Q+A: Purple Disco Machine

Purple Disco Machine is an apt name for the German producer who, across the years, has been a standout of the "deep funk" sound, championing his grooving tunes from the nu disco and soul spectrums of electronic music.

Since creating the moniker in 2009, Purple Disco Machine has overseen a truckload of releases out on the likes of OFF Recordings, Defected, Suara and Spinnin' that have topped charts and created countless memorable moments on the dance floor. Ahead of his performance at RHA Festival in Mexico and a massive summer ahead, Purple Disco Machine stops by to chat about his upcoming album 'Soulmatic' and more.

Your debut album 'Soulmatic' is coming this fall, but you've been producing since 2009. When did you start working on the concept of a full-length album?

I started about three years ago, collecting drafts and demos of tracks that I thought could work well as an album rather than just simply as a single release for clubs. I thought I was ready after one year, but I was advised to keep waiting until my profile had risen and my productions were more widely accepted. Now I look back I can see that this was good advice, as now I’m much more ready.

What's the inspiration behind 'Soulmatic'?

Well I have ‘Disco’ already in my artist name, so I couldn't use that word! But like disco, soul is one of my all time favourite types of music and I like to think that I always put a little ‘soul’ into my productions. I have to pay my respects to Nas for borrowing ‘-matic’! :)

What kind of sound can fans anticipate hearing on the album?

It will touch on all aspects of disco, I hope – from the classic retro sound through to nu disco and all points in between.

Are there any collaborations on the album?

For sure. I’m not going to reveal all right now, but expect some very cool names, some big names and some super exciting newcomers.

Besides the upcoming album, you've been super busy - especially on the remix front, with a big one for Gorillaz's 'Andromeda'. Can you tell me how that came about?

I have been lucky to have been able to work on remixes for some really great artists and records over the last three years. My aim has always been to create a strong body of remix work like legends like MAW and David Morales did in the 90s. I hope I’m on my way to achieving that.

The remix for Gorillaz came about because a great friend of mine Simon Marlin from The Shapeshifters tipped me off to Damon Albarn - plus I had previously pleased the label with my remix for Two Door Cinema Club - so they had heard my previous work and liked it. I don’t think that you can be chosen to remix a seminal artist like Gorillaz unless you can be trusted to do a good job!

What are the biggest changes you've been noticing in the deep house / nu disco genre, and where do you hope to see it go in the future?

I have not changed my style since I began producing as PDM. I have always and will always produce modern club music influenced by disco, classic house and soul and funk. ‘Deep house’ seems to be re-establishing itself as an underground melodic house and techno sound, more like the old school progressive house vibe, rather the ‘deep house’ sound of the boom a few years ago. That's cool, but it’s not my sound.

I think that house and nu disco are the genres where I fit more naturally and they're really healthy genres right now. I’m excited to be part of that scene in 2017 and going forward. There are definite ‘disco’ revival vibes in the air and some amazing new artists coming into the scene right now. It is also really great to see that some of the techno and tech house people are making disco house tracks too. Big up Midland, Jasper James and Seth Troxler’s Play It Say It crew!

Summer's here, which also means it's guaranteed to be a busy couple of months for you. What do you have coming up touring-wise?

I'm very lucky to be very busy on the touring front this summer. It is a privilege to be playing both Pacha and Glitterbox Ibiza this year, and there are many more great clubs and parties where I will be touching down to play throughout the Mediterranean and beyond. There's another USA & Mexico tour coming up too.

Catch Purple Disco Machine at RHA Festival in Mexico from June 30 to July 1. More information here

Valerie Lee is Mixmag's US Digital Editor. Follow her on Twitter here