Born and raised in eastern Germany, Hawkinson originally found his inspiration in the record collections of his parents and friends, and in the albums of Kraftwerk, Depeche Mode, New Order and Jean Michel Jarre. A good start. Then came the fall of the Wall and new influences came into play. From The KLF on to Front 242, And One or Nitzer Ebb – all of these influences remain alive today in everything he does.

Then there was radio, especially Steve Mason`s Experience on BFBS, his first weekly contact with the whole electronic music world. And then came all the clubs, especially the ones in Berlin that were springing up like mushrooms back then. There he discovered a completely new world. So it was probably in the Bunker or E-Werk, or maybe the Tresor which would later play a crucial role for him, that he heard a sound for the first time, a sound that grabbed hold of him and wouldn’t ever let go: techno.

How on earth could you get that kind of sound out of nothing more than 2 turntables and a mixer? The young Hawkinson hung on the fingers and the turntables of DJs like Jeff Mills or Carl Cox and other greats, fascinated and intoxicated by what he heard and saw. And that’s when the thought crossed his mind for the first time: I want to learn how to lay vinyl on the turntable, how to mix, and how to transport people into ecstasy on the dancefloor.

But first there were a few obstacles to overcome. For example the question of equipment. He carried out his first finger tricks as a DJ using a friend’s equipment: two belt-driven record players and an old mixer. All in solid East-bloc quality, but unfortunately without any pitch function, which made mixing a lot more difficult. It was only after pocketing his high school diploma that he was able to scratch enough money together to buy his first used rebuilt turntables and decent mixing desk.

During his time at university, first studying transport science, then history and philosophy – with the obligatory part-time job to pay the rent – nothing could stand in the way of Hawkinson’s passion for all music, but especially for techno. As soon as he finally got outfitted with the necessary technology, he spent every free minute behind the turntables with the record collection he’d already built up. After all, his dream was always clear.

Success wasn’t long in coming. It was actually in a club where most people wait an eternity to lay their first record that Hawkinson went straight in and played his first set: the legendary Tresor in Berlin. This was his final ignition and liftoff, and a defining experience which would be followed by many others. He often played at the Tresor, and also in other reknowned Berlin clubs such as Ostgut, Sage Club, SO 36, Pulp Mansion and many others. Appearances in other German cities soon followed. All the while, one thing become more and more clear to him: he wanted to make music for real. For a living.

So his switch into the music-maker’s chair came naturally. At the beginning he had only a voice-recorder for capturing his thoughts. Later on came the computer system which gave him the chance to transfer his ideas into tracks for the first time. And Hawkinson put the exactly same energy and elan into this new daytime work as he had done when he made the leap from his living room to the DJ booth.

Then he met Christian Steinmüller, who produced and published his own music under the name Kris Benton and also under the name Steinmueller. They became close friends, and set off together to produce that unmistakable Hawkinson sound; a sound made for the dance floor, but one that works just well on headphones. This much is certain: whatever Hawkinson produces in the future, in the words of Megan of SPESH: „It`s in my bag!“

In 2008 first, his “Beginning”-EP hit the market, a digital release on the Malaysian label Pure Substance. And his first 12” with Müller Records is still in the shops and is played and supported by artists like Laurent Garnier and Carl Cox. Derek Hayes expresses the more or less unanimous opinion in his own words: „Great stuff from Hawkinson!“. It’s a good indication that we can expect a lot more. And that’s it, now comes the next release on Müller Records, the ‘Distance EP’, wicked kicking high tech Techno.

http://hawkberlin.com/
http://www.myspace.com/hawkberlin

Christian Leevey is one of the veterans of Berlin’s Techno scene. In the past time he was among the so called “new faces” from the capital. Here he worked in about each and every club and accomplished his resident-activity in two well-known Techno-clubs of Berlin.

After he had gone ahead, Leevey energetically continued going his own way. In the year of 2000, he was drawn towards Hamburg where he fortified his prestige as a DJ. When he came back to Berlin some years later, he vigorously strived for his task as a producer. With the wind of Northern Germany in his back and a whole lot of experiences as a DJ up his sleeve, he developed his talent further and this way he got down to the first releases in the year of 2007.

The great diversity of his musical spectrum has served as a mirror of his own development for many years now. Just as he has done as a DJ, Leevey wants to make history as a producer in a similar way and has already increasingly succeeded with the past releases, so that more than 20 releases can be found in his discography up to this day. His focus is clearly set on the dancefloor and his skills will keep on holding the listeners under his spell in the future, no matter if as a DJ or as a producer.

http://www.myspace.com/djleevey
http://www.leevey.com/

By winning the nationwide “Heineken DJ-Contest 2004”, George Soliis started his career as a DJ. He was elected the best up-and-coming artist and with the first highest award came the first promotional tour, starting in Germany and going up to Hungary. Time enough to look into the business and gain the first experiences. To this day, George has been immersing his style as a DJ. He arranges his sets with a mixture of house-like, deep and groovy sounds.

