T.H.E Interview – Drumcomplex

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drumcomplex interview

Drumcomplex Interview

Drumcomplex aka Arnd Reichow is a techno DJ, producer and label head of Complexed Records.

Active since the late ’90s, he is one of Germany’s most dedicated techno purveyors with a body of work reaching crowds in his home country as well as beyond.

Hoarding two and a half decades-worth of music experience under his belt, Arnd Reichow has been crafting his space within the techno industry, as artist and producer and adding label owner to his accolades since 2014.

As Drumcomplex gears up for his upcoming EP release – Techno?! via his Complexed Records, he sits down with us to discuss the EP, his influences and more.

T.H.E – Hey Arnd! Welcome to T.H.E – Music Essentials. How has 2020 been for you so far?

Drumcomplex – First of all I would like to thank you very much for the invitation. 2020 is developing very strongly. I just came back from South America and played the first time in Santiago de Chile at the Trippyland Festival. February was a very strong month for me, was touring India, first time at Fabrik in Madrid for the Elrow Party. The year is going extremely well right now and I am very grateful

T.H.E – You have released on several labels, and also lead your own imprint. How do you choose which label to release your tracks on?

Drumcomplex – When I go into the studio I usually don’t have an exact idea of what will come out in the end, it just comes out. I am very grateful to work with many labels and to have the opportunity to release there. I usually decide by feeling who I send what to

T.H.E – You have an EP dropping on your label next month. What can you tell us about it?

Drumcomplex – I had this sample “techno” which I cut from the radio jingles from my show Drumcomlexed radio and started playing with it. Somewhere along the way, this TE TE TE techno came out and I built a more progressive beat with some trippy fx sounds. Everywhere I play, the number goes extremely well.

With “More Groove”, it was important for me to do something different and go for a more house bassline, the lead synth is also a bit more spoiled, which I like a lot. “Raw” also has a really good main synth that takes everyone in the club by storm.

T.H.E – How long was it in the works? How did you go about choosing the tracks to release as part of this EP?

Drumcomplex – I usually work relatively fast on my numbers and when I am in the flow I usually finalize a new title in 1-2 days. I wanted to present a wider range of genres on this EP so I chose the tracks like this

T.H.E – What made you choose Techno as your genre of choice? Were there any artists that inspired you?

Drumcomplex – When I started making music in 92 there were only 2 genres that were techno and house.

I’m not a friend of all those genres, for me, all I do is techno no matter if it’s hard, rough or melodic.

T.H.E – Which 8 artists that greatly influenced you, and why?

Drumcomplex –

1. Laurent Garnier

Has had a huge influence on me with his music since I listen to techno I saw him in 2000 at the Bizar Festival with his Live Concept and it took my breath away

2. Carl Cox

I’ve been admiring Carl Cox ever since I’ve been listening to electronic music, this way of mixing his work for the scene. If someone had told me years ago that I would work with him and release on his label I would not have thought it is possible. I am very grateful to Carl for everything he did for my partner Roel Salemink and me. He is a real superstar with a big heart for me

3. Sven Väth
There are people who enter a room and it starts to shine. Sven has always fascinated me very much, his sets are so multifaceted, his marathon sets he is one of my great idols

4. Monika Kruse

We met personally just a few years ago and I just recently released on her label terminal M. A really great woman with a great feeling for music. I am grateful to know her and for all the great conversations I had with her

5. Answer Code Request

I am just fascinated by how he combines so many different genres in his sets really one of my absolute favourite DJ’s.

6. Johannes Heil

Johannes impressed me very early with his extraordinary music. For me one of the best live acts on the market and a super nice guy to whom I am grateful to know him personally

7. Jeff Mills

In the 90’s I went often to Club Doornroosje in Nijmegen / The Netherlands and there I saw Jeff for the first time live and to this day he is one of the few real techno pioneers who are still at the start for me. I am very impressed by his way of mixing music

8. Loco Dice

Our paths crossed at various after-parties in Düsseldorf where we were both still quite unknown, I really like his way of performing and his positive charisma.

Drumcomplex’s “Techno?!” EP drops May 1, on Complexed Records. You can pre-order it here.
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