Liam MillerFor over a decade, this Bjørnson has been cultivating an undeniable passion for raw and hypnotic beats, propelling him into the spotlight as one of the standout names in the resurgent underground scene in Germany and beyond. Bjørnson’s journey has been nothing short of meteoric.
His discography, adorned with quality cuts, bears witness to his relentless dedication, featuring releases on labels like KD Raw and Hypnostate. Notably, the EP “Freddie,” unleashed in June 2023 on Heimatliebe Records, catapulted Bjørnson into the Beatport Top 20 for the first time, marking a pivotal moment in his burgeoning career. In a remarkable move in August 2023, he joined forces with Safer Atabey’s label EXTIMA.
The journey doesn’t stop there – with the impending debut of his EP “Fear of Darkness” on the newly minted KickFire Music, a label already making waves in the scene with numerous chart placements. Brace yourself for the sonic vibrations as Bjørnson unleashes his track “Ultrasonic” on the esteemed Tregambe label owned by Juliet Fox. Bjørnson’s relentless pursuit of innovation and mastery is setting the stage for global recognition, solidifying his well-deserved place among techno’s rising stars. You should keep an eye on his podcast series as well as his releases.
Hey there! Thanks for joining us today. How has your year been shaping up so far?
Hi, thanks a bunch for having me! The year’s been pretty fantastic, to be honest. I’ve had releases on some great labels like Hypnostate, Extima, Kickfire, and Heimatliebe, and they’ve all been running quite successfully. I’ve been fortunate to receive support from notable artists such as Victor Ruiz, Alex Stein, Wehbba, Joyhauser, and especially Juliet Fox. The track “Fear of Darkness,” released on KickFire, even made its way into the Hype Top 10 on Beatport Charts, marking a special milestone for me. Plus, sharing stages with artists like Anna Reusch, Bart Skils, Joyhauser, and Space 92 has been nothing short of amazing!
Your latest track is now out on Juliet Fox’s TREGAMBE. Could you share some insights into the release?
Absolutely! The track came to life towards the end of 2022 almost serendipitously. I was experimenting with different synth patches and just jamming around. When the synthline emerged, I thought it had a cool vibe that could work on the dance floor. So, I shaped it into a track and sent it over to Juliet. We’ve been in touch since my release on KD Raw, and she had played out some of my tracks before. She really liked “Ultrasonic” and asked if she could release it on her label Tregambe. Needless to say, I was thrilled because Juliet is an institution in the scene.
Can you walk us through your typical production process for creating a track? Are there specific styles of techno that influence you?
Rhythms and grooves always play a significant role in my productions, given my background in classical training as a drummer.
Typically, I kick off with the basics—kick, bass, tops, and percussion—and then add the melodic elements. However, “Ultrasonic” was a bit different. I was playing around with the Ableton Push to a drum loop, and that’s where the synth line originated. So, there are various paths to reach my goal, but the one constant is coffee – nothing works without it. My influences have mostly stemmed from classic techno, but I’m now beginning to explore beyond those boundaries. I realized that sticking to a specific sound for a particular label was limiting, and it wasn’t fulfilling for me.
Who has been a major inspiration for your work?
Absolutely, there are a few names that stand out. I like to call them the “Brazilian Gang” – Victor Ruiz, Alex Stein, and Wehbba. Their tracks are my biggest inspiration, and I draw a lot from them. Ignacio Arfeli from Argentina is another great producer. We connect regularly via Zoom, and he’s been a significant support in my production process. I truly believe he’s destined for big things!
Do you have a standout memory from a recent set?
Actually, yes! Not too long ago, I played the closing set after Joyhauser at “Fridas Pier” in Stuttgart/Germany in October. It was an incredible experience – the club was packed, the vibe was perfect, and I ended up playing for an extra hour because people didn’t want the night to end.
It was a truly special moment when people, originally there for Joyhauser, stayed on because of my set. I received a lot of messages on Instagram the next day, and it was just awesome!
Any tracks from this year that you’ve had on repeat?
Choosing just one is tough, but three tracks have been on heavy rotation for me this year. Victor Ruiz’s remix of Binary Finary’s “1998” is a standout, brilliantly reinterpreting a track from electronic music history. Alex Stein’s “Hydra,” recently released on Drumcode, always gets the crowd going crazy, doing exactly what it’s supposed to do. Lastly, Audio State’s unofficial remix of Hans Zimmer’s “Interstellar” theme is a masterpiece, seamlessly integrating the main melody into a techno track. It’s available for free on Soundcloud – definitely check it out!
Can you share any plans you have for 2024?
Absolutely, there’s another release lined up on Timmo’s label Hypnostate to kick off the new year. I have a few demos in the pipeline, so there’ll be new music coming in 2024. Regarding future gigs, there’s an exciting announcement coming up in January, but I can’t spill the details just yet. Stay tuned for more – it’s going to be great!
