Objekt is TJ Hertz, a producer and DJ living in Berlin. Born in Tokyo to British-American and Filipino parents, Hertz grew up in Belgium and the UK before settling in Berlin in 2009. He first became known for head-turning club records, beginning with the self-released stamped whitelabel 12”s Objekt #1 and #2 in 2011, and following these up with a remix for Radiohead and releases on influential dance music labels such as Hessle Audio. Shocking out to the disassembled dubstep contortions of "Cactus" and “Unglued”, the juddering mindmelt of "Agnes Demise", or IDM headturner “Ganzfeld” became a familiar experience for a generation of clubgoers.

Hertz’s club output quickly garnered support from the likes of Aphex Twin and Autechre, and his early successes led to a split EP on Leisure System with Drexciyan electro pioneers Dopplereffekt. (The track in question, “Ganzfeld”, was picked as RA’s #1 track of 2014). The whitelabel Objekt #4, released in 2017, delivered a huge crossover hit in the form of breakbeat house anthem “Theme From Q”. Objekt #5, released in 2022, is his slowest – and perhaps fiercest – 12” to date, exploring dancehall rhythms and sonics with his trademark originality.

Meanwhile, Hertz’s albums Flatland (2014) and Cocoon Crush (2018), both released on PAN, delve deep into complex sonic worlds. Hertz approaches the LP format as a canvas on which to paint unique, hyper-detailed works of electronic music which are rich with imagination and surprises. Both albums featured widely on year-end lists, with Pitchfork describing Cocoon Crush as containing “some of the most meticulously arranged compositions that dance music has ever produced”. In 2019, Objekt followed Cocoon Crush with a full-spectrum live A/V show in collaboration with visual artist Ezra Miller, touring a string of key festivals including Unsound, Atonal and Primavera.

In parallel, Objekt has built a reputation as one of the must-see DJs of his generation. Selected as Mixmag’s DJ of th...