14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITHYULO X

Q: Please introduce yourself

Hey everyone. I’m Felix, a Berlin based artist, producer and DJ. Last year I started my new electronica project Yulo X and I recently released my first two singles UNISON and AMOR via the Viennese record label Superego Records. 

Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?

I really had to think about this for a moment. Probably this might be Adèle Exarchopoulos, she’s such a good actress and I have big crush on her. 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Maybe it would be nice to cure depression, trauma and hopelessness. But also to help people overcome megalomania, egoism and hate. 

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?

One of my favorite movies is The Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. I’ve seen it at least 50 times and still it’s leaving me a bit melancholic. But one thing that is really improvable is the score of the movie, so I would say I’d try to make it even more sentimental, haha. 

Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?

When I look back to my first musical projects in the early 2000s, I think The Notwist must have been the biggest musical influence. One of my all time favorite German bands that really were ahead of their time by combining electronic music, pop music, indie rock and jazz elements in such a unique style. If you ask me what has inspired me the most in my music project Yulo X, it's a very difficult question to answer because I draw from a variety of genres and incorporate them into my music: house music, UK sound, bass music, electronica, as well as a few other pop culture influences. 

Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?

I had very different projects - solo, in bands and as a duo - from the early 2000s until now: Indie rock and dreampop, New disco and electroclash, House and Deep House, 80s Wave pop…and last year I started my new project Yulo X. To a certain extent, all those earlier influences and experiences come into play here, but I think the music can most accurately be categorized as "electronica“. That is the core that connects my new productions. However, I don't want to limit myself too much to a niche and am trying to find my own signature sound across genres. There are certain elements and sound aesthetic tools that can be found throughout all the songs on my upcoming album, despite the great diversity within the electronic spectrum. Some tracks are very ambient, some are poppy, while others work well in the club. 

Q: Everyone goes through ups and downs, what’s one habit you adopt to push through the downs?

I had some really rough years in my late 30s and was making a lot of changes in my life. I try to be much nicer and more aware of myself. I tend to approach things extremely, which causes me to lose balance, leading to a whole cascade of events and the house of cards collapsing. So what I pay the most attention to is maintaining a healthy balance in everything I do, while not forgetting or neglecting other things. If I keep that in mind, I actually feel quite good. 

Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?

I remember a really crazy 5 hour DJ Set at my former residency at SCALA Club in Regensburg, Germany. I cannot say exactly when it was, but I suspect it was around 2010, and I played at my party series YBGH with my house project "Fex Fellini." The club was completely packed, and although I played there relatively regularly—at least once a month—this was a party that has burned itself into my memory as a set where an incredible energy developed between the audience and me. It’s one of the most intense high feelings when you play a relatively improvised set, and both you and the audience keep coming closer until the barrier is completely broken down, and you feel like one. There were a few of these gigs, but I rarely experienced them so intensely. In fact, I often found the small gigs in a relatively familiar and intimate setting with many acquaintances and friends on the dance floor to be more fulfilling than, for example, bookings in large clubs or warehouses. The reason for this could simply be that I am actually more introverted and don’t like large crowds. 

Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?

Around 2007, I started playing a lot of the so called and at this time very popular New French Touch with a friend as a duo. Those were my first attempts as a DJ and also as a producer. However, I soon found that too boring and transitioned to house music, which has strong roots in disco, funk, and soul. For me, it needs a groove and a certain organic patina—whereas tech house has always felt too cool and soulless to me. House has been, and nearly for 20 years now, the core of what defines my DJ sets. I always start with classic house music but then branch out in different directions. In the late 2010s, my sound became quite hard, and I also played some techno sets. In the early 2020s and up to now, a stronger UK influence has emerged; I’m a big fan of the sets by Joy Orbison, Four Tet or Floating Points. Currently, I enjoy mixing house, UK garage/funky, jungle, and bass music, so half-step is not uncommon here. Switching between genres brings me the most joy. 

Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?

Since I already juggle between genres quite a lot, it's a bit difficult to answer. But I think I'm currently drawn to jungle to some extent. From a producer's perspective, it’s quite complex. However, I would put it in a more modern guise. I'm experimenting with this in a few new tracks I'm currently working on. 

Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?

I would say the tracks were "Da Funk" by Daft Punk because it was a smooth transition into electronic sounds with the new disco vibe. I think many from my generation felt this way in the early 2000s,

"Move Your Body" by Marshall Jefferson because when I heard it that was when I really understood house music for the first time,

And "Servants Jaz House" by Glenn Underground which perfectly defines what I meant earlier by groove. The original track is from 1997 and is simply a timeless house track—just amazing. 

Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?

I recently fell in love with Heideglühen, never been there before even though I know the place isn't new. I joined a very nice house party there and I felt like I was catapulted back at least 15 years. Such a great and warm atmosphere. Dancing here was really fun again. It might be somewhat age-related, and I don’t want to sound like a club grandpa, but I just can’t relate to many of the current electronic party trends here in Berlin - and also elsewhere. This whole Eurodance-techno-trance cheesy sound that Gen Z is into just doesn’t resonate with me. But it dominates so many dance floors in the city, and I feel somehow out of place. 

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?

My new single AMOR came out July 26. It's probably the catchiest and most poppy single on the upcoming album. Although the track likely won't work in the club, it's one of my favorite songs on the album. For the first time in 15 years, I also recorded my own vocals here. My debut album will be released in autumn. And stay tuned, there are a few collaboration projects coming up as well. 

Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?

I prefer daytime events a lot more than the nightlife scene. That resonates much more with my daily schedule and my internal clock. I love a regular sleep routine. Fortunately, Berlin offers quite a bit and my sleep routine loves it.