We are Frankfurt… and we are „ STILL HERE “!
The 1995 launched Techno and House label founded by Toni Rios, Chris Liebing, Andre Walter and Tommy Bingel operated until 1999 before all four went their own ways.
In 2006 Toni Rios and Andre Walter reanimated the legendary label and amongst own releases they also opened their doors for aspiring artrist from the former Techno capital.
26 years after launching SOAP Records, Frankfurt is no longer home to a bunch of the most iconic clubs in Europe like it once was but the underground never slept.
Under the polished facade of the financial metropolis there has always survived a vivid scene maintaining the old spirit.
In 2021 after a long pandemical dry spell Toni Rios decided to use his influence in order to unite forces and to bring Frankfurt back on track.
The compilation called ” STILL HERE ” showcases local artists such as Toni Rios & Ben Shine, Sascha Dive, Drag & Drop, Daniele Casa, Who Cares, Roomservice, TOSZ, Reiner Liwenc, November Reign, techMOUSE & Charles Silence, Le Jardin and proves that the central German city still offers international quality when it comes to electronic music.
Toni Rios now also offers in 2021 – the digital age makes it possible – a platform to the current atist and newly producers from Frankfurt.
Just as 25 years ago when Toni Rios received small gigs arranged by other DJs, Toni now takes care himself of the new generation. The circle is therefore closed, with a new compilation on his own label Soap Records, followed by an extended collection of new associated EP´s. Let yourself be surprised.
Toni Rios launched in 1989 at the age of 18. In the mid nineties he got his final touch at the still legendary club Omen in Frankfurt on the Main, continuing his acting career as international DJ. Toni Rios became subsequently a solid constituent of the Cocoon Booking Agency and Cocoon Events. Later in 2004 he additionally started a residency with the associated Cocoon Club in Frankfurt. From Acidhouse, Trance and hard-loop focussing Techno of the nineties, and up to modern Techhouse Sound which he allows currently to flow into his sets, Toni Rios and his sound places himself presently up-to-date, hot Spanish temper included.
From Miami over to Sao Paulo and up to Bangkok and Tokyo, just to name a few cosmopolitan cities, Toni Rios travels regularly all over the globe and performs weekly at the hottest European clubs. Furthermore, Toni Rios performed at big events such as the Love Parade (Berlin), Mayday (Dortmund), I Love Techno (Belgium) or Dance Valley (Amsterdam), where he won the heart of thousands of inspired people. In concurrence, Toni Rios operates also since the mid nineties as a successful producer and runs his own record and digital label with Soap Records. 20 years ago this was stepping stone to Toni Rios and his friends to start their career as producers.
Toni Rios now also offers in 2021 – the digital age makes it possible – a platform to the current atist and newly producers from Frankfurt. Just as 25 years ago when Toni Rios received small gigs arranged by other DJs, Toni now takes care himself of the new generation. The circle is therefore closed, with a new compilation on his own label Soap Records, followed by an extended collection of new associated EP´s. Just to show you, we are STILL HERE!
The Frankfurt/Main based labelhead, DJ and Producer Ben Shine is well known for several outstanding releases on Bambule Records, Eternal Basement, Schallwellen and Uktura, as on his own Imprint „La Bohème Recodings“.
His colaboration with Michael Kohlbecker (Ear Spankers) spanked all over the world and is also known from TV.
After some years of focussing on expanding his production skills he became the opportunity to get as deep as possible into the „matrix“ while coproducing some side-projects of Anthony Rother with releases on Rothers „Metrophonia“ and Radio Slave’s Stranger in the night“.
His productions are mainly 4 the floor, while using a wide range of different influences to create an unusual listening and dance experience. Take a dance!
Hailing from the greater Frankfurt Area Sascha Dive has made quite an impression on the international house and techno circus over the last ten years. Although the deephouse traveller looks back on an amazing amount of pristine releases, with the first official vinyl pressed back in 2007, one can still call him a young gun. If you look around in the deeper fields of house music these days this gifted producer and DJ seems to be an exception. This isn’t a disadvantage at all because with all the energy in his mind and hands Sascha Dive proves with every gig and production that he plays on the same level as many of his legends, if not even higher!
