We had the chance to chat with Danish dj & producer Rune Reilly Kölsch before his set on mainstage at Tomorrowland Belgium b2b with Artbat!
We discussed about his journey, special moments, thoughts about current Melodic-Techno scene and Italy!
NEWS: Kölsch just unveiled new live tour ‘Kölsch and the Machine’ and album ‘KINEMA” (Greek translation of “movement” or “to move”) set to be released in October.
The new live tour will debut at Amsterdam Dance Event before continuing through Berlin, London, Paris, Antwerp, and Madrid through the year’s end. Pre-sale tickets available July 30.
“‘KINEMA’ is a reflection of my journey as an artist”, tells Kölsch. “It’s about revisiting the music that shaped my career and giving it new life, creating a unique experience that blends nostalgia with innovation. Performing live allows me to connect with the audience in a way that’s deeply personal”.
Matteo: here we are with Kölsch at Tomorrowland Belgium. I’m so happy to have the chance to chat a little bit with you. Are you having fun so far? It was a delicate moment for the festival, but they made it!
KÖLSCH: It’s incredible to see, Amazing job, I feel the same way. I didn’t believe that anybody could do that so quickly.
Matteo: my first question, of course, is linked with Tomorrowland because you are definitely, you know, among the longest serving guests of this festival. You are performing here b2b with Artbat on the Maintage.
So how are you living, you know, your experiences here in the festivals while the festivals grow and you also grew over the years, you know, which are the best memories from Tomorrowland?
KÖLSCH: Oh, so many. So obviously all the shows that I’ve played, the main stage has always been incredible. I also love playing the Freedom Stage and Crystal Garden is such a beautiful stage too.
An amazing memory I have was some years ago I played the mainstage because Solomun couldn’t get here, so I had to take his place. And I was supposed to fly to Monegros in Spain and play. But the flight broke, so I couldn’t go. And I ended up playing. On the mainstage, behind the mainstage, there were some decks and I just started playing. Last minute. Like that was not planned. I was like, ‘I’m here, I’m going to have some fun.’ Started playing some records. And then the Nervo girls came down and jumped on the decks. And then Steve Oaki came down. And in the end, it was like everybody was just having a huge party behind the mainstage and it was a beautiful experience. as it was also just for us, you know. Because we were having a good time.
Matteo: The second question is about your path, because you helped defining melodic techno, non-commercial strand of techno that you represent. And I’m super, super fan of your music, especially also with your albums on the Cologne-based label Kompakt, on which you released your path albums year-titled 1977, 1983 and 1989!
If you could spoil or just mention to us another special year for you know, in this in these latest year, or maybe you know a future one for next album, for next things?
KÖLSCH: I have a little bit of a not-a-depressing year, but I have to mention in 2003 where my father passed away, which was a very, very depressing year. Tough situation, obviously. And actually, my last album is very much about that, centered around his passing and about that. But I think 2003 was like a pivotal moment. Probably also because it was the moment where I decided that I had to only do music. And I was already DJing a lot and already I had a residency in Denmark. But it was kind of touch-and-go. It was like hard years. And from that year on, I made a big record back then called “Calabria” and then I decided from here on, this is what I’m doing. This is my life.
Matteo: Wow, thanks for this.
KÖLSCH: So combining those two things, it became a very important year.
Matteo: You presented different aliases over the years, you know, Artificial Funk, Ink and Needle, Rune K, RK, under which you released Calabria, Enur, and more. So being Italian and being passionate also about geography, you know, and keeping the topic about geography. So speaking about “Calabria”, why you chose Calabria? What do you think about Italy music-wise?
KÖLSCH: The story with “Calabria” was quite funny because at that time 2003 I was over the summer residency in a club in Cosenza, okay nice and it didn’t happen. Because I can’t remember what the situation was.. Something fell through and it didn’t happen. But I had already made the record “Calabria” back then. Because I was like, this is going to be special. And that was obviously in Calabria. And then I released it afterwards, just kept the title. Then became a hit but actually, it was grounded in a residency that never happened, which is quite funny.
Matteo: That’s funny.
KÖLSCH: You guys have had so much, especially with electronic music. I love the fact that you have such strong roots with house music. I love the fact that you still praise a lot of the classic house DJs like David Morales, those people – it’s such a big, strong movement. And my favorite part about the Italian scene in general is the dedication and how… how you just dedicate yourself to DJing and music. I really envy that.
You know, when I go somewhere and there’s an Italian DJ playing, it’s full of talent. It’s like everybody’s supporting, you know?
Matteo: That’s good, thanks!
KÖLSCH: And then you have everything else also. You have all the food, you have all the good cars. Lucky!
Matteo: The last question is about your thought about the current state of melodic techno melodic house because you are a big representative of this and the other also shades but what do you think about this current and maybe the future events? Experience every day more focused on the you know phones capturing the visuals and not really enjoying, you know, the moments. What do you think about this and what could be the future, from your or in your perspective from my perspective?
KÖLSCH: I think that it has evolved into something that is really beautiful and breathtaking to see, of course. It’s crazy, the animations and what the work that goes into Shona; and it’s much more than music and it was much more than we ever envisioned that it could be when we started with melodic tech. It was never the idea of that from a principal point of view.
I believe that people have the right to do whatever they want. If they choose to film the whole evening, it’s none of my business. They paid for their ticket, they can do what they want. I personally I prefer something that is maybe a little more laid back. I’ve been playing a lot of underground clubs again this year which I’ve really been enjoying. There’s this amazing club called Blitz in Munich, jncredible club! I played at Gewerbe in Cologne, which is one of my favorite places and they’re like maximum 500 people, more intimate and I’ve been really enjoying that.
It’s a very different experience, it’s very immersive and it’s very emotional and I think from my perspective a lot of times when there are too many visuals it becomes a little distracting, it’s like a mental overload.
I’m not sure that you will get what music really has to offer you enough in that situation, but also, I mean, I can’t judge. People enjoy it!
Matteo: Of course, of course.
KÖLSCH: And the scene is so big now, it’s huge and we never expected it to become this big. Actually, I never expected to play the mainstage of Tomorrowland. Never. Never.
Matteo: And this is a very big thing in this special year where the focus will be more on music.
KÖLSCH: I think today it’s going to be really beautiful, yeah.
Matteo: Thank you so much for the interview!
KÖLSCH: Thank you!
Check also KÖLSCH surprise set b2b Joris Voorn b2b Vintage Culture @ Crystal Garden!
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I founded youBEAT in 2012 as manifesto of my passion for electronic music, with the aim of promoting artists and events.
Graduated in Media Languages at UCSC in Milan (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) with a thesis on the revolution of daily life with the streaming in entertainment and information.
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From 2017-2023 A&R, Marketing and International Manager at EGO Music (www.egomusic.net).
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