This is Sander Kleinenberg!

Sander Kleinenberg started DJing at a local bar at the age of 15. Today he is a label head and producer who frequently  travels playing at the greatest clubs in the world including Chicago's very own SpyBar. Below, Sander Kleinenberg speaks to us about his "THIS IS" parties, which Belgian producer he has been impressed lately by, and what his favorite gig of the summer has been.



How has your summer been going?  It has been great so far. The tour in the USA was lovely and it's always nice to see old and new friends while being here. I'm already looking forward to return in November.

Did you enjoy playing SpyBar this past weekend? Can you feel a difference in the crowd in Chicago given its storied house music heritage? When I perform in Chicago you can certainly feel that the crowd is open-minded and are willing to go deep with me. Chicago's history of house music might be the reason for that.

What have been some of your favorite shows or festivals so far this season? The Ultra Festival shows in Buenos Aires and Seoul (Korea) this summer were just amazing.

We see you've got some appearances at Pop Star at Amnesia in Ibiza, could you tell us a little bit about how that came about and what fans can expect at those parties? Amnesia's terrace is just an amazing place. When Brian Cross, the founder and promoter of Pop Star, asked me to be a part of his concept on the terrace and offered a great visual setting for my DVJ show, I didn't doubt for a second. So people who visit my shows at the Pop Star events can expect a high energy audiovisual performance at a very magical place with a lot of history in electronic music.

How would you describe the progression of your sound from what you first made your name playing to where your career has taken you? It has been a long journey so far, and that journey always influenced me in the studio and on stage.
I try to be as versatile as possible, and I think if you hear recent tracks from me, you can hear many musical genres blent together.

If a bar served a drink called the Sander Kleinenberg, what would be in it? Coca Cola. Zero, because the black can looks good.

Deep dish pizza or chicago style hot dog? Chicago style deep dish pizza.

What is the meaning behind your "this is" parties and has this interpretation evolved over the years or remained constant? THIS IS is my platform where I'm able to take people who visit the THIS IS events on a musical journey without any boundaries or limitations. THIS IS is also a record label, where some of my favorite artists like Kolombo, Kraak & Smaak, NSFW, Kraver and Drop Out Orchestra are curating the 'THIS IS' sound, which can be best described as timeless funk'd up house music.

What DJs or Producers have really impressed you lately? The Belgian artist Kolombo is just on fire at the moment..playing a lot from him lately. Next to that I'm loving the stuff guys like Electronic Youth, Adana Twins, Climbers, Todd Terje and Diskjokke are releasing. Quality, original house music.

Have you ever requested a specific local opening DJ in a city? Who was the last person you did this with/for? Yes, I did a few times. Pleasurekraft was always the one I was requesting for my Washington shows and Droog for Los Angeles. They are both touring worldwide now as respected headlining artists.

Do you have any plans to do more with Little Mountain Records? THIS IS Recordings is created 1,5 year ago as a follow up label to Little Mountain Recordings. I've been working on new tracks this year, which will be getting a release on THIS IS soon.

 Listen to Sander Kleinenberg at SpyBar on Pulse Radio