Welcome, Phonique !

After moving to Berlin in the mid 90’s, Michael Vater was on the go like few others in Berlin. His successful parties and club nights got much love and paved him the way to become one of the nice guys in Berlin’s nightlife. First he only organized parties, after a while he started to DJ himself:

„DJ Phonique“ was born.

Since January ‘98, Phonique continued to bring previously lesser known DJs and producers to Berlin for his club nights and parties, presenting many strong nights with DJs like Glen Gunner (Street Corner Symphony/Block 16), Lil Tony (Nu Spirit Helsinki/Guidance), Alexkid (F-Com/Ovum), Llorca (F-Com/Brique Rouge), Joakim (Tigersushi) or Ivan Smagghe (Blackstrobe/Volga Select).

In the meantime, Phonique continued to develop his „freestyle“ profile. His guests were treated to a mix from Hip-Hop via Breakbeats to Old School and Drum‘n’Bass. Just about anything was possible in between, as long as the tracks had the groove he felt right.

To his parties, Phonique invited DJs like LTJ Bukem, Richard Dorfmeister and many more. Traveling the world and playing clubs in Sao Paulo, Helsinki, Paris, London, Marseille, Vienna, Brussels, San Francisco, Prague, Tel Aviv, just to name a few destinations, Phonique never forgot his Berlin base.

Just like his residencies at Tresor and Pfefferbank (among others), where he brought his ‘Club Paris’ evening to life, with guests like Pepe Bradock, DJ Deep, Jori Hulkkonen and I:Cube.

From time to time Phonique, together with his partner Kiki, presented their QuadroPhoniquekikz’ on four turntables, eventually releasing their first ‘QuadroPhoniquekikz’ mix-CD in 2002 on Komfort Musik.

Phonique’s first two 12“ were released on Martin Landsky’s Intim Recordings, and from then on Phonique released on labels like Komfort Musik (Berlin), Seasons (USA), Brique Rouge (Paris) and Crosstown Rebels (London), but mainly on Steve Bug’s own Poker Flat and Dessous.

His first remix (for Doctorolive) was released on French label Bazoline. After remixes for Frankman (Draft/Fm), Soulcamp (Soulcamp), Le Tone (Naive), Funky Transport (Brique Rouge), Tonic Agents (Highgrade), Detroit Grand Pubahs (Poker Flat) and Erlend Oye (!K7) he even remixed Germany’s pop phenomena „Rosenstolz“.

Besides Phonique’s remixing talents and DJing with vinyl and CDs, he also started to edit tracks so they made more sense for his DJ-sets. When Jazzanova found out about this, they asked him to do some for their own use. So Phonique worked out some edits, partly with his buddy Dixon. Edits for Georg Levin and DJ Spinna and remixes for Georg Levin and Sirius Mo got released on Jazzanova’s Sonar Kollektiv label.

2004 was a successful year for Phonique. His second 12“ on Dessous „The Red Dress“ climbed on top of the official German Club Charts (DCC), „The Red Dress“ was soon being played by almost every key DJ in Europe. Besides producing four tracks with Louie Austen, he also worked on Erlend Oye’s DJ-Kicks (!K7) in technicals, mixing and consulting and played several tour dates with Erlend all across the world.

In Autumn 2004 Phonique’s debut album „Identification“ on Dessous was released, featuring collaborations with Paris The Black Fu, Erlend Oye, Alexander East, Ian Whitelaw and Dixon. With amazing international feedback, even a number one chart entry on Itunes’ dance download charts it turned out to be Phonique’s breakthrough success. Also the single „For The Time Being“ with remixes by Alexkid and Motorcity Soul received massive positive feedback, followed by a remix by Sasse (Moodmusic) and leading to a future collaboration with Rodney Hunter (G-Stone). Even for Sven Väth „Identification“ was a highlight – thus he asked Phonique for an exclusive track for „Cocoon Compilation E“.

With the closing of Tresor in 2005 Phonique lost one of his favorite residencies, where he played at the Bonito House Club once a month since his first Tresor Wednesday night gig in February ‘99… Since Berlin’s nightlife is subject to rapid change, Phonique’s residencies change alike. Currently you can hear him mainly at Weekend – F.U.N. Crew’s incredible venue with a view over all of downtown Berlin at Alexanderplatz.

Recently Phonique asserted his recognition as one of the high profile remixing artists in the dance world, when he remixed Morcheeba’s former vocalist for her solo project „Skye“ (Atlantic/ Warner). Phonique now mostly works with Alex Krüger (Dub Taylor / Korsakow / Tigerskin) for his productions/remixes, but from time to time he is cooperating with other artists or musicians like Steve Bug, David Duriez & Phil Weeks, Martin Landsky or Meitz.

In 2006 Phonique released on respected labels from the like of Four Music‘s Fine, Moodmusic, Simple Records and Tiefschwarz‘s Souvenir, next to his homebase Dessous Recordings. In January 2007, Phonique launched „Ladies & Gentlemen“ – his own special label for well selected discoid, but still underground sound of House with pop-appeal and a special touch of je-ne-sais-quoi.

Besides labelwork, playing a busy tour schedule from Tokyo to St.Petersburg and everywhere in between, Phonique has released „Good Idea“, the follow-up longplayer to „Identification“ in May 2007.

In 2008, he got voted “Best Deep House Act” by Beatport. Ladies and Gentlemen.. Phonique!

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Phonique @ MySpace

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Welcome, Dave Shokh !

David Koch aka Dave Shokh graces this month’s December BKI session with an exclusive and rocking live-set.

25-year old Dave Shokh from Stuttgart moved to Berlin in 2005 and since that time he’s been doing what he does best: Music. As he claims himself, his musical socialisation began at the beginning of the 1990s with dance music from the likes of Snap, Felix, 2Unlimited.

1997 Dave got his first pair of decks, soon also a computer to produce music. Since then, Dave has been highly productive: he’s been the man behind every release on Playmate Music, his most successful release on this label being the “Luna e Sole” EP.

Furthermore, he’s been produceing records for and together with Monika Kruse and Tony Rohr. Dave also produces the German House Legend DJ Karotte.

In 2005, Dave launched his own imprint Dipolter Records. The Dipolter label stands for high quality Electro and Techhouse music and supports the brightest young talents just like Dave used to be a little while ago.

At a DJ gig, he met Berlin underground matadors Holgi Star and DJ Emerson, handed them a demo, and soon released his debut album “Shokh’n’Roll” on their label Kiddaz FM in 2003.

Dave Shokh was voted Germany’s Top 10 newcomer in the biggest techno magazine Raveline; “Shokh’n’Roll” also made it into the mags’ Top 20.

In 2005, Dave’s first mix CD “Pure Shokholate” is released on Kiddaz FM, featuring tracks by Matthias Tanzmann, Zombie Nation, Gabriel Ananda and Thomas Schumacher.

So far, Dave’s productions have been played by top jocks such as Sven Väth, DJ Hell and Laurent Garnier. Whether he’s on tour in Japan, Russia, UK or in Germany, Shokh has his own DJ and production rule: There are no rules.

Dave calls his style ‘Shokh’n’Roll’, an essential mixture out of Electro, Minimal and Techhouse ingredients with heaps of Emotion, Funk and Soul. No one knows which combination of ingredients he will use this time to spice up your clubnight. One thing is sure though: Dave Shokh will give 200% from beginning to the end to make you sweat and bounce. Whooom!

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Dave Shokh @ MySpace

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