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Born in Germany and now living in Amsterdam, Patrice Baumel is a Dj/producer with his finger firmly on the pulse of contemporary electronic music. With productions licensed to seminal electronic music imprints such as Get Physical, Trapez and !K7, his is an impressive CV. Raised on a diet of Yello and Depeche Mode, as well as a heavy dosage of his father's record collection, Baumel, it's fair to say, is a Dj who knows his stuff.

Having Dj'd since his teens and now in his early 30's, life is looking pretty exciting for Mr. Baumel right now. Practically every successful Dj/producer is launched in to the electronic music limelight on the back of a track, which suddenly garners them worldwide attention. In Baumel's case, the track was 'Roar - an infectious peak time monster which had Dj's as diverse as Boys Noize and Roman Fluegel nodding their heads in appreciation. Since then, he's hardly had a minute to look back, with the Dj gigs and remix offers suddenly flooding in.

Having recently announced his residency in Amsterdam's newest beacon of cool, Trouw club, Patric Baumel's real adventure it seems, is only getting started. With a full length LP schedueled for release in 2010 on the Trouw imprint, I Voice met up with Baumel to discuss his career so far, his rapid ascendency from unknown German Dj to Amsterdam's latest purveyor of groovy underground techno and what he loves so much about the city he now calls home...

First off Patrice, any new years resolutions we should know about?
Better time management. Stay off the internet as much as possible and maintain a good work/sleep rhythm.

You moved from Germany to Amsterdam. Could you tell us a bit about that decision?
That move happened a long time ago. I grew up in Dresden, East Germany. It's a historically beautiful place but there was very little going in terms of modern culture. On top of that the fall of the wall has left many people disillusioned and that frustration could be felt everywhere. I was hungry for a change and Amsterdam had it all: the parties, the cosmopolitan way of life and lots of opportunities to start a career.  It was and still is a trouble free place to live in, with a culture and language that don't take much adjusting for a German. I did not want any fillers on the album, only tracks that will be strong enough to work on their own...

Darko Esser recently explained to us that he'd find the way of life too hectic in Amsterdam. Is this something you'd agree with?
I personally find the pace of life in Amsterdam relaxed compared to bigger cities like London. People don't work silly hours and like to enjoy life. Restaurants and cafes are packed most days of the week.

It's a city with a small footprint, getting from A to B is easily done by bicycle. If you want to get away from it all, the beach is only 30 minutes away and the surrounding nature is beautiful. It only takes me 15 minutes to get to the airport. Few places on earth rival Amsterdam in terms of quality of life.

So do you consider yourself Dutch or German?
100% German. You are what you are, it's more interesting to bring your own background into a new situation than changing your identity just to fit in.

Are you friends with other Amsterdam based producers - be it Shinedoe, Lauhaus, Sandy Huner or 2000 and One? Why do you think the city is brimming with techno talent right now?
I am very good friends with Nuno dos Santos and Melon, with whom I run the Trouw label. The others I mostly meet at parties but we get along really well and it makes me feel good to see them grow and get worldwide recognition - it is long overdue. The reasons for success probably lie in the fact that Amsterdam has a long tradition in quality house and techno and most of the guys therefore have a solid musical education and background. It is also really important to have a few key figures in the scene. Without guys like Dylan Hermelijn (aka 2000 and One) who runs the whole Remote Area / Intacto / 100% Pure empire, Marsel from Delsin or Olaf Boswijk from Trouw, many of the guys would be without infrastructure and guidance. I think that is the single most important reason for the success of the Amsterdam scene.

Is it partly down to the ADE? What does the conference mean to you?
I think ADE has little to do with the success of Amsterdam, otherwise Sonar or WMC would have created similar success stories for Barcelona or Miami. ADE is a great opportunity to meet friends and colleagues, show off the city and throw a few quality parties. From a business point of view I could think of more personal ways to connect with others. ADE should be all about fun.

You have a new album due out soon. Can you tell us a bit about that?
There was a point where I was not even sure it was a good idea to do an album. Everybody releases them nowadays and the value of the medium has diminished. But then I accidentally bumped into Marc Romboy and he convinced me - saying that it would be a good artistic experience and I should absolutely do it. He was right. The process is great, it makes you grow as an artist. I listened to a lot of other albums and tried to find out what makes them work or fail. A lot of producers take an album as an opportunity to show off their diversity and include ambient and downtempo tracks. I decided against it - it's just not me and I did not want any fillers on the album, only tracks that will be strong enough to work on their own. I want the album to flow like a really good podcast and to be uncompromising, to fit a specific mood, not to be a jack of all trades. It is custom made for the car or an afterparty. The first release will be a double mix cd done by us Trouw residents, which will be due early summer, hopefully in time for sonar...

Also, how is the residency in Trouw working out for you? Do you see yourself as an ambassador for the club, as say, Craig Richards is with Fabric?
I would be honoured to do what Craig has done for Fabric. It is a wonderful feeling to be part of Trouw, every single person working in the club is special to me. Being able to play there so much is a privilege. As a club, it rivals any place I've ever been to. Working conditions for djs are excellent, to have a great meal in the club restaurant before every gig is a bonus. There is also a lot of responsibility tied to the residency. I need to develop constantly, create a sound that cannot be heard elsewhere, keep things interesting for regular visitors - the experience needs to be unique.

Also, how is the Trouw record label coming along?
It's hard work but it's paying off. The first release will be a double mix cd done by us Trouw residents, which will be due early summer, hopefully in time for sonar. We decided to schedule my album for around september as june through august generally is not a good time for an album launch. We will probably do one or two other singles in the summer months, though.

Production wise, you're best known for 'Roar'....but would you ever play it any more?
Never say never, but I really needed a break from that record in 2009. I will probably keep it in the vault for a while and pull it out once it starts feeling fresh again. I might use an adapted version of it in my liveset.

Obviously 'Roar' opened a lot of doors for you. What does the track mean to you?
That in dance music, simplicity rules. One strong statement gets you further than a sophisticated arrangement of bits and bobs.

What drew you to electronic music in the first place?
The contrast between man and machine, warm and cold. Pure, strong emotions. Depeche Mode was a starting point for me but that interaction between contrasting can be found in anything I do - tracks, podcasts, dj sets.

Is there a production/ Dj gig of yours you're most proud of?
My very first record, ‘Mutant Pop', will always have a special place for me. Holding it in my hands for the first time felt so good. Musically, probably my remix for Marc Romboy's "Sonora". It didn't get as much attention as other records I made but it's really out there and sounds like nothing else.

Trouw aside, have you a favorite place to play?
A small place called "Europa" in Lisbon I played a few years ago was magic - it was the best and most demanding crowd ever. Portugal, England, Ireland, Russia, Australia, France and Belgium are my favourite countries to play. The way a promoter treats you can also make a huge difference. The crew around Arma17 in Moscow or Dirty Dancing in Brussels are just amazingly welcoming, hospitable and super professional people.

What are your plans for 2010?
Get the live act going. Put the Trouw label on the map in a big way. And take my 360 project with Nuno dos Santos to the next level.

Finally, tell us something interesting about Patrice Baumel we wouldn't necessarily know...
I like to surf and spend nearly every holiday at some place with waves. It is the perfect counterbalance for the genuinely unhealthy lifestyle of a musician. Even though the waves are not great in Holland, as soon as the water gets warm enough my mates and I are out in the water as much as possible. Quite a few of the Trouw crew are addicted to it, too. Good times!

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www.myspace.com/patricebaumel | www.360-music.org | www.trouwamsterdam.nl