For almost twenty years Thomas Koch – DJ T. – has been a vital part of the techno and house scene. In a range of different capacities: among others, Koch worked and works as a DJ, producer, promoter, club operator, publisher and journalist. In 2005, he relocated from Frankfurt to Berlin.

In 2002, Koch and friends decided to start their own label, Get Physical Music. By now, the label’s popularity and fame has spread well beyond its Berlin base – reaching #4 (of favourite labels) in the annual Groove reader’s poll in 2004, Get Physical also claimed the coveted ‘label of the year 2005’ slot of British club bible DJ Mag. One would be hard-pressed to find a single techno/house DJ around the world who does not reach for at least one Get Physical track when things get hot.

Featuring six seasoned veterans of electronic music and club culture, the label collective also includes DJ and production team Patrick Bodmer and Philipp Jung (otherwise known as M.A.N.D.Y.) as well as producers and studio owners Booka Shade (Walter Merziger, Arno Kammermeier, Peter Hayo). Focusing on A&R, Koch tirelessly scours the scene for new talents, soaks up demos, establishes contacts and takes care of those already signed and their current productions. And yet, besides all these activities, Koch still finds time pursue his own artistic endeavours. 2000 saw the release of his first production with ‘Monsterbaze’, a Steve Bug co-production on the latter’s Pokerflat label. Ever since – discounting a co-operation with Freestyleman on Moodmusic – Koch has stayed true to his own label.

After five years as a musician in his own right and a move to Berlin, Koch was ready to unleash his first album ‘Boogie Playground’ (2005), a reverence-laden and referential piece of music paying homage to T.’s own past and all those variants of early club music that had shaped his future path. Balancing all these citations and moods that gave classic funk and electro as well as disco, italo and acid house their good name, ‘Boogie Playground’ wraps them all up in contemporary sound design.

A new album is in the planning for 2007: moving beyond Koch’s 70s and 80s roots, we can expect a strong Detroit and Chicago slant. In addition, Koch’s talents as a remixer have not gone unnoticed. His interpretations of acts like Spektrum, Mylor or Newcleus plus remixes for labels like ArtofDisco/Yellow, 20:20 Vision, Simple and Naked Music have moved critics and crowds alike.

By Michael Saager

Tracklisting:

Plasmik – Eight To Nine (Connaisseur)
Duoteque – Amarcord (MyMy Rmx) (Boxer)
Scary Grant – Almost Crash (Lo-fi Stereo)
André Crom – Dental Care (Memo)
Meat vs. Einzelkind – Not A Musical Masterpiece (Get Physical)
Troy Pierce feat. Gibby Miller – The Day After Yesterday (Spaceships & Pings)
Fuckpony – Tiny Slave (Get Physical)
DJ T. – Lucky Bastard (Disaster Dub) (Get Physical)
Bond Blome – Tentacular (Sender)
Adam Craft – Tricker (Luxaflex)
Latex – The Porcupine (Rebelone 007)