We are glad to welcome one of rising stars of techno for episode 28. Spanish supertalent Psyk has been making big waves the last couple of years with a string of amazing releases on Mote Evolver, Figure and his own Non Seris. He is a whirlwind behind the decks as well, as you will be able to hear in this mix.

Here's what he had to say:

1.What is your relationship with Balans?

I know Darko since I played at the great Doornroosje, of course I know his stuff much earlier. And as the label it is, Balans has a really great catalogue, I have played in my past gigs almost every of their releases.

2.What do you do to try and stay in balance? Any tips & secrets you  
would like to share with us night folks?

Well, watching movies and take a good time with family and friends is the thing that helps balance after the weekend. Im trying to make some sport again, I think thats a good tip for everyone.

3.About the podcast, can you tell us the story behind the mix?

Is a mix I recorded at Subsonic in Groningen on the Queensday weekend. There are just some tracks I really like at the moment.

4.What gear did you use to make the Balans podcast?

Mixed mostly with Cds, a sampler and a A&H mixer.

5.What do you have in store for us (gigs/releases) the coming months?

My last release on Mote-Evolver is out now, Arcade Ep. And Ill release a track on CLR soon for a very special compilation of his boss, Chris Liebing.

Regarding gigs this month Im playing in a Non Series Showcase with my buddy Henning Baer at Culture Box in Copenhagen, then later in one of my favourite clubs so far, Cassette in my hometown Madrid, and then at Rex Club in Paris.

Helsinki's Samuli Kemppi is no doubt Finland's finest. The talented techno producer joined ranks earlier this year with the amazing Lost EP, wich includes reworks from ROD and Tripeo. He made a very special mix for us: instead of a DJ-set he made a full LIVE PA consisting only of his own material. Including new unreleased bits as well as live versions of tunes you might know. Enjoy!

This is what he had to say to us:

1.What is your relationship with Balans?

I've known Darko for some years now and played many times at his parties. Relationship got on the next level with my 'Lost EP' on Balans. Currently looking for a flat near Nijmegen. :D

2.What do you do to try and stay in balance? Any tips & secrets you would like to share with us night folks?

I have found my balance and I do live quite normal family life with my wife and son. I have a regular job. Music is my getaway from daily life. Tips? Eat well, do your sports and focus on positive things.

3.About the podcast, can you tell us the story behind the mix?

It is a live pa, 100% improvisation. Decided the starting track and just started jamming. I wanted to explore my own sounds and make out something different. Some of you might have heard my live sets earlier. They are usually much more straight forward. Here's long transitions and slowly evolving things; no hurry. Both tracks from the 'Lost EP' are included, but as you can hear, quite different versions. I'd say there is tension in it. That's what I try to put in on tracks.

4.What gear did you use to make the Balans podcast?

Laptop running Ableton Live, Akai APC40, Evolution UC33, Korg Electribe ESX-1, TouchAble on iPad, small mixer to sum it up. 

5.What do you have in store for us (gigs/releases) the coming months?

'Lost EP' on Balans is out now and also 'Voyager' on Chronicle. Next one is 'Parallax of one second EP' on M_REC Ltd. Lots of remixes coming out too, first one for Mattias Fridell on Gynoid Ltd. Also writing stuff for DSH003. On the gig front, Tresor next friday (12th April) and Freerotation festival in the summer. Quite a lot of things happening. Good stuff.

Up next is one of our favorite Dutch technojocks: Sandrien! She has been making waves for years in Holland and way beyond with her nononsense take on quality house and techno. Her night IMPRINT in TrouwAmsterdam has raised the bar for our nation capital and she released the fantastic 'Haters' EP on our sisterlabel Wolfskuil Ltd only a couple of weeks ago. Enjoy this amazing journey and here's what she has to say in our Q&A

1.What is your relationship with Balans?

I know Darko for a while now and just released my EP on Wolfskuil. I've played at his parties and he played at mine. Really like what he's doing as an artist and with his labels, so happy to have a release on his label. 

2.What do you do to try and stay in balance? Any tips & secrets you  
would like to share with us night folks?

