I love music. Well that is a quite impressive
sentence, but at the same time a very trivial statement. I’m interested in
music. That one sounds better, right?!
And how about: I have no idea how to make music and how to read notes.
But do I have to know musical terms to enjoy music?!
No, not at all, because the psychological aspect of music is more interesting
than the practical one.
I had the chance to interview Lukas Kloss. Lukas is a
Berlin born and raised DJ, but moved from the gentrified Berlin to Nuremberg in
Bavaria. Starting to play in school discos and small events, he developed his
skills and got booked by “Semester Musik” in Nuremberg. The rest is history. Among the DJ’s he has
played with, are well-known names, like Stephan Bodzin, Sascha Funke, Ben
Klock, Timo Maas and many more.
Guess what?
Your DJ sets a perfect for jogging. Every time I work out I don’t need to press
repeat or next. Just one of your sets and an hour running passes by really
fast.
Positive feedback always makes me happy. It's nice to
hear that people really listen to the whole set from the beginning to the end.
Indeed, DJ sets are perfect for jogging. The speed is almost always the same
and it does not mess up the breathing. I myself listen to DJ sets and podcasts
when I have time to go jogging, too!
Did your move
to Bavaria influence your work as a DJ?
Definitely! In Nuremberg I've actually really started
to play at big parties. In Berlin you’re a small DJ among many others. If you
have the right skills and know the right people here in Nuremberg, it is
certainly easier.
It all started with an open air party at
Marienbergpark in Nuremberg. There, the former booker of the "Rakete”, the only
relatively large house and techno club in Nuremberg, heard my music and wrote
to me afterwards if I'd like to play my sets at parties at the “Rakete”. Through the open air, I've met a lot of
people in night life. Now I’m organizing my own parties and play sets on a
regular basis. It’s something that is fun to do and at the same time I can gain
a lot of experiences. I feel comfortable living here, and I am happy for having
rapidly gained a foothold in Nuremberg.
What is your
biggest goal? Playing a set at Berghain?
If I had to limit it to the musical, I actually
achieve my goal every time I play my music in a crowded club and the people
scream and make whistling sounds at each break, that kicks me enormously and I
get goose bumps! Sure, it would be a big dream of mine to be able to play in a
trendy club in Berlin once. I have already played at the former "Maria am
Ostbahnhof", but if I could choose, I would personally prefer to play at
Watergate rather than at Berghain. I think my sound is better off there.
Otherwise it would be awesome to play on one of the major festivals, but I
think that is and will remain a dream, but that's not so bad.
Is the process
of creating a new set a spontaneous or a tedious one?
It’s different each time. Sometimes I do have a few
new favorite tracks that work great together and I feel good about them. Then it
goes fast. But sometimes it is difficult to make the selection so that the
tracks fit together and the whole thing has a certain sequence. I'm not a
perfectionist and I sometimes forgive myself one or two small mistakes in the
mix, but sometimes it takes quite a while to pick the right tracks in order to
mix a good set.
How do you
feel about the whole David Guetta/Benny Benassi (fuckery)?
I have nothing in principle against this kind of
music. A lot of people like it and have fun with it. For me personally, there
is no heart behind it. Such producers always tend to make the same music, just
because it sells. No question, they are good artists. David Guetta even had
some really cool releases in the 90s, which I would play myself, if I had them
on vinyl.
Nowadays I think it’s just all about the money. They
only produce what people want and what they buy. That has nothing to do with
sophisticated and well-conceived music. But I must honestly say that what they
do, they do well. In the end everyone has to decide for himself whether to like
or to hate this kind of music.
Van Morrison
once said: “You can't stay the same. If you're a musician and a singer, you
have to change, that's the way it works. “Do you agree with that?
I think I've musically changed a lot over the last 3-4
years. In the past I was not much into house music. I always thought that this
genre of music was cool, but at school parties or birthday celebrations I only
played chart hits and went to hardcore punk concerts. My interest increased here
in Nuremberg, because I met many people who have worked intensively with this
kind of music. So I would definitely agree with that statement. If you would
always do the same stuff, it would be boring; like playing the same tracks over
and over again. I’m an artist, so that I can decide what I think is right and
what I like.
What is your ultimate summer track?
Karri Chandler
– 11th Hour / Stardust – Music sounds better with you
As a DJ you need to be very sensitive to listeners’ response. Do you
feel pressured to ensure that the crowd is having a good time?
That is a
balancing act, in my opinion; DJs are both, artists and service providers.
Sure, I want people to have fun and dance to my music, but there are certain
limits. I play for example, only what I like. I would never play a track, just
because I know that people like it. As a DJ you have to do your own thing and
develop a unique style. Only then you are interesting as a DJ and that’s the
only reason why promoters will start to book you and why people want to listen
to your music. On the other hand, DJ’s have to adapt to the predominant mood in
the club. It all depends on what the DJ is playing before or after you, if you
play at an open air or in a dark club. We need to be somewhat flexible. If you
got all the skills, without losing your own style, then you're good..
Thanks Lukas for sharing your insights and good luck for the future. Thanks Theresa for your help.
