We continue strongly into 2024 with an artist we have loved for quite some time here at Berlin-Brighton towers. We are very excited to to have been able to catch up with Dachshund who has also delivered an exquisite selection of vibes as part of his guest mix.
Dachshund was born and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. He got his first introduction to music in the 90’s, playing in Reggae bands. That was the beginning of his long lasting love story with dub music.
Dub is undoubtedly one of Dachshund’s musical influence and inspiration. He produced his own Dub music in the following years, at the same time learning about every piece of studio equipment. This part of his musical experience can still be heard today in his productions.
With his roots in Dub music, Dachshund first experimented with electronic music in 1997, producing his own jungle and Drum’n’Bass tracks. This new orientation got him involved in DJing and organising the first Drum’n’Bass parties in his hometown. In order to play his own music during DJ sets – CDs not being available at that time - he cut his own productions on vinyl (dub plates) at Music House in London. It’s through these new styles of music that Dachshund developed his knowledge of hardware machines. Naturally, his interest soon turned towards DJing and producing club music.
There is no better way to understand a musician than through the common thread that ties together all his different music love affairs. You can read Dachshund’s musical evolution in his productions and DJ sets, like reading a person’s age by the marks on his face. His past history with Dub and other organic types of music is what gives his current House and Techno productions such an original flavour.
Dachshund calls for a human presence behind the machine, sweat on the dance floor and the swinging of hips – not head banging. It’s with this particular vision in mind that he has played live and DJ sets all over Europe.
Being a rather prolific producer, Dachshund has released tracks on various imprints such as Bar 25 Music, Highgrade, 8Bit, Gruuv, Upon You, Rebellion to name a few and also made some remixes on labels like Noir Music, Systematic, Kling Klong, and many more.
Based on an open approach and a taste for what is unpretentious yet complex, his musical preference is for groovy music crafted under the influence of emotions, not fashion. His incredible and lengthy discography tells you everything you need to know.
We caught up with Dachshund to find out more about his reggae and D'n'B roots plus his upcoming releases.
Hi Dachshund, how are you and what have you been up to this week? Hi, I'm doing great, thank you!
This week was good, I've spent most of my time in the studio composing tracks and also running some courses. The rest of the time was more about chilling and cooking.
You have some great releases out especially on labels we like a lot here at Berlin-Brighton such as Poker Flat, Gruuv, Bar 25, Rebellion, 8Bit and many more. Are there any standout tracks that hold special memories for you?
It's always exciting to sign with a label you admire. When working on an EP with multiple tracks, you never quite know which one people will like.
The track « Division » released on Poker Flat is particularly special as I've admired the label for a long time, and I was touched to see my sound align with their musical universe.
"Mysterious" on Bar 25 was a bit of a risk for me as it's a bit different than my usual style. I was overjoyed by the positive response.
"As If By Magic » on Gruuv surprised me, I didn't expect it to have more success than the other tracks on the EP.
You also had a new release on the 26 January Steve Bug's label Poker Flat called "Cosy Mess". I have been playing two of the tracks (Cosy Mess & Lust) a lot already in my sets, simply superb. Tell us more about that EP.
Thank you very much!
I’m super happy to have it released on Poker Flat. When I sent tracks to Steve Bug for this EP, I submitted more tracks to provide a diverse selection for him to choose from. I prefer doing it like this, especially when I feel I need more perspective on my choices. I loved the selection he made, with three tracks featuring different moods and functions.
"Cosy Mess" is a blend of calm and unrest. I was a bit inspired by the maestro Terry Riley for the arpeggiated melody. I'm amazed by the way he works with repetition, stepping away from the usual 4/4 rhythm to keep things interesting. The other elements are just there to spice it up a bit and maybe add a touch of mess.
"Lust" is more of an emotional track with these long-lasting melodic themes. However, after the main break, I wanted it transition into something more intense, both blurry and chaotic at the same time.
"Hidden Echoes" is probably more functional, more loopy and repetitive but also kind of hypnotic, with a dub influence.
What else can you tell us about future releases, anything exciting in the pipeline?
I’ve just finished a remix of a track from Gorge, it will be out on the Zurich based label Klaus:elle.
I have another project under a new alias : Dxnd. My first track will be released soon and is part of a compilation on a label called ThreeeKnobs, featuring other artists who primarily work with modular synths. It's more electronica, the track has a slightly higher tempo than my usual stuff.
That's it for the moment, but I have a few more things in the fridge that will pop up this year.
You also run your own label Clapper - Tell us more and what sort of music can people expect?
