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Sascha Funke is a minimal genius, in more ways than one. The lanky German producer has made a brilliant name for himself releasing for labels like Kompakt and his current spiritual home, BPitch Control. But he's not over-inclined to talking about himself. Here's what we know so far: the youthful Sascha Vofrei (his real name), born and raised in East Germany, develops a fondness for dance-pop. After the Wall comes down he starts listening to house and techno, buying The Seawolf by Underground Resistance. Having taken that first essential step on the road to minimal glory, he starts throwing parties, develops his DJing, begins producing….  

It's a good story, but one that's been told before. What makes Sascha special? What sets him apart from the dozens of mustauchioed hopefuls hovering in Berlin's streets, cafés and underground bunkers? First of all, there's his heavy-duty studio output. With more than a dozen original productions for Kompakt, Cadeaux and BPitch Control, and over two dozen remixes for everyone from major labels like Capitol Records to the likes of M_nus, Festplatten and Crosstown Rebels his trademark clean-cut, emotionally charged techno has been ringing in the ears of dance music fans for the better part of a decade. Plus he's a dedicated DJ who can be found sending shockwaves through the best clubs in Europe, every weekend. Recently he's been hard at work on his artist LP, Mango (due out in February 2008). Ibiza Voice tracked him down on a short break from production duties to fire off a load of questions aimed at getting us a little closer to planet Funke. 

What did you want to be when you grew up?
"A football player."

What was your earliest exposure to music?
"The Pet Shop Boys."

What did you do the night the Wall fell?
"I was watching it on TV."

You promoted youth parties - what exactly does that mean?
"Paul Kalkbrenner and I organised parties in East Berlin youth clubs. Teenagers could dance until midnight for the price of one Deutsch Mark. Beer was 30 cents."

Was it like a school disco?
"Yes, kind of."

What sort of music were you putting on?
"Techno, but we had only 30 records, so we had to play some of them twice."

What was the atmosphere like in the first years after the Wall came down?
"Very exciting. I was 13, at that age you are starting to find your own way of living with music and clothes etc... it was the perfect happening for my age."

How has Berlin changed over the years?
"It became bigger, more professional and international but Berlin has still an "under construction" feel that makes the city interesting. Berlin will be never finished! That's the motivation for all of us."

Do you think of yourself more as a DJ or producer?
"A DJ."

Which is the best thing about DJing?
"A lucky crowd."

You've worked with Kompakt and now you're part of the Bpitch Control family - do these different labels allow you to express different parts of your personality? 
"In the beginning of my production career there was a different kind of style for each label. With my album [2003's Bravo] I moved completely to Bpitch but I have still a close friendship to all the Kompakt boys."

Why have you chosen to work with Bpitch Control - what makes it unique?
"The family aspect; my close friendship with Ellen [Allien] and a lot of the artists, especially Paul [Kalkbrenner] and Zander VT. We all work together under one roof."

Everyone in the techno world seems to be moving to Berlin, but you left Germany for Aix en Province last year - why?
"I was born in Berlin, in the big city, and I wanted to discover another way of living in the countryside. It was the perfect time to do it for an album production.

It's a beautiful region and the weather, food and wine are much better then in Berlin. But I've been home since June."

Do you think having so many artists in Berlin promotes creativity, or does it lead to competition?
"Creativity, definitely. There are so many interesting people you can meet in clubs or record stores, even on the street. Berlin is too big for any competition."

What are your favourite clubs to play, and why?
"In alphabetic order: Panoramabar, Watergate, Weekend. All of them have perfect soundsystems and dance-y crowds."

One reviewer wrote of your Boogybytes compilation: "the cerebral and the libidinous impulses are perpetually at war. The cerebral is represented by the precise and intricately subtle melodies and synthesizer riffs, but the basslines and driving rhythms reassert the primacy of the libido in dance music…" is that a fair assessment?
"It's a bit complex but I agree..."


Do you think a lot about keeping the cerebral and libidinous impulses in balance?
"Of course. I like contrasts and techno is a good language to speak in contrasts. I would get tired if I were always playing on the same level."

You've just finished an album… what's the vibe like?
"Melancholic, deep, a bit techno and dance-y."

Will it surprise people?
"I hope so!"

You're called the "Ronaldinho of the BPitch football team" - what's your trademark move?
"Run, run, run. ;-)"

You're sporting fine minimal 'tache - can you explain the relationship between techno and facial hair?
"I have had the moustache for more than two years. I did it for the look - and all the 'tache-DJs I know [are] playing music I like: Luciano, Fra, Carsten Kleemann. But Luciano has the biggest, haha."

If you had one night left on earth and you could either play your favourite club or play for your favourite football team, what would you do?
"I would DJ, but have a football in my DJ case!"

www.bpitchcontrol.de - www.myspace.com/saschafunke