ALADAG is both a dreamer and a doer. Known for his past work as a director, writer, and producer in the film industry, music has always remained his true passion.
Photo credit: ALADAG – Instagram
Starting out as a DJ at 13 and a producer at 14, ALADAG’s musical path has included collaborations on several German Gold and Platinum records. His work is shaped by a blend of influences—rooted in his Turkish heritage, Stuttgart’s Hip-Hop scene, and the pulse of Berlin’s Techno clubs. His debut on Diynamic, ‘Picture: Aladag’, set the tone for his multifaceted approach, which has since evolved through releases like ‘Transistor’ EP and ‘Surreality’ EP.
Now, ALADAG takes the next step with the launch of his new label MMAATTCCHH, signaling a deeper commitment to his vision.
In this conversation, ALADAG opens up about his new single ‘Ease Your Mind’, the inspiration behind MMAATTCCHH, and how music continues to guide his creative journey.
EG: Hi, Baris! Welcome to EG. It’s a pleasure to have you here with us. How have you been doing? What are the first days of the new year looking like to you?
ALADAG: Thank you so much for having me. I’m doing really well. The first days of the year feel very focused and inspiring for me. I’m spending a lot of time in the studio, working on new music and diving deeper into sounds and ideas that have been living in my head for quite a while.
EG: First of all, congratulations on the release of your new single, ‘Ease Your Mind’. How are you feeling about this one? What has the initial reception been like so far?
ALADAG: I received so much positive feedback. I’ve heard from many DJs I’m friends with, but also from so many DJs I don’t even know personally and deeply admire, that they’re playing the track. It’s being played in a lot of sets, landed in several playlists and Beatport charts, and it’s even getting radio support. So all in all, I’m super happy with this release.
EG: So, what can listeners expect to find on ‘Ease Your Mind’, musically speaking? Is there an emotional trigger or concept driving this cut?
ALADAG: Musically, it’s an electro and indie-inspired track driven by a heavy bass drum and a rather straight, forward-moving energy. There’s an eighties-inspired vocal that I recorded myself, which adds a nostalgic layer. ‘Ease Your Mind’ is meant to feel almost meditative. The idea behind the track is to inspire people to switch off the outside world for a moment and turn inward, to connect with that inner space where we often feel most at ease, even if it’s only for a short while. It’s about creating a moment of calm and connection within movement and energy.
EG: And ‘Ease Your Mind’ actually signals the maiden release of your brand new imprint, MMAATTCCHH. Once again, congratulations! You must be very excited about this. Why did you decide to present this particular track as the first release?
ALADAG: Yes, it’s honestly very exciting that this is now the first release on MMAATTCCHH. A few months ago, we already started with the MMAATTCCHH event series in Berlin, doing monthly events, and releasing the first track on the label now really completes that story.
‘Ease Your Mind’ felt like the most natural choice for the first release, because it was one of the very first tracks I made when I started this project. It came out during that early studio phase, alongside tracks like ‘My Religion’, ‘Use Me’, ‘Levent’ and ‘Go’, which were later released on Solomun’s label Diynamic as the ‘Picture’ EP. This track really captured the initial energy that pushed me to finally start my own project after many years of working as a writer and producer for other musicians and directing films.
“In a world where content can be created at the push of a button, genuine human connection and shared experiences may actually gain even more value”
EG: How did MMAATTCCHH come to be? What’s the concept for the label? What drove you to launch your own imprint, and what has the learning process been like?
ALADAG: Having my own label has actually been my dream since I was 13. I used to sit in school, drawing imaginary vinyl labels on the desks and coming up with names, like Inline Records back then. I always wanted to curate and release the kind of music I personally love and give it a proper context. But honestly, for a long time, I didn’t quite dare to take that final step.
In the end, it was Solomun who really encouraged me to do it. He told me I had too many tracks that were simply too good not to be released, and that he couldn’t put out as much music on Diynamic as I was producing. He pushed me to follow my own path and start my own label, even if it wouldn’t be easy, but that it would be worth it.
