Mathias Kaden is one of Germany’s most accomplished DJ’s known for having a unique style that skates the line between house and techno. During his career he has played in clubs all over the world and compiled mix CD’s for internationally respected brands such as Watergate.
Also a producer known for both his remixes and original tracks, he has featured on a wide selection of labels ranging from Hot Creations to Terminal M. We caught up with Mathias Kaden to chat about his recent EP on Rekids along with his other new releases…
> For the people reading this who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe your style, and the key elements that define it?
I would describe my music with a lot of energy, it’s a mix between House and Techno. Sometimes I really like the old school vibe in my dj sets, but most of the time I play new stuff, so I’m always looking for new music with that sound from the end of the 90s and beginning of 00s. The key elements are the right energy with a lot of power and to always have an eye on the dancefloor to make everyone dance.
> Your most recent release is on Rekids, could you tell us about the concept of the new EP?
There was no concept behind the EP on Rekids. I made the tracks one and a half years ago and they kind of naturally came out of me. I wanted to go a little bit back to my old underground style and distant the tracks from all the Tech House stuff I have done over the last 3-5 years. I sent ‘Liberate Drums’ to Radioslave and he really liked the track and wanted me to do another one. So I produced ‘Helicopter’ in only one night. I think this track sounds a little bit like my old tracks on Vakant. Some people don’t know that I did this Minimal Techno in the past. I’m just super happy about my Rekids release and the remixes from Vril and Hiroshi Watanabe.
> Could you talk us through the creative process of putting a track together, and list any specific equipment used to bring your sound to life?
I don’t really have a specific strategy to put a new track together. I always start with my Juno 106 from Roland and sometimes with a bassline. Then I just try out some melodies and bass lines. As soon as I have a great bassline I create the kick drum and high head. Step by step I put everything together with some effects and maybe some vocals. It’s always different how I put a track together though.
> How did you first make contact with Rekids, is there a story behind how the release came to fruition?
The first contact with Rekids must have been around 2009. I play a lot of stuff from Rekids in my sets and have always been liking the label because you can find a mix between Techno and House there. This label gives every producer a little bit of freedom as it doesn’t have a specific House or Techno sound but something in between so you can do whatever you want to do with this underground touch. This is what I really love about it and makes me even happier that my last release is on Rekids 🙂
> I notice you are soon to drop a remix of Jacky and Huxley’s new collaboration on Repopulate Mars, and I wanted to ask if you have a set process for starting work on a new remix?
Huxley asked me if I want to do a remix for him and by that time it was still not sure where the remix will be released. A few weeks later he told me that it will be released on Repopulate Mars. The originals were quite tech housey with vocals and I wanted to go in another direction with this remix so I created one which is a little bit more groovy with less vocals and a bit Acid.
> What’s coming up next in your schedule, do you have any exciting gigs or big releases in the pipeline?
I will release an EP on Catz ’n Dogz’s label Pets including a remix by them at then end of November. I’m currently working on a remix for Steve Lawler which will also be out this year and I’m creating a track with Matthias Tanzmann for the first time which will be out on Moon Harbour very soon. Also working on a couple releases for next year where I will also launch my own label.
> Could you give some advice or words of wisdom to any aspiring producers who might look to your music for inspiration?
My advice would be that you should just do your own thing. Don’t look up to all the Instagram superstars or into Beatport too much. Just try to go your own way to shape your own special personality. If you only follow the top10 in Beatport you will get lost or you will completely disappear before you were even noticed.
> Thanks for taking the time to speak with us today, we like to finish our interviews with a couple of questions that are a little bit light hearted… without getting to personal, could you tell us something many don’t know about you?
What most of the people probably don’t know because I never post something about it is that I’m in love with the old U.S. cars from the 50s and 60s. I’m driving an old Ford Thunderbird from 1959, go to U.S. car conventions and I love Rockabilly music!
> You don’t need to mention names, but what’s the most “outrageous” thing you have ever seen happen in a club… was it something outrageously brilliant, like a blindfolded DJ mixing seamlessly and scratching with their elbows, or something outrageously cringe-worthy, like some embarrassing drunk person urinating on the dancefloor?
Haha, yeah my eyes saw many many things… Just go to Berghain / Panorama Bar for one night and you can write a book. However I saw Djs peeing into a little bin in front of them while they were playing. I remember seeing a wonderful DJ called Kid Koala who had some crazy djing skills telling a story with an animation in the background. He was playing the records, trumpets and to be honest I don’t really know what he did but it was amazing! I saw him at Mutek many years ago. There were other strange and crazy things for sure and it’s happening stuff every weekend but that’s secret 😉
> Thanks for taking the time to speak with us, is there anything extra you want to add before we wrap up the conversation?
Thank you guys for the interview 🙂
> You can pick up a copy of Mathias Kaden’s new release on Rekids from … HERE…
