Hailing from Bonn, Germany – Jonathan Kaspar is an integral part of the scene in Cologne. He is a resident at the city’s renowned Gewölbe club, and also one of the current main figures at the legendary Kompakt label.
Kaspar loves to play extra-long DJ sets building up a journey together with the crowd, where he also regularly invites national and international guests to play extended nights alongside him.
Whilst Kaspar is constantly reinventing himself, he continues to do what he loves the most – being a DJ and producer!
Balance Selections 172: Jonathan Kaspar
Tracklisting:
I dont want to focus on the single tracks, so please enjoy the mix as in one part.
Balance Selections Q+A
Name: Jonathan Kaspar
Location: Cologne / Germany
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Alias/Producer name: Jonathan Kaspar
Labels affiliated with: Kompakt, I These Eyes
My last 3 releases:
Jonathan Kaspar – Muster EP / Kompakt
Jonathan Kaspar – Tia EP / ouïe
Jonathan Kaspar – CHI EP / VOD
What music did you listen to as a child?
One of my earliest musical memories is that I fell in love with Roxette. I remember that I listened to their early albums every day and even sang along – would be interesting to hear my words from back then again today!
When was the first time that you realised that you liked electronic music?
It was the first electronic party that I visited when I was 17 – I was immediately fascinated by the music and its character, the groove and the hypnotising loops which can take you on a non-comparable trip.
When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?
At the aforementioned party, it was Phunktjan who years later became one of my best friends and also the guy who let me play for the first time in a club. I remember that I was fascinated by his mixing skills and the way he worked with vinyl, I loved it just to watch and hear him work.
Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?
I am listening to music every day, different genres, but mostly electronic music can be anything from ambient to club sets. I find my inspiration in everything that surrounds me, my friends and family, nature or during watching TV series and movies with good soundtracks and soundscapes.
What was the last album that you downloaded/bought?
I prefer Bandcamp to buy music, my last buy was the fantastic Second Nature EP by Joakim:
What is your current production and DJ set up like?
DAW is Ableton, I prefer a good mix of analog machines and plug-ins, my choice for drums would be the Vermona DRM and treat the drums with plug ins of Soundtoys. For bass lines I love the Moog Sub37, for leads or pads the Repro of u-he – In general I love to just play around with different delays, to let coincidences happen.
In my DJ set up I prefer Rotary mixers, especially for my long sets, as I love all night long sets. I just feel you can mix more precise with them – accompanied by three Pioneer CDJs.
What releases do you have on the horizon?
I am very looking forward to my debut EP with Cocoon – It will be out 9th of July: Three different tracks, each one is very special to me and the feedback is already great, what is nice to hear as I did not have many chances to road test the first versions of the tracks for obvious reasons.
Beside the Cocoon EP I have two special remixes coming up later this year and another EP – I’m happy that finally some of the music I made during the pandemic will be released and that this music somehow will hopefully mark a beginning to a new normal life.
Where can we hear you perform?
I am resident of Gewölbe / Cologne: I am having my own beloved nights monthly and I love the club – It’s a perfect place, built around the DJ somehow, with an amazing Martion Speakers, super nice staff and team and very cool crowd. The best description I heard around for Gewölbe was, that it is a “music-listening-club” – On point!
I also have to mention my shows during ADE this year, to which I am very looking forward: Friday I play the already sold out IPSO Event with Sven Väth, Kölsch, KiNK, Jimi Jules and more and Saturday we have our Kompakt Night at De Marktkantine with a brilliant line up!
Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?
I kept my daily routine of digging for new music and checking promos, or music I receive from friends so when I find new music I like I put them aside when I know there is a new podcast to be mixed soon. You can expect a proper 2 hours ride with very new and unreleased music, a sneak peek to my upcoming Cocoon EP, upcoming music from my home label Kompakt and a recently rediscovered classic.
I recommend to listen the mix in one take, on a way to a beloved destination, at the beach or during an extended walk through nature.
My Recommendations
The top track in my DJ wallet currently is:
Michael Mayer – Alpha
If I could recommend only one of my tracks for you to listen to it would be:
Jonathan Kaspar – Villose
If I could recommend only one track for you to listen to it would be:
My alltime fave: Sucker DJ’s – Lotta Lovin’ (Paradise Soul Mix)
The last movie I watched that I really liked:
Tenet, crazy soundtrack but still try to get the movie to 100%.
My favourite TV show:
Sopranos forever…
