The German dons who are the master of the Deeper Sessions
Interview by Dan Prince
Arndt, Marko welcome to DMCWORLD. Where on planet earth are you today?
“Hi Dan! Tonight we’ll be playing alongside Pleasurekraft and Claptone in Milan. It’s a big festival and we are very excited.”
Sounds cool. So, another month and another major piece of Tube & Berger news. This time it’s all about your new compilation coming out on Armada, ‘Deeper SESSIONS!!! – based on your radio show you host on Sirius.xm. The release is a collection of the 16 greatest tunes from the show – WOW! How many tunes were on the original list?
“We had about 50 tracks on our list and the second step was to reduce it to 20 tracks and start mixing. Sadly we had to kick out another 4.”
What is each of yours favourite track on this huge Armada album?
“Tough question but we think we have an answer!! We will go for the 2 old skool tracks on the compilation…
Tube: Mandarine Girl by M.A.N.D.Y and Booka Shade
Berger: Discopolis by Kris Manace and Lifelike.”
ADE must seem like a blurry memory now. What was your favourite memory from dance music’s number one industry event?
“Meeting Robin Schulz was extremely funny. He invited us to his after party and there was an interesting mix of people hanging around. Everyone was giving a shit whether they considered themselves as underground or they are seen as commercial by the scene. It was all about having a good time.”
True or false : You once were that hungover at ADE you went to a really important meeting, walked out afterwards and both confessed neither of you could remember a thing about the meeting?
“Well, it’s true. But it wasn’t only us. Juliet Sikora and Paco were involved in that meeting too. Someone must have put some alcohol in our lemonades.”
Who is the biggest lightweight – who always crashes first?
“We’re both lightweights but we never crash. Seriously…”
The other major news we want to hear all about is that you have started working on your second studio album which is due for release next summer. What can you reveal? Direction/collabs etc…
“At the moment we’re in the beginning stage which means jamming a lot, listening to samples a lot and trying to catch vibes wherever we are. Inspiration comes in the strangest moments. We often pull out our phones to record something! We even finished some instrumentals which we’re sending out to singers and songwriters BUT… There’s a loooong journey ahead to finish the album and we’re at the very beginning.”
Your musical journey began playing in a punk band, it’s incredible how many producers started life in the rock world! Who were your influences musically before House and Techno won the battle?
“In the early 90s Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Faith No More were our heroes and as a true wannabe punk, you gotta listen to The Ramones, Sex Pistols and The Clash, so we did.”
Can you remember the record or artist (s) that first pointed you down dance music avenue?
“Without a doubt it was Daft Punk – ‘Homework’.”
True or false : The first time you met you wanted to punch each other in the face?
“Again true. We first met in the school bus and really didn’t like each other at first. But it didn’t take long to become friends and doing silly things together.”
You are a renowned for taking your time finishing a new production. What is the longest you have taken tying up a track?
“There are a few tracks that took years to be finished. Sometimes there is only an idea we like but we have no clue how to make a tune out of it. You can’t force it and you gotta go with the flow – and the flow sometimes just won’t show up…”
What are the big 5 tunes in your box this weekend?
- 1.Juliet Sikora and Chemical Surf – What’s That
- 2.Few Nolder – If
- 3.Tube & Berger, In.deed – Highness
- 4.Maximiljan – No Space
- 5.Paji, Tube & Berger – Reliquia
You are one of the first producers to grace the decks at London’s newest club – The Qube Project. How was last weekend…did it live up to the hype?
“We had a great night! The sound system is hilarious and the crew were really nice. Especially Michael – a very cool guy. We had a very funny chat!”
Festival moment of 2014?
“Ouff! There has been so many. Too hard to pick a winner Dan!”
“There isn’t anything like playing in Ibiza”. A famous quote from you. We loved you at ANTS, we loved you at Booom! What was your favourite session of the summer on the white isle?
“Of course it’s great to play at Ushuaia and playing for ANTS was absolutely amazing. ANTS is truly one of the best parties in Ibiza. But being residents for our friends from Suara who hosted Kitties Wanna Dance at Booom was something different. More like a family thing. Being a part of it and helping them doing their first night in Ibiza was a pleasure.”
If you had a night off in Ibiza, what 1 club and DJ would you head to?
“Marco Carola at Amnesia is dope. Circo Loco at DC10 is wild too but we don’t go out that often when we’re in Ibiza. Damn…are we getting too old???”
Tune of the summer?
“Tough question again. We have the feeling that it would be a little bit too easy to say Watermat – ‘Bullit’ or ‘The Path’ by Teenage Mutants and Purple Disco Machine. A track we played over the whole summer and which really worked great was ‘NY Drive’ by Tapesh & Kevin Over.”
Loved your Remix of Blonde ‘I Loved You’. How do you approach a remix when first sitting down in the studio? Some producers strip everything back and leave only a vocal, some are just hell bent on leaving ‘their sound’ ingrained on the finish article…how do you see each project – surely there must be a connection to the record in the first place for you?
“So it looks like we’re the ones that want to leave “their sound” ingrained in all our remixes. We didn’t really know what to do with the remix for Blonde at first. We tried this and that until we had the feeling it works. Especially the vocals reminded us of an early 90ies R&B vibe and so we knew in which direction we had to go…”
The record which reminds you of…
…your childhood –
Opus – “‘Life Is Life’.”
…realizing you could make it in the music world as an artist
“Being in the UK Top 40 with ‘Straight Ahead’ back in 2004…”
…having your heart broken
Tube: “Chris Isaac – ‘Wicked Game’.”
Berger: “’The Last Unicorn’.”
…thinking shit – I wish I’d have made that!
“There are a lot. From The Rolling Stones – ‘Satisfaction’ to the Maceo Plex remix of Gus Gus’ Crossfade’…”
Proudest life moment to date…
Berger: “Becoming a dad.”
Tube: “Becoming an uncle.”
And finally, what is coming out next from you studio wise?
“We just released our ‘Entourage’ EP with our label mates Paji, Ante Perry and In.deed. And we made a nice remix that will be out on Get Physical in December. But that’s super pooper top secret at the moment.”
