Traditionally a DJ, playing at some of the most revered parties in Berlin in the early nineties like Planet, Tresor, WMF and E-Werk, Clé proved that presenting his interpretation of this music to an audience was something of a natural calling. It was his first release then alongside close friend Steve Bug in ‘95, put together in a modest Hamburg bedroom, that cemented his now inescapable affair with production, and indeed in time, with Poker Flat Recordings. Shortly after this, after being together thrown into a studio to work on a modified electronic soundtrack to Mozart‘s ‚Don Giovanni‘, Clé‘s almost 10 year working relationship with Mike Vamp began and kick started the Märtini Brös project. After some experimentations and further Mozart inspired trips, their ‚Audio Park EP‘ landed on Poker Flat... And so it began!
But, Clé is of course an artist in his own right. Something of a three headed monster, in his own words; „I'm a record-dragging stage-diving head-nodding producer on decks...” which sums up quite nicely the scope of skills and personality needed these days to survive in a crowded and competitive music world.
His recent releases on Poker Flat, alongside productions with Mike Vamp, as Martini Bros or with Steve Bug, all carry a distinctive tech-funk sound which is a perfect mixture of old and new, a hybrid of years of experience, coupled with a constant playfulness and curiosity.
Solo success, and as part of Märtini Brös has seen Clé tour the world, with memories of magical live performances in Tel Aviv, Montreal, Adelaide, Sao Paolo and Berlin to name just a few. Despite this success he remains modest and not jaded by years of late-night and far a-field adventures. Of course, Clé admits he‘s had some fun over the years, but its clear that what is central to all of this is his music. Rather fitting then, that he works with a label like Poker Flat, who he sees as much more than just a label, but also a group of great friends, confidants and professionals. It‘s this comfortable and extremely fortunate working environment that allows to Clé to carry on strong, continuing to grow as an artist and as a down-to-earth, extremely personable character.‚Dead Man‘s Hand‘, the new double-CD compilation including a fantastic mix by Clé showcasing recent and forthcoming releases, is out now on Poker Flat.
