The name of your label “Fckng Serious” is a quote from Joker and you’re known to perform with a harlequin mask, can you tell us about your fascination for the dark side of this character.

Yes that’s right, that’s a quote from the movie Joker. However, this is not the direct reason why our label is called like this. There was an “intermediate step”. When I made a song (R U Fckng Serious) with my friend and current label colleague Deniz, we were looking for a vocal. And decided on this text. At the same time we were looking for a name for my new label, and since we thought it was so cool we just adopted it. And yeah, I think the Joker is cool, but that’s not the reason for the mask either. I used to have others. But after a few years I came across this one and I like it the best. Then just the one came to the other and now I’m just the Joker haha. So many coincidences that have led to a great result.

You’ve described yourself as “a producer who also DJs”, what are you most passionate about in the music production process especially for other artists?

I’m a quieter person in private and don’t really like being the center of attention. That’s why my biggest passion is producing music. Of course I also like to travel and play gigs where I “present” my music to the fans but I am happiest when I can be in the studio for myself and make music. This is my favorite activity and I could spend the whole day doing it. I think it’s because I’m a “tinkerer”. I like to spend hours looking for the right kick/sound and tweak it until I like it 100%. It’s really nerdy, but it’s just „my thing.“

The single “Take a ride” ft Ginger, released in July along with the exquisite music video, seems wrapped in a spirit of redemption…is it this song your personal celebration of returning to music after a complex period?

Yes, you could look at it that way. From a purely musical point of view, the song definitely has a spirit of “break free” and “detached.” That’s exactly how the music video turned out, of course. And in addition the song came out now also exactly in the right moment. Since I always process things with my music, this was certainly an unconscious way to react to this situation.

It goes without saying that you and Ginger have good artistic chemistry and since you’re long terms collaborators and partners in real life we would be curious to know more about your way of working together.

Since we have been a couple for so long, it is of course a lot of fun for me to share my passion with her. And she also has fun contributing to it. Sometimes we have little studio sessions where we brainstorm and then record several vocals so I can use them when I need something – but sometimes I approach her specifically when I realize “for this one particular part, I need her female voice now with such lyrics.” And that works well. It’s fun for us that we then share something special.

The EP “Matrix” was unexpected, can you tell us more about this project? Was it inspired by eponymous cult film or have you made your own reflection on technology?