Daniel Bortz Interview
Hip-hop, disco, dance mania: Within the electronic music sphere there really aren’t many musical styles which Daniel Bortz steer away from. And he always manage to add his unique audio signature to whatever style he tackles. Releases on Suol, Permanent Vacation, Souvenir and Innervisions have cemented Bortz as one of the planet’s most talented engineers and DJs. He has been responsible for releasing music from underground acts like Jichael Mackson and Borrowed Identity on his own, and highly touted, Pastamusik imprint. Of late, the German has slowly turned a corner with more techno-orientated club sets after starting his career on a deeper house tip, a move which has added a whole new dimension to his club performances. On the eve of his Australian tour, we caught up with Bortz for a quick chat.
1) Your career kicked off in the mid-90’s as your bio puts it – in “the heyday of techno in Munich-Reim”. I read that your parents were rockers, what was it about the dance scene in the early days that sparked your interest?
Yes my mother was very into rock/guitar-orientated music. She didn’t like electronic dance because I was that kid who was playing loud Gabber techno in his bedroom. As teenagers my friends and I would go to an old airport in Munich Riem and we’d dance all night to Acid Maria, DJ Hell, Sven Väth etc. That was what really influenced my love for techno.
2. You’ve released three EP’s entitled “Bella Avgvsta”, can we expect a 4th addition to the trilogy? What has been your main drive behind writing these releases?
I can’t promise to make a part four but nobody knows 😉 The idea behind writing them was instead of releasing an album, doing three quality EPs.
3). You’ve DJed and collaborated with Sascha Sibler quite a bit, do you have some more plans ahead for another EP together? Also, are there any artists out there you’d love to jump on a track with?
Yes! Soon we’re releasing an old unreleased track called ‘Trip The Tune’, it’s more than three years old but it’s still in good shape. It’s just one track because we couldn’t finish a second one to have a proper physical release. The plan is to create a new series with old, unreleased tracks or bootlegs for a free download.
I also have a project with Marcus Worgull, we’re releasing an EP with two tunes next year on Exist Strategy. I also run side projects with some close friends.
4). I’d imagine you have a lot of inspiration since you like such a wide range of music. You’ve mentioned that you enjoy reworking some of your favourite tracks for people to dance to, are there any song that you haven’t done yet that you want to get around to?
Well I don’t really rework my favourites all the time, I’m not a crazy fan of James Blake but if I hear a nice song that inspires me to do a club version I will try it out. Sometimes it’s just the mood I sample, but at the moment I don’t sample that much.
5). “The artists releasing on Pastamusik refuse to show their real personality for Pastamusik-Release, because they could lose their good reputation, as well as their self-respect and their underwear.” The laid-back attitude of your record label’s bio is a hilarious and refreshing read! What is it about owning a label that you enjoy most? What do you look for when signing someone new?
Well we never really had money making in mind because we’re just too lazy to do a straight business plan. The thing that is most important for the label is supporting new underground artists or giving them a chance to develop. We are very open-minded, we like almost all kinds of music. This is the part that I enjoy the most, there’s no pressure and no hype so we can do what we want.
6). What did you think of the Australian dance scene on your last visit? How does it compare to your favourite spots around the world?
I had a great time in Australia and I’m looking forward to coming back! The high quality coffee on every corner is a bonus!
7). This has been a very busy year for you so far and it certainly isn’t slowing down by the look of things. How has this tour differed from others? Any highlights so far?
Well I can’t tell you until I’ve finished but it’s always good being back on the road. Australia is definitely a highlight.
8). In addition to the above question, on your quest around the globe what’s your favourite country to travel and why? Bonus points if you say Australia.
It’s hard to tell what my favourite country is because I spend a lot of time in cities. As you could imagine small cities aren’t that great. For me in terms of cities, Melbourne and Sydney are definitely at the top because I love the good coffee and good food!
9). Ausburg looks like a beautiful town, what is it that you love most about your hometown? Do you have any tips for potential visitors?
Yeah Ausburg is a really nice small town. There are heaps of cool short trips to do as well as heaps of nature; rivers, forests, lakes etc. to check out.
Tour Dates:
Friday 14th October: The Harp Basement, Wollongong
Saturday 15th October: Chinese Laundry, Sydney
Sunday 16th October: Summer Series @ Revolver, Melbourne
Interview by Stefanos Mak
More like thisRelated
Best Time and Places for Kitesurfing & Windsurfing in Perth
Ultimate Guide to Kitesurfing & Windsurfing in Adelaide
Top Brisbane Beaches for Kitesurfing and Windsurfing
Learn Kitesurfing and Windsurfing in Sydney
Explore the Best Snorkelling Adventures Near Mandurah
Top Margaret River Snorkelling Locations You Need to Explore
Unforgettable Snorkelling Adventures in the Whitsundays