I must admit: I have a sweet spot for Smallville Records, so whenever Julius sends me a new release to give it a listen, I just know it’s good. Good as in rolling that Hamburg deep house vibe no matter who’s behind the record.
This applies to Axel Fischer aka El Kazed debut EP for Smallville Records: the 2-chapters SXB Deep Tales, to be released in May 2026. Anchored deep into the 90s deep house scene, going way beyond the unjustified borders between sounds and subgenres, spatial enough to recognise the contemporary influences.
Part of the Ordinaire Records collective and an active DJ in the heart of Strasbourg clubscene, El Kazed is also an avid digger, so we invited him to reveal his Vinyl Alter Ego with a few well pointed questions 🤗
A second hand dig I’m most proud of
Dionne – Come Get My Lovin
No words needed. One of the first early garage house record I digged in a little parisian record shop.
The record I’d love to see it repressed
Playing For The City – Easy House (Liquid Mix)
Everything by Playin’ 4 The City (Olivier Portal), who passed away last year. To continue to expand his music everywhere. Easy House is a true masterpiece
The label I’d buy all their releases without even listening to them
Guidance Records, easily my fav label. This is a big producing inspiration for me, I truly love a lot of artists who released on Guidance through the years, Kevin Yost, Iz & Diz, Free Energy, etc. That’s the first label who come to my mind when you ask me about Deep House
The record artwork that blows my mind every time I look at it
Verb T & Illinformed – Rotten Luck
Love this artwork, really nice aerial vibe
The record that triggers childhood memories
MC Solaar feat. Les Sages poetes De La Rue – Le Free Style D’Obsolete
I got introduced into music by my older brother, by his old school french hiphop selection. And MC Solaar is the one!
The record shop I would spend my whole savings in
Humpty Records Sarrebrucken. I have never had the opportunity to discover Japan, but I am almost certain that I would answer any record store in Tokyo if I had been able to ever visit that city.
One record from my early DJ career that I still play today
Nail – Lemon Gus
I would say Nail – Lemon Gus. One of the first Deep House record i bought, but I always feel the same energy than day one!
The record that never leaves my DJ bag
Fly Away (16B Remix)
I would definitely say this Omid 16B remix. I’m a big fan and inspired by Omid Nourizadeh music, this one’s a peak time killer. I definitely play it almost in every sets, eyes closed!
Last record I checked its price on discogs
Heard this one in a set few days ago, felt in love with it, got an instant buy! haha
Last record I bought for my home listening pleasure
Jazz N Palms – Mar
Perfect to begin a sunday morning on a good mood
The record closest to my heart from my entire collection
Fresh And Low – New Life
Complicated haha, there are so much ones, difficult to choose one, but I will say this classic “New Life” by Fresh & Low. This record was maybe the first one I bought. I bought the 2011 repress in a recordshop, and just felt in love with the deepness of this track
A now defunct record label from which you luckily own a few records
Shade Of Soul – Our Music
I would say Straight Up Recordings, owned by Betino Errera and Olivier Portal from Paris, related to Betino’s Record Shop. All the releases are pure deep house gold, true inspiration too for my musical production. Lot of great french producers released on it, like Franck Roger or DJ Deep
The record that perfectly captures the Detroit vibe
Hi-Tech Jazz
I think directly to Underground Resistance, Los Hermanos, and of course of this Hi Tech jazz track from Galaxy 2 Galaxy.
The non dancefloor record that proved to be perfect for clubs, also!
Altay Veloso – Débora – Sedução
MPB masterpiece, perfect for closing the party on a sunny touch