Justus Köhncke

From Punkrock to Acid, ballads to Techno, from Whirlpool Productions to KOMPAKT - producer, singer and DJ Justus Köhncke has surely come a long way. Justus started off in the late 80s with his first projects doing electronic versions of Amanda Lear songs. After moving to Cologne in 1990 and being heavily influenced by House music, Justus began producing tracks with Hans Nieswandt and Eric D. Clark and shortly after founded Whirlpool Productions. Their first 12Inch »Fly High/Gimme« became an instant underground hit.

From 1992 to 2000 this electronic supergroup released four full-length albums as well as countless 12Inches and remixes. They are especially known for their 1996 club classic »From: Disco To: Disco« which became a major hit across Europe.

After the split up Justus started releasing under his own name. His first solo album »Spiralen der Erinnerung« (»Spirals Of Memories«) consisted of very personal electronic interpretations of some of his favourite artists like John Cale, Neil Young or german chanson legend Hildegard Knef and also introduced Köhncke as a fragile and soulful vocalist.

But Disco was never dead for him. After signing with his Cologne rave buddies on the KOMPAKT label in 2001, he dropped his now-trademark 12 inches »Jet/Shelter« and »2 After 909« as well as the off-label series »Science« with some fantastic Chic-Edits.

2002 saw the release of his first solo album for KOMPAKT »Was Ist Musik« which combined the clubby side of his music with Köhncke's special approach towards the use of german language in electronic pop songs. »Doppelleben«, the 2005 follow-up, pushed this duality even further.

The release of »Timecode« in 2004 turned out to become his biggest disco smash so far, ruling the floors that summer and until the present day.

With the albums »Safe And Sound« (2008) and »Justus Köhncke & The Wonderful Frequency Band« (2013) he underlined himself as one of the most unique and unconventional producers in electronic pop and dance music.

His tracks have been licensed on countless compilations and Mix-CDs, including ones by Erlend Øye, Steve Bug, DJ Hell or Felix Da Housecat. Over the years, Justus has produced remixes for Chelonis R. Jones, Ladytron, Mylo, Andreas Dorau, Erasure, Stereo Total, Hot Chip and many others.

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