Born with an innate affinity for rhythm in a small town close to Amsterdam, Pascal Benjamin was always attracted by drum patterns and grooves. His numerous releases on labels like Aku, Botanic Minds or Constant Black stand as a proof, as well as his DJ appearances around Europe.
Scala Muziek, his own imprint, became his boundless playground. Upcoming in late December 2024 as a 2nd release on Scala, Next Horizon adds that freshly squeezed lime taste on any dancefloor with its stomping grooves. Not to be missed!
There has to be something interesting driving his creative forces to producing this kind of music, so we asked Pascal to reveal a tiny part from his record collection for our beloved Vinyl Alter Ego Series. Here we go 👇
I want to start by thanking the team for letting me be part of this series. It was fun to go through the collection and have all these memories coming back.
A second hand dig I’m most proud of:
This one is very hard to nail down, but I have to highlight it—such a solid release. All four tracks are easily playable, which, as many people know, is not always the case. I remember discovering this and picturing it fitting perfectly in many opening sets to come. But it’s also great for just playing at home on a Sunday morning—it’s the little things, haha!
Ricardo Dias – Promise
The record I’d love to see it repressed:
This is a record I’d love to see repressed. I’d really like to have a copy of this release, but it’s not currently available for sale. I’m not necessarily wishing for a repress per se, but since there aren’t many copies being sold, why not? :)
The label I’d buy all their releases without even listening to them
This has to be Perlon. That label had such a huge impact on me when I first started exploring this kind of music. Every record not only features incredible artwork—an art form in its own right—but also showcases outstanding, timeless music. Each release has a unique character, far beyond just standard four-to-the-floor beats. It’s Minimal music at its finest—although, in this case, “Minimal” doesn’t quite capture it, as the label transcends such limitations.
The record artwork that blows my mind every time I look at it
Since studying graphic design myself, I’ve always been really interested in artwork. It often helps me remember music in my collection better than track titles, haha. I always pay extra attention to the artwork and can vividly recall their colors or the feelings they evoke. One artwork I’m particularly proud of is the cover for my own EP on Slapfunk, From Scratch. That EP truly embodied
what the title describes: starting fresh. I began making music when I was 13, exploring different ‘underground’ genres and techniques, both creatively and in the studio. By the time this EP came out in 2018, I was 22 and really starting to develop my own sound while learning to work with various outboard gear. The artwork holds a special place in my heart because of that journey. Every time I look at it, I notice something new—it’s truly unique piece.
Pascal Benjamin – From Scratch EP
Illustration by – Freshcore
The record that triggers childhood memories
Well, I hope this is allowed, haha, but in this case, I have to mention a mix CD. This was, and still is, my favorite CD—and was always playing in my father’s car when I grew up. Every car ride, this 3-CD set by Dutch DJs Michel de Hey, Roland Molendijk, and Erik-E was on repeat. Listening to it now brings back so many memories. My father was truly my first connection to electronic music and is basically responsible for my love of the genre. Years later, Michel de Hey ended up booking me a few times, and it was so fun to see my dad—who always came along to my gigs—talking to his idol and favorite DJ, Michel de Hey. This CD was a real starting point for it all.
The record shop I would spend my whole savings in
This has to be Killa Kutz or the recently relocated Barcelona record store Sea Wolf by DJ Senc. These stores and their owners are such amazing people that I’d gladly spend my last dimes there in exchange for incredible music.
One record from my early DJ career that I still play today holds a special place in my collection. Growing up, the only way to find records was to travel to Amsterdam. I lived in a small town nearby, so trips there were rare aldo my both parents came from Amsterdam. One day, while visiting a vintage store with my mom, I stumbled upon a box of vinyl priced at just €1 or €2 each. I could immediately tell it was full of electronic music. I ended up buying almost the entire crate and discovered some gems that I still play from time to time. I think I was around 14 when I found it. To this day, there’s one record from that crate that I play quite often—it’s become a timeless part of my sets.
The record that never leaves my DJ bag
Mo’ Funk – Pleasure Convert – This one has never even made it to my record closet—it’s always in my bag,
haha.
Last record I checked its price on discogs
That has to be this one: Darkform – Decima Nona EP. Really solid release! I would love to have a copy of my own. All the tracks
could easily be incorporated into my sets. I guess I should just buy it, haha.
One record that sounded way ahead of its time when it was released.
Pure Science Presents Sci-Phi – Be-Dup [Lunar Tunes, 1998] I’m not sure if this is even worth mentioning—or if it’s much of a surprise anymore—but let’s be honest: listening to this and realizing it was made just two years after I was born is simply mind-blowing. It’s not all that surprising, though, since this era produced some of the best music—so ahead of its time that we’re still listening to it today as if it were made yesterday. Rarely is music created nowadays that leaves such a lasting impression. This
record really connects the dots for me. It’s not just about the sounds themselves but the way the elements almost seem to follow one another—it’s brilliant. I’m so lucky to have an amazing girlfriend who actually bought us a copy to share and enjoy together. I’ll treasure it forever, and it will always be my favorite tune.
Last record I bought for my home listening pleasure
I’m always listening to various music whenever I get the chance. At home, it’s usually Jazz-hop, Chill-hop, or any kind of relaxing tunes. Recently, though, I stumbled upon a copy of Hotel California by The Eagles. I’m a huge fan of that kind of music too, so every now and then, I play the album on a Saturday morning. It’s such a fantastic record—talk about music that was ahead of its time! Released in 1976, it’s incredible how timeless it feels. I’m not even going to compare it to anything else—it just connects with me instantly. As a producer, it’s also incredibly inspiring to hear something so well-crafted and impactful.
The record closest to my heart from my entire collection
As described above, this must be Pure Science Presents Sci-Phi – Be-Dup. Although it’s hard to pick just one, the amazing thing about music—and my collection—is that every record feels close to my heart. As cheesy as it might sound, they all define my memories and hold little pieces of my history. Sometimes, they even bring back moments from the past, whether good or bad.
I’ve never sold any records, and while my collection isn’t as big as it could be, it’s filled with music that means the most to me. The records I’ve mentioned before are some of my favorites—they came to mind right away, which says it all.
