Patrice Bäumel is a DJ and producer currently living in Amsterdam. He is a former resident DJ at the now closed Trouw club. Since the clubs closure he has moved from strength to strength to carve out his own space in the international music community. 2017 was Patrice’s most successful year yet, the culmination of many years travelling the road, a positive change in lifestyle, lots more hard work, fun, and spreading the love. From being invited by Radio 1 to contribute to the esteemed Essential Mix series, to his Afterlife released single ‘Glutes’ being voted one of the biggest tracks of the year, 2017 was a year to remember for Patrice, and a sign of things to come…
Patrice is currently busy in the studio working on his eagerly anticipated follow ups for both Afterlife and Kompakt. After’s 2016’s prolific musical output which included the Balance compilation series, EPs on Correspondant and Speicher/Kompakt, plus remixes for Underworld and Depeche Mode. His musical footprint grew even larger in 2017 with releases on Crosstown Rebels, Anjunadeep, Kompakt and more, whilst continuing his growth as a DJ, performing every weekend to new fans around the world.
I had a brief chance to catch up with Patrice ahead of his gig on the Sunday 5th August at the 7th edition of FAMILY PIKNIK FESTIVAL. Whilst doing my research for my interview, it dawned on me that it has been a little over 4 years since we have spoken, naturally so much has happened since then and I was curious to what has been some of his stand out highlights since we last spoke.
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DMC World DJ Final heading to San Francisco for first time everI would rank doing the Balance Mix CD, the BBC Essential Mix and the Depeche Mode remix at the very top of things I was most excited about doing. Definitely three items off my bucket list.
Armed with a wealth of back story, you mentioned in your last interview with us, that view of music was influenced by Laurent Garnier, 80s synth pop and your dad, with you now found on line ups with Tale of Us in Ibiza to releasing on Lost & Found, do you think your style has still holds those influences or more your recent success surrounded by a very melodic scene?
I think the DNA of my music is still firmly rooted in those influences from the past, it just happens by chance that melodic techno is popular at the moment. Popularity of a certain genre has very little impact on my decision-making process in the studio, if it did I would always be chasing trends.
One thing that has always struck me as admirable of Patrice’s productions and his epic sets, is the ability to defy categorisation. They feel alien, unhinged, at times uncomfortable and anything but domesticated. Paying no homage at all to the traditions of house and techno, I wanted to know how he approaches time in the studio.
I try to float freely and let the music write itself. There is no plan, whatever interesting sounds come out of my machines, that’s what I will work with.
Your residency at the legendary Trouw will be greatly remembered, but you have, since our last chat, made a great leap into the wider international electronic music scene, do you think your residency gave you the grounding to move forward, to “earn your stripes” so to speak? What advice would you give to those wishing to enter the scene?
The residency taught me a lot about DJing and helped me develop my style. It was the best DJ school I could have wished for. The closing of Trouw forced me to stand on my own feet – in hindsight that was a blessing in disguise. For newcomers to the scene my advice would be: take your time to build real skills, to become a little better every day and aim to become world class.
That takes many years. Be patient, hungry and enjoy the ride. Learn from the best people in the business. Stay humble and positive. Don’t compare yourself to others.
It’s not hard to not notice, but Techno has well and truly exploded in the last few years (with the demise of EDM) yet so much of what is classified as techno, is just progressive house. I had to know, have you found yourself (and fellow peers) still having to work around the unfortunate tag progressive has held, or do you find it is shifting and people becoming more knowledgeable?
I don’t see ‘progressive’ as an unfortunate label at all. It’s a hugely popular scene on a global scale with many of my favourite colleagues doing great work and the most fun parties to play at. I don’t care what music snobbists think. The dancefloor doesn’t lie.
I recently returned to Australia after many years living and working in The Netherlands and was witness to some amazing times, as someone who has have been in The Netherlands now since the late 90’s, a move you made from your home-town of Dresden, how have you seen the city change since your first days?
It’s become a super popular place to live and tourist destination. The electronic music scene has grown a lot. It’s not quite as liberal as it used to be.
