Balance Selections 228: Andre Lodemann

Berlin based André Lodemann has been a DJ for more than 20 years.

In 2001 he started to produce music releasing 12-inches and remixes on Moods n Grooves, Simple Records, G-Stone, Room with a View, Z Records, Freerange, Buzzinfly, DFTD amongst others. His tunes ‘Where are you now?’ and ‘The Light’ became hugely popular with the worldwide underground DJ circuit. Other highlights include remixes for Tracey Thorn, Omar, Akabu, Phonique and Vakula to name a few. Citing his greatest influences as Masters at Work, Mateo and Matos, Kerri Chandler and François Kevorkian, Lodemann’s musical vision is to create atmosphere, arouse emotion and touch people musically.

In May 2012 Lodemann released his first album ‘FRAGMENTS’ on his own imprint Best Works Records. It is a showcase of an incredible creative output of an artist determined to create emotional music off the beaten track avoiding typical building blocks and tacky software gimmicks. The double CD album encompasses both his own work with material released on labels incl. Freerange, Room with A View and his own. As well as remixes done for different artists. Andre Lodemann feels secure in both a warm deep house feeling, as well as in a brisk techy vibe not only in his productions but also behind the decks.

After having released the EP ‘Leaving the Comfort Zone‘ on Innervisions he completed his first real full length album. A complex narrative artistic vision of modern electronic music using all possible means to create emotional sound sculptures. ‘The Deeper You Go‘ was released in 2018 on his own label Best Works Records. The album was followed by his Still Searching EP on Adriatique‘s highly rated imprint Siamese in 2021.

Balance Selection 228: André Lodemann

Tracklisting:
01. Pølaroit – Backwaters
02. Juan Yarin – Lovefool
03. Norlyz – Organ Symphony (Andre Lodemann Remix)
04. Pale Blue – Dive (Fort Romeau’s ‘Tranceadelic’ Mix)
05. Sebjak – Aguacero
06. Soul of Zoo, Guy Laliberte – Into Your Tribe (Bedouin Remix)
07. DJ Merlon & Enoo Napa – Two Zulu Men In Ibiza
08. Karol XVII & MB Valence – Echoes And The Beauty (Andre Lodemann Remix)
09. Tabia, Kgzoo – Inshonalanga
10. Anton Tumas – The Sky Was Purple (Andre Lodemann Remix)
11. Roos Denayer, Capoon – April
12. Fabian Dikof – The Black Dressed Girl & The Lost Boys
13. Bad Spirit – Run From Home (Shiffer Remix)
14. Cubicolor – Summer & Smoke
15. Idd Aziz, Djamou Sangare – Lua (Pippi Ciez Retake)

Balance Selections Q+A

Name: André Lodemann
Location: Berlin
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Alias/Producer name: Andre Lodemann
Labels affiliated with: Best Works Records, Innervisions, Siamese, Freerange

My last 3 releases:

Norlyz – Organ Symphony (Andre Lodemann Remix)

Torn Sail – Sacred of my Heart feat. E.R. Thorpe (Andre Lodemann remix)

Mop Mop – Black Ivory (Andre Lodemann Remix)

What music did you listen to as a child?

In the 70’s/80’s I grew up in Schwedt, a little town in the former German Democratic Republic. There were 2 ways to receive music. The one “shopping center” with a record section at the time. You could buy only records released on the East-German record label Amiga. Amiga primarily released music by East-German artists and bands. Now and then they licensed popular international Rock, Soul and Jazz.

Unfortunately, these records were secretly sold under the counter before just a handful were available at the store. The better way to consume music, were West-German radio stations like RIAS and SFB. I remember my father listening to radio shows for hours almost every night to record the music he loved on tape. It was also mainly about popular music of that time but with a wider range than in the record store. My parents weren’t musicians but both had a great musical understanding and were open to all kinds of music. Due to recording sessions with varying success those tapes didn’t have a structure, instead they were of wildly mixed in genres. So a track by Jean Michel Jarre could be followed by Nana Mouskouri or Pink Floyd. The Tapes were played daily. I still have them in my basement.

When was the first time that you realised that you liked electronic music?

