Homeboy: The Wednesday Alternative Mix

Music

A dark and mysterious figure lurks behind the booth under the heat of the midnight hour in the back room of one of Berlin's most flamboyant clubs….

Homeboy is a Berlin based producer and disc jockey and is a co founder of the infamous imprint House Is OK which has released music by the likes of Roman Flugel, Kornel Kovacs, TCB and many more. He has also etablished a fierce residency at Salon Zur wilden Renate, an institution which is experiencing a new lease of life thanks to the hard work of an invaluable team behind the scenes. Originating from Zagreb he spent many years amidst the Croatian capital spinning between parties and expanding upon his musical education. All roads led to Germany and in the present he remains one of the most intriguing disc jockeys in the city.

With regular appearances at Renate and a well travelled collection of music he guides us through a whirlwind set below…

Where was the mix recorded?

I recorded it at a Saturday afternoon at Renates Black Floor, the other two rooms were still running, while the Black Room was already closed, so the house was full with party people, while I was alone downstairs recording this mix. It’s one take without any editing, or whatsoever.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

Anywhere.

What should we be wearing?

Nothing.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

On a beach, with view on the Sunset, barefoot on a unknown beach bar for three people that somehow got lost and ended up there.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

The first track is one I love a lot. It’s “Disconnected” from Syntech. A dutch synth project from the late 80-ties. What I love about it is that it sounds totally proto goa trance. I picked it up from a mix Dave Mothershole did couple of years ago, where he tried to compile the music that was played in Goa at that time, before it got commercial, super wierd and fast. Was also the hardest track to mix, because it is not really on grid.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

There are a couple of mixes, but one that had a really huge impact on me was a mix from Larry Levan recorded at Sound Factory, just a few months before he died. I listened to it on repeat, not noticing that the mixes are a bit sloppy, because the track selection and the way he blends them is just perfect. Another great one is an unmixed compilation from Thomas Hammann, where he just compiled his favorite songs without mixing them. Also perfect.

If you could go back to back with any DJ from throughout history, who would it be and why?

I would like to play b2b with Andrew Weatherall. He is my hero and probably my favourite DJ of all times. From the days he played house and techno on three decks until today, where he plays, whatever it is called.

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

When I started, I borrowed a pair of CDJ 450-ties and a DJM 600 mixer. I practiced on that with CD-s for a couple of weeks before having the chance to play on 2k’s. Right now, I don’t have a setup at home, just a turntable I use for listening and ripping vinyl and a solid amp for that and speakers. Nothing else.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Both are. The first one kind of dictates where you are going to for the next hour or so and the last one decides how people will leave the night or the direction you are leaving the next DJ.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first album I ever bought was Schubert Dip from EMF on Cassette. I must have been eight or nine years old. The last I bought is the “Le Grand Bleu” soundtrack and the album Nu Guinea did with Tony Allen. That’s some dope shit.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Sweet in the beginning, but bitter in the end…

If it was an animal what would it be?

A bitch.

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

I don’t think you can mix any Scratch Acid with anything or most other noise rock records I have.

Upcoming in the world of…

Me? I will play Gottwood this weekend on the Renate stage plus some other nice parties in June. Plus been to the studio a lot with my man Swift. We have a new project called “Longhair” and signed some tracks for cool labels you probably heard of before. Plus we are preparing a live show. But more on that soon.