Steffen Baumann

For most DJs their records mean the world to them. This is all good. But it goes without saying that those who never look beyond the rim of their own tea cup think the earth is a porcelain disc. Obviously, this is a mistake: Today's typical DJ steals the Kraftwerk record from his older brother at the age of 16 thinking he has found the Holy Grail, limits his world to Detroit, Chicago, New York, and Berlin in the years that follow, gradually organizes equipment and records and never looks beyond the rim of his own tea cup. Unfortunately, he lacks the insight of contexts and, above all, profitable factors that impact one's skills and own horizon.

Steffen Baumann's biography reads differently: His first contact with electronic music was a Kraftwerk record, fine. But prior to his child-like enthusiasm for the album 'Mensch Maschine' at the end of the 70s he had classical musical training on the drums and guitar. When he started to work as a DJ ten years later, Hip-Hop was initially his preferred genre, which then almost logically and consequently led to the first House records just because it had a strong impact on them. Via a phase that was marked by Acid, Steffen finally ended up making pure electronic music, which is still the case today, but which did not prevent him from also playing for years in hard rock and metal bands as a teenager. Musically speaking, there is no doubt that Steffen's roots are in the Detroit Sound, but he does not suffer from the tunnel vision as dictated by the scene. A fierce adversary of categories, most of the time he plays what he likes, his only parameters being his own good taste and a fine sense for the mood of the people in a club.

Sometimes the Mannheim native has a linear 4/4 to the floor approach, then he suddenly hides the sublines, sneaks off with the hook, and comes back around the corner chilled. Pushing, thrusting, pumping, or relaxed and melodious he has the right sound track and the right touch for each time and location. Today, Steffen moves without a doubt always amidst House and Techno, but ultimately his intrinsic emphasis among the various music styles stands out in a refined way as being Tech House and Minimal Inflation and provides the perfect groove. This feel for music ultimately enables Steffen to do what he does among the legions of motivated DJs: to play at all the clubs in the region, to show his talent at major events like Time Warp and Nature One in front of large audiences, and to host two of his own weekly radio shows. On sunshine live and Ibiza Global Radio, two of the world's most important stations for electronic music, his show "Sixty Sessions," a mix of Deep House, Tech House, Minimal, and Techno airs Fridays and Sundays.

In the summer of 2010, Steffen's music received the highest accolade, which in DJ circles is like a knighthood: Steffen obtained residency at Space Ibiza, repeatedly voted the world's best club and which presented and continues to present him every week on the number 1 party island. Due to the fact, that the responisibles at Space recognize his skillz, he will also be a part of the line-up in the 2011-season, Thursdays at KEHAKUMA. Moreover, his CDs fill the airwaves in MISS SIXTY and ENERGIE stores in Germany, Austria, and Holland during opening hours. In his own recording studio he is always working on productions and remixes, many of which have already appeared on renowned labels like Session Deluxe, Hertzmusic, Amused Records, Insert Coin, and Opaque and/or wound up on popular compilations like ka:zantip 2009. And while the international attention and the air miles are steadily increasing, Steffen recalls his home base with his most recent release 'Mannheim EP" which has made its way to the playlists of renowned DJ colleagues such as Karotte and Monika Kruse.

By the way, the trained drummer still recognizes when the track is good enough and complete when he eventually starts tapping on the table...