With a distinguished catalogue as a producer, Thomas Schumacher’s latest star role is as ambassador for Get Physical Records. The DJ is touring the world to show off the handiwork that went into mixing the Get Physical 8th Anniversary compilation, and he begins his Australian leg this weekend.

In addition to offering us a mix to set the mood, Schumacher had a quick chat with inthemix about his Berlin buddies and rediscovering a love of techno.

You are already deep into an extensive tour. How has it gone so far?
The tour has been going great so far. Some of the highlights were the gigs in Beirut, Sao Paulo and Berlin – unbelievable nights! Now I am very excited to tour Australia, especially because this time it is a proper club tour and I will go to places that I have not been before like Hobart or Byron Bay.

There’s certainly been a movement in your sound towards warmer, housier territory. Is that still what is connecting with you?
I surely have enjoyed the housier territory and I still play a house set from time to time. Having said that, I am excited to have re-connected with the techier side of me in the past month. It’s a fresher and more cutting edge sound that I enjoy playing these days; think Ostgut or Pan-Pot. Lots of energy and depth, this is what I am looking for right now.

Obviously with the Get Physical compilation, you only had tracks from the label to work with. Did you find that limiting, or was there enough there to put something satisfying together?
I feel honoured to be the first artist to have been entrusted with a Get Physical label compilation. All of the predecessors were compiled and mixed by M.A.N.D.Y. A label compilation is a powerful statement, distinguishing the sound of the label, past, present and future.

From the beginning, I wanted to make sure that I showcased the wide spectrum and eclectic taste that Get Physical has become famous for. It was very challenging to incorporate all of these facets and I’m chuffed that it worked out so well.

Get Physical has been a leading techno/house label over the last decade. Do you feel it’s a natural fit for your music and philosophy?
The label’s releases and philosophy seems to fit very well with my own musical agenda. Maybe it’s because we all play together quite a lot and bounce off each other. It is nothing that you can plan. It’s a natural thing – we simply are on the same wave-length most of the time.

Your artist album Home still stands up as an electronic LP that works together as a whole. Do you enjoy the album format? Are there plans to return to it?
I do enjoy the album format. It is the only way for any recording artist to showcase your music as a whole. But these are not easy times for this format. Right now it is all about the individual track. Single downloads rule the charts, not albums. But I am sure this will change again sooner than later.

When it comes to purchasing, storing and listening to music, we are still in a transitional stage. After returning from this tour to Germany in early January I will hit the studio to record the successor to Home, which will hopefully be out in Autumn of 2011.

MIX TRACKLIST

1. Chelonis R. Jones – Debaser [Get Physical Music]
2. Lopazz – Dark Samba [Get Physical Music]
3. DJ Koze – The Spitzer Group [Get Physical Music]
4. Jackname Trouble – Light Again (Kink Remix) [Pets Recordings]
5. Carl Craig – Climax [Bootleg]
6. Thomas Schumacher – You Got Me (Pump Mix) [Get Physical Music]
7. Noa Siano – Kwani – Kindisch [KD 32]
8. SQL – Border Dot (Sabb’s Supreme Mix) [My Best Friend]
9. Mike Monday – Yoppul [Get Digital Music]
10. Taras Van De Voorde – 1998 [Rebirth]
11. M.in & Jonas – Brainslasher [Saved Records]
12. Adam Port & Santé – Own (Riva Starr Remix) [Rocket & Ponies]
13. Tiger Stripes – Me&I [GetDigitalMusic]
14. Rills – Peep Show [All Inn Records]
15. Maher Daniel – 3rd Time Is A Charm [Rejected]
16. Emerson Todd vs Tim Green – Make Me [Get Physical Music]
17. Lopazz – Volvoice [Get Physical Music]
18. Nôze – Remember Love [Get Physical Music]
19. Damian Lazarus – It’s Raining Today [Get Physical Music]

Thomas Schumacher tour dates:

Friday 10 December – Civic Underground, Sydney
Thursday 16 December – La La Land, Byron Bay
Friday 17 December – Family, Brisbane
Wednesday 29 December – Syrup Nightclub, Hobart
Friday 31 December – onesixone NYE, Melbourne