Synonymous with a very musical aesthetic and approach towards the culture of electronic music, Acid Pauli (aka Martin Gretschmann) is as eclectic and determined as an artist can get. Over the last 20 years Martin Gretschmann has been exploring new fields of music off the mainstream paths: psychedelic, adventurous and full of musicality. Born in the 70s in the Bavarian region of Germany, Martin started to play bass guitar in a punk/indie band in the late 80s, whilst at the same time developing a keen interest in the evolution of electronic music and its instruments. The introduction of affordable samplers in that period led him to produce his first electronic tracks. His initial forays under the name Console were released in 1995, and with the help of an Atari computer, a four-track tape machine, a sampler and a small synthesizer, he made his first album Pan or ama in 1996. Between 1997 and 2014, he was a member of the band The Notwist, with whom he released several albums, performing and touring the globe extensively. In the year 2000, the moniker Acid Pauli was born, since then he has played at renowned festivals and clubs all over the world, from Australia to Mexico, and his first full-length album, Mst, was released on Clown & Sunset in the summer of 2012. It was the subject of both wide-ranging praise and comparisons with the likes of Ricardo Villalobos and Björk - who used a Console track for her album Heirloom. “Acid Pauli’s music falls somewhere between planting basil on your windowsill or breaking into a dancing frenzy. It’s delicate and floats in the ether before being brought back with long drawn out kicks and slithering basslines.” Martin’s DJ sets are characterised by a deeply personal artistic approach, mixing often up to 4 tracks at a time which he weaves into a sound collage, incorporating live edits as well as edits inspired by artists and cultures local to the venues he is invited to play in. This pursuit of diverse sources of inspiration has led to many exciting collaborations, such as at Sacred Music Festival in Jodhpur (India) where Martin collaborated with traditional musicians, and “Dialoge 2020 – Radialsystem” where Martin provided the soundtrack to a dance performance by Sasha Waltz, entirely improvised, an immediate, intensive artistic exchange. Collaboration feeds inspiration, and his sources of inspiration are something Acid Pauli often pays homage to in his sets. When he was invited to perform at Mutek Festival in Montreal (Canada) in 2018, he decided to pay tribute to his favourite singer/songwriter, himself born and raised in Montreal, by creating a live-set consisting only of samples and songs taken from Leonard Cohen. Later, in 2023, he presented a very special set with Viken Arman at Frue Festival in Japan, an homage to Sakamoto. When he isn’t touring the globe, playing unpredictable sets in unpredictable places, Acid Pauli can be found writing scores for radio plays or films, working on the launch of his new label “All is Acid”, his next studio album, or projects in the non-electronic realm of music such as the jazz album “Letter to a friend” by Raphael Pannier, or his next Ambient set - his most famous was played for and in the renowned museum “Fondation Beyeler” in Basel. The curious can check out his extensive discography. One thing’s for sure, this unique character and musician will never cease to surprise us and dream spaces for connection into reality through his rich musical tapestries.
Osunlade is a musician who lives his art. Both his music and his being create unified melodies awash with life, wisdom, and equilibrium. Hailing from St Louis, Missouri, a place which pioneered jazz and blues, and spawned such innovators as Miles Davis, Osunlade discovered the piano at age seven. Like a dove from the sky the vision of his life’s destiny was born. By the time he was twelve he found an interest in creating and producing his own songs. He formed a local band, taught himself how to play several other instruments, and further pursued the development of his unique sound. He had managed to learn the drums, bass and guitar, and had discovered his voice. His deeply personal musical testimonies had begun. His professional career began in 1987 at the age of seventeen, during a visit to Hollywood. He quickly caught the ear of Toni ‘Mickey’ Basil, a choreagrapher/performer who offered him work developing music for several projects, including a role scoring the b-movie ‘Rockula’, and the children’s television series ‘Sesame Street’. With her encouragement he quickly moved to Los Angeles to begin a long career in music production. A few years later he would produce the very first album for the then independent label Interscope Records, by the aspiring actor/dancer Gerardo, a long time friend. The album spawned ‘Rico Suave’, one of the very first latin pop songs in America. With a multi platinum album and four gold singles to his name, it wasn’t long before Osunlade was given ample opportunities to master his craft.
