This interview is one we were really looking forward to. We met this great talent during New Years day in Berlin while he was playing in a very nice club in Berlin. He got the crowd so wild and ecstatic, all on the dance floor dancing and smiling. We caught him in House of Weekend high up on the 14th floor with an amazing view over Berlin.
We are very pleased to announce our chat with Pascale Voltaire. On top he made us a blast of a guest mix, which you can find below.
So Pascale,
How are things?
Winter’s over, Summer’s here, I have absolutely no reason to complain! 🙂
How’s Berlin these days?
Flamboyant and chaotic. Still the coolest city in the world. So… business as usual, I guess.
What do you find inspirational about where you’re living?
Living in one of Berlin’s green suburbs, I’m blessed having two sources to draw inspiration from. On the one hand the hustle and bustle of the city is a great place to find inspiration. There’s an endless array of things to see, to feel and to experience. You can meet new people on every corner and make friends on the go. It literally never gets boring in Berlin. Sometimes that can be a little too much for me… emphasis on sometimes 😀
I’m really glad to be living in a suburb. The pace is a little slower here and it’s great to be able to retreat to nature, to just sit in the yard and sip on a cold beer. The peace and calm here provides me with the energy I need to set the clubs on fire at night!
Tell us the story of how you were introduced to house music. Was there a specific moment you realized that you wanted to be on the other side of the dance party –- as the DJ?
My sister used to listen to DJ Tomcraft’s “Loneliness” a lot when I was young (I guess I was about 10 years old). I was instantly captivated by the synthesizers, the melodic elements and the electronic sounds. I didn’t stop nagging my parents until they bought me the Maxi CD, which was to become my new constant companion. In the following years I flirted with Hip Hop, Punk and even German Rap before realizing that House and Techno were my one true love. Things got very romantic. I would listen to it wherever, whenever. At shopping malls, in waiting rooms, while my friends talked to me, on the toilet and of course, on all the parties I attended. It’s a miracle I still got invited to the parties, because I would always stop whatever music was playing and put on some electronic tunes. But people actually liked it. They appointed me as the guy who’d take care of the music. It wasn’t long until I hit the first techno club. By the early age of 16 I went to Tresor and would stand by the booth for hours, watching the DJs spin records. That was when I knew I wanted to become a DJ.
You seem to do well and play in quite some Clubs in the city? What’s your favorite?
That’s a tough one. There’s so many beautiful clubs in Berlin with amazing sound systems, a loving touch for detail, nice crowds and great teams behind it. Right now I really enjoy playing at Ritter Butzke and Kosmonaut, but that can change any day 🙂
You’ve warmed the floor up for some pretty cool names already: Gardens of God, Simina Grigoriu, Oliver Schories, Tiefschwarz, and many more, … . How does it feel to be amongst that rank of talent?
It certainly is a great feeling when one of the “big” names takes over and applauds you and your set. I try not to think about it too much, though, in the end everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time. Instead of thinking about it, I rather get us some drinks and try to have a fun evening with them. Works great with some, not so good with others 😉
We’ve heard you play during NY at House of Weekend. A pretty nice set and you seems to know well how to play the audience. What’s your secret?
Thanks for the compliment! 🙂 I don’t really have a secret. Or maybe it’s so secret that even I don’t know it. My sets are all about intuition, seriously. I don’t prepare playlists and I don’t spend too much time thinking about the next track. My focus lies on getting a feeling for the crowd. I try to adjust my set to the dancefloor while staying true to my style. I’m not playing tracks that I know will work but I can’t really identify with
Are there any tracks or artists in particular that you are playing constantly these days?
There aren’t really any specific artists or tracks that I always play. But you’re very likely to often hear tracks from my favourite labels “Suara” and “Connaisseur”! 🙂
If you could go back to back with literally anyone (non-DJs included), who would it be?
The legendary goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, the true hero of my childhood. His fearless attitude always impressed me. If I had to pick a DJ, it would probably be Solomun. That man has an amazing understanding for music.
How do you keep up with the constant stream of new music being releases week after week. What’s your source for finding great tracks for your set?
It’s tough to find great tracks these days as the market is very supersaturated. In my free time I’m constantly listening to music. Mostly DJ sets, which is great to keep yourself up to date and pick out tracks that you like. I also stay informed about new releases, listen to promos from DJ colleagues and check out my friends’ favourite tracks. Thankfully my friends have a great taste of music! 🙂
What was your biggest accomplishment & best moment to date & where do you see yourself going this current year, any big plans or you just going with it?
I can’t really tell. I’m not really into judging myself and my performances. One of the nicest moments definitely was an 6-hour set I played at Ritter Butzke in January. The party wouldn’t stop until early noon and there was an incredible vibe on the floor. Goosebumps all the way. I’m also hoping to release my first track sometime this year and gain some reputation outside of Germany. We’ll see how things work out… 🙂
What are some cool places in Berlin to check out we can’t find in the tour guides?
Hmmm. I almost always stick around in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg oder Treptow-Köpenick, you’ll always find some nice spots there. Doesn’t matter if you want to chill out with friends or jump in a lake in the summer, those districts offer something for every taste.
Please finish the sentence:
- My favorite drink is … Beer :p.
- My all-time favorite track is … Oxia – Domino.
- When not booked for a gig I … like to chill, eat and drink with my friends. I also always get wet dreams about standing behind the decks again soon.
- A bad habit of mine would be … my madness for control. I always check 3, 4 or 5 times if I packed all my gear. And then I check again, just to make sure.
- Life is …too short, so enjoy it while you can!
Thank you very much for your time
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