A pioneer of the German techno scene, Jens Lissat has released many hit tracks on labels ranging from Suara to Get Physical.
Jens Lissat started his career in Hamburg back in 1979 when he started collecting records and played Dj sets all over the city. Later starting to produce techno, he collaborated with Ramon Zenker to created a track called “Who Is Elvis”, which is one of the biggest selling techno anthems ever
Having been influential in the development of Hamberg’s music scene we caught up with the veteran producer to talk about his new release on Studio3000 Records…
Hi Jens, can you start by telling us about yourself, and how you first got into electronic music?
I’m a pioneer, I started in 1979 to teach myself mixing with my first 12 Inch Disco Singles, then I made my own first remixes/edits with a tape deck using only the pause button to cut the tracks! Later in the early 80s I used to do bootlegs with my first Casio Sampler and my Revox PR99 Reel-to-Reel. My first record was in 1986! In 1987 I produced the first German House Record, In 1990 one of the first techno productions “INTERACTIVE”. Also in 1990 I produced the UK Top 40, #7 tune – OFFSHORE- I Can’t take the power and the follow-up single with the almighty “Jocelyn Brown”.
That’s only the 80’s and 90’s… I also played all the UK raves and clubs. The rest of the world know our first big techno hit “WHO IS ELVIS”
My first solo single on as Jens Lissat on R&S Records… I could tell you a lot more but this would end in a book 😉
Could you talk us through your new track “Ce Soir”, and the EP that it features on?
Well me and my studio partner Christoph Pauly do a lot of tracks, and we also ghost produce, this track was supposed to be for somebody else, but as I gave my voice to it because I liked the track so much. We did it under Jens Lissat, and it’s a dark techno tune with saw synth lines, and the remix by Christoph is a 134 BPM Techno Jam!
How did you meet the team behind Studio3000 who are releasing your new release, and is this your first release for the imprint?
Studio3000 Records is my label that I launched it 2013, and I had a few releases under my name on it already, this year the biggest smash was “Brothers on Acid & Sisters feel love” which is still power played by my mates Carl Cox and Adam Beyer.
Which other labels have you worked with, and what’s been your proudest moment to date?
I worked for almost all big labels, Stil Vor Talent, Suara, Get Physical, Toolroom, Spinnin etc. I do 5 labels: Studio3000 (Techno), Monkey League (MelodicHouse&Techno/AfroTech), Tactical Records & Tactical Trax (Funky/Jackin House), Next-Gen-Records & OMERTA (with Adri Blok for Funky/Jackin House), Supercircus(ElectroStuff). I distribute 6 other labels! I have many proudest moments inclouding my first chart entry, the birth of my daughter, the big rave moments… I have a wonderful wife on my side <3!
Have there been any big-name DJ’s supporting your music, and who is the DJ/producer that inspires you the most?
Haha think I answered this already, in 1979 there were only DJs in Germany with Microphones and no mixing DJs. I saw a US DJ mixing one night in Hamburg in summer of 1979, that was the key to my life, so I asked my mum for credit two buy two Technics SL-B3 and a Mixer!
I would say that almost every DJ played one of my tracks already, either a Jens Lissat, Lissat & Voltaxx or one of my hundred of pseudonyms. I’m always happy when I visit a club and hear my tracks, as that’s always a cool feeling. I shout out a big “thank you” to the DJ WORLD FAMILY <3
What’s next in your schedule after the Ce Soir EP is release hits stores on the 20th of December?
I ‘m just in production with Christoph for his new EP, and then we do my next one… it goes on and on and on with a constant flow of new releases 🙂
Is there anything else you would like to tell our readers about?
I would say we continue this 2020 with one of my next releases, I also do a youtube channel but it’s only in German, it’s called “Musikunterricht mit Jens Lissat”
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIZLIc_IrtFB8H3e2q7NTMA
You can order a copy of Jens Lissat’s “Ce Soir” release from HERE
