“I can’t stop. Music is the only thing that I’m good at. It’s my life mission. If you don’t have any alternative, then it must become a success eventually.”

Fab Danish DJ and producer Rune Reilly Kölsch hast just released his second album 1983 ( with a fantastic cover by the way!) on Kompakt Records; and followed by his previous release 1973 he continues to take us on another time travel back to certain, defining moments in his life that have changed him. We had a chat with him about passing on emotions and memories through music, the thing he would have loved to know when he started with music and the philosophical conversations he had with his parents on their road trip through Europe. And while I am writing this intro Rune´s music abducts me on a trip as well and I can feel the wind blowing through my hair and I almost feel infinite.

Your album 1977 was all about you and your childhood. 1983, your new album that has just been released was inspired by childhood car journeys through Europe. Is music a way for you to keep your past and good memories alive? Are you a sentimental person?

I think humans are all sentimental beings. We all have fond memories of the past that we love. For me it´s all about thinking back over certain moment in my life that have changed me, and define who I am today. Music is a perfect way to explore these emotional imprints in my life and revisit those moments.

When you speak about your album you speak about a symbol to this journey, about maturing as a kid, about deep conversations with your parents. What has been one of the most important things that your parents gave you along the way?

There have been so many important moments, but when I think back, it always more the general mood that strikes me. There is something very magical about traveling through Europe, especially at night. My dad was a Buddhist (he passed away in 2004), and since I was very young we would share thoughts about life, and how to approach it. I can say that a lot of the conversations we had where very philosophical.

Are you more scared of critics about the album, as it´s attached to so personal memories of yours?

I don’t believe that critics are the ones to judge the album. For me its all about passing on my emotions and memories through music, and usually critics are too spoilt for choice to notice these things. I have the same problem when I listen to too much music. It ruins my perception of finer details. For me it´s all about the people that decide to invest in the album. They are the ones who will understand my mission, as they will probably listen to it more than once.

The album also features collaborations with Gregor Schwellenbach, Waa Industry and WhoMadeWho’s Tomas Høffding. How did you chose with whom you wanted to collaborate?

I only work with people that I feel a strong connection to. People that understand what I am trying to do. Gregor is a musical genius. He is the only classical composer that I know, who completely understands what Electronic music is, and should be. Waa industry and Tomas of Who Made Who, are people that I have the upmost respect for. We had great conversations about what I was looking for, and they delivered exactly that.

You once said you need a strong work ethic to make it in this business. What else has been the secret of your success?

I can’t stop. Music is the only thing that I’m good at. It’s my life mission. If you don’t have any alternative, then it must become a success eventually.

The thing you would have loved to know when you started doing music…

Get a lawyer to read all your contracts. No exceptions.

In a few interviews you mentioned doing different things in your music and trying not to do the same thing too many times is something important to you. Could you imagine to ever release an album that is not electro at all?
Absolutely. I would love to do that. I actually spoke to a Danish band, about making an acoustic remix of one of my tracks, but we somehow got away from that. I love Film scores and I feel that at the moment, I really enjoy music that is not defined by a genre. Eventually I will have to go and explore that route.

You are known for dancing wild during your sets. What was the last party you danced to that was not your own performance?

mhmmmmm. I recently went nuts in Sonar when Pachanga Boys where playing. I just love their uncompromising sound.

If you had children would you bring them up as unconventional as your parents, who were hippies?

It´s a hard one. On one hand the Generation gap really strengthened me, but on the other hand, I really missed that security of a more normal day to day life.

Biggest passion besides music?

Cooking and Watches.

Sunrise or sunset?

Can you say that you have lived without having seen the sun rise?