Roland Leesker (Get Physical) on Pioneer DE Radio- ‘I’m Not DJing for Money Anymore (interview)
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Roland Leesker is the Managing director of acclaimed underground tech/ house label Get Physical Music as well as being a music management consultant for the Berlin based AskMyManagement company and its related labels Desolat and CLR.
Also a DJ for 25 he loves mixing up ‘old skool hip hop vinyl records, via future space disco house spiced up with a few pop hits & jazz classics’ and has delivered the latest mix on Germany Calling for Pioneer DJ Radio http://www.pioneerdjradio.com
Roland’s DJ mix for Germany Calling on Pioneer DJ Radio broadcasts on Friday November 15 (show-time is 14.00 CET/ London 13.00) then on Sunday November 17 (show-time 19.00-21.00 CET):
Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What approach did you take with the mix (any theme eg all Get Physical tracks?
Roland Leesker: “Hi Jonty, first of all: thank you for playing my mix. It´s a pure collection of current Get Physical music tracks. We have so many good releases, there wasn´t space for any others and I always like to take the chance to promote our artists. I hope you like it.”
Skrufff: How do you prioritise DJing with all your other business activities?
Roland Leesker: “Business first! DJing for the love of it, to relax and to get new ideas.”
Skrufff: How easy is it to keep the two roles separate (eg how hard to avoid bagging BIG gigs for yourself and/ or offending get physical artists when you do?)
Roland Leesker: “I started DJing when I was 17 years old, now almost 24 years later I made a very important decision for myself: I am not DJjing for money, not at all any more. When I am DJing then I am DJing for very special occasions only. To give you an example: this year I was invited to spin at the Adidas VIP lounge for the Champions league final between Bayern and Dortmund in London.
I played everything from old skool hip hop vinyl records, via future space disco house spiced up with a few pop hits & jazz classics. Everybody was happy, even Zinedine Zidane was lip synchng to the music having his young son sleeping on his knees. THAT`s what I call: give & take. I just love it so much when people are feeling better through the power of music.”
Skrufff: What’s your assessment of Berlin’s music scene right now? What’s exciting you, what’s now?
Roland Leesker: “From a business point of view this is the best place to be to make things happen. From the music point of view: I love Sunday evenings at Berghain. I am going there when my boys at bed, sometimes just for 2 or 3 hours to be fit on Monday morning, but sometimes I am still there, when my boys up and at school already.”
Skrufff: And the prospects for labels in Berlin? What do they need to do to survive- and thrive?
Roland Leesker: “Love for the music AND a deep knowledge and understanding of how to crunch a lot of numbers!”
Roland’s DJ mix for Germany Calling on Pioneer DJ Radio broadcasts on Friday November 15 (show-time is 14.00 CET/ London 13.00) then on Sunday November 17 (show-time 19.00-21.00 CET):
