Matthias Tanzmann emerged from Germany and his native town of Leipzig in the nineties, and became one of the most respected DJs and label owners in the scene. We were honored to speak with Matthias about Moon Harbour, his music and Barrakud Festival in Croatia where he will play in August. Enjoy!
First of all I would like to thank you for your time! What’s new?
Not much except for traveling. Sitting in the studio, working on the remix right now and new compilation.
Could you reveal which remix and compilation of is that still a secret?
I’m doing remix for Jamie Jones right now on new label of Kerri Chandler which is called Kaos Theory so you know, just working and that will be ready next week. The compilation is for my label it would be 15 years of Moon Harbour and it’s gonna be out in October.
You are one of the most respected DJs on the scene and you headline lots of festivals and event on Ibiza especially. How hard it was to get to the place you are today?
It took some time. Now it’s for more that 20 years I just recently realize it so its been a long way and hard work of course, maybe little bit of luck of meeting the right people in the right time. I’m just happy that I came so far and I’m in the position to play all those gigs, to travel and see the world and people like the kind of music so I’m very grateful.
How are you satisfied with the work and mission of Moon Harbour, could you recommend some upcoming releases that we shouldn’t miss?
Right now we just released “Sabb – One Of Us“ track which has become very big, there is Dennis Ferrer remix who is also playing at Barrakud and Detlef remix. This one is doing really well at the moment, been played by a lot of djs for the summer now and coming up next is we have a new release of Re.you with the remix by Butch then we have have upcoming new Sable Sheep EP and then Marco Faraone EP, a lot of stuff. And then for October like I said we will have this compilations, 15 years of Moon Harbour with 12 – 15 new tracks by all our label artists.
You announced new release on Saved Records for end of July and Nic Fanciulli predicted it as one of the biggest tracks of Ibiza 2015 for Beatport. What sound can we expect for this release?
It’s a tech-house track obviously but with nice and catchy spoken vocal. I’ve been playing the track for a couple months now and already there was like a little bit of bass around because I played at be-at.tv set and BPM festival and now recently again on be-at.tv for this Ibiza party at the Fort called One. A lot of people were asking me about this track so it’s actually my track and I’m happy now that it comes out on Saved. So I hope people would like it, first reactions are really good so I’m looking forward to see what’s gonna happen when it’s out.
You recently made “Boxing Day“ for Kerri Chandler’s compilation on Kaoz Theory. Tell us something more about that. What was the idea or inspiration behind this release?
What Kerri asked me last year already that we work on his label and if I could have a track and I was going through stuff and I had this idea for something so I worked for him I was kinda in the mood during that time and it’s sometimes easier to make a single track for the compilation because stuff already have to fit, all stream, bpm, idea, so what I wanted to do is for Kerri to have like a housey vibe because he’s the house legend as he is so I kinda felt it make sense and maybe it took bit for the compilation. Like I said the next thing now would be EP that I’m been remixing for Jamie so, yea I like to work with him.
On which tracks from your set does the audience reacts best thee past few weeks?Which is your favorite?
Let me think… I think actually the Subb release I just talked to you about that is just out and it been really big on my sets. It has those singing vocals that are very catchy, people love it. And yea, I’m playing some really good stuff past week so I don’t have one favorite to pick. I recently started playing again “Oxia – Domino“ which is a classic track and I use it to close my sets sometimes, still I don’t know how old it is, maybe 5 years, don’t know exactly, still such crowded and such an emotional track at the same time. Maybe that one.
We saw that you have a busy summer with lost of gigs. What are you doing in your free time that is not related to music?
I try to do some sports. To keep myself a little bit in balance, traveling and not much sleeping that you have on tour. And what else do I like to do… Basically, relaxing, don’t know, I like to spend time in quiet places. At the moment I enjoy my quiet time and I enjoy being back home to the studio. Even thought I work on music this is a different angle, cause I’m in my studio, I don’t have a pressure of taking a flight or moving the crowd or something. Just like chip that can play with his toys like synthesizer and instruments, this actually feels really nice for the piece of mind.
You headline Barrakud Festival, Pag, Croatia in August. There will be 7 days and 7 nights of great music, what do you think about this festival and the whole concept?
I think it’s good. I’ve been there before on the island. I really liked it and whole Croatia, its really nice and the parties there are really good so I’m very much looking forward to that, I saw the line up, who’s playing there is fantastic and I think I headline the Friday night with Joris Voorn, Andrea Oliva and Los Suruba on Ants stage, which is really good cause I like Ants parties, we celebrate for the opening this year so I’m excepting really good party, I like the venues there. Really happy to be back.
As you mentioned, you will play at ANTS showcase at Barrakud festival, tell us something about your cooperation with them.
I really like their concept, in Ibiza I play with them, recently I played once a year. Because I’m mainly working with Circo Loco at DC-10 but I really like the artist that play for them and the idea that’s behind it and how they are able to make such a great plays like Ushuaia to make it fell club like during the day and then move it cause there is a concept starting the party at the smallest stage, smallest area of Ushuaia then moving the stage for last three hours, it kinda never feels like festival daytime, it feels like club beach thing and I really like it combined with good artists and good music they play so I’m happy to work for Ants, to play for Ants. And obviously Andrea Oliva who is like their main act and a very good friend and I respect him really much as a dj and producer so it feels good to be with them.
Can you tell us what kind of set are you preparing for Barrakud Festival? What can we expect?
Yeah, well, it’s not like I would know which track I would play but it would surely be similar trip to what I play in Ibiza because of the outside club thing by the beach and this kind of vibe so it will be summerly proven nice tech house thing I guess.
What is your message for those people who can’t wait to hear you there?
Just get ready for Friday we are gonna have a big party and a lot of fun and I can’t wait.
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