Drumcomplex: “The idea with DCMX is to stay quite dark and minimalistic”

Drumcomplex aka Arnd Reichow is a techno DJ, producer, and label head of Complexed Records. Active since the late ’90s, he is one of Germany’s most dedicated techno purveyors with a body of work reaching crowds in his home country as well as beyond. Hoarding two and a half decades-worth of music experience under his belt, Arnd Reichow has been crafting his space within the techno industry, as an artist and producer and adding label owner to his accolades since 2014.

Now, the techno powerhouse is set to present his latest venture, DCMX Records. With an emphasis on his own singles, his third record label by now is set to come forth with the release of ‘Motion’, which is due out on December 10th.

We catch up with Drumcomplex to learn more about his new label DCMX, the sound behind ‘Motion’, his future endeavors, and more.

Electronic Groove: Hi Arnd! Welcome! We’re honored to have you here with us. How have you been doing? Where are you at the moment?

Drumcomplex: Hi EG, thank you very much for your invitation to an interview. I am currently in my studio in Emmerich where my family and I also live. Emmerich is a small town in Germany right on the border with the Netherlands.

Electronic Groove: Congratulations on the presentation of DCMX Records! You must be thrilled with what is your third label!

Drumcomplex: Who would have expected me to lead 3 labels? I had not planned for any of this, at all. After I founded Complexed Records in 2014 (we have now reached over 100 releases with really a lot of great artists) I wanted to get away from EPs, and instead only release singles. The focus of DCMX is completely on my own stuff and collaborations. With Dig Dis from Stuttgart, I have found a strong distributor and I am happy and grateful to launch this now.

Electronic Groove: What can your fans expect from DCMX? How is this one different from Complexed Records and KXLR8?

Drumcomplex: As I said before I will put the focus completely on me and I have decided to do only single releases. Soundwise it goes in the direction of techno raw, clearly forward, and always intended for the dancefloor. Pure pleasure, but also dubby and melancholic.

Electronic Groove: And the maiden release, ‘Motion’ is your latest single. Congratulations on that as well! How has it been received so far?

Drumcomplex: I am glad that the feedback is so strong right now. Many big players are spinning it. For me, it was important to stand out from my other stuff and to aim for new sonic aesthetics. I am very excited and very confident that it can set another milestone in my career this December with its official release.

“We stay black and white, use a silhouette of a photo of me and adapt the title and the running release number. I wanted to focus more on the music than on a colorful cover”

Electronic Groove: What is the inspiration behind ‘Motion’? Sonic-wise, how would you describe it?

Drumcomplex: It’s no secret that I work with various studios and producers which I also totally love. I focus purely on the production side itself and sketch and arrange my music. The sound refinement and mixing I always give to others, which is not really for me personally. Thus, I am free and quite fast in my way of working and do not have to sit for hours over the mixdown.

Electronic Groove: Now, back onto DCMX…What will we find on the EP cover artwork? Why did you decide to go with that particular feel? Will it mutate with every release?

Drumcomplex: I have been working for many years with Frank Sonic, who does all my graphics. We are not only business partners but also very good friends. The idea with DCMX is to stay quite dark and minimalistic. We stay black and white, use a silhouette of a photo of me and adapt the title and the running release number. I wanted to focus more on the music than on a colorful cover.

Electronic Groove: The pandemic gave most touring DJs the chance to take a step back and reconnect with other things. How did you make the most out of your time?

Drumcomplex: It was a special time for all of us. I learned a lot about myself somehow all the emotions were there. My family enjoyed this time very much because I could spend a lot of time with them and was not constantly on the road. This time has brought a lot of positive things. Among other things, I was involved in social work and supported and accompanied children and young people at a special school. This work had a very positive energetic aspect for me and there is nothing better than being human. In addition, I have been extremely much in the studio and have worked on many projects. Slowly the techno circus is rolling again and I am very happy that I can be on stage again.

Electronic Groove: It’s certainly been a long time since you first started out as Drumcomplex…What advice would you have given yourself 20 years ago if you could?

Drumcomplex: That’s a really good question, what would I have advised myself? Isn’t it crazy…where has the time gone? 20 years of Drumcomplex is already a pretty long time.

When I reflect on myself, I am basically the same person I used to be. Of course, you always have a lot of experiences, in the positive as well as in the negative sense. Many of my fellow humans always say to me that I still have my feet on the ground, even after becoming successful, and it is also extremely important to me that this is the case. I think but that also has a lot to do with one’s character, I was never someone who was lifted because of success, in any sense.

” Among other things, I was involved in social work and supported and accompanied children and young people at
a special school. This work had a very positive
energetic aspect for me and there is nothing
better than being human”

Electronic Groove: What’s next for Drumcomplex? What new milestones can your fans look forwards to in the coming months?

Drumcomplex: I am extremely grateful that I am still so successful after so many years and my calendar is really well filled. Together with my agency Cubbo we are working on tours to South America & Asia for 2022, and on various festival and club bookings. At the end of this year, I play a 2-week tour of India, which brings me to almost all the big cities there. This will be the first Christmas without my family but after we have been at home for almost 2 years it should be tolerable 🙂

Electronic Groove: Thank you for your time Arnd! We wish you all the best for the future!

Drumcomplex: Thank you for your invitation I appreciate it very much

Drumcomplex’s ‘Motion’ will be out on December 10th via his newly launched DCMX label.