Born in Hamburg, Germany, signed to French label Kistune, and distributed throughout the world by Virgin and EMI, Digitalism seem to have the world at their feet. Like the mighty Daft Punk before them, from who they draw influence and are often compared to, their strongly European irrelevant sense of fun gushes from their electronic instruments onto the vinyl of DJs and then to the dance floors of the world.
Jens Moelle and Ismail Tuefekci met in a record store when Moelle was behind the counter and Tuefekci an eager punter. “I had known the record store owner for a number of years and was really good friends with him,” Tuefekci says is a smooth German accent. “It was a really cool atmosphere in there. When Jens had exams I worked there in his place, and when he came back I found out Jens produced at home and I produced at home.”
“The owner had a party, and because Jens and I come from the same generation he billed us to play together. And that night was so funny because Jens knew what I would play and I knew what he would play and that. When we DJ we need some exciting stuff,” Tuefekci explains. “I’m not looking for particular labels or artists. I’m interested in music, not who’s producing this song or which label that. We like to throw different types of music in a mix, not just keep it one way for a whole night. We might throw in some punk, rock, electro, dance or whatever.”
In 2002 Digitalism formed their studio. “We and another friend had a stupid idea to start a studio,” laughs Tuefekci. “We were bored of all the records, you know working in a record store so long we were just searching for something new.” That studio was set up in a bunker in Hamburg, Germany, which helped to create an unique atmosphere to record songs that have an irrelevant feel. “We play a strobe light when we are producing, we don’t have windows, and after three or four hours there’s no fresh air. We can’t take it seriously,” he chuckles again.
Hamburg, being a small German town, has a big influence on Digitalism. Tuefekci explains that Hamburg doesn’t have a big dance scene, but it’s the home of German hiphop, but unlike in other places the hiphop is influenced by electronica and vice versa. “We’re not in a French scene or London scene or Berlin scene. We know the people there in those and are talking to them a lot, are friends with them, but we aren’t in a scene. And we don’t want to focus on one scene, we want to take all of that and mix it together. It’s really cool because we have friends in those scenes, but we are very isolated, not in a bad way but in an interesting way.”
After wooing crowds DJing and doing a few bootlegs including The White Stripes’ 7 Nation Army and the Cure’s Fire in Cairo, their catchy electro-pop caught the ears of French label Kitsune, “After Zdarlight,” one of their first popular singles, “they sent a girl from the label to talk to us and they were really excited and were looking for more and more.” That led to their debut album ‘Idealism’, a fresh take on the booming electro scene spearheaded by Justice and Australia’s Presets. “We were helped out by Kim from the Presets on Pogo,” Tuefekci mentions. “We have a prodigious output and the label helped a lot with choosing songs and graphics. It’s not like they are a major label, we feel like it’s an independent and it’s a really cool feeling for us as artists.”
Digitalism are keen to hit Australia for Parklife, which is hitting Adelaide for the first time this year. When asked about their set up for the gig, Tuefekci explains that they like to keep it simple. “Our sound is between a band and electronic artist, you know? Jens and I are a duo and it’s important for us to stay together without four or five in the whole band thing when on the road. When on stage Jens is singing and I am on E-Drums and then we play on our electronic gear – synthesisers and sound controller and samplers,” he says, but stresses that even so they contain a lot of energy and like to have a lot of fun.
Digitalism play Parklife alongside Adam Freeland, Justice, Scratch Perverts, Stereo MCs and more, held at the Botanic Gardens on Sun 23 Sept.