At the same time George was working hard and profoundly on his own productions. What happened then were four releases in the year of 2009 which attracted worldwide attention. Already his first single extracted from those, “Magic Sea” under the label Deep Class Rec., hit the Beatport Sells Charts- another evidence for his outstanding talent as a producer.

Presently, George Soliis is highly supported by international DJs such as Arara (Noir), Boris Hotton (Liebe Detail), Fog (Noir), Hernan Cattaneo and Arado (Desolat) who are playing his tracks over and over. Currently, George is playing in clubs like the “Tresor” in Berlin or the “Stereo Sushi” in Antwerp and is busily producing new tunes. For 2010, there are several releases waiting in the wings, amongst others on the Berlin label “Phunkit Records”.

http://www.myspace.com/georgesoliis
http://georgesoliis.com/

With “Poompom”, George Soliis makes his actual energy become evident and brings his ultimate musical advancement to the bottom line. His construct seems round, flexible and sensitive to the listener. Bass and beats interact cleverly in very precise variations here. The dubs in the interspaces are hitting quite jazzy and the really magnificent and smooth funky vocalcutz are literally like music to the ears. A charming micro-house track which makes you instantly want to vibrate along.

George creates a firm methodology with “Lushgrass”. Percussion instruments are the vital elements which make this song become a springy all-rounder. A juicy green spreads out when the drive of spring makes the grass grow, when the blades of grass are blowing in the wind and the airiness of all minds comes into effect. This friendly drifting track comes emphatically across like the beauty and ripeness of a carambola. The elements are entirely firm and juicy and perfect in their stage of maturity.

In “Trumping Lies”, a transposing musical instrument is used. Therefore, essentially for the track’s character, a certain basic order is dominating here. Carefree and composed, Leevey is specially playing his instrument and drily puts a spotlight on it. The rest is steadily going their way and are at times accompanied by harmonious sound. As if it was perfectly normal, this atmosphere seems to be utterly palpable. The world seems to be blunt and fulfilled – a concrete proof of Leevey’s professional skills. Luscious is his framework, harmonious his sounds, unbiased the idea, classical his conversion.

Unemotional and weird, that is how “24H Sunday” is moving towards the morning. Not a single sing of tiredness. An impulse every now and then, after that a certain attraction from a distance far away. Skilfully, the upcoming flash of sounds is detained until the outburst is at hand. And then, there we are and already one finds himself in the centre of the action. Leevey does know his solid handcraft very well in his arrangement. The rhythm is spreading with a sound character, as beautiful as the pale morning mist, steeped in the dew of spring. Simple but not boring, primary but not intrusive. Delightful but never ending in his devotion.

SAMSTAG 13.02.2010
TRESOR BERLIN

Globus
Milton Jackson
Hawkinson
George Soliis
Leevey

Tresor
Perc
Tommy Four Seven
Steinmüller

Playlist:
01. Michael Strauss – Vogelfrei
02. Argy – Bottom Heavy (Remake)
03. Ian Pooley, Magik J – Heke (Ian Pooley’s Gone Balearic Mix)
04. Milton Jackson – Rhythm Track
05. Marascia – The Mood
06. Eloi Brunelle – Honeygroove
07. The Timewriter – Dedication
08. Glimpse – For Fleur (Johnny D Remix)
09. Solee – Jule
10. Christian Smith & John Selway – Swingworld (Paul Ritch Club Mix)
11. Massimo Santucci – Tarantella Warriors (Daniel Portman Club Mix)
12. Joris Voorn – Dirty Thoughts
13. Hagen Feetly – That’s
14. Menace & Adam – Missile Test (Extended Mix)
15. Kris Menace – Jupiter

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The debut of Steinmueller – Rubinrot – is like a little lucky bag. The surprising turnarounds and sound elements make up a deep techhouse trip with fat drums. Accentuated by subtle rhodes lines, broad chords and humming bass sounds the track gets the body swinging more often than not.

SAMSTAG 11.04.2009
TRESOR BERLIN

Globus
Justus Köhncke (Köln / Kompakt)
Lifelike (Paris / Vulture)
Hawkinson (Berlin / Pure Substance)
Tresor
Kris Benton (Phunkit / Berlin)
Takt Tick (Partysan / Berlin)
George Soliis ( Flyingcircus / Hagen)
SL Jung (Phunkit / Berlin)

myspace.com/lifelikevulture
myspace.com/justuskoehncke

The first release on phunkit Kris Benton – Da Shake, fine deep house stuff with emotive synth and delicious voc! We like especially the dubby Chordsound, along with the basic groove, it sounds very oldskool touch.