Hello Mike, Happy NEW YEAR! 2024 you are marking your 25th anniversary in the music industry, congrats!! How you will celebrate this huge milestone?
Thank you for your kind wishes. I’m going to celebrate the anniversary with a tour and lots of new music.
You will kick off 2024 with a brand new single ‘Forgivin Me’, out January 26th via Milk & Sugar Recordings, could you share with us more about this tune?
At first glance, ‘Forgivin Me’ is not the typical Milk & Sugar song that people actually expect from me. It was important to me to set a new accent here and I experimented a bit with piano and jazz chords. The result is a club track that fits very well into my sets.
Listen Here
Can you share with us how Milk & Sugar first came together and what initially inspired you from the very beginning?
M&S: The label Milk & Sugar Recordings first existed in 1997 and 2 years later there was actually the first release under the name Milk & Sugar. The track was called “Higher & Higher” and the rest is history… My inspiration was the 70s disco movement specifically Phillygroove Records and Salsoul Records.
The house music scene has evolved significantly since you started. How have you adapted your music and production techniques to stay relevant in the changing scene?
It’s important to stay true to your style and not follow every trend. Nevertheless, you have to be flexible and adapt to developments. For me, the motto has always been that the music I produce has to fit into my sets.
Your hit “Love Is in the Air” became a massive hit. Can you tell us about the creative process behind that particular remake and why you chose to reinterpret that song?
The track is more than 20 years old when we produced it. We didn’t choose the track, it found us. The rights holder then contacted us to see if we could imagine working together. We love the track and we probably came up with a good new version.
You’ve had a long-standing partnership, but now that Steven Sugar is no longer part of the duo, how has that affected the dynamic of Milk & Sugar?
Nothing has changed about the dynamic. On the contrary, I can contribute 100% and love playing long extended sets. I always have guest singers with me at the live shows and we try to give visitors a unique experience.
What has been the most memorable moment or the biggest milestone in your career at Milk & Sugar?
I’ve played in over 70 countries, so it’s very difficult to filter out just one moment because there were many great moments. But if I have to name any, it would be the Love Parade in Berlin, with 1 million visitors, the gigs at Space Ibiza were spectacular it was and is always very fun to play on the island. I would also like to be in Brazil and Mexico. I generally like traveling and I love getting to know new cultures and playing in foreign countries.
You’ve run a successful record label alongside producing music. What’s your approach to finding and nurturing new talent?
It’s very difficult to find the right music for the label. I receive countless demos for the label every day, but there is little material. I often surf the internet looking for music and artists that I like. I then write to them and ask if they would like to send me demos.
What’s your New Year’s wish for your fans and LoudLife?
I wish everyone a healthy new year and stay true to yourself!
