In an ocean of minimalistic grooves, fabricated into the rigid underworlds of Germany’s techno scene, one might capture from time to time ripples of melodic waves, meant to touch the very heart of your electronic heart. Monkey Safari are falling into this category and they’re very good at it.
From their first success, a remix for Marc Houle at Richie Hawtin’s Minus label to their very own imprint, Hommage, the two brothers are set on a mission to bring smile on the dance floors. They do it all over Europe, from Time Warp to the less known festivals, like they did it at Dava Festival, Sighișoara, in September 2018.
We sat down and talk with them, curious about where their creativity is drawing energy from. Enjoy!
How did you, guys, meet and how did you start collaborating?
We are brothers so we know each other all along. We started DJ’ing separated around 17 years ago. Sven with electronic music and UK Big Beat and I was more into Hip Hop and black music. 10 years ago we decided to play more and more together and to restart this little project called Monkey Safari.
Is there a juicy story behind your name?
No, unfortunately not. It’s just a name.
From your debut album 6 years ago to Oddysey, your sound suffered a lot of transformations, revealing a more darker version of Monky Safari, with the melodic groove of progressive house yet maintaining your techy signature sound. What factors did influence you into this transformation?
There are a lot of things which have influenced us over the years. Playing club shows and festivals all around the world, new music from artists we like, and also a personal development has influenced our sound over the years. This is an forthcoming process that hopefully never ends. It makes the thing much more interesting.
In this ocean of minimal house & techno, is it still room for melodic driven electronic music on the European dance floors?
In our opinion definitely yes. We started this project during a time where Nu Rave and French House were getting their revival with artists like Justice and the whole Ed Banger crew. After that you had this big Deep House wave and the last two years were ruled by a lot of Techno artists and the whole sound was getting much harder. For the future we’re sure that the sound will get more groovy and melodic again. It’s a continuous development in the scene where different parts of electronic music have their hypes, but the preferences from listeners in electronic music changes not that much. There is definitely room for all kinds of electronic music and also for the melodic driven one.
What elements do you follow in order to release a certain artist at your label, Hommage?
It’s important for us that the relationship between us and the artist we want to release is in good condition. When we have the feeling that we think in the same way and have the same aim, then the main part is done. Everything else and how we work on a release depends on the release and the artist. Sometimes it’s also a little bit of freestyle.
How do you choose what releases should be pressed on vinyl, also?
We try to push every release on vinyl but the fact that the market is not that easy and we’re a small label, we normally decide on economic purposes.
Where does Monkey Safari feel more confortable: in the studio or on stage?
Both! Being on stage as well as being in the studio are parts we don’t wanna miss.
If you were to choose between playing in a dark sweaty underground club and a big festival stage, what would you take? Why?
Same thing. Both. The intimate feeling in a club comparing to the energy of a big festival stage are totally different situations for a set and this keeps the whole DJ thing interesting.
One record label that never leaves your DJ bag.
Kompakt
One young producer we should keep an eye on in the near future.
Avidus
This interview is fueled by BURN Energy