Over the next ten years, with credits for over 20 albums, Osunlade began to feel the pressures and practices of the music business had overshadowed his passion for music. Deciding he would no longer work under the influence of corporate demands, he chose instead to seek spiritual solace and honour his soul. This spiritual pilgrimage led him to Ifa, a naturalist ancestral culture based on divination, deriving from the Yoruba tribes of Africa and subsequently practiced by African American slaves.
In 1999 Osunlade embarked on what has become his dream come true: the founding of Yoruba Records. Recognized as one of the most important dance music labels worldwide, Yoruba Records is a pure source of music created to elevate the spirit. In little under a year, and with only two singles, Osunlade would receive praise from his peers, finally finding the love he sought for years within the underground dance music community. As the label became more successful, there was increasing demand for Osunlade to expand. In 2001 he released his debut album on the respected Soul Jazz label. ‘Paradigm’ quickly became one of the biggest house albums that year, and he was dubbed the messiah of ancestral house music. With the support of DJ’s worldwide, his music was now being introduced to a wider spectrum of listeners. Furthermore, the artist had finally achieved a balance within. A year later Osunlade moved to Puerto Rico, and relocated his label operations to London. While he still produces and remixes for other labels and artists, his passion remains with Yoruba Records, and in maintaining their reputation for unparalleled quality in the music business. With its own family of talented producers and artists developing a sound that bridges several genres, the label’s evolution is endless and bright.
As he embarks on an intensely personal new project, Osunlade has evolved and is currently sharing his vision alongside a new band. With a new album in the works, fans will finally hear the true inner voice of the man and feel the honesty and conviction of his spirit.
Following the huge success of his Habibi Funk label, Jannis Stürtz has since become similarly lauded for his DJ sets under the same name. Spanning a plethora of genres from funk, soul and jazz to punk and hip-hop, Stürtz unearths hidden gems released in the 1960’s-80’s across the Middle East and North Africa, reissuing the records in eclectic compilations for the modern listener, as well as more recently releasing music from musicians in the current day. His reputation and demand as a DJ have been increasing in equal measure in recent years, with the Habibi Funk sound holding a unique place in the dance music world and his high energy, vinyl-only sets connecting with fans in ways that are deep, personal and long-lasting. With a focus on building connections with local communities via regular DJ residencies, Habibi Funk has cultivated a dedicated following who attend his shows time and again. In London, having built a solid foundation with his quarterly residency at the legendary Jazz Cafe, he has since gone on to sell-out massive headline dates at Colour Factory and the iconic KOKO Camden, while his 2024 underplay at The Lower Third (announced only via a single IG story) sold out in under three hours. Similarly, repeat shows at the likes of La Bellevilloise in Paris FR, Blå in Oslo NO, Frankhan in Istanbul TK, Tunnel Club in Milan IT, Alcazar in Rome IT and Back From The Crate in Beirut LB have seen sell-outs across the board. In 2024, the Habibi Funk energy is being brought to fans in the form of a live showcase; a unique opportunity to bring the label’s beloved catalogue of music to life on the stage. Either in the form of a club or festival stage takeover, the event features some of the imprint’s most revered artists live and direct on stage.
DRĖĖĖMY is a genre-bending multifaceted experience delivering transcendent sonic journeys internationally. Blending organic and electronic elements, they fuse global rhythms, synthesized frequencies, soulful song and storytelling to create an unforgettable ceremonial symphony designed to connect and elevate. With live loops, lush vocals, tribal percussion, and driving energy, DREEEMY’s high-vibrational performances merge mysticism with dancefloor energy. Drawing from their indigenous ancestries and native New York City roots, they offer a soundscape for collective awakening, daring you to dream.
Tommy Soul is an italian DJ, music producer and record collector with a huge passion for vinyl; he grew up between two Technics1200s with the first disco sounds: Soul, Funk, Disco and House. After a deep apprenticeship as a resident DJ in underground clubs, his vinyl mixes uploaded online have exploded globally, receiving much appreciation from pioneers in the sector; coming to play in almost all of Europe, especially in such nations as: England, Germany, France, Spain and Italy. Tommy Soul is a curious and music-hungry artist, in his DJ sets he prefers sound quality without being a slave to a pre- established genre. His empathy and musical research are a perfect mix for the dancefloor!
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