Get to know: Boris Brejcha

What would you do if there wasn’t a genre already in existence which described your own sound? Well in the case of Boris Brejcha, you go ahead and create your own. This might have caused a few eyebrows to be raised back in 2012 but with the beginnings of his career nurtured on Sven Väth’s Harthouse imprint, Boris Brejcha was a name gradually gaining momentum throughout the European dance music scene, which evidently worked in favour for the German producer as he took the leap to concoct his own genre.

After parting ways with Harthouse, Brejcha’s large following and robust discography began to rapidly expand for a number of reasons. Incorporating sound that touches on ambient and experimental electronic music with shades of electro, break beat and IDM peppered throughout his mixes, Brejcha set himself apart as a thoroughly innovative artist on the rise. Blending his sonic elements under one category, Brejcha invented ‘High Tech Minimal’. Along with his friends Deniz Bul and Ann Clue, Brejcha launched his own ‘Fcking Serious’ imprint to showcase the sound of High Tech Minimal and took the brand around the world with shows in Tel Aviv, Beirut, Zurich, Brazil and many more. 

Ahead of his return to Egg LDN, we caught up with the man behind the mask to delve deeper into the meaning of High Tech Minimal in his own words, the reason behind the Joker mask and the experience as the first electronic label to carry out a European bus tour…

We’re curious about your touring schedule which lists multiple events and festivals in Germany, France, Brazil and lots more (particularly in Europe). You’ve visited us in London once or twice a year here at Egg, what’s it like playing for a London crowd compared to your European following that you must be quite familiar with at this point?

The biggest difference is between Europe and overseas like Argentina. The crowd in London is a really good one. Really love to play there. But quite similar to the rest of Europe. The people from Argentina or Brazil, for example, are more into the Artist connection - fan wise. For example, they wait 5 hours in the hotel to get just one photo. If not - then it is ok too. Or travelling like 7 hours by car to see their DJ playing. I think this is their culture or maybe it depends on how famous you are in different countries.

You created your own genre ‘high tech minimal’ which was a considerably large step forward in your career. How would you describe the sound to those who are not familiar with it?

Well. That’s easy. I started to release minimal music at the beginning of my career. But after a while, I was getting a bit bored of it and I tried to add some Techno elements or a bit more Trance elements and melodies. In the end, my music was like a bit of everything. And as fans like to identify with something, for example with a music genre - it was time to create a new name for my music. This was the reason to build ‘High-Tech Minimal’. It is like the next step in minimal music for me. More open, more creative. Also with some electro influences. That makes this kind of genre really special. Because there is anything inside. I really like it.

What’s the idea behind the Joker mask during your set and how does it add to the experience of a Boris Brejcha show?

At the beginning of my career, the Joker mask was just a tool to attract more attention. I was thinking to do something special to stand out from all the other DJ´s. But meanwhile, the Mask is a part of me. A part of the whole Boris Brejcha thing which is a nice thing in a lot of ways? While performing, the Mask creates a special atmosphere to the people, combined with my music. And whenever you see a Joker Mask, you know, it is Boris Brejcha. That’s really something special. I will not miss it.

Last year, Fckng Serious was the first electronic label which did a Europe Bus Tour. How would you sum up the experience?

This was such an amazing experience! More than intense. The idea came up two years ago. I was was with Ann Clue and we were talking about new and different ideas - so the Bus Tour came up. It was a hell of work, coordinating all promoters and dates. Also to set up a good driving route to be right in time for the Shows. But in the end, it worked all out.

We are already planning a second Bus Tour. It was to much fun and a great time being all together. If you spend such a long time together on the Bus - there is a lot to talk and it is a good time to know each other even better. In the end, I can say, that we are a great little family - working hand in hand and totally respectful.

Finally, leave us with 5 of your all time favourite tracks...

Omnibus - Time To Time
I am glad that I found this one on Youtube. Because this was the very first Techno Track I was listening to in the Radio, when I was a little child. When I heard this Track, I was totally flashed by all these new electronic sounds.

Hymn - Music Instructor
I remember this one really good. This was the first Single CD I bought when I was a child. I had a portable CD player at this time, was walking to the streets and were listening to this Track something like 500 times in a row. Was a crazy and funny time.

Iguana - Mauro Picotto
This was one of the Tracks which blew my mind to another Galaxy. I was totally flashed from the strong and hard beat. I really wanted to find out how to produce something like that. My plan was to produce Trance music and get well known.

Hale Bopp - Der Dritte Raum
This Track was one of the most important Tracks when I switched from producing Trance music to Minimal music. That´s a fantastic classic one. It is so simple and catchy in the same time.

Lost Memory - Boris Brejcha
I need to name this one because music is like a medicine and this Track helped me to focus on my dreams being a DJ&producer all the time. So many emotions are in this Track. I think I can never produce a track like this again.