Becky & Takt [Interview]

Two electronic music addicts, who joined forces to follow their passion, to bring their own way of sound to life. 'Victoria' is OUT NOW on Polyptych Limited.

Progressive Astronaut caught up with Becky & Takt to learn more about the release of 'Victoria' growing up in the Germany, DJing and much more. Enjoy!

Hi Guys, thanks for talking to us today. How has the start of the year been for you?

We started chilled and relaxed into the new year. We both spent the holidays with our families to get back to the studio for some fresh ideas.

Let’s look back on the first three months of the year, what gig of yours stood out the most and why?

We were busy in the studio. So no gigs but what was outstanding, was our gig at a little terrace on the top of a mountain here in our region, with some nice party people and an awesome view. It took place last summer according our event series called 'HEIDIDEI zum feierabend‘ - actually launched as a monthly video podcast. Now we are organizing little events up to 300 people in our region at special locations.

Now let’s look at tracks, what is a track or tracks which came out in 2025 that have impressed you the most and why?

Hannes Bieger - Voyager: Dry and deep as f**k. A nice underground track that has all what it needs to get your ass on the dance floor. Often the key to success lays in simplicity.

HIGHLITE - Future History: Great stomper. The snare slaps directly in your face, raw synth elements with a great hook. Paired with these vocals which transports a certain indifference and coolness.

THE ILLUSTRATED MAN - Runaway (Sascha Carassi Remix): According to the amount of tracks out there it’s refreshing to hear some breakbeats during a whole track. Combined with this decent pads in contrast with some high synth riffs. Highlight of the track is the break which has this 'smile on my face feel good moment‘ when the pad rises and the voice hits in. Nice combination.

What is a song/track you’ve never stopped listening to since childhood? And why has it stuck with you this long?

Westbam & Dr. Motte - Sunshine Westbam - Celebration Generation Daft Punk - Around The World

Both tracks reminds us on the better days and light hearted time with friends.

How did growing up in Germany affect your music taste and direction into becoming a DJ and producer?

We both came up with electronic music played in the radio, like the H3- Clubnight, which had a huge impact. Also watching this late at night on tv coming home from partys. Getting early techno and dance music on tapes,record stores, attended a lot of underground partys, danced at the Love Parade. So one could say, we had good conditions, being infected by Techno Music. We wanted to know how does it work, to create a track, to play records/ dj sets. We loved that whole lifestyle.

Who from Germany inspired you the most early on and why were they inspirational for you?

Marcel M.: For me it was the tv show House TV and its weekly DJ Sets and news around electronic music. Especially DJ Pierre (Stammheim Kassel), Sven Väth, and the things which happened while growing up in the time when the electronic music scene evolved. Everything was new, you know, Väth and Pierre for example, had that unique style in choosing records for a set, spinnin’ that stuff.

Marcel F.: In the early days it were Acts like Ravers Nature, Talla 2xlc, Ulli Brenner, RMB, also listening to some happy hardcore stuff and also watching a lot of stuff on tv regarding the techno scene. I liked melodic stuff from the beginning, like Hard House, Trance and Hard trance. I absorbed everything I could find about those tracks and artists etc. In that time it wasn’t that easy to find out which tracks were played in a djset. No Spotify, no Shazam. We were used to watch some pages of the teletext on tv two days later to get info which tracks had branded into our brains over the weekend.

How did you guys meet and eventually decide to collaborate on music together?

We met in 1999, living in a small town with a lot of music interested young people…our paths crossed several times. While doin our things we did, everyone of us had their own projects and alias. Being together as studio neighbours for some years we decided in 2021 to join forces and produced our first EP.

Working as a duo is an interesting dynamic, a successful partnership like this one is generally based around balance and compromise; how do you manage these things within your production dynamic?

Mostly we meet up in the studio talking about daily things and topics, also musical wise. Out of that situation we are jamming around with some synths and gear, sorting out what sound inspires us the most. Its mostly a thing of mood. Mostly we have no concrete idea. It happens while the process.

Did you have different roles in the production process? And if so please elaborate.

Marcel F.: We both have ideas. My main part is the arrangement and technical wise, recording the synths. Marcel is jamming, doin some automations during the process, comes up with additional ideas to try out. We are often export first sketches - listening some days separetely, everyone of us takes little notes on that to evolve the track.

You guys are still at the beginning of your creative partnership, so what goals do you have going forward? Or a better question might be do you think about the future?

We want to develop our sound further, creating more dance floor orientated stuff. Focusing on that Becky & Takt sound.