But do you think Amsterdam Dance Event has outgrown Amsterdam?
No, the event would not be the same without the charm and possibilities the city offers. City and event coexist in a mutually beneficial relationship.
Sadly we didn’t have much time to talk, but with the usual pleasantries, thank you for your time, one last question if I may, where do you see yourself in another 4 years’ time when we speak next?
Hopefully in a position where everything I do is because I want to, not have to. Complete artistic freedom. I also simply want to be a better artist than I am today and find ways to make a positive impact on many more people.
FAMILY PIKNIK FESTIVAL will take place from 9 in the morning to midnight. We’ll inaugurate a new venue, bigger than the previous one, which is the exact location where the first legal Techno festival (Borealis) took place in the 90s. More comfortable than our previous venue, Grammont will let us offer more space to our party people but we’ll stay on 2 equivalent STAGES. One will be more Housy than the other one, a little bit more Techno. See below for the full line-up :
STAGE 1: BÖHN (FR) – TIME (FR) – TIM GREEN (UK) – TOM POOKS (FR) B2B JOY KITIKONTI (IT) – MISS KITTIN (FR) – MARCO CAROLA (IT) – HOT SINCE 82 (UK) – DOMINIK EULBERG LIVE (DE) – CRISTOPH (UK).
STAGE 2: MED IN MARS (FR) – CIOZ (IT) – PATRICE BÄUMEL (NL) – LUCIANO (CH) – MICHAEL MAYER (DE) – ANDHIM (DE) – BLACK COFFEE (AFS) – CLAUDE VONSTROKE (USA).
Family Piknik’s three headliners are the most looked after star residents in Ibiza : MARCO CAROLA, LUCIANO & BLACK COFFEE. They will each deliver for us a French exclusive 3 hours DJ set under the sun, with Luciano playing from 1pm, Marco’s shaking asses from 4pm to 7pm and South Africa’s best DJ taking care of the sunset…
French legend MISS KITTIN will be in full action, as well as Labyrinth’s star resident HOT SINCE 82, American’s best DJ and Dirtybird’s head honcho CLAUDE VONSTROKE, german’s funniest DJ duo ANDHIM, Dutch hypnotizer PATRICE BÄUMEL, Uk’s rising Progressive talent CRISTOPH or Super Flu’s best jewel from Italy, CIOZ. We’ll also enjoy Kompakt’s label boss MICHAEL MAYER, TIM GREEN, DOMINIK EULBERG (live), JOY KITIKONTI b2b TOM POOKS, French new talent TIME (supported by Solomun and signed on Agoria’s label) + local DJs Böhn and MedInMars. From 9 in the morning, the best Electronic music will take over Montpellier!
A UNIQUE CONCEPT IN FRANCE
Launched in 2012, Family Piknik have seduced a large and eclectic audience, bigger and bigger year on year. The key is to mix the Underground state of mind with a very friendly atmosphere for families. Created by French DJ-producer Tom Pooks (signed to Ovum, Kompakt, Cocoon, Terminal M & Intec in the 2000s) and his team, Family Piknik clearly offers something different during the summer, with the best Underground DJ’s performing from early in the morning to midnight, in the dynamic city of Montpellier, one of the historic lands for electronic music in France. Under the trees, be part of a stunning sunny day and bring your food to enjoy the music along with 15000 people from all around Europe. Expect your Sunday to be different !
Since our 1st edition, Family Piknik booked some of the best international underground DJ’s : Sven Väth (2 years in a row), Richie Hawtin, Solomun, Maceo Plex, Loco Dice, Joseph Capriati, Fritz Kalkbrenner, The Martinez Brothers, Gui Boratto, Marc Romboy, Âme, Josh Wink, Jamie Jones, Dubfire, Adriatique, Michael Mayer, Dave Seaman, Guy J, Pig&Dan, Lee van Dowski, Matthias Tanzmann, Max Cooper, Coyu, Nastia, Stephan Bodzin, Rodriguez Jr., Davide Squillace, Nakadia, Möd3rn, etc…
