Marcel Dettmann is arguably one of the most influential artists in the techno scene.

From being a mainstay at institutions like Hard Wax and the Berghain, Dettmann has continued to push his brand of innovative techno for a number of years, resulting in some of the best sets at some of the biggest festivals around the globe. On top of this, he is able to churn out his own tracks, and those of artists he has hand selected, via his personal label MDR Records. We were lucky enough to have a chat to him before his performance at smalltown in Melbourne, and his ongoing Australian tour, about the threats to dance music, what Berlin means to him, and his recent DJ Kicks compilation. Full interview below.

SR: What’s it like running your own label on MDR, compared with releasing your own tracks on other labels as well? Do you feel like you learn a lot in the sense of organising a label, or is it pretty much the same?

MD: Since 2002 I start working at Hard Wax recordstore/distribution in Berlin.  I was involved in the whole manufacturing process… and it was just a matter of time starting my own label…  it’s amazing selecting music from great artist for an release…

When it comes to releasing my own music I’m my biggest critic, no matter if it’s coming out on my own imprint or somewhere else. There’s no difference, I’m a person who is never satisfied with my own work.

SR: From someone who is from the birthplace of techno and a leader in experimental electronic music and clubs, what is your take on the recent closure of fabric in London, and of the night life scene in general across the globe?

MD: Fabric London was or is one of my favourite places to play worldwide, and it’s a shame what happens right now. But people will always find a way to good electronic music, anyhow. You can’t kill an idea, as well as you can’t tell who’s idea it was.

Every country, every city, every club is different… music brings people together, no matter what color, religion, sex or haircut, we just have a good time – together.

SR: At the time of the Berlin wall collapse you were only 12 years old – has this impacted significantly on your pursuit of music as a career, and more specifically, the production of your tracks?

MD: Sure without the collapse of the wall the world would be something else, as well as I maybe wouldn’t do music. And this strange kind of freedom we had especially in the 1990s sincerely had a big influence on me. This rough but open minded environment in the east which is still a bit different to what you see and feel in the west made me to what I am now.

SR: You’ve been with the Berghain from its very beginnings, how has the experience been watching it grow into an international club filled with people all over the world? Do you still have a sense of nostalgia with the club, or has it changed entirely for you?

MD: I have a strong relationship with the owners since 17 years now. If you’re involved, you don’t recognize changes that much. So Berghain and its predecessor Ostgut have always been my musical home, lot’s of my friends are also involved in the club, the label, the whole thing. I never look back and thinking about „the good old days“… for me it is the place to be in nightlife…

SR: You’re next up for the DJ Kicks compilation series, and I see you’ve chosen a fair few classics by Orlando Voorn and Dan Curtin, as well as the new reissue by Clarence G. What was your selection choice like in creating the mix? Did you want to achieve anything in particular?

MD: Creating a mix like this is different to a „regular“ club mix. It took way more time and effort to create , I spent a long time digging into my music collection. I just wanted to show my musical bandwidth as a DJ. i wan’t to leave something special… the mix plus these rare unreleased or forgotten techno and house tunes, music I loved back in the days till now…

SR: Is there a recent DJ Kicks that has particularly stood out to you?

MD: Yeah the Claude Young and the Carl Craig one stuck in my head. Both are amazing musicians and the mixes are outstanding.

SR: What are you expecting in your lead up to smalltown in Melbourne in a few weeks? 

MD: You never know hat happens. You prepare yourself for something you expect and then everything changes. Sometimes this is what I like. Surprises  But in the end it is about the people, not about the size of the city or the size of the club. If I feel the people, looking forward…

Have a look at the dates below to see if Dettmann is hitting your city for his Australian tour this month.

Tour Dates

Friday 11th November: Capulet, Brisbane
Saturday 12th November. smalltown, Melbourne
Saturday 12th November: Chinese Laundry, Sydney