On boxing day the Warehouse Project welcomes Knee Deep to Store Street with a stacked line-up including Kerri Chandler, Hot Since 82, Santé b2b with Sidney Charles and Resident Advisor’s number 1 live act, Kink.
We were lucky enough to grab a quick chinwag with Berlin’s Santé (real name Philipp Maier), who admits he caught the house bug early on having bought an MPC-2000 when he was just 16. By the time he was 21 he had made the move to Berlin, so he could be closer to the dance music mecca.
His ascension into the electronic world was further helped when he met two guys named Ali and Basti – also known as the imitable Tiefschwarz. “They were looking for a new engineer and took me to their label Souvenir, where I got the freedom to release my music and have a playground” explains the producer.
The final piece of the puzzle was the creation of his own label, AVOTRE, which is the home to the bulk of his tracks alongside his partner in crime Sidney Charles.
Hi Santé – whereabouts are you today?
On my way to Argentina to play an AVOTRE tour with my partner in crime Sidney, and my manager taking care of us.
What was the first record you bought…?
I can’t remember… It wasn’t a dance record, maybe one of The Cure’s LPs.
What was the last record you bought…?
The latest Caribou.
What track do you wish you’d written…?
This must be the place by the Talking Heads.
What track makes you happiest…?
Tracks relate to memory, and are a product of a time and a place. Hard to say.
What track makes you saddest…?
See above!
What’s your favourite club…?
Watergate Berlin. We’ve done loads of great AVOTRE nights there, it is perfectly suited to the sound we play.
What’s your favourite after party record…?
Easy Lee – Ricardo Villalobos.
What track has had the most influence on you…?
Love will tear us apart – Joy Division. I picked up the guitar because of this song, and then one thing lead to another…
Which of your own tracks are you most proud of…?
I did a remix for Depeche Mode. It’s unreleased but I hope it will see the light one day.
Who do you owe a debt of gratitude to for becoming a successful DJ..?
My parents and my brothers. And the team I work with.
What’s your current favourite record…?
Russ Yallop and Waff have a colab that will be released soon on AVOTRE called Mike The Swamp. It’s huge.
If your studio was one fire and you go back in a save one thing, what would it be and why…?
My laptop – I keep all my unfinished projects on there, I would have to save it.
What can we expect from your performance at the WHP on Boxing day….?
Energy, hands in the air, whooping & cheering! Thanks!