Even after his advice, I hesitated for almost another year before finally taking the step at the end of last year. Now it truly feels like a big and overdue move. I feel more inspired and motivated than ever, but also a strong sense of responsibility to release great music that connects with people, has lasting relevance, and maybe even creates a few timeless records along the way. And for all of that, I’m deeply grateful to Solomun, because without his encouragement, I’m not sure this would have happened the way it did.
EG: What can you tell us about the visual feel of the brand? What can we expect from MMAATTCCHH in the coming months?
ALADAG: I took a lot of time to develop the visual world of the brand. Coming from a background as a director and creative director in music, film and advertising, I naturally tend to think very conceptually. But after many considerations, I realized that a fixed visual concept would be counterproductive and wouldn’t really reflect the nature of the music, because every track tells its own story and has its own energy.
So instead, I decided to create a constantly evolving visual identity, shaped by small, almost miniature artworks. For me, it’s much more about an artistic feeling than a fixed design system, leaving space for intuition, playfulness and change.
EG: MMAATTCCHH, as a label, coexists in a much broader universe, which also includes the Berlin-based event series. Is there a next event in the works already? Is there anything you can anticipate on that front?
ALADAG: There’s the monthly event series in Berlin, where we’ve already hosted guests like Kollektiv Turmstrasse, SKALA, GHEIST, Hedda Sternberg and Avangart Tabldot. Alongside that, there’s the podcast MMAATTCCHH TALKS, where I invite artists from the electronic music scene. So far, we’ve had guests such as Ruede Hagelstein, Kollektiv Turmstrasse, SKALA and Sasse.
The next event is, of course, already in the works. The lineup is once again very special, but for now, it hasn’t been announced yet. We’ll be sharing more details soon.
Beyond that, MMAATTCCHH is constantly evolving. We’re also building a small booking arm, with myself as the first artist on the roster, which feels like a very natural next step, especially in connection with the events and the label.
MMAATTCCHH also includes a nightlife fashion line and a production arm. Last year, we produced Solomun’s big Las Vegas Sphere show, where I acted as creative director. Altogether, the MMAATTCCHH universe revolves around music, especially electronic music, combined with strong visual storytelling and art.
At the moment, we’re also working on a complete visual re-conception of our radio show, which is turning into something really exciting. We’ll be sharing more on that very soon.
EG: Now, given your expertise, what are some of the biggest challenges artists will face in the near future? Is there any piece of advice you have for your colleagues in that sense?
ALADAG: If we’re talking about AI and all the rapid developments around it, I actually see it like most technological shifts. I would encourage artists to engage with it as a tool, to explore how it can support their creativity and inspire them, rather than getting caught up in the hysteria that AI will take over everything and replace human expression. I personally don’t believe in that narrative.
People come together because there is something deeply human about sharing a space, a moment, a collective energy. There’s a kind of ritual and ceremony in it.
That’s why I believe events and live experiences will always exist. In fact, I think live music and real human interaction might become even more important in the coming years, precisely because they represent the strongest contrast to AI-generated content. In a world where content can be created at the push of a button, genuine human connection and shared experiences may actually gain even more value.
“I feel more inspired and motivated than ever, but also a strong sense of responsibility to release great music that connects with people, has lasting relevance, and maybe even creates a few timeless records along the way”
EG: What’s next for ALADAG? What milestones are you looking forward to now? Where can your fans catch you next?
ALADAG: There are several releases in the pipeline at the moment. I can’t officially speak about most of them yet, but there are upcoming projects with different labels and a number of collaborations with other artists. One track I can already mention is a collaboration with SKALA. We worked on a track featuring German vocals, with both of us singing on it.
Overall, a lot of new music is currently in progress. It feels really good to be in this constant process of learning and growing. I have the sense that I’m getting a little better every day at expressing myself emotionally through music, and that’s a very beautiful journey I’m deeply enjoying right now.
The next chance to catch me live will be at the next MMAATTCCHH Series 05 in Berlin on February 26. The main act hasn’t been announced yet, but it’s going to be a very special night.
EG: Thank you so much for your time, Baris! We wish you all the best in the future. Take care!
ALADAG: Thank you so much for having me. It was a pleasure.
ALADAG’s ‘Ease Your Mind’ is out now on MMAATTCCHH. Stream and download here.
Follow ALADAG: Spotify | Soundcloud | Instagram
