Next up we welcome two artists that we love very much here at Berlin-Brighton. Not only that, these two connoisseurs also run a label that we have been playing tracks from for quite some time on our radio shows and events.
Meet Sven & Sven, aka the Pornbugs! They started their common career in various clubs and radio stations in Germany in 2000, and since 2005 they perform mainly as Pornbugs. Pornbugs is the deep-/minimal house project of the guys, featuring a unique dance floor sound. Their international gigs have lead them to Cape Town, New York, London, Barcelona, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago, San Francisco and Washington, to name a few.
In January 2006 they founded their label Bondage-Music as a platform for ambitious releases of deep-/techhouse. The label has made a huge impact in the electronic scene since then, with releases by talented artistssuch as Mihai Popoviciu, Markus Homm, NTFO, Super Flu, Sascha Dive, Gorge, El Mundo, Frink, Philip Gonzales, Tuccillo and many many more. We caught up with the two Svens to find out about their journey and what's coming up in 2024.
Hi guys, how are you and what have you been up to this week?
We are doing very well, thank you very much. We had a great Christmas with our families.
You have been producing and playing together for quite some time now. How did you get started together and how did your artist name come about?
In 2006 we founded Pornbugs, we wanted to start a second project in which we presented ourselves in more of a house style. We only decided on the name Pornbugs because we were looking for a one-word DJ name that would indicate that it was about more than one person. As Pornbugs we present a mix of deep house and minimal house with soulful grooves to create an immersive dancefloor experience.
You have also been running your own record label since 2006 called Bondage-Music. On a personal note, we love the label very much here at Berlin-Brighton and we often play tracks from the label at our events and radio shows. Tell us more about the label, how did you start and what has been your vision for the label?
Pornbugs and the label Bondage-Music were actually created at the same time in 2006. We wanted to create a label where we could release our own music. We also wanted to give the artists we have worked with the opportunity to release their music and to give our musical sound its own platform.
The name „Bondage“ can also be explained by the fact that we wanted to create music with which we want to tie people up on the dance floor. We don't want to make music that is „only“ meant to be listened to, it should rather be functional and work in a club. Thats generally the basic idea with which we run our label. We have been working with the same artists relatively consistently for many years, it has become like a family.
Of course we also try to build up new artists, the label is also growing through new and young artists. The connection to our artists is very important to us, we have a friendly
relationship. We started out as a vinyl-only label and we are still releasing on vinyl, even after 17 years that’s still important to us, combined with some releases that we only release
digitally.
Today, many of the new labels start as digital-only labels, but of course there are also some newer labels that have very good vinyl output. Musically, we at Bondage-Music have always remained true to our sound, we just stand for the somewhat deeper sound.
You also had a new release out on that label on the 15.12. called Cielos. Tell us more about that.
We had already released the two original tracks "Artica" and "Cielos". Steve Kelley had written to us saying that he really liked the track "Artica", so we had the idea of having him do a remix.
We asked Dachshund to remix our track "Cielos" because we really like his productions. We then remastered the two originals and the package was ready for release. We are very happy with that.
What else can you tell us about future releases, anything exciting in the pipeline?
At the beginning of December 2023 our new EP, a collaboration with our friend Frink,
was released on vinyl and in January 2024 on a special digital version. On the release
you will also find some great remixes by Jamahr, Mirojola and Roger Gerressen.
Then there are currently 4 tracks in the final phase, which were created together with
Sascha Dive, but it is not yet clear where they will be released. And then there will be a
new EP on Acker Dub. Thats enough for now as a small preview for the beginning of
2024, we can’t reveal any more yet. ;-)
Where was your first gig and how did it go?
Our first gig together was at the Membrane in Schlanstedt at the beginning of 2001, back then with our techno project. It was fantastic, an old factory in the Harz, a real underground location, a very nice memory.
You have travelled a fair bit across the world. How is 2024 looking for you and will you be coming to the UK at any point?
We will travel to South America again in March and will do another tour there, we have been doing that since 2006. Nothing is confirmed for the UK yet, but we would love to come back to the UK to play.
Which other DJs or producers are you liking right now? There are a few that we like very much, but to name a few, Mihai Popoviciu, Janeret, Traumer.
What are your go-to labels?
Sublease, Berg Audio, Nu Groove
You have compiled our latest Berlin Mixtapes Series Episode 059 - Tell us more about your mix.
We decided to make the mix a little longer, it includes a lot of tracks from our own label, also tracks and remixes from ourselves, as well as tracks from artists and labels that we really like playing at the moment.
Thanks for spending some time with us, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
We thank you for the opportunity to do this interview. We would also like to thank all of our supporters for this great year and we look forward to seeing you at any club. We wish everyone a good start into the new year.
Exciting stuff! It's been an absolute pleasure talking with you. Next up here's the Quickfire Round: Genre: Deephouse / Minimalhouse
Favourite colour: Black
What do you put on your chips? Salsa
Apple or Android?: Apple
First record ever bought: Depeche Mode - Behind the Wheel
Can you juggle?: Yes, with just one ball
Weirdest/Coolest Item of clothing: A Hawaiian shirt that makes you look like Magnum
Do you collect anything?: Yes, vinyls.
What is the most useless talent you have? To eat the spiciest things Favourite place to hang out: Sisyphos Favourite club: It's difficult to say, there are so many, but in Berlin Sisyphos is our favourite club
Favourite bar/pub: BRLO Berlin Favourite beer: Spaten
Favourite place to eat: Ngon
Weirdest thing you've eaten: Green cabbage
How do you like your eggs: Sunny side up
Coffee or tea: Tea
Favourite football team: 1. FC Magdeburg
Favourite track right now: Steve Kelley - If You Search (Mihai Popoviciu Remix)
Favourite word: Stabil (stable)
A phrase to describe your mix: Sexy house music
Tracklist
Janeret - Lush - Shall Not Fade
DJOKO & Kolter - Cellular - Berg Audio
Bioroot - 125DHFK (Traumer Remix) - KONTAKT
NTFO - Neptunes (Vern Remix) - Bondage-Music
Sous Sol - Ideas Around (Frink Remix) - Bondage-Music
Steve Bug - Trees And Clouds - Bondage-Music
Steve Kelley - Talkin - Bondage-Music
Rhadow - Indigio (Mihai Popoviciu Remix) - Bondage-Music
Steve Kelley - Last Time (Pornbugs Remix) - Sublease
Pornbugs - Coats My Skin - Expmental
Pornbugs & Frink - See Through My Eyes (Miroloja Remix) - Bondage-Music
Pornbugs - Cielos (Dachshund Remix) - Bondage-Music
D Stone - Show Me - Cecille
Tre Reynolds - Old School Vibe (Club Mix) - MicroHertz
George Smeddles - Up In The Booth - PIV
NTFO - Breach Surge (Alex Ranerro Remix) - Bondage-Music
Pornbugs - Artica (Steve Kelley Remix) - Bondage-Music
James Dexter - Watching - Still Hot
Pornbugs - Coats My Skin (NTFO Remix) - Expmental
Miroloja - Goatz - Normandy Records
Andrey Pushkarev - Frame - Luck Of Access
Janeret - D. Tool - Shall Not Fade
Pornbugs & Cristina Lazic - November Haze - Bondage-Music