Kompakt Style 

He is one of the most important artists of the Cologne music scene. Responsible for the great success of Kompakt Records, Michael Mayer is sinonimous with the the unique sound of the city. During Reworks festival we took the chance to get ideas and thoughts that we could never imagine to hear!

Michael good afternoon I am really glad to meet you, and to do this interview with you. So as a start I would like some words about the label.

Things at Kompakt are totally free. We want to leave the label to progress and us to progress with it. We do not follow long term plans, we just leave things to roll alone by doing slow but steady steps!

Well I wouldn’t say that you move so slowly! The releases & distribution is something big and constant to be done with such slow steps as you say.

Of course distribution is big and the labels is unbelievably succesfull. But what I mean is that we do not put a plan down for the next 5 years of how we shall be by then. Sometimes I see all this success and think. “God how did this happen?  3 years  ago we just had a record shop smoking joints and getting drunk!

So finally? Can you understand what happened and what lies behind this success?

 Even though I have not clearly decided, I think it mostly the chemistry which lexists among the people that run the company. Between ,Wolfgang Voigt and Jurgen Paape. From the other side our relationship with the artists is also very important. They trust us because they know that we are not businessmen that simply want to use their music. We are artists ourselves, we have made releases in record labels and we know very well how is to work with a bad label! We can feel their problems and waling on their shoes!

So what is the music style of the label? Is it minimal? Is tit techno?

Hmm...I do not think I can categorise it. Especially when today music styles are so confused. Kompakt I would say is like a big musica village which has whatever necessary for its people. Think this for example. A village has a  butcher, a bakery, a church. This is the Kompakt I have in mind

We have said so many things but we have said anything about you! Would you like to say some things about your self? 

Why not? Who doesn;t want to speak about himself? I am 34 years old, playing music since my 20’s and even though already 14 years have passed I still like to do it. I know that this will not last till the end of my life, but I do not thing I will ever get bored of playing. I love the fact that I have the chance to travel and meet new people. Like I met you for example! The only thing I try to do lately is to reduce my gigs. To make more selective gigs and to rest a bit more. I love walking in the forest and I haven;t done this for a year!

Are you preparing something this period?

This period I am working on a small group which I have made together with Superpitcher! It is called  “SuperMayer”,  you know a mix of each other names. I am loyal to this project for now even though it is quite early to say so far it is going really good! We have already written our first tracks, and we have decided not to work separately anymore. Whatever we do we do it together! We have so many things in common on our characters, we want the same things and we totally understand each other.

With whom you would like to collaborate the most from the artists that you haven’t yet had the chance to ?

If you would ask me this question before sometime I would answer you the Pet Shop Boys. However I did a remix on them on their last LP so this doesn’t count! In the future I would really like to work together with Kylie.

Kylie who? Kylie Minogue? Are you kidding!

No, not at all! I adore her! I have been following her career from the start and I think she is the best singer in the world!

In the world?You sound like a Kylie groupie!

Well mow that you mention it, maybe I am (laughs). Imagine that I am not in fond of blondes ( laughs) . But seriously I admire her because she is sexy and rest! I like her all!

Ok. So I wish you from my hard your dream to become true. I would really love to see this.

Thanks very much for your wish and the beautiful interview. I hope we talk soon again!

*Many thanks to Sophia & to The city Vibe electronic portal for their kind approval to present this interview