Purple Disco Machine kicked off his North American tour at the beginning of October in San Fransisco. Despite his hectic schedule, we had the chance to converse with the man who has mastered the craft of combining disco elements with house music.
According to Magnetic Man, “if 2015 had a shape and a sound, it would be Purple Disco Machine,” and we couldn’t agree more. 2016 has been a big year for the German DJ/producer, which involved working hard on his debut album (set for an early 2017 release), re-launching his popular monthly podcast ‘Purple Disco Tales’, and most importantly embarking on his North American ‘Camper Van’ tour. Known for crafting and incorporating ‘deep funk’ elements to his productions, Purple Disco Machine differentiates himself from the conventional house sound. His music encapsulates the flair of 70s disco and translates it into modern dance music that makes you want to move your feet to the rhythm all night long. Scroll down to find out a little more about hit background, his sources of inspiration, and his take on different aspects of modern DJ culture.
Hey Tino, thanks so much for connecting with us and taking the time out of your day to answer a couple of questions for The Knockturnal.
TK: I know you recently kicked off your highly anticipated ‘Camper Van Tour’, can you tell us a little bit about what it’s been like being on the road again in the States? Some highlights/lowlights?
PDM: It is always great to be back in the USA (and Canada!) and it has been a dream of me and my wife to travel the whole country in a Camper Van. So here I am living the dream! No lowlights for me so far (although it is kind of cramped with 2 kids in there as well!) Highlights have been Yosemite National Park and Washington State – incredible scenery. I am really looking forward to taking the family to NYC though – their first taste of The Big Apple. The tour has also been great too. I love the crowds and clubs here.
TK: On that note, given that you started in Germany and have embarked on tours in Europe, what would you say are some of the biggest differences you’ve noticed in the US house scene and the European house scene?
I think the US House crowds are really enthusiastic. Maybe because it might be newer to them to hear House music. They are more excited. Obviously the music originates from the USA but maybe only since the EDM explosion have the younger generation got into real House. In Germany and UK the crowds are perhaps more knowledgeable of the tracks – but they have been raving since they were babies ! Their Mums & Dads probably played them all the old House & Disco tunes growing up!
TK: Now back to basics, how did it all start for you? Did you play any instruments growing up? Were you always a self-proclaimed disco enthusiast?
PDM: I play piano to a decent level so I can adapt to all keyboards. I got into dance music through techno, like most German kids, from the east of Germany (I’m from Dresden ). One of my friends was really into Hip Hop and he got me hooked on the breaks and the funk & soul & disco behind the samples. From that base I followed the trails of disco into House music. But I still love the old school Hip Hop too. I’m so happy to have gotten Kool Keith from Ultramagnetic MC’s on one of my Album tracks, as he is a hero of mine. A New York golden age of rap legend !
TK: Can you name a couple of producer/DJs that you’d say have really inspired you throughout your journey and helped shape your career?
PDM: I have to name check the funky German House producers who came before me really – especially Boris D’lugosch and the Hamburg posse. Germany is so techno that it was not easy to be a House DJ & Producer in the 90’s , let alone one with a big international reputation like Boris and Mousse T etc. Then of course the US House legends like Todd Terry, MAW, Morales. And the Disco Kings like Norman Whitfield, Leon Sylvers, Patrick Adams, Tom Moulton, Larry Levan, etc
TK: What’s one subgenre that you don’t think gets the attention that it deserves?
PDM: Filter Disco ! It needs a big revival I might have something up my sleeve…..
TK: What is your opinion regarding the difference between old school DJing where everything was restricted to vinyl and modern DJing where most tracks are never put on any physical medium before or after release?
PDM: Well, certainly easier on the back muscles carrying around a USB stick than a case of vinyl! I like vinyl but I am not a nostalgia freak who thinks it was always ‘better’ back in the day. I go with the new technology each time I guess. However ,I have to say that it was a lot harder to be a good DJ in the vinyl era. Beat mixing on dodgy decks with broken ( or no ) Pitch Control, no BPM counters except in your head, warped vinyl, untidy record boxes with sleeves and covers everywhere, broken needles, turntables jumping, beer getting spilt on the mixer! So when I hear live mix-tapes from the pre digital era I am still always impressed by the technical standards of the best guys.
TK: Your go-to track during a set that you know will make the crowd go wild, regardless of where you are?
PDM: From my own productions then probably either‘’My House’ or my remix of Hercules & Love Affair’s ‘Do You Feel The Same’ . From the disco past then Shalamar – In The Socket is always bomb if you drop it at the right moment
TK: Finally, what are your plans moving forward? Will you be focusing mostly on bending the genre boundaries by remixing indie hits or on creating more original Material?
PDM: Next year it will be mostly about my debut Album, which will be a mixture of the different styles and sub genres of Disco – Disco House, Filter Disco, Indie Disco, Nu Disco, Electro Funk, Boogie, Old School Hip Hop, Italo Disco etc. I have collaborations with Aeroplane, Faithless, Kool Keith, Boris D’Lugosch already in the can and working on Bag Raiders and a whole lot more.
I will still be doing my remixes though if the right record comes up, like Bad Decisions by Two Door Cinema Club. This is a perfect track for me to remix – so groovy, with a great vocal and a cool lyric. I would love to get them on my album, of course!
Click on the image below to cop tickets to his show at the Panther Room in NYC’s Output on November 12th!
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