I like to work out, I cycle a lot and go to the gym. Besides that I try to eat healthy. It helps me to stay focussed and feel good.

3.About the podcast, can you tell us the story behind the mix?

At the moment I'm reorganizing my record collection and I found some records I wanted to play again. So it turned out a deep techno mix with some of the older tracks and some new stuff.  

4.What gear did you use to make the Balans podcast?

I used 2 Technics SL-1210MK2 and an Allen & Heath Mixer.

5.What do you have in store for us (gigs/releases) the coming months?

The 30th of march I will be doing the next Imprint party at Trouw with Surgeon. Besides that I will be playing at nice parties in Holland and abroad. And at the moment I'm working on new tracks in my new studio.

We have a very, very special guest for magic number 25. None other then Spanish techno legend Oscar Mulero has given us a special podcast running up to his performance at BALANS @ Melkweg Amsterdam on february 22nd! Oscar has been travelling the globe for 20 years with his cutting edge performances and is considered to be in techno's premier league. We are superproud and excited to have one of our alltime heroes on board for our podcast series! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do

Up next in the BALANS podcast series is fresh Wolfskuil Records signing Doka from Amsterdam. This huge talent has made a relentless, pure and honost technomix for us. A little taster for his upcoming performance at BALANS @ Melkweg on february 22nd supporting the mighty Oscar Mulero!

This is what he has to say:

What is your relationship with Balans?

Darko is my friend! And I had the honor to play two times at Balans! Great party’s with refreshing and exciting line-up’s

What do you do to try and stay in balance? Any tips & secrets you  
would like to share with us night folks?

Run! Run! Run! I’ve been running/jogging for the last half year now and it’s fantastic! Also after a crazy and exhausting weekend.. Run, and you feel much beter :)

About the podcast, can you tell us the story behind the mix?

I made a mix that represents my (darker) style. Their are also 2 tracks in de mix forthcoming on Darko’s label Wolfskuil Records in February called Exigent EP.

What gear did you use to make the Balans podcast?

Ableton, APC20, UC33e

What do you have in store for us (gigs/releases) the coming months?

Besides my release on Wolfskuil records I’m playing along Oscar Mulero and Darko Esser @ de Melkweg the 22nd of February. I’m also doing a gig @ Ruigoord the 2nd of February and Together with Loy Bastiaens I do a gig as SHLTR @ ON an ON in the Westerunie the 8th of march with a sick line-up!

Japanese rising star Imugem Orihasam is about to drop his Beware EP on our BALANS label. He has been making waves with his unique take on techno on Steadfast, Ilian Tape to name a few. Here's a stunning mix from our friend, enjoy!

Q&A with Imugem:

What is your relationship with Balans?
Mirella Kroes introduced BALANS's boss Darko Esser. Since then building up great relationship with BALANS.

What do you do to try and stay in balance? Any tips & secrets you?
would like to share with us night folks?
Love & Happiness. That's my TIP.

About the podcast, can you tell us the story behind the mix?
I don't have dj skillz, so I mixed with respect to all music and artists.

What gear did you use to make the Balans podcast?
I used cakewalk Sonar 6 LE.

What do you have in store for us (gigs/releases) the coming months?
Beware EP [BALANS008] is available next week as 12" vinyl and digital download. Check the link for more infos about this release: http://www.facebook.com/notes/balans/feedback-imugem-orihasam-beware-ep-balans008/461570410572623

Argentinian DJ & producer Jonas Kopp has made a no-nonsense techno mix for BALANS leading up to his weekender with us in november. On the 16th he will play at Melkweg Amsterdam and the day after in an intimate setting in Merleyn Nijmegen. Jonas is unstoppable the last few years, unleashing one dancefloor monster after the other. His latest outing on Deeply Rooted House is some of the best tracks in his allready extended discography. Enjoy!

After a nice and calm holiday break, we are back in full effect for the new season! First up is mr Applescal, the Dutch melody meister who released 2 fantastic albums on Traum Schallplatten en is working on number 3 as we speak.  He recently reworked Arjuna Schiks summer anthem 'Hua Hun' on Wolfskuil Records, recreating this epic tune with his own distinct sound signature. For his BALANS mix he goes in deep, melodic and emotionridden. A great soundtrack while we are heading for the fall.