One night my father recorded the extended version of Donna Summer – I Feel Love. He was quite annoyed by himself fading out the recording after 8 minutes because he didn’t want to record the radio host. So he missed half of the track. We both were flashed by the production and were constantly rewinding the track at least 10-15 times. From that point on I unconsciously was more and more interested in extended 12” versions of pop music like New Order, Depeche Mode or Ann Clark, which had a more electronic feel.

When was the first time you saw a DJ in a club?

My first clubbing experience was an illegal party at a former machine hall in Frankfurt (Oder). I still have pictures of a half-naked crowd dancing to acid techno in my mind. The atmosphere was so intense and so different to the “normal” club nights that I was used to. DJ Gerard was on the decks. In my memory he was the first DJ who played electronic music at that time in Frankfurt (Oder) and he was really good. I had never seen a DJ mixing records this way and it blew my mind.

Which producers/artists/acts inspire you?

One of my all time favourite producers of electronic music is Axel Boman. First time I perceived his music was his ‘Holy Love’ EP on Pampa Records in 2010. Ever since I follow his work. He constantly delivered outstanding productions with a very unique sense of dramaturgical composition. I love his magnetic vibe moving between lazy and psychedelic parts.

But, there are so many other artists in the electronic scene that inspire me like DJ Koze, Mano Le Tough, Robag Wruhme, and the Keinemusik crew, just to name a few.

I don’t really want to start talking about Jazz cause I would never end, but of course artists like Eberhard Weber, Herbie Hancock, Weather Report have a huge impact on my musical education. Not to forget quite a lot of artist and bands I grew up with like New Order, Cure, Depeche Mode, Talk Talk, Massive Attack, Tangerine Dream, Jean Michel Jarre, Brian Eno, etc.

What was the last album that you downloaded/bought?

Cubicolor – Sometime Not Now

I follow Cubicolor for many years now and usually I love their output. This album is no exception. I like the way they create a special atmosphere combining textures, synths and a remarkable voice. For me they are definitely the standout act on Anjunadeep.

What is your current production and DJ set up like?

In the studio I mainly work software based. With a modern pc nowadays everything works flawless and stable. There are almost no limits. Software developers like U-he, Arturia, Native Instruments or Waves did a great job over the last years. The most important advantage of using software synths is the option to edit automation curves particularly when you have complex arrangements with a lot of channels that permanently evolve.

In Clubs nowadays I play with USB on CDJ’s. A few years ago I was one of those vinyl only guys. I started DJ’ing in the early 90’s. To learn mixing on turntables was a challenge. I was proud to be able to beatmatch records with high precision despite the imperfection of the decks. When CDJ’s came up I was probably afraid of that a trade would get lost. But at the end playing digital brings some significant benefits. First of all I can play a lot of unreleased music. Also it gives me the chance to play edits and creating loops. And travelling is so much more convenient. The switch wasn’t really easy for me though.

As I am a visual guy I used to look for covers instead of artist names when browsing my record case. That’s why I first played CD’s and printed covers. After a while I realised that it was a waste of time and switched to USB. Of course I still love vinyl. It’s still exciting if I hold a new record in my hands especially with a nice artwork.

What releases do you have on the horizon?

This year was all about remixing. Fabian Dikof and I recreated tracks by the British band Torn Sail. This remix EP is already out on my label Best Works Records as well as my remix of ‘Organ Symphony’ by the Band Norlyz, which I also put in the mix. Not to forget the ‘Black Ivory‘ remix I did for the jazzy artist MopMop on Best Friends.

Currently in the pipeline:

Bebetta, HRRSN – Lonely Planet Boy on Eating People
Karol XVII & MB Valence – Echoes And The Beauty on Get Physical
Fennce & Wolf, Vallant – Radiate on Incroyable Music
Meute – Raw on Best Friends

Where can we hear you perform?

Due to COVID and family reasons I was mainly in the studio during the last 2 years. Shows are slowly coming back. I don’t have a fix residency but I play quite regularly in Berlin.

Tell us more about the podcast you made for Balance?

I mixed this podcast in Ableton Live in my studio. It took me about a day to make it. Track selection always takes longest. I wanted to create a deep percussive hypnotic journey with a kind of meditative aspects which allows me to lose myself within the music.

My Recommendations

The top track in my DJ wallet currently is:

Axel Boman – Radionova (Essential Mix)