Thomas Schumacher

Thomas Schumacher It was the sounds of early 90’s Detroit and German techno, which sparked Schumacher’s passion for music in his teenage years. This DJ and producer has always followed his instincts and never lost vision and sight of what music means to him, even when his music took a turn into the successful pop world! With strong foundations in the progression of House music from the first time he heard the sounds of Acid House over twenty years ago, Thomas is proof that if you work hard, music doesn’t have to just be a hobby. After relocating to Tokyo in 2000 and releasing his second album ‘Electric Avenue’ which was released on his own label Spiel-Zeug. Thomas’ success took through the roof of the European music scene. Fast forward to 2012, Thomas is feeling fresh, inspired and ready to work from his own label again following his releases of two tracks “Vorfreude” & “Fangbanger” from his label ‘Electric Ballroom’.

Hello Thomas, how are you today? I hope you’re well!

Very well thank you. I’m on holiday with my family in Spain and life is a beach.

So what has been different about 2012 to every other year of your long musical career?

This year has seen me reconnecting with my roots. Listening to my album “Rooms” as I put the finishing touches on it really inspired me to establish my own label again. Working with Get Physical over the past 6 or so years has been great fun but nothing beats running your own label. So I am all in for “Electric Ballroom” and I can’t wait for the people to listen to my new tracks.

Has your life always been music? What else keeps your heart beating?

I have been very much into music from a very young age and music still plays a very big role in my life. However, now that I have a family the weights have shifted a bit. Still, life without music I can not imagine.

Do you remember the first vinyl that you bought and played on your decks as a teenager?

Depeche Mode – Construction Time Again (1984) played on my partents “Grundig Stero Hi-Fi System”.

Who is an inspiration to your musical taste nowadays?

Burial for his incredible soundscapes & atmospheres. Clio, french up and coming producer based in Berlin. His remix for my forthcoming release “Vorfreude EP” is amazing.

You had a bit of a ‘popstar’ moment with your album ‘Gold’, how was that? And how did you then go back to the more underground techno scene?

I never set out to be a pop star and the two hits from the “Gold” album, “When I Rock” and “Schall” were underground Techno tracks when I originally released them. Those two tracks crossed over into the mainstream very much by accident but they didn’t change anything about me as a person, or as a producer and DJ. The only thing my short stint in the pop world changed was my bank account.

In the year 2000, you relocated to Tokyo and also re-released your original breakthrough hit ‘When I Rock’. The Roots then contacted you over their sample that you used for their track, could you tell us about the initial fear of a lawsuit and how this worked out for you?

I produced “When I Rock” in 1996 and it was released the same year on Bush Records. In 2001 “When I Rock” was re-released on Warner Music and that’s when The Roots found me out. I didn’t even know I had sampled from The Roots, I found the sample on a friends DJ mixtape. So wen I got a call from The Roots manager I was initially kind of shitting myself. But actually he was really cool and The Roots were even cooler. They had never listened to Techno before and they just loved what I had created with their vocals and just wanted to ask me if they could include “”When I Rock” on their next album “Phrenology”.

What’s happened to your label- Spielzueg? Is that completely dead now?

Yes, we buried her in 2007 – R.I.P.

Now that you are a proud family man, are you still more than happy to travel the world and play to the masses or do you feel more of a pull to home?

It is a double edged sword. When I’m home I miss being on the road and when I’m away I miss my wife and my daughter. I also get homesick for Berlin when I’m away. I love this ugly city we live in, contantly under construction, where anything is possible and available. How can I not love Berlin, the home of the music I love?!

What’s the rest of 2012 got in store for you?

The first release on my new label “Electric Ballroom” will be out in June. The two tracks “Vorfreude” & “Fangbanger” are lifted from my upcoming album “Rooms” and I am pumped about the whole project. Beeing finally again at the helm of my own label feels just grand and 2012 will see more music from myself and talent from all around the globe getting released on “Electric Ballroom”. It goes without saying the the album release will be accomanied by a world wide tour where I will present the album as part of my DJ set.

Thomas Schumacher ‘Vorfreude EP’ will be released on June 5th (Vinyl) and on June 13th (Digital) on Electric Ballroom.
www.thomasschumacher.com