We asked him a few questions:

What is your relationship with Balans?

I know Darko for a while now from parties in Nijmegen.

What do you do to try and stay in balance? Any tips & secrets you 
would like to share with us night folks?

Go out for a walk sometimes.

About the podcast, can you tell us the story behind the mix?

I try to take the listener on a journey through different genres. All 
tracks are in the same mood and vibe though. I also did some special 
edits for this set. Lorca vs. Gidge, Kink vs. Axel Helios and Mig Dfoe 
vs. Jack Dixon.

What gear did you use to make the Balans podcast?

Just Ableton

What do you have in store for us (gigs/releases) the coming months?

My album comes out early 2013. Also keep an eye on 
www.rtfkt.net, a project i'm involved with.

Tommy Four Seven, the crownprince of Chris Liebing's CLR empire, made a very special mix prior to his BALANS show in Melkweg, Amsterdam. Tommy and BALANS head honcho Darko Esser have history together, with Tommy releasing on his Wolfskuil imprint and them remixing each other's tunes. Mr Four Seven has been making waves with his uncompromising releases, resulting in the epic debutalbum that is 'Primate'. His relentless, dynamic and raw livesets have made him many fans worldwide. This mix is a perfect example of what Tommy is capable of

As always, we asked him a couple of questions prior to his gig next week:

01.What is you relationship with Balans?

I consider Darko Esser a good friend, we've worked together in the past and we continue to support each other.

02.What do you do to try and stay in balance? Any tips & secrets you would like to share with us night folks?

I've found eating a vegan diet and running during the week helps balance the crazy weekends.

03.About the podcast, can you tell us the story behind the mix?

It's pretty much a full on dancefloor mix, recorded fresh after the weekend.

04.What gear did you use to make the Balans podcast?

Traktor, Macbook Pro, 2 x A&H 1D Controllers, 92 A&H Mixer, alcohol.

05.What do you have in store for us (gigs/releases) the coming months?

This weekend is all about Holland. Friday for the Balans party in Amsterdam with Shifted who is also my neighbour here in Berlin so it's always a laugh.  Saturday I'll be with Sandwell District at 'Have A Nice Day Festival' and then of course the after party. 

Release wise, my remix for Truss on Sigha's Our Circula Sound label is out now on wax and soon on digital. The remix features as the penultimate track on the mix.

We have a very special guest for this episode. Man of the moment and one of the artists that sets the course for techno as we speak, Shifted, is on duty for episode 19. Noone knows exactly who is behind this mysterious monnniker, all we know he is no newcomer to the electronic arena. His debutalbum 'Crossed Paths' on Luke Slater's Mote Evolver label, is a stunning collection of tracks: rich in textures and with an almost physical ambiance. He made this podcast especially for his appearance at the first edition of BALANS at Melkweg on friday the 6th of july. Enjoy the darkness and make sure you don't miss him in Amsterdam!

As always, we had our Q&A with the mystery man:

01.What is you relationship with Balans?

No relationship to mention really, i'm just a fan of both the label, which is putting out consistently great music and of Darko as a producer.

02.What do you do to try and stay in balance? Any tips & secrets you would like to share with us night folks?

Try to eat well, not drink to much and enjoy life. Stress is the cause of so much ill health, I think if you have a healthy mind then your body follows.

03.About the podcast, can you tell us the story behind the mix?

I just wanted to do something more aimed at the Dancefloor. the intro and the outro also have some processed field recordings that i added on top to make it a little more interesting.

04.What gear did you use to make the Balans podcast?

Usually i'm playing vinyl, but i just recently moved to Berlin and as a result have no Technics here at the moment. I put this together in Ableton Live.

05.What do you have in store for us (gigs/releases) the coming months?

I have a collaboration with Edit Select that just came out on Semantica, I'm also working on a full EP for them. Aside from that theres remixes for Mike Parker, DJ Skirt & Planetary Assault Systems coming soon. And i'm working on a new Pacific Blue 12" and something for Avian.. No doubt there will be another EP for Mote Evolver this year as well.