Incorporating a heavier electro influence into the mix a few years back, the duo has always managed to stay on the cutting edge, taking a slew of fans along for the ride while gaining new followers. This progressive attitude has been with them since they first ventured out of their hometown, which is more known for orchestral music, and moved to that untamed EDM hotbed of Berlin. It was there that the brothers Schwarz really got onto the path of what they would dedicate their lives to.
The affable Ali is just arriving at their newly acquired studio base and record label office in Berlin as we get him on the line. “We’re working on new tracks, remixes, we’re releasing a new single and working on a second single,” he says. A new Tiefschwarz album, following up from 2010’s Chocolate, is also in the works, the DJ-producer reveals. “We’re laying out for a new album next year and collecting ideas.” In the meantime they’re gearing up for the 50th release on their jointly run Souvenir imprint. Essentially, Tiefschwarz are the musical equivalent of efficient German engineering. “The machine is running,” he tells us sardonically.
The brothers are wrapping up a hectic summer touring schedule in Europe and South America as they prepare to return to our shores. “The last couple of weeks were insane but I’m really looking forward to coming to Australia.” After a two-year absence Tiefschwarz will headline the seventh instalment of The Breakfast Club at New Guernica, rapidly becoming one of Melbourne’s prime nights. Ali and Basti are ready to enjoy the sights and sounds and feed off the energy of the crowd. In their previous visits they have found the open-mindedness of Aussie audiences conducive to their live sets, which Ali believes goes deeper than just the music.
“I think it’s almost a psychological thing when a DJ travels that far, to the other side of the world basically, it’s always something special. Obviously there’s tonnes of DJs coming but still I think people really appreciate it when someone makes the effort to come all the way to Australia.” He sums up their past visits to Oz succinctly, saying, “People are very enthusiastic, dancing their asses off, so it’s always lots of fun.”
It is this same energy that drew the brothers to their adopted home of Berlin, where they have been based since the early 2000s. The decision to first move to what many consider the capital of EDM was an easy one for the pair, as the Tiefschwarz reputation developed and their presence on the live scene increased. “The scene in Stuttgart was a very small but intense scene and it had an international approach but by the end of the ‘90s we were already travelling a lot. We basically just had our beds in Stuttgart, the rest of the time was travelling. Berlin seemed like a logical place, especially after our record label at the time [Four Music] moved there. We thought ‘Oh well, maybe that’s the exact signal we were looking for,’ and of course the scene was way bigger than in Stuttgart.”
Everything seemed to come together in hindsight, as Berlin continued its rise as an EDM Mecca. “It was also the beginning of the movement we are part of right now, that explosion that so many people are coming to be a part of. In the beginning of the 2000s it was already intense but the last 10 years blows that away.” Clearly as far as the scene and culture goes Berlin now is a whole other beast. “When it comes to clubs and electronic dance music it is the centre of the universe. There is such a magnetic impulse for young crowds, so many people come here from all over the world to enjoy the club scene. The whole vibe of the city is so open, it’s just a great enthusiastic vibe.”
Ali has seen and experienced it all in his time in Berlin, saying that you really need to pace yourself in such an environment. “6am is almost like the start of the night,” he laughs. “The normal way is to go 36 hours or something, that’s what most of the people do when they come here. They go out Friday night and come home Monday morning. I see all these crazy rave kids in front of my house going back home or arriving and it’s absurd in a way, it’s really funny.”
Having been a club promoter for seven years Ali was the life of the party, describing himself as his own “best guest.” Now as a highly in-demand professional DJ, and someone who is no longer a crazy rave kid, those days are generally something of the past. “Once in a while you are part of it but most of the time you have to stay away because it’s quite difficult to party privately when you have to work as a DJ as well. You try to stay away from the temptation.”
Both Ali and Basti have learned to maintain their professionalism. It is that discipline and commitment to the craft has helped put Tiefschwarz on the map. “You have to handle everything in a professional way, at least to a certain extent. The whole process of being a professional DJ has so many side effects with it, the travelling, the organisation, the timing and scheduling, working in the studio, controlling the label.”
Staying physically and mentally sound amidst all the chaos has been important to their longevity. “It’s quite a busy life, at the same time you have to keep your balance, so we have to be quite aware. Of course you can party and let go every once in a while but you also have to recover and be aware of what you’re doing to your body. It’s amazing to see the world and get paid to do what you love but it is a job and energy sucker.”
Even while the circumstances and their responsibilities have changed, the brothers still love what they do, calling it a “fun job.” Having established a strong reputation over the past decade throughout the global dance community, Tiefschwarz have rocked small and large venues, both of which play to the strengths of their sound. “I like a bit of both but when it comes to travelling I do prefer a smaller venue because it’s more intimate and you have a stronger connection with the crowd. You can play a bit more experimental and a bit of everything. The energy of a big venue or a big festival ground is also amazing. You have this humongous crowd and they all have this faith in you and there is this connection or interaction between you and them.”
Ali’s brother Basti has said in the past that they like to see music as a souvenir, “an impression you take from somewhere,” or “something intimate that you remember.” Ultimately their music is a tapestry of their experiences and creative energy. When it comes to recording these epics, which will play as the soundtrack to their live audience, there is no magic formula and you can’t go in with preconceived notions. “You go into the studio and you just follow your own personal taste. Of course you have experience and you may have a rough idea of where you want to go with your song but I think it’s not the right thing to produce with a certain aim or goal.”
Ali and Basti believe that everything has to flow naturally and that all the elements need to come together to produce something truly special. “We’re not producing like we have to touch a certain crowd or create this special moment. Music is way more than that. There are producers that can just press a button and make it happen but that’s not really the creative flow we’re looking for.”
The key for Ali and his creativity is feeling fresh, particularly after a hard weekend of gigging. “I like to have my personal freedom for a bit, where I’m not listening to any techno. You have to cleanse yourself, you have to recover and then you can go to the studio and start working again. It’s important to have a break and keep that balance. I couldn’t go straight to the studio after a long weekend, that wouldn’t work.”
BY ANDREW ‘HAZARD’ HICKEY