Clapper is kinda like a platform for releasing my and Quenum's music, and sometimes even stuff from our friends. But we didn't wanted to run it like a regular label with a roster of artists and all the associated work. We were active until 2019, but I have no idea when or what is the next move. It's on the to-do list, just floating around in my mind...
I also read that when you first started making music your influences were very much in Reggae, with Jamaica holding a very special place for you. You even spent some time in Jamaica. Tell us more about that experience.
Absolutely, in my twenties, I was involved in the reggae scene, playing guitar in reggae bands. At that time, It made me realise just how crucial the role of sound engineers is in the music-making process. I even travelled to Jamaica with some 2-inch studio tapes in my backpack carrying recordings of a band called Restless Mashait from my hometown, Geneva.
In Kingston, I first went to studios to record a percussionist and then had it mixed by an engineer to create some dub versions. It was a fantastic time.
I take this opportunity to give a shout-out and encourage you to check out the latest release of Restless Mashaits, a dub album out on the Musique Pour La Danse label (Mental Groove).
In addition, I saw that you used to produce and organise Drum N' Bass parties. Is there any temptation to meddle with that sound again? The reason I ask Brighton, along with Bristol, are huge Drum N' Bass hubs, so we're intrigued :)
Absolutely! Brighton, Bristol, and London, where Drum'n'Bass magic first kicked off!
It's tempting to make a little comeback even though I feel a bit disconnected from the current scene.
To be honest, I have two Liquid tracks on the desk that I really want to finish, possibly leading to an album release. But I'm still questioning myself about the way to present it..."
Where was your first gig and how did it go?
My very first gig ever was at a recreation centre with my reggae band when I was around 17. My hands were shaking, and I was sweating so much that the guitar strings probably rusted instantly.
Later with the Dachshund project, my first international gig was in Moscow. I played a hybrid live set and had a big issue with the battery of my laptop, which was at 0% throughout the entire performance. Every time I tried adding an FX, the sound would crack. I continued the whole live set completely dry. A disaster that nobody in the crowd realised.
Which other DJs or producers are you liking right now?
The latest set that I absolutely loved was from Donato Dozzy, and I'm also a fan of his productions.
Otherwise I would suggest to dig into Bandcamp, there's a lot of new and underrated talent. Recently, I discovered two guys from Canada called Jump Source. Their productions and sound are super impressive.
What are your go-to labels?
Poker Flat Recordings stands out maintaining consistent quality since the beginning.
For the rest, I won't list them all because there are so many. I do my shopping everywhere, from the big labels to the small ones, and even where there's no label, like sometimes you’ll find on Bandcamp.
You have compiled our latest Berlin Mixtapes Series Episode 062 - Tell us more about your mix.
Certainly, this mix is a melange of various tracks I currently enjoy, including my latest EP, without fixating too much on specific genres.
Thanks for spending some time with us, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Thank you for having me on your Mixtapes Series. All the best to everyone, enjoy life !
Favourite colour: Ultraviolet
What do you put on your chips: Guacamole
Apple or Android: Apploid
Can you juggle: Yes
Weirdest/Coolest Item of clothing: Weirdest crocs
Do you collect anything: Roland Space Echo RE-201
Favourite place to hang out: Le Rhône
Favourite club: Audio Club
Favourite beer: Ginger beer
Favourite place to eat: In the street in Thailand
Weirdest thing you have eaten: Crickets
How do you like your eggs: Poached
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Favourite track right now: John Gurd & Reset Robot - Burundi
Favourite word: Harmony
3 words to describe your mix: Potpourri, spontaneous, deep.
Tracklist
Santiago Salazar - Motomachi Hustle
Dachshund - Hidden Echoes - Poker Flat Recordings
Jamahr - Once Upon A Time - Politics Of Dancing
Markus Homm - Columbian Blue - Bondage Music
Jonathan Kaspar - Villose - These Eyes
Colin Dale - Charon Dawn - When Disco Goes Wrong
Dachshund - Lust - Poker Flat Recordings
Frink - Kalerg - Sublease Music
Dachshund - Cozy Mess - Poker Flat Recordings
Steve Bug - Crazy Bush - B Series
Granary 12 - Acid Movement - Balkan Recordings
Honey Dijon, Louie Vega - Feel So Right (feat. Honey Dijon) (DJ Deep Remix) - Nervous
Pornbugs - Cielos (Dachshund Remix) - Bondage Music
Steve Bug - Trees And Clouds - Bondage Music
Daphni - Cloudy (Kelbin_Remix) - Jiaolong