In this “Catch A New Wav,” we sit with the talented artist, Amotik.
After moving to Berlin in 2014, Amotik has steadily built a base in the city that significantly inspired him. Starting in 2015 with a series of EPs on his self-titled imprint and later following with guest appearances on 47, BPitch Control, and Figure.
Having developed a unique style of hypnotic/atmospheric techno with a relentless, raw undertone – his consistency as both a DJ and producer has seen him regularly perform at some of the most exciting clubs and festivals around the globe, whilst maintaining a residency at the renowned venue Goethebunker in Essen. In late 2019, Amotik released his debut album “Vistār.” The album was given the accolade ‘Album of the Month’ in Mixmag and featured as an ‘Essential Album’ in Groove Magazine. The release was accompanied by a debut live tour with performances at Berghain, Fabric, Fuse, The Block, Rex Club, Awakenings and a whole host of venues along the way. 2021 saw the birth of “AMTK Radio”- a regular vinyl-only show on Berlin institution HÖR. Presented live in a radio format, the show has featured guests such as Boris, Claire Morgan, Dustin Zahn, and Reka Zalan. Early 2022 will see the release of his second album, “Patanjali.” The follow-up LP featured 10 tracks with elements of ambient, broken beats and textured soundscapes, while maintaining foundations firmly rooted in techno, avoiding flavor of the month trends and staying true to his signature sound.
We learn a bit more about him below.
Q: Who are some of your musical influences?
A: In terms of DJs – for quite some time now I’ve gotten a lot of energy/inspiration from hearing DVS1 sets – it’s exactly the kind of experience I want to hear on the dance floor, and has definitely inspired some of my productions over the years. Boris has also been very influential – hearing his sets regularly when I moved to Berlin in 2014 gave me so much exposure to good music that really resonated with me as a newcomer to the city, and he was also very supportive when I first started releasing. Let’s also throw in Luke Slater as I feel very inadequate every time a new PAS record comes out, so it always makes me strive to do better. Going back much earlier, I can also look back at artists like Moby, The Chemical Brothers, Underworld and Daft Punk as being impactful as that was the music I was listening to (in my teens) in the UK around the mid 90s, as well as acid house, jungle, and UK rave.
Q: What’s your favorite part about being a musician?
A: When everything clicks, and there is that special connection with everyone in the room like we are all one entity moving together, DJing can give such an unrivalled personal experience that is simply euphoric – nothing beats it. Aside from that, I feel that I’m really privileged that I get to travel so much – it’s so nice to meet different people from different countries/cultures, and experiencing different types of energy on different dance floors around the world. Also having the chance to see some wonderful places with local people, eating local food, and hearing stories. It’s quite inspiring.
Q: Who is somebody you always wanted to work with?
A: I always wanted to work with Luke Slater and the Planetary Assault Systems.
Q: To date, what’s your most memorable music moment?
A: I feel like my first gig at Berghain (in Jan 2017) was just beyond surreal. I remember first walking into the booth and being totally overwhelmed by the onslaught of sound in there and the energy that emanates from that place, but once I got through the nerves and a few mixes in, everything just seemed to slot into place then and 4 hours just flew by. It’s a very special experience that I will never forget.
Q: What does the immediate future hold for you in your artistic career?
A: I’ve just released my second album “Patanjali” on my label, so I’m just about wrapping up the final tour dates from the album shows. I’m working on my next release as well as making plans for a new sub label under my record label too, which is exciting. As I write this, I’m also preparing for an extended set at Berghain this weekend. Things have definitely gotten busy again, and all very quickly since the regulations dropped fairly recently in Europe, so it’s nice to get back into a weekend routine again.
Follow Amotik on Instagram and Facebook and enjoy some music from him below.