FRITZ KALKBRENNER

It’s no coincidence that DJ and producer Fritz Kalkbrenner grew up in 1980s East Berlin. The social and political upheaval that served as the backdrop to his youth shaped his perception of the Arts’ power. The seismic shift catalysed by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany paved the way for new ways to express oneself and build solidarities amongst a once-divided community. In the midst of the country’s creative epicentre, it was impossible not to feel inspired.
This was epitomized in Berlin’s nightlife culture and Fritz found himself lured in by the newfound outlet provided by a burgeoning techno scene. In 2003, having absorbed the livewire energy of his vibrant surroundings, it was his turn to put pen to paper. He recorded his first vocal feature for childhood friend Sascha Funke’s ‘Forms & Shapes’. The single, which included a remix by his brother Paul Kalkbrenner, received critical acclaim and set the stage for Fritz's ascent.

He spent the next five years honing his craft, and 2008 marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career. Paul’s production and Fritz’s inimitable vocals piqued the interest of filmmaker Hannes Stöhr who commissioned a lead track for his seminal film Berlin Calling. ‘Sky and Sand’ quickly became a generational anthem.

Fritz seized the baton and ran, continuing to develop the unique strain of emotive electronic music that struck a chord with so many around the world. In 2010, following a string of successful singles, his debut album ‘Here Today Gone Tomorrow’ landed: the crystallization of his efforts to carve out a space for his signature sound. Tracks like ‘Facing the Sun’ and ‘Kings in Exile’ paired house beats with melancholic vocals, making them dance floor essentials as well as staples in home-listening collections.

Following Fritz’s first European tour, he got to work on his second album, followed by his third. Both ‘Sick Travellin’ (2012) and ‘Ways over Water’ (2014) ...