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

We both have our own style and preferred tracks regarding music we like to play. It is likely to get hit by a track, that we say ‚oh yes lets try something like that‘ but while making first sketches and playing around with the gear, we create something individual with an own touch. We don’t want to copy someone’s sound. I think it’s the wrong way to express your self musical wise by copying someone else. Sure we don’t reinvent the wheel but I think we have our own style.

You have a single ‘Victoria’ out now via Polyptych Limited, tell us a bit about the release and what sort of vibe you were going for on the track.

This one originated on a basis of a very stressful day…hanging around, actual quite dull starting to jam around that bassline. Builded a simple rhythm around, we got into the groove. We found that voice sample on the hard disc, played a little around with it and some stutter fx. While searching for a synth shot we couldn’t resist and played a melody which we didn’t wanted to delete. That’s why Victoria has this two themes. That bassline voice driven parts combined with that melody part.

Let our readers inside your studio for a moment, what is your current setup and what studio tools are featured heavily in your recent productions and more specifically on ‘Victoria’?

We are using Steinberg Cubase as DAW, there is the KORG Prologue synth, involved in nearly every production. There is the Waldorf Blofeld, a KORG Microkorg XL and VSTs like Diva, Analog Lab V, and especially the Dave Smith Sub Boom Bass for Victoria’s bassline. Often using the little tools from Data Productions like the Sausage Fattener, the Endless Smile and also the Shaper Box is involved in many tracks, such a great tool.

Is there a meaning behind the name of the track? If so, please tell us about it.

There is no special meaning behind it. It’s a female voice, so Victoria was the first thing which came up.

How much play has the track gotten in your sets and where do you generally program them?

We played and tested it over 6 month I guess to take final touches on the mixdown and also in the arrangement until it was finished.

Please tell us why the Polyptych Limited was a good home for ‘Victoria’.

The guys are doin a great job in promoting releases, the whole package regarding marketing and communication is great. We also had an EP on Polyptych Noir some month before. So we were happy about that they wanted to do another release with us.

Shifting back to DJing for a moment, what is it about the craft, compared to producing your own music, that makes it interesting for you? And how do you function as a duo while DJing?

It’s very interesting and brings a lot of joy creating own stuff, bringing own ideas to life and testing them out, getting reactions from the crowed. One pushes the sync button the other one is switching the bass knob (laughter)….We prepare our sets out of a bunch of promos and new releases, sorting them a little bit and get into the flow while mixing in interaction with the crowd.

Deciding what comes next is mostly spontaneously. We both are into mixing at a gig. No overwhelmed interaction with the crowed - just music, us and the
people on the dancefloor.

Can you tell me a bit about how your work as DJs have influenced your view of music, your way of listening to tracks and perhaps also, your work as a producer?

We both listening to music in another way like a normal music consumer. When you into music production and djing you are analyzing tracks, disassembling it into their single elements. Also stuff of other genres detached from electronic music.But regarding djing we are sorting out if it’s cool to fit into the next djset. While listening to promos and stuff on Beatport and Co. we are skipping through the tracks focusing on the main theme and elements. So one could say we are
analyzing music always. Also the fact of the amount of music, being released every week, you're listening not that detailed.

How important is it for you to have gigs to be able to test your own unreleased music?

Oh it’s very important - to get a feel for essential things like the break and certain parts like if they are to long or to short or is there anything missing or to much. So final touches are made after testing it several times.

Current Top five tracks in your sets?

Kinky Sound - Lemon Haze Becky & Takt - Victoria Becky & Takt - Higher Andhim - Dance Again Tear - Only For Tonite

If you are not DJing, producing or socializing at clubs, where do we find you? And doing what?

Marcel F.: Calming down while doin some gardening without straining my head too much ;) …enjoying my kids…and family things.
Marcel M.: Cycling…being in the nature.

If you could set up an event with a line-up of five artists of your choice, who would you book and what set times would you ascribe to the artists? (Do not include yourself)

Marek Hemman 1,5 h

Marc DePulse 2 h

Rüfüs Du Sol 2,5 h

Colyn 2 h

Markus Kavka 2 h

If you were not a DJ/Producer what do you think you’d be doing with your life? (Something not music related)

Maybe doin some creative job or something craftsmanship.

What TV series have you been enjoying recently and what are some of your all time favourites?

Marcel M.: Tulsa King, Reacher. Alltime: Two and A Half Man, Big Bang, King Of Queens
Marcel F.: The Next Level, Die Saat. Alltime: Simpsons, King Of Queens

What can we look forward to from you across the rest of 2025? Any releases or gigs you are looking forward to?

Finishing some projects, and playing some nice gigs at special locations.

'Victoria' is available now via Polyptych Limited: https://tinyurl.com/5n7bxc9n