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1. Felix, your name guarantees solid techno”made in Germany“, you are well known in Germany and across the borders, and for the past three years you have constantly been in the Raveline Magazine’s top3 (twice even on the pole position). So what took you so long to go on your first world tour and not earlier?
A world tour has to be prepared in detail, and it is absolutely vital to have a strong team that you can absolutely rely on. What I mean is that although my work is at festivals and in clubs, there is a lot of organisation and preparation necessary in the background to make it all happen. For the past years we have worked hard on many details and fine-tuned everything, so that we are ready now to start the next big project. This is the next big step forward for me, and I’m sure it will have a big influence on me for the years to come.
2. Your tour will be titled “DISCOVER”. How did you choose this title and what does it mean to you?
The title came to my mind last year while being on a plane. We were in the very early planning stages then and needed a name for our “baby”.
Of course we had a lot of other ideas, but after considering all options it became clear that it will be “DISCOVER”, as it was a strong title and had already sort of burned itself into everyone’s mind. In a creative phase like this I mainly listen to my inner thoughts, although they were racing around in my mind like a rollercoaster, but then at one point I draw the line and that’s it then.
The title ‘DISCOVER” sums up everything that I want to express on this tour. There will be a lot to explore in the coming months, but not only for me, but also for the people coming to my shows.
3. What makes the “DISCOVER” show so special compared to your “normal” shows?
First of all I see this tour a bit differen than the individual gigs I play. Every show of this tour is a part of the whole “DISCOVER” experience, and I am very proud to be able to create this experience show by show.
Then a lot of passion and hard work was necessary to start this tour. This doesn’t mean that I’m not passionate about my other gigs, but specially on a creative level I have set myself new goals. I want it to be perfect from start to finish, so that all people can enjoy it and have a lot of fun. I’ve never had so much motivation before.
4. What can people expect on your “DISCOVER” tour? Everybody familiar with you knows that your sets are extremely powerful and stimulating. Do you plan on topping this on the “DISCOVER” tour and if so, how?
Generally none of my performances are the same, they are all unique. There surely are special occasions where good or bad things had an influence on me. So far in my career I have learned a lot, and I will be still learning in 20 years. So the people will always experience something new at my shows, which basically cannot be topped because it is always new and fresh and in a unique way is always totally hilarious.
5. What are you most excited about?
In short: the whole tour! But I’m afraid this answer will be to easy, so I will try to be more detailed.
As I said before a lot of hard work has been put into this project. That’s why I am even more looking forward to all those things that make touring so special. Travelling, seeing all the new clubs that I haven’t been to yet, and of course the interaction with all the people there, who will forget all the bad things for a moment and have a good time while they are there. You only live once!
6. Which parts of the world unknown to you will you re-“discover”?
First of all of course Toronto, Chicago and New York. I have never been to the USA or Canada before, and I won’t hide the fact that I am excited like a little kid to finally get there. I’ve been dreaming of going there and to perform for a long time now, and it is also a huge new challenge for me, as I don’t know what and who to expect there. I’m very much looking forward to this experience!
7. Which date of your tour are you looking forward to the most and why?
The WOMB in Tokyo comes to mind. This club is alive! Everything comes together perfectly there, am exciting location in one of the most breath-taking cites of the world. But of course I’m also looking forward to the clubs in the USA and Canada. And I will close some festivals in the Netherlands and Austria, where I can really let it go at the end.
Another highlight will be a concept from my side where we will start to organize some events in so called “off locations” by ourselves, with the help of some promoters that we are very familiar with. An example for this is the show this May at the turf in Vienna.
And of course I am very proud that we were able to include the two indoor festivals “Time-Warp” and “Mayday” in our tour schedule, those are absolute highlights for me.
8. Matching the tour you will release a new mix compilation titled “DISCOVER”, specially created to accompany the “DISCOVER” tour. What can the listener expect from this compilation?
The focus of this compilation certainly is on the music accompanying me on this tour. Having released several mix CD’s over the past years has helped me in creating this new compilation, as I have learned from the previous releases and was able to include this experiences in the process of making these new mixes. Kontor is the perfect match in releasing this compilation, and I’m proud to be able to work with such a well-known label.
For the past weeks I did my homework and wrote down a lot of thoughts and also put loads of tracks onto my wish-list. We could have filled 5 CD’s with all the tracks I had asked for, but when creating the mix I had to choose carefully, and it was not easy. But I am very happy with the finished product. The compilation is spot on and gives a perfect insight into my current style at the decks and my opinion about the “Electronic Music” at this time.
9. Do you already have one or two favourite tunes from which you know that they will have a long lasting impression on the compilation and on the tour?
Every track that I play in my sets is a favourite, otherwise I wouldn’t play it. But for me tracks are only a tool. Sounds a little disrespectful, but that’s not the case, because I value each track in my case. The important thing is the outcome of it all, and that is the long mix, period! It’s all about the mix, choosing the right tracks at the right time to be spot on, and that is the challenge with each new show, it is always different. It doesn’t matter if a tracks style doesn’t fit in 100%, it’s the whole mix that has to work.
Although I am mainly describing the art of creating a mix here I think it is important to include this in the answer to the question. It is like the tour and its various stops around the world, all the small pieces of the puzzle come together in the end for the whole. I don’t exclude any piece of sound or short tracks, I focus on picking the right pieces and always challenge myself to create the perfect mix, at every show. The people coming to the shows deserve it.
10. Will we hear some new material from you on the tour?
Yes, of course. I’ve been in the studio for a while now and busy with some new tunes. I will play those on the “DISCOVER” tour first, before presenting them on the festivals.
Surely I will use the opportunity to test some sounds live and then polish them in the studio afterwards. The people coming to the “DISCOVER” tour will have the chance to be a part of the creative process by showing me their feedback to the sounds. I’m very much looking forward to this and I also hope I can use this for my next album.
11. What do you expect from the people coming to your shows?
There is some desire hidden in the word expect. I will be very happy when the people are in a good mood and eager to party and full of joy when they come to the clubs or to the festivals. And to be honest, to be with me for two or more hours is more than I can really ask someone for.
But fun aside, I am looking forward to everybody coming to the shows, and I love giving my best so that they will have a good time.
12. You will be travelling around the world non-stop for 4 months, partying and creating a good time for everybody, which surely will be very exhausting. How do you motivate yourself when you know that you got such exhausting days ahead of you?
That is easy to answer, as it has always been the same. It is a dream I had since I was a kid that has come true now.
You know, some kids dream of becoming a pilot or a doctor or a football player. I always dreamed of becoming a DJ, so I worked hard for countless days and nights to improve myself and to be able to live my dream. To be at the decks is a passion for me.
Furthermore the last minutes before a show are total nerve-wracking and I’m somewhere between a heart failure and pure euphoria.
It’s a kick for me, an addiction I never want to give up on. This is an uncontrollable motivation, a sort of inside sunrise after a long night that keeps me going.
Dancefield.
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Felix Kröcher
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