Back To Mine With PETER PAHN

Frankfurt-based techno artist PETER PAHN has carved his name into the international scene with releases on Drumcode, Terminal M, and Heldeep. Known for his cinematic peak- time techno – dark, powerful, and euphoric, he now launches his own imprint ENGMT (Enigmatic Records). As his debut release on the label, ‘Open The Gate’, marks the beginning of a new chapter, DMCWorld goes Back To Mine with PETER PAHN.

Phil Collins – In The Air Tonight

A song deeply connected to a childhood memory. I first heard it when I was about seven years old, on a boat at Lake Garda with my parents, uncle, and aunt. A storm hit, and the boat began to sway heavily, making us fear for our lives. Water was coming into the boat, and the adults were using buckets to throw it back into the lake. We children were sent down into the cabin, scared, while the sound of rain and waves crashing surrounded us. To calm ourselves, we turned on the radio – and then ‘In The Air Tonight’ began to play. In that moment, it brought us incredible comfort. That’s why I often build subtle thunderstorm elements into the breaks of my tracks, like in ‘Open The Gate’ or ‘Dark Clouds’ to recreate a similar, familiar feeling and atmosphere.

Zombie Nation – Kernkraft 400

The very first techno track I ever connected with. I was still at school, carrying a ghettoblaster on my arm during breaks. We’d blast this track in the schoolyard and dance like nobody was watching. That’s where the seed was planted. This track laid the foundation for me to this day. I hope that one day I’ll be able to make an official remix of it.

DJ Rush – Motherfucking Bass

My entry into the underground scene – this track was my gateway to the raw, uncompromising energy of Frankfurt’s Palazzo and U60311. It’s pure power and attitude. Back then, this track was simply different from all the others, it stood out with its individuality. DJ Rush has always driven people to follow him not only through the music but also through his words. An absolute legend and my greatest role model. He has influenced me more than anyone else. My biggest wish is to collaborate with him, maybe one day it will happen.

DJ Rush – Get On Up (Chris Liebing Remix)

Chris Liebing took DJ Rush’s raw energy and injected it with his own precision and groove. I remember hearing this in a dark, sweaty room and feeling completely locked in. A relentless remix that combines DJ Rush’s raw power with Chris Liebing’s precision and discipline – perfect for dark, driving floors.

DJ Rush – Look and See

A track that embodies the relentless drive of the era. It’s stripped-down yet intense, the kind of track that keeps you moving without mercy. When the vocal part at the start of the track came in for the first time, no matter where he played it back then, the crowd would go wild with joy. One of his greatest signature tracks.

DJ Rush – My Palazzo

An anthem that instantly takes me back to the legendary Palazzo in Bingen. This was the sound of nights that never seemed to end – raw, sweaty, and unforgettable. I was practically born in the Palazzo, at 15 years old, I set foot in the club for the first time and was allowed to experience it weekend after weekend, all the way until closing. Those were the most formative years of my life, and in 2003, I witnessed the very first closing.

Eric Sneo – Tanz der Familie

A true German techno gem – intense, hypnotic, and emotional at the same time. It captures that deep connection between artist, crowd, and the collective heartbeat of the dance floor. The name ‘Tanz der Familie’ was also the title of a legendary event series at the Palazzo – a night that didn’t need big headliners, because it was all about being together as one family. The Palazzo family. It was one of the club’s strongest series, perfectly describing the sense of unity in techno. This is where I first learned what techno truly is – it’s not just music.

Umek – Gatex (Original Mix)

An absolute techno classic, that’s hypnotic, timeless, and perfectly structured. It bridges that old- school warehouse feeling with a flow that still works in peak-time sets today. This was the moment I became a total Umek fan. A very special vibe on the dance floor and still a weapon I pull out from time to time when the moment is right.

Umek – Lanicor

From my early days, this was one of those tracks that pulled me deeper into the sound. It has that unmistakable Umek punch and groove that I still love.

Sven Väth – Ein Waggon voller Geschichten

Sven has always been a storyteller, and this track is pure narrative in sound. It’s like a journey on rails through surreal techno landscapes. Back in the day, we always wanted to listen to this track during afterhours – why? Listen for yourself.

Wassermann – W.I.R. (Sven Väth Mix)

This remix is mystical, hypnotic, and deeply German in its poetic approach. It shaped my love for atmospheric yet driving techno. This track perfectly described our scene back then, it drove us to the top. A creator, a visionary.

Plastikman – Panikattack

Dark, unsettling, and hypnotic. This track is like being pulled into a deep tunnel, it’s a masterclass in tension building. It exudes an incredible energy that still feels potent on the dance floor.

Richie Hawtin – Minus/Orange 1

Minimalism at its finest, it’s hypnotic, precise, and endlessly deep. This track taught me the power of space and reduction in techno.

Charlotte de Witte – Sgadi Li Mi

This track was a big inspiration for my own ‘Dark Clouds’ . I love how it’s simple but incredibly powerful – a perfect example of less being more.

PETER PAHN – Open The Gate

My first release on ENGMT – a statement of freedom and instinct. No rules, no genre boxes, just pure energy. It’s the opening of a new era for me, musically and personally.

 

“My sets are a journey – I want people to feel like heroes in their own story, from laughter to goosebumps to total escalation. These tracks are milestones on my path and continue to inspire the music I create today”.  – PETER PAHN