We Know the Feeling: Elef (Beatport Berlin)

We Know the Feeling: Elef (Beatport Berlin)

8 November, 2010 | 6.30AM

• Written by: Beatportal
• Filed under: Music News: afterglow, plastic angel, we know the feeling

If Beatport’s Berlin staff is sometimes accused of favoring techno, tech house and other underground-friendly flavors of club music, we can thank Elef Tsiroudis for providing a crucial counterbalance. Elef is our merchandising manager for progressive house, trance, and psy trance. Also known as the DJ/producer Plastic Angel, head of the labels Afterglow and Afterglow Deep, and a former production partner of the late, beloved Christian Morgenstern, Elef has deep roots in the dance-music scene; read on to meet one of the Berlin office’s most distinctive characters.

Where were you born, Elef?

I was born in Germany in a city called Reutlingen, near Stuttgart … and to avoid any questions about my name, I am Greek!

When did you make the move to Berlin, Germany?

I moved to Berlin at the end of 2001.

What was the reason to move to Berlin?

“Love…” Yes, so it was… At that time, I lived in Frankfurt being part of a great a studio when I met my (now) ex, and it was easier for me to move than for her. Even if the relationship doesn’t exist anymore, it was the best decision ever to move to Berlin.

Do you ever get homesick for Greece?

To be honest, no—I think I am too German and can’t share the way of living they do. For vacation it’s fun, but the idea of living there forever… no way!

What are some of your earliest musical influences?

I was influenced by my sister who bought many soul and funk records by acts like Diana Ross, Chaka Khan, Diana Ross, Afrika Bambaataa, Bomb the Bass, Michael Jackson, and then later, Depeche Mode, the Cure, Duran Duran, Kraftwerk, and many more.

How did you get into electronic music?

It sounds strange, but it was the Commodore c64. I was so impressed by the SID chip that I didn’t play the games but was just listening for hours to the game music. In 1986 I started making my first steps in music using Future Composer, which was a very complex program. In 1989 I joined the Amiga scene doing music for crack intros and demos. With the first money I earned writing music for a game I bought my first synthesizer, a Yamaha SY85, and together with Christian Morgenstern, who was also part of the computer scene, we decided to team up to a producer team.

My first ever contact with electronic music was at the end of 1992, when I was on the way to a computer party, picking up a friend in Frankfurt. I stayed there for a night and he went with me to the legendary club Omen, where Sven Väth had his residency.

What is the best part about living in Berlin?

This city is just amazing. I love Berlin with its parks, the architecture, the people, and its districts. You never have the feeling living in a big city. You can dress like you want, without being judged, and after any parties you always meet people who are more wasted than you! Still, there are so many great venues and even after years I experience still new things .

What is the worst?

Too many people are moving to Berlin and slowly it starts to become more snobby. Dog sh*t is still what I hate, especially in the summer when it smells awful. Aaahh, and what I dislike most is that I have to talk in English while living in Germany because of lazy strangers who don’t wanna learn the German language… [Alter, Elef, sei doch nicht so unfreundlich…! Wir werden gerne mehr Deutsch lernen, aber wir haben keine Zeit, weil wir so viel arbeiten müssen! –Ed.]


How did you find your way to working at Beatport?

I got a call from Ronny Krieger, who was the boss of the Berlin office, asking me if I knew a person who wants to take care of progressive house and trance. I recommended him a person but after two weeks he asked me if I would be interested myself. As me and my ex break up the relationship, while working in the same company, I decided to join Beatport part-time but also keep working for Handle with Care. That happened in April 2008. I knew Ronny from the old days, when he used to work for Heiko Laux’s label Kanzleramt.

What do you do at Beatport?

Besides being a funny guy? I am the merchandise manager for progressive house, trance, and psy trance.

You also work for Handle With Care. Can you tell us a little about it?

Handle with Care can be described as similar to Beatport, but for physical products. Its the leading manufacturing service for vinyl/CD/DVD and also for any kind of merchandising items. The company was found in 1998 by my lovely boss Silke Maurer, who used to work for Neuton Distribution. We are working with the best labels, distributors, mastering companies, and pressing plants as we offer a very fast and professional service. I joined them in 2004 but I was also one of the three first clients… I have known Silke since 1995. My part in the company is chasing people down to pay their bills—accountant and expert for mechanical rights.

Tell us about your alter ego, Plastic Angel.

Don’t laugh at my artist name! I always loved animé and being part of the computer scene, so I selected this name. After my first partner—my beloved friend Christian Morgenstern, RIP—and I decided to go our own ways, I started Plastic Angel in 1995. I’ve released many, many records and remixes for lots of labels. The genre I am producing is progressive house/progressive trance—check Discogs and Beatport if you want to know more!

You also run a successful label called Afterglow—tell us a bit about the label.

Afterglow was founded at the end of 2001 and has become a very respected brand and label. The idea behind it was to release music my own music and anything I really like but also to help new artists not to make the same mistakes I did when I started in 1993… I run Afterglow, which stands for high quality trance, and Afterglow Deep for progressive house… My first ever label was ? Records in 1993, run by Christian Morgenstern and me. Later I had Shokoy Record,s a techno label, from 1995 to 2000.

What gear are you using in the studio?

I do not produce that much anymore since I live in Berlin, but I always worked with Logic and Mac. Still, I have some analog synthies and lots of effects gear. My absolute favorite is the Access Virus.

Top three producers at the moment?

Moderat
Sirius Mo
Slam

All time favorite producers?

Aux 88
Autechre
Aphex Twin

Best three tracks you’ve heard in the past few months?

Slam, “The Strip” [Drumcode]
Shed, “Keep Time” [Ostgut Ton]
Siriusmo, “Einmal in der Woche Schreien” [Monkeytown]

Tell us one of your favorite moments involving electronic music!
Entering Sven Väth’s Omen in 1992. After that experience I became a rave kid, traveling hundreds of kilometers to raves with my friends…

Lightning Round:

What actor most resembles you?

Some people told me I remind them of David Schwimmer from Friends—with the only difference that I am funnier than him!

Winter or summer in Berlin?

Both, as I like Berlin covered by snow and also Berlin in the summer with its unbelievable sundowns and open airs, lakes, etc. I only hate the city when it’s raining.

Ideal vacation destination?

I don’t have a favorite destination, but I love to sauna everywhere in the world!

Worst smell ever?

Two of the worst smells ever during my Thailand trip. First the smell of death in Bangkok coming up from the inspection point and second while traveling by boat to Koh Phan Ghan, puking in the bag again and again while smelling it. One hour of fighting against my death!

What is your favorite sauce to put on salad?

A classic question, if you know me, when I go out to eat. I dislike mustard, mayonnaise and other strange liquids. I simply love premium Greek olive oil from Crete, sometimes mixed with a bit balsamic. But most of the time I use simply olive oil and fresh lemon juice.

Who is your favorite Beatport employee?

I do not have any favorites. I simply like nearly all of them…

Plastic Angel - Yes It’s a Trance Chart

Plastic Angel

Afterglow Records

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