KOMPAKT BY DAY

Simon Reynolds, the highly respected British music journalist, once claimed that the Kompakt label (based in Cologne since 1998) contributed more than any other to the domination of German dance music on the international electronic scene in the 2000s. A rare thing: now that the ‘minimal techno’ hype that popularized it has subsided, the label still enjoys an excellent reputation. This isn’t because Kompakt reinvented itself. But because in 20 years it has never changed course: its aim is still to promote bold electronic music, and not only dance music, but often psychedelic and sometimes even openly pop. Kompakt is also a team of hedonistic DJs who have mastered the art of inspiring crowds, no matter the time of day or the setting. In short, this closing day, from 12:00 to 22:00, will be an opportunity to party, dance and be happy.

Tom Demac - Live
Although he only joined Kompakt in 2018, the Welshman Tom Demac is no newcomer to the field. His first releases date from 2004, on his own label, Electronique Audio. In 2012 it’s ‘Critical Distance Pt. 2’ that thrust him onto the international stage. When describing his work, he often uses the hashtag #emotechno – tongue in cheek, of course, but quite pertinently too, in fact. If beats and bass are the driving force behind his music, Demac never hesitates to show his dreamy side in his atmospheres, nor does he hesitate to include pop elements, including the voices of the Real Lies trio on ‘White Flowers’ or experiments close to the intelligent techno of the 1990s.

Denis Stockhausen – DJ set
Since 2012, Denis Stockhausen has been the driving force behind the ‘My Dear’ parties at the Gewölbe club in Cologne, the hotspot for connoisseurs who like to have fun without taking themselves seriously. The choice of his surname says a lot: he’s no relation to Karlheinz Stockhausen, the renowned composer, but takes care during the day of the stock logistics of the Kompakt label. However, it would be a mistake to see him as the ‘buddy who can use the turntables to warm up the room’ since he’s a DJ with refined and eclectic tastes, who has already performed in the most famous European clubs: Panorama Bar, Watergate, Rex, Golden Pudel Club, etc.

Michael Mayer - DJ set
From the moment he first got behind the turntables, Michael Mayer, one of the co-founders of the Kompakt label, knew what he wanted to do: entertain the audience while subverting their tastes. On the menu of his sets: hits and surprises, new material and classics, techno, house and pop – and with a good dose of humour thrown in, even if it is dark humour. He’s been at it for years, his career having started in … 1985. A winning formula that has notably led this genuine star in his field from the Total Confusion parties in Cologne to a residence at the prestigious Nitsa in Barcelona, from the Weetamix in Geneva to the Robert Johnson in Offenbach, from the Fabric in London to the Berghain in Berlin. His key words: intuition and spontaneity.

Tobias Thomas – DJ set
An old friend of Michael Mayer and the godfather of Mayer’s first son, Tobias Thomas has been part of the Kompakt adventure from the start and is now the label’s project manager. Before that, he was a music journalist for the German magazine Spex (for which he interviewed Justin Timberlake) and, until 2013, programme director of the fun c/o pop festival in Cologne. Deejaying, which he has been practising for more than 30 years, is not only a hobby, however, since Tobias Thomas is known around the world for the sharpness of his musical selections, which focus on melodic techno, as well as for his technical skills.