Image via Complex Original
If you want techno, German producer Paul Kalkbrenner is your guy. Over eight studio albums, has helped solidify the techno scene, one he's known since his teenage years.. He's been releasing tunes since 1999, with Bpitch Control putting out his first efforts, although his brand of tech house and techno in general has landed him on imprints like Cr2, although he's since moved onto his own Paul Kalkbrenner Musik label. Some of you might even know him from his role in Berlin Calling. But what do you really know about the platinum-selling Kalkbrenner's path? He's charted some interesting waters, but today, we decided to give you some more tidbits of interesting info on one of Berlin's most promising talents, in anticipation for the remix album that he's assembling for Paul Kalkbrenner Musik, in which his friends got the chance to remix any track of his that they chose. That's out on May 30, but get in tune to the artist right now.
He played Ickarus in the film "Berlin Calling"
This one may be a bit more obvious to your seasoned fan of Paul Kalkbrenner, but to the newbie this fact is as essential as his essential mix, which includes some quotes from the flick.
He grew up in Berlin, and still lives there today
He was born in Leipzig in 1977, moved to Berlin when he was very young and grew up in the east side of Berlin, Lichtenberg. Before the wall came down it was a pretty tranquil in East Berlin. After the fall of the wall, due to an influx of the burgeoning techno scene and the Neo-Nazis that accompanied it, it turned into a dangerous place for the young Kalkbrenner. Today he lives in Berlin Mitte, light years away from Lichtenberg – at least for the Paul from back then.
You shouldn't call him a DJ
Because quite simply, he's not. Kalkbrenner arranges all of his songs live on stage and has been doing it that way for years. In fact, he's having way more fun than anyone else in the game so why change?
"Somebody who DJs, he theoretically mixes two audio sources together – regardless if it is two records or files or cd players. Somebody who plays live, like we always have – from the very beginning, as an electronic act does more things at once, like back then: there was a drum machine, a synthesizer, and then it all ends up being mixed - I still do that to this day. That way I can arrange my songs in a new way live on stage. And that way it is much more fun." Paul Kalkbrenner
He recently played to his biggest audience
Kalkbrenner recently played to his largest audience of 21,000 fans. The experience was so surreal for Kalkbrenner that he says it couldn't have been any bigger because his prescription glasses already couldn't handle it.
His song titles are tongue twisters
It starts with the intro: "Schnurbi." Followed by: "Der Stabsvörnern." "Kernspalte" is a short interlude. Then "Spitz-Auge," "Globale Gehung," "Das Gezabel" – was also the single, then "Vörnern-Anwärter," "Hinrich zur See," "Der Buhold" - also "Monstersong," "Speiseberndchen," "Fochleise-Kassette," "Trümmerung" – that of course is a pretty good track, the "Datenzwerg," "Der Ast-Spink," "Schwer Verbindlich," "Des Bieres Meuse" und of course "Das Gezabel De Luxe."
And even if you speak German, you probably won't understand them
Paul admits that most of his song titles are a bunch of nonsense - a combination of inside jokes between him and a select few and weird words that radio DJs are forced to say when playing the tracks on air. He says it's also to prove the point that a great song doesn't need a great name - it's still going to sound the same.
He does keeps it real on his album titles
Paul's new album title? Guten Tag. You don't need to be German, a genius, or inside his inner circle to understand that one.
His video for "Das Gezabel" is just a big Facebook photo album
Well...not really. But it might as well be. The video was "shot" by two of his buddies who were basically taking non-stop photographs of Paul and his crew throughout the day. The video itself is comprised of over 12,000 individual photos that are synchronized and layered - sometimes as many as fourteen times.
He's a big deal in Germany
Paul Kalkbrenner is the ultimate stud of German music, blowing pop stars like Lady Gaga out of the water. He's married to Romanian techno DJ and certified babe, Ana Simina Grigoriu. His little brother, Fritz Kalkbrenner, is just as much of a mega star as he is.
Oh and when asked about why he is such a mega successful German superstar? Paul humbly replied, "I think my music is such a success because I have always done the same thing, the music is consistent – I do my thing. And people can tell who is still doing the same thing, his thing and has not changed and is not going with the flow. I don’t have another explanation. That can be the only reason why."
He's the epitome of a musician for the true music fan
When asked if he ever gets lonely on stage, Paul said, "Is it lonely up there? No! It isn’t lonely. You might think so if you are standing all the way in the back. And because of that distance that is there between the pit and myself. But I’m always so busy up there; I don’t even really like it when there are so many people dancing around me. I've heard that some people like it and that they specially organize a certain number of people who will be dancing up with or behind or in front of the DJ – I don’t really like it! It is a work area, a work space."
Kalkbrenner gets on that stage and goes to work. His only concern is to mix together a unique blend of ambient melodies and hold you under his spell for however long you will let him. Seeing Kalkbrenner perform live is a treat, and something that everyone should go out of their was to experience.
