Donnerstag [Interview]

Born in the United States to a heavily European influenced family in the 1970s and raised only miles from NYC donnerstag was perfectly positioned to see electronic music unfold and this has absolutely influenced his headline DJ sets and his chart topping productions today.

In the past 4 years alone donnerstag had over 25 Beatport Top 10 Releases on the Melodic Techno and Techno charts and over 40 Beatport Top 100 Releases as well as being featured for “Best New Melodic Techno” for 2 months in a row by the staff at Beatport and his work has been supported globally since day one by Stephan Bodzin, Maceo Plex, Ignacio Arfeli (Suara, Odd, We Are The Brave, Octopus), MT93 (Suara, Odd, Terminal M, Octopus), WhoMadeWho, La Santa (Redolent, Stereo Productions), Sparrow & Barbossa (Mo Black, Stereo Productions), Nico Morano (Atmosphere, Kattermukke), GIZA DJs (Diynamic), Paco Osuna, Richie Hawtin, Aaryon (Suara / Yoshitoshi), Darin Epsilon (Selador / Einmusik), Stylo (Timeless Moment), Marco Carola, RE_US, Luigi Madonna, Stacey Pullen, Mitch Alexander (microCastle), John 00 Fleming, Roger Shah, Univak head honcho Integral Bread and Abstraal (Family Piknik).

In September of 2021 donnerstag hit #1 on the Beatport Melodic Techno charts with his smash release “The Day the Angels Cried” on Belgian boutique label Melodia Records which has made the entire industry stand up and take notice and simultaneously hit #1 with his hit single “Here With You” on Dizharmonia´s label Androgyne Audio.

Internationally headlining since 2015 donnerstag has earned his co-headliner stripes in 2021 by sharing tour time with acts like Space Motion, Tebra, Omar Labastida as well as Darin Epsilon and he looks to tackle late 2021 and early 2022 with with headlining appearances scheduled in Mexico, NYC, Miami, Germany, Amsterdam, Belgium, Portugal, Serbia, Columbia and Spain.

The sky is the limit for this ever evolving, hard working musical maestro as he persistently skips over the borders of his home country he continues to build out his brand on an international scale through both his standout creations and the infectious live performances and sound bites coming from his own label (Kitu Records, GER).

This week finds Donnerstag returning to Lelantus Records with 'Life', a two-track artist EP alongside a remix from Olivier Giacomotto. Progressive Astronaut caught up with Donnerstag to learn more about the release of 'Life', his background, electronic music in the USA, DJing, and much more. Enjoy.

Hi Donnerstag, I hope all is well and thanks for speaking with us today. How has your year been so far?

Eventful, to say the least. New music was made, I toured Europe, the USA, and Mexico, and we’re launching a new company for electronic music artists. It’s been a good kind of busy!

Let’s look back on the year so far. What gig of yours has stood out the most, and why?

It’s tough to choose. Tantra in Ibiza, On Heaven in Playa del Carmen, Module in Copenhagen, and two incredible nights in Oslo come to mind. Unforgettable moments, all of them.

Now, let’s talk about some tracks—not your own. What track or tracks released this year have impressed you the most and why?

Lullaby by TH;EN, Sans Vêtements by Far&High, and anything on Borders of Light have really caught my ear.

In terms of electronic music, was melodic techno the first style you discovered? What was it about this genre that made you want to pursue it at your current level?

Coming from the New York City area, I was initially drawn to House and Tribal music. But in 2012, I heard a VA from Stil vor Talent called Schönweiss, and it changed my life. That’s when I said, “This is my mission.”

For most artists, originality is often preceded by a phase of learning and emulating others. What was this like for you?

I don’t consume a lot of electronic music, so it was easy for me to find my lane in melodic and progressive styles.

How did growing up in the USA influence your music taste and direction toward becoming a DJ and producer?

The USA, unfortunately, can lag behind other markets like Berlin and Madrid, so I focused on the European scene in the early 2010s.

Who else from the USA inspired you when you first discovered electronic music? What was it about their DJing or production that influenced you?

