A masked man from Berlin, producer and live act Snuffo talks us through his top tracks.
What’s the first record you ever bought?
I know for sure that I bought more than one the first time I entered a real electronic music record store. It was Downtown Records in Giessen, Germany, spring 1997. I got some older records that were on sale: Acid Jesus – ‘Move Your Body’ and Shi-Take – ‘Sticky Green Fingers’ and also two or three new ones like Dr Motte & WestBam – ‘Sunshine’. I was getting to know the underground sound of techno and house but I was still stuck in the cheesier side of electronic dance music. I still remember that great feeling of having my first records and that special atmosphere in a vinyl record store. Before this, I had only been to stores with CDs and tapes… So this trip to the record shop really started my passion for buying music on vinyl. In case you’re wondering, my first CD was Rednex‘s ‘Cotton Eye Joe’.
The first time you remember hearing electronic music?
In kindergarten, we had – no joke – to do a dance performance for Carnival. We made robot costumes out of cardboard boxes and aluminium foil and moved along to Kraftwerk – ‘Die Roboter’.
The guaranteed floor-filler?
Since I only play as a live act I can only name a track of mine here: Snuffo – ‘It’s Killing Me’ (out on Polybius Trax). It always makes magic on the floor when I’m jamming around.
The guilty pleasure?
I could name a lot of songs here. I’ll go with: Edith Piaf – ‘Je Ne Regrette Rien’. I find people who pretend that they only listened to the most underground, advanced and edgy music all their life totally boring. I don’t regret any music I chose to listen to in my life (especially as child and early teenage years I listened to a lot of crap, but had fun with it). Just to pick one out of many examples: I still enjoy watching the Bud Spencer and Terence Hill movies and listening to the scores composed by Guido and Maurizio De Angelis (as Oliver Onions). It makes me happy and remember my happy childhood.
The last track of the night?
I wish one of my favourite DJs would play James Last – ‘Biscaya’. Or Manuel Göttsching – ‘E2 E4’…
The best chillout record?
Some floating sounds from the Berlin School, krautrock and early electronics corner make me chill out for sure.
The best record for a family party?
Since my family always loves celebrating Christmas (because it’s when we are all together), maybe The Salsoul Orchestra – Christmas Medley could work.
The soundtrack to a lazy Sunday afternoon?
When having a gig-free Saturday, I love my Sundays at home. Having a great breakfast with my wife and often returning to bed again after. As music some Miles Davis or jazzy soundtrack stuff fits perfect.
The worst record you’ve ever heard?
I don’t like this overproduced R&B and dance stuff that is played on the radio and on kids’ phones today. But I can’t name any of the songs or artists so I’ll pick someone different: Helene Fischer.
I originally come from a small village in Germany where I spent almost 30 years. In the local bars there was always a mix of eurodance, schlager and classic rock played. I used to like it as a good soundtrack for getting drunk and having fun with my buddies. After I had moved to Berlin (in 2011), this singer and TV entertainer Helene Fischer got famous all over Germany and I was shocked that especially in the countryside young and old people loved to hear the same song of hers over and over again for years (and still do).
To me it sounded terrible. ‘Atemlos Durch Die Nacht’ has become the worst record for me. Even if I have to admit that it is a really catchy composition. At the end you can’t escape from bad music, it’s everywhere…
The record you’re proudest of?
Definitely my first Snuffo album, Live Free Or Die, that came out last year on my label In The Dark Again.
The future classic?
All music produced by Andreas Gehm (RIP, my friend).
Snuffo’s 2017 Reinvention of NEP’s ‘Decadance’ is out now on Fox & His Friends. Find Snuffo on Facebook, Twitter and SoundCloud.