general, I think it’s our surrounding nature which inspires me everyday as well as other artists who do compelling stuff in their fields, may it be music, gardening, cooking, architecture, or visual art.
DE: How do you go about preparing a DJ set?
E: Listening back and forth between new and unreleased stuff, my own productions, and music from my library. It consumes a lot of time.
DE: You grew up playing the cello. Do you think there’s any correlation between the sound of the cello and the music you are currently making?
E: I guess so! Especially since I started playing an electric hurdy gurdy which uses cello strings.
DE: What’s one piece of advice you would like to give to your younger self in regards to your music career?
E: Follow your heart and ears. Don’t follow trends.
DE: It’s been almost 5 years since you last played for Dirty Epic in LA.. What can you remember from the last time you were here?
E: I had the best time over there. Partied until I had to leave straight to the airport. It was fantastic. Can´t wait to get back!
DE: How long is your trip to the states this time?
E: Ten days including some time off in Vermont at a good friend’s place.
DE: Your Monophonie album a couple years back was widely heralded as a completely original take on making music, any future plans to delve back into hardcore experimentation?
E: I am preparing the first release of my project “Modular Organ System” with my partner, Konrad Sprenger. It will be released on Choose Records in April 2023, and I have not heard music like that before.
DE: Which producers have caught your eye this year that haven’t made it into your DJ sets before?
E: Quelza, Gotshell and Serti
DE: What is your favorite piece of studio gear at the moment?
E: Elektron Model: Cycles
DE: What’s on the agenda for the rest of 2022?
E: Playing some really nice gigs until November and then disappearing in my cozy studio!
-Jeronimo Watson & Kai Loo
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