Rocking with Tujamo
When it comes to big room producers, I’ll admit that I can be a bit choosy. I’m not the type to just blindly ingest any regurgitated noise that’s being thrown at me—totally not my style. It’s not that I’m a hater; I just like to take my music consumption very seriously.
I will, however, gladly give my stamp of approval to German banger commander Tujamo. Matthias Richter is dude’s legal name, and he’s got the main-stage hits on lock. What’s most impressive is his ability to thrust his signature style forward without letting it become tired. I know this because his “Rocking With the Best” remix, which he kicked out for Laidback Luke, builds off his party-startin’ vibes while following a slightly refurbished format. Tujamo takes Luke’s anthem from 2002 and brushes it up with his punchy prog house inclinations. It works so well.
I was able to catch a few words from Matthias on the release (making sure to squeeze in a few other topics while I was at it), which you can hit up after you listen to his exclusive mix below.
You and Laidback Luke have seen tremendous success on your collab “S.A.X.” When were you and Luke first introduced?
The first time I met Luke was in 2008, I think. I was a resident DJ in one of the biggest clubs in Germany, and we booked him for the night as the headliner. Coincidentally, that was the first time I heard “Rocking With the Best.”
How did your recent RWTB remix for Mixmash come about?
That’s a funnny story. The a capella of “Rocking With the Best” has become a huge classic ever since the release, and almost every DJ is using it in their sets today. It’s literally one of the most popular DJ tools in dance music. I decided to make something more with the vocal and pimped the whole track just for my sets. Naturally, I sent it to Luke, and he loved it—and so did everyone else—and we decided to make it an official remix.
When you’re rocking with the best, it means…
Rocking with the best, to me, means actually rocking with the crowd. A crazy crowd is the best motivation and inspiration you can get as a DJ/producer.
Is there a particular person you share your tracks with before you send out the finished product?
The first person that gets a new track or even rough snippets is my manager. I prefer to get real objective feedback. We work really closely together, so he knows exactly what’s good for me. I also like to send it to my friends, but nice as they are, they always tell me, “Damn, bro, it’s huuuuuuge!” As much as this flatters me, it’s not really helping me [laughs].
How do you maintain your signature sound without falling victim to becoming stagnant with your productions?
I spend a lot of time in the studio checking new plugins, samples and looking for tracks that inspire me. Honestly, I’ve never used the same VST preset for a new production, but at the end, it has the “Tujamo” touch. A big part of the overall sound of a track is the arrangement. Here is where I like to try new things.
Your “Darth Theme” really took off. Do you consider yourself a big Star Wars fan?
This is a tough one, but I think I’m the only person on this planet who never watched Star Wars [laughs]. What I do enjoy is the great music of the saga, so I wanted to create a new intro for my sets, which then became a real song. Every time I tried it, the feedback was superb, which made us decide to release for free as a “thank you” to the fans.
Are there any other theme songs you’d like to try your hand at remixing?
No, not really. It was a funny thing, but my time is better spent on original tracks.
You had some time off from touring to hit the studio. How else do you usually spend those breaks from performing?
Yes, I enjoy every spare minute in my studio, although it’s difficult to be creative on demand. I try to use the time at home to catch up with my sleep and work on new music.
What was the last thing you did for fun that didn’t take place at a club or festival?
In January, I went for my first golf lesson, which was a Christmas gift from the family. They were trying to find a relaxing activity for me to do. I really liked it, and I guess I’ll do it more often.
Is there a hobby or skill you’d like to master?
If I had the time, I’d go back to my hobby of skateboarding, which I used to do about 10 years ago. That was a great time.
Track list:
Laidback Luke “Rocking With The Best” (Tujamo Remix)
Aluna George “I Know You Like It” (Tchami Remix)
Matisse & Satko “Persia” (Original Mix)
Crookers “I Just Can’t” (Original Mix)
HouseQuake “Maximize” (Original Mix)
GTA “Parental Advisory” (Original Mix)
Ape Drums “Samirs Theme 2k14” (Original Mix)
Tony Romera “All I Want” (Original Mix)
Chainsmokers “Selfie” (Caked Up Remix)
DallasK & Kshmr “Burn” (Festival Mix)
Buy Tujamo’s “Rocking With the Best” remix here.
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