Junior Vasquez, Jonathan Peters, Boris, and Victor Calderone were huge influences on me in the ’90s. Their dark, percussion-driven sounds with vocal elements really resonated with me.

You’ve spent a lot of time around New York City. How do you find the club scene there compared to other cities in the USA?

NYC in the ’90s and early 2000s was epic. Clubs like Sound Factory, Twilo, and later Pacha were life-changing for me. Miami is a close second, but NYC back then was unparalleled. Now, Miami is the electronic music mecca in the USA.

You’ve been producing for nearly a decade. Looking back on those early years, can you pinpoint any pivotal moments in your career?

Hearing Bipolar Star by Olivier Giacomotto was transformative for me. That track made me want to be part of whatever scene that was.

Reflecting on your gigs, what have been some of the most memorable ones for you?

Mylos in Kos, Greece during the Euro Tour in 2023 was electric. Vampire Disco in Philly in 2018 was epic, and NOMAD in Toronto blew me away in 2023. Too many to name, honestly!

What’s a track that reminds you of your early days DJing, and what event or club do you associate with it?

You Got the Love by Florence + The Machine, remixed by Mark Knight. Hands down, that track takes me back to 2011.

You’ve had releases on labels like Enormous Tunes, Kittball, and Lelantus. How do you see your future in electronic music? Do you have specific goals?

Absolutely. I aim to be one of the best in the game—live and in the studio. Not the best, but one of the best.

You have a new EP, Life, out via Lelantus Records. Can you tell us about the release and the vibe you were going for?

It’s a blend of Indie, Techno, Melodic, and future-meets-throwback vibes. It’s non-denominational in a way.

There’s an excellent remix by Olivier Giacomotto. How involved were you in selecting him as the remixer, and why was he a great fit?

I chose him because I hadn’t allowed a remix of my music before. Having Olivier on board was special. He transcends genres, and I knew we’d work well together.

This is your second release on Lelantus, following your track on their Odyssey compilation. Why is Lelantus a good home for your music?

They just get it. Lelantus is incredibly supportive on platforms like Spotify and has an artist roster that’s about to become household names.

Shifting to DJing, you’ve played alongside names like Space Motion and Darin Epsilon. What were some of your main challenges and goals when you started, and how have they evolved?

It’s been technically smooth but hard to “break in” internationally. So I kept producing, and now, being interviewed by Progressive Astronaut is a dream come true.

What’s it about DJing, compared to producing, that keeps it exciting for you?

The people—the energy is out of this world. I’m addicted.

How has DJing for larger crowds influenced your perspective on music and producing? Do you plan your sets in advance, or are they mostly spontaneous?

Great question. Larger crowds need a hook, so classic track bootlegs in a Melodic Techno style get them going, and then I take it from there.

What are your current top five tracks in your sets?

My Rainy Morning by Selderv & Adjmall, Next to Me by Toto Chiavetta, Instinct by Kinree, Self Control by Kaufmann, and GURU by Argy.

If you could set up an event with a lineup of five artists, who would you choose and when would they play?

Opener: Peggy Gou (11pm-1am); Dennis Ferrer (1-3am); Trikk (3-5am); Toto Chiavetta (5-7am); and I’d take the decks from 7 am until we can’t go anymore.

If you’re not DJing, producing, or socializing at clubs, where would we find you?

On the yoga mat.

What’s something people might not know about you?

In 2025, we’re launching MUSIC+. It’s a revolutionary project with artists from top labels, agents, and healthcare professionals. MUSIC+ will be the world’s first music ecosystem to help artists succeed in music and life.

Who would you most like to collaborate with and why?

Ethel Cain. Her vocals with my melodies? Game over.

Any TV series you’ve been enjoying, or favorites?

I don’t watch much TV anymore, but Mia Goth’s movies like X and Maxxxine were wild, and Stranger Things on Netflix was amazing.

What can we expect from you in 2025? Any releases or gigs you’re looking forward to?

The MUSIC+ project is taking off, and we’re starting a Melodic & Progressive series in Canada, Europe, and South America. The Donnerstag brand is set to level up by the end of 2025, so stay tuned!

'Life' is available now via Lelantus Records: https://tinyurl.com/4rbxt75k