Strongly influenced by the godfathers of deephouse like Moodyman, Chez Damier or Ron Trent and following the first waves of top notch German house labels, such as Playhouse, Sascha Dive has progressed to a serious floor fighter since his first official appearance in 2007.
With a musical taste reaching from his deephouse backround and soulful minimal sounds to kicking and mind blowing techno he has played almost every leading club and festival over the past ten years.
Sascha Dive is not only taking his sound and vision to the world’s finest floors, he still manages to release more and more music. Dive has released a vast number of productions and remixes on high class labels such as Tsuba, Freebase, Deep Labs (Balance US), Raum…Musik or Stir15 and aside from all the touring and producing he still runs his own “Deep Vibes” label with great success. “Deep Vibes” has produced some outstanding music by Sascha Dive and his buddies and „house mates“ such as Brothers Vibe, Robert Dietz, Christian Burkhardt or Markus Fix (just to name a few) and most of it on vinyl! So it’s no wonder that vinyl master Sven Väth signed Sascha to Cocoon Artists and Cocoon Recordings.
Sascha Dive, a forward thinking producer and DJ who still waves the flag of the real vinyl sound and always will. With more young men like him house music will live on forever!
Check out Sascha Dive’s thoughts on his career so far, his greatest gigs and what the future
will hopefully bring for him…
“In a world where everything has already been invented, there will always be the need to create something new.”
DRAG & DROP is a dynamic and electronic music DJ and producer duo based in electronic music hub, Frankfurt am Main. Founded in 2012 this energetic duo comes from different music backgrounds: different shades of house music are often blended together in their productions and sets, leading to a unique and unmistakable sound.
Having played in several international clubs such as Cocoon Club, Sankeys Ibiza, Flex, Sisyphos, as well as at globally known festivals like World Club Dome Pool Session, Homerun, Stadt Land Bass and Tanzhaus West as well. Not only gigs, but also productions: several labels such as Moan, Deeperfect, Whoyostro , WOW! Recordings, Nonstop and more, have already decided to sign their tracks in the last years, which leaded them to reach Beatport top 20 tech-house tracks & album charts and being played by world renowned dos such as: Sven Väth, John Digweed, Carl Cox, Reboot, Pirupa, Cuartero, Mathias Kaden and many more. Drag & Drop also have a great passion for the art of remixing other DJs tracks, including artists like M.in, Loco & Jam, Matt Sassari, Neverdogs, Arado, Fabio Neural, Tony Dee and more.
DRAG & DROP are currently working hard in the studio to finish their next tracks / remixes. Stay tuned!
Since 24 Years is Daniele Casa involved in the electronic music scene. Grew up in Frankurt Germany with italian roots, he build his own crowd up and with his unmistakable Sound, comes every Weekend new followers.
Also his productions (eMBi Music, Innocent, DRAFT, P.U.N.C.H.I.S., Baile Music, AMAM, TRes14, Cue and many more) become appreciation world wide. As label boss from eMBi Music, he gets international recogniton thanks most successfull Digital and Vinyl Releases with important cooperation including important Artist in the electronic music scene.
His Motto: Enjoy my music and you will love it!
Who Cares is a Frankfurt DJ and producer duo, consisting of Stephan Dahms and Bastian Joswig. Their sound ranges from playful, minimal to progressive tech house.
The two have been together in the Frankfurt area since 2012 in the club scene, for example as residents in Tanzhaus West. They also played in clubs like the U60311 and the vinyl bar in Frankfurt, alongside greats like Wade, Udo Karem, Dapayk and many more.
Whether as DJs, producers or techno organizers for the last 15 years, the 2 pioneers of electronic dance music, Mr. Rossi & Marco Gorek have achieved a lot in the last few years.
The melodically deep, yet powerful duo continues its path as a live act.
Under the name ROOM SERIVCE are 2 excellent sound performers with a sense for exciting techno and moving stage performance.
They create her sound with lots of machines and buttons. Delicacies, equipped with, among other things, several drum machines, synties, controllers and a heart full of creativity, are available on the stage.
