Gerd Janson is the latest German born DJ who has captured the hearts of Australian dance music lovers, largely owing to his unique perspective on the house and disco genres plus spiffy get up.

Having cut his teeth in German cities such as Mannheim, Darmstadt and Frankfurt, Janson provides a breath of fresh air into an otherwise cluttered musical stratosphere.

His exquisite taste in disco cuts, as well as his notably dapper fashion sense, are the envy of DJ’s around the world. The Running Back label boss has captured our attention in recent times with some epic live performances as well as hot remixes that are worth getting excited about… in short here are 5 moments that made us love Gerd Janson.

Gerd Janson Boiler Room x Sugar Mountain 2018 DJ Set

How does the saying go, ‘save the best til’ last?’…well how about we save the best til’ first? This Boiler Room set, recorded at Melbourne’s Sugar Mountain Festival in 2018 is by far and away one of the grooviest, vibe inducing disco sets of the year. Featuring heart melters such as KiNK’s, ‘Perth’ and Krystal Klear’s, ‘Neutron Dance’, this set goes from strength to strength the more it is revisited and look at how much the crowd dig it!

KiNK B2B Gerd Janson – Live at The Peacock Society 2018

Having perused Janson’s Boiler Room set, you’d be forgiven for thinking the German DJ is defined solely by house and disco. However, at France’s, The Peacock Society in 2018, Janson went B2B with KiNK for an infamous live set that blended elements of harder, industrial techno with more melodic house moments.

Gerd Janson – Live at Pitch Music & Arts Festival 2017

When we speak of memorable festival sets in Australia, Janson’s performance at Pitch Music & Arts Festival 2017 immediately springs to mind. From the moment this recording starts, you get the sense that Janson is a man on a mission. Driving house, percussive disco and most of all…purpose. You can easily tell Janson’s aim is to blow the socks off all those who occupied the dance-floor on that day. Most notably, this set is capped off with a special Ashley Beedle remix of The Streets, ‘Weak Become Heroes’, which no doubt sent the festival into meltdown.

Special Request – Brainstorm (Gerd Janson & Shan House Mix)

Remixing tracks, particularly those from producers such as Paul Woolford (aka Special Request) is no mean feat, but Gerd Janson seems to nail this. The German has taken a dark, broken beat track and given it a percussive, house twist.

Keinemusik (Rampa, Adam Port, &ME) – Lover feat. Jennifer Touch (Gerd Janson Remix)

Janson’s stellar remix for the Keinemusik crew of Rampa, Adam Port and &ME is an ode to the 80’s and a reminder of his roots as an up-and-coming DJ. This remix has a dreamy, nostalgic edge that becomes infectious the more it is consumed.

Honourable mentions;

Westworld – The Slam (Gerd Janson Edit)

Mount Kimbie – Four Years and One Day (Gerd Janson Remix)

Jamiroquai – Summer Girl (Gerd Janson Remix)

Catch the enigmatic DJ at Novel’s newest event, Smalltown at B3 with DJ Koze, Charlotte De Witte and Gerd Janson hosted at the Etihad Stadium carpark in Melbourne’s CBD on September 27th, 2018. Grab your tickets here.

Those in Sydney can catch Gerd alongside Koze and Charlotte at Greenwood on the 29th of September, get your tickets here.

Words by Josh Pavlou