Johannes Schuster’s journey into the world of electronic music began at the young age of 15 in his hometown of Cologne, Germany. His fascination with vinyl records ignited a passion that would shape his artistic identity for years to come. As a resident DJ for Germany’s iconic techno brand ‘Unreal’, Schuster honed his craft, cultivating a sound that seamlessly blends dark, industrial tunes with bright, emotional pads, ravey acid lines, and old-school grooves.
For Schuster, music is more than just a form of expression; it’s a deeply personal journey that reflects the highs and lows of the human experience. His sets are celebrated for their dynamic range, inviting listeners on a journey transcending mere entertainment, delving into the essence of rave culture and human emotion. With each track carefully selected and expertly mixed, Schuster’s performances resonate with audiences profoundly, leaving an indelible impression wherever he plays.
Released in his hometown of Cologne, Johannes Schuster’s debut Boiler Room set is a testament to his mastery of the craft. Recorded with precision and finesse, the set masterfully fuses acid, hard techno, hard groove, and trance, offering an unforgettable journey into the depths of electronic music. With several of his own unreleased tracks woven into the mix, Schuster’s performance is a bold statement of artistic vision, pushing boundaries and challenging conventions within the electronic music scene.
In this exclusive interview, Johannes Schuster shares insights into creating his Boiler Room set and his approach to music. Dive deeper into his creative process and discover the inspiration behind his performance.
EG: Hi Johannes, welcome to EG. Your Boiler Room fuses a mix of acid, hard techno, hard groove, and trance, showcasing your diverse musical palette. Can you tell us more about how you curated this eclectic blend of genres for your performance?
Johannes Schuster: Thanks for the invite. My idea was to present my own sound in my Boiler Room. I needed to show people that techno is not always black and white. In my interpretation, techno is much more a colorful mixture of different emotions and styles. I tried to express this in my Boiler Room set by mixing different sub-genres together.
EG: You mentioned including various unreleased new tracks in your Boiler Room set. What inspired you to debut these tracks on such a renowned platform, and what do you hope listeners take away from experiencing these unreleased pieces?
Johannes Schuster: By including my own unreleased tracks in the set, I wanted to give the set my personal touch and do something new and non-replicable that would surprise the audience. So, the Boiler Room set was the perfect opportunity to play my own tracks and draw attention to them.
EG: The combination of styles suggests a dynamic and energetic set. How do you balance maintaining energy throughout your performance while allowing space for each genre’s subtleties and nuances to shine?
Johannes Schuster: That requires a lot of preparation. You have to think carefully about the tracks you want to play, and I often recut the tracks so that the tracks from the different genres can be combined with each other. In addition, the timing of cuts or the right equalizations is very important for a seamless mix between the different musical genres. In terms of the set structure, of course, you have to make sure that you increase the intensity of the tracks, so I start a little slower and become more energetic at the end.
EG: Boiler Room sets often provide artists with unique opportunities to connect with worldwide audiences. How do you envision your set resonating with listeners, both those tuning in live and those discovering it after the fact?
Johannes Schuster: That’s a good question. I received many nice messages after the recording of the set, so I am pretty excited about how it turned out in the video. Of course, I hope that the set will also go down well with the audience at home. I think the special thing about the Boiler Room is that the video recording allows you to look over the shoulder of the DJ, and it’s interesting for the audience to understand what a DJ actually does and what’s technically behind it. That’s definitely cool and an advantage of video recordings.
EG: Your diverse musical background and influences are evident in your Boiler Room set. Can you share any specific tracks or moments from your performance that you feel particularly encapsulate your artistic style and vision?
Johannes Schuster: I think the fifth track of my Boiler Room is a very good example of what I try to express as a producer at the moment. This track has different parts, including a distorted acid line, a heavy subby bassline, and self-made vocals to keep the track a bit mysteric. I finished this track two weeks before the recording, and it was one of the first times I played it, and the feedback from the crowd was amazing.
We invite you to watch Johannes Schuster’s Boiler Room set.
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