Spotlight On: Christian Burkhardt
Christian Burkhardt is a name associated with the upper echelon of dance music producers. With a strong attention to detail, the German native is continually striving to create an authentic listening experience full of rich sounds and builds complex rhythms that empower your body and mind. Collecting 13 years of music production experience, Burkhardt thrives on continually pushing his own boundaries. His relatively new label CB Sessions and his very new live set are prime examples of his inability to be satisfied with his accomplishments. Always moving forward, Burkhardt’s masterful use of analog and groove-driven sounds have made him mainstays at some of the biggest dance events on the planet, such as Sven Väth’s wildly popular Cocoon parties. With constant rotation in clubs, radio, and podcasts, Burkhardt’s infinite creative ceiling and electric energy he creates during performances make him one of the most popular DJs and producers to date. We were thrilled to chat with him about his mind boggling studio, collaborative label and what he has up his sleeve for 2015.
We saw on your Facebook that you’ve got a new live set – what does that incorporate?
I produced 12 new tracks to jam around in my live set. Maybe I will do something with the tracks in the future but at the moment it’s 1 hour of new Burkhardt music, and of course I also play some known music in between.
How is a live set different than DJing? Is there a different approach to preparation and execution?
Playing your own music is really personal. For example, if you’re playing live on a bad soundsystem or at the wrong spot where the crowd doesn’t get your music it’s not fun at all, but if these instances occur when I’m DJing, I think “ok shit happens” and it’s not as big of a deal.
We saw pictures of your studio in Attack Magazine and it’s insane!! Tell us about 2 or 3 of your favorite pieces of music production equipment.
Yeah my favorite isn’t always the newest stuff which kicks me. At the moment my modular and the Alesis Andromeda get the most use. With the modular I can spend hours without notice… I record all the time cause you never know when something special is going to happen. The Andromeda is superfat sounding- crazy. And it has 16 analog voices!!! I just have to play a chord or a line and its makes the track.
This is the third release on your new imprint, CB Sessions. What made you decide to start your own label?
I was thinking for a long time doing a label. In the end the world doesn’t need another label but I do only releases produced in my studio together with friends- so it’s more of a concept. The good thing is I can release all my stuff without waiting and I have full creative control over the music.
Tell us a little bit about your latest release, Give Back EP. What’s the concept or theme behind the music?
To be honest, there’s no big meaning behind the title. I chose it for vocal cut saying “Give back.”
Describe the perfect setting for playing the tracks on Give Back EP.
Monster PA- Packed floor- 500-1000 people (without Britney Spears fans) about 2:30 am- let’s go…
What can we expect from you in 2015? Any big plans in store?
The next CB Sessions is coming- CBS 4, which is a collaboration with my mate Sascha Dive. Deep and atmospheric tunes for the winter time. And a really trancy release called “Tiesto” will released on a Cocoon compilation. Also I am sure I will do some music on Oslo, raum…musik, La Pena, and Deep Vibes.