TOSZ was born in Poland and fled the socialist country with his family when he was seven years old. Having found a new home in one of Frankfurt’s suburban housing estates he grew up amongst countless different cultural backgrounds, but it was mainly American HipHop culture that influenced the musical taste of TOSZ`s generation.
It wasn`t until the early 2000s when music loving TOSZ started to create his very own sound by producing his first mashups, remixes, and mixtapes. Known for it`s rich electronic music and club culture, Frankfurt also heavily inspired TOSZ`s productions, and so his initial HipHop and R`n`B tracks began to shift into a more electronic and danceable direction.
Today, TOSZ describes his style as „Deep, Progressive, Melodic-House” and every now and then, he also explores the world of Downtempo and Electronica. Some big influences of his include Elderbrook, Crooked Colours, and Monolink. Besides the danceable tempo and a moving groove it is mainly the spacey and atmospheric pads and the crucial vocals that carry TOSZ`s tracks and add this certain soul to it.
The lyrics are written and performed by TOSZ himself, and as an artistic allrounder, he`s mainly responsible for the artworks and music videos. Collaborations and remixes by BETOKO, HNQO, Toni Rios, and Chasing Kurt have earnt him the reputation of being a multi-faceted talent who is comfortable exploring a range of artistic fields.
Music in the blood and the passion for electronic sound.
This is what Reiner Liwenc includes in his dj-sets & produced tracks.
Already a dozen releases on different labels
(f.e. Provocateur, eMBi, ANALOGmusiq, Rezongar, DeepDownDirty, Blufin, Subwoofer, DopeCodedTech etc.)
emphasize the diversity.
His motto “GroovySoundz” is well known.
The progressive and minimalist sound quickly found its followers around Frankfurt am Main & in the Cologne area.
Expect to hear from him: Deep, Minimalistic, Groovy, Melodic & Driving TECHNO.
November Reign are the Frankfurt based Dj ́s Bruno Anselmo and Frank Kusserow. Since the end of 2018 they are combining forces and founded the producer duo November Reign.
Both are strongly connected to the Franfurt clubscene for ages and well known, even outside the borders of Frankfurt.
November Reign stands for athmosheric, driving techno and is truely influenced by the Frankfurt sound of the 90 ́s, tranformed into a new and modern framework.
Based in Frankfurt, Charles Silence’s mission from the beginning was to break through musical conventions. Perhaps his attitude is also due to the fact that he received trumpet lessons in his youth. Whether he is producing deep or tech house, Charles’ passion for catchy melodies shines through. His DJ sets try to take the audience on a musical journey which leaves room for a sense of wonderment.
techMOUSE always tries stylish sets with an invigorating melody and varied grooves. The jump from the shady existence in the recording studio and the detailed editions of his track lists, in the dazzling spotlight of our big city & clubs was only necessary for 2016, but since summer 2015 the newcomer has had a relationship, as he has not done anything for years.
His first set on the “Ocean Beat IBIZA Boat” catapulted him directly into the list of DJ’s from Ibiza’s different boat party and different access to other well-known spots on his own island, such as the ” ” Bora Bora ‘ The “We love Frankfurt” stage at the Frankfurt Museumsufer Fest was also successfully played by techMOUSE. And the list of bookings continues to fill up.
In December 2017 techMOUSE heard his first single ” NOTE ” on the sub-label Spinnin Records Talent Pool and belongs to the Penny & Parookaville & Spinnin Records
DJ COMPETITION where he competes against 2,300 international DJ members. Other releases of self-production tracks change tracks.
In the near future, friends of electronic music can of course not only look forward to one of the items from Frankfurt, but also mixtapes and in-house
productions will be managed by him. Let’s all dance – techMOUSE is ready!
Born in Vienna 1971 he released more than 285 releases with more than 35 different artist-project names on many well-known labels in different genres after his 1st. release 1989.
Le Jardin aka Michael Kohlbecker is firmly established in the international techno world and became one of the pillars of electronic music culture since.
Likewise he is established as a composer & sound designer in the international movie & film biz producing for EPIC Pictures Hollywood, Netflix, HBO and more. Nowadays he belongs to the electronic music underground world elite also in great demand as a Lecturer for Music Productions & DJ & Visual Tech Art Film Maker.