Charismatic. Intimate. Dramatic. These are just some of the words that define the man behind the decks. But in real life he's much, much more. A complex personality cut from humble cloth, even after 10 years and travelling around the world to play his trade, it's still a labour of love. "Playing my music for an audience is still such a privilege," he says.
For all who follow, his world is a wonder of progressive trance, but most of all, he has an uncanny gift to read his fans: anything they desire in sound and rhythm is fulfilled, and their longings quelled. Perhaps therein lays the key to his success.
No one imagined that what started with AC/DC records in stuffy Swiss Harley clubs would come to this. Within months of discovering clubs as a teen, he had traded his electric guitar for a synthesizer and samples, and the rest, as they say, is history.
By the late 90s- DJ Martin had already been discovered by arguably the hottest club in this corner of Europe, Zurich's Labyrinth Club. This residency guaranteed the exposure to the right names and ears, and opened the doors to clubs and festivals worldwide. He had played to audiences as large as 25,000: BOOM Festival in Portugal, Fusion and VuuV Festival in Germany, Universo Paralello in Brasil and more.
He names his most influential partner as Nicola Capobianco, aka Liquid Soul (Iboga Rec), the two forming a close friendship in 2002 with their deep synergy in musical taste and professional ambitions.
Their collaboration started with their project Earsugar (Iboga Rec), but by 2006, the pair had launched their own imprint, Mikrokosmos Recs, a platform for an eclectic array of Progressive Trance talents. Mikrokosmos Recs came as a blessing for its fans, lovers and artists alike in an increasingly bland and saturated market. Releases were based on personal taste for, in DJ Martin's words, "Good taste can do no wrong". With the same persistence as its founders, Mikrokosmos Recs became a cornerstone of the international progressive trance scene.
However, it is DJ Martin as Human Element (Mikrokosmos Recs) which best define him as a producer and a DJ; the driving, grooving progressive trance forming the heart of his distinctive sets. But between the rigours of the weekends, DJ Martin is Martin Knecht, and one will find him in his studio on the outskirts of Zurich with a view to open greens. "This is my Yin to the weekend Yang", he says quietly. "I can't live without it".
for booking get in touch with ana@flow-bookings.com
RELEASES
coming soon: human element :: subsequent connection :: atmos rmx :: mikrokosmos
coming soon: human element :: subsequent connection :: mikrokosmos rec
coming soon: human element :: digital reality :: echoes rec
human element :: yin & yang :: echoes rec
human element :: breaking the 4th wall :: mikrokosmos rec
human element :: beingIn :: mikrokosmos rec
martin :: intoxicated :: zyce rmx :: spintwist rec
human element :: no rush :: iono music
human element :: sweet addiction :: mikrokosmos rec
martin :: intoxicated :: blue tunes rec
martin :: what the "bleep" do i know? :: mikrokosmos rec
cafu & martin - after all :: blue tunes rec
martin :: silence of truth :: spintwist rec
martin :: lauschgift :: blue tunes rec
mikrokosmos :: lost & found :: yse rec
REMIXES:
coming soon: atmos :: soundglider :: human element rmx :: atmotech rec
midimal :: ages of history :: human element rmx :: mikrokosmos rec
zyce :: strange fragments :: human element rmx :: mikrokosmos rec
visua :: stage of evolution :: human element rmx :: blue tunes rec
liquid soul :: clean mind :: human element rmx :: iboga rec
vertex :: cold chord :: human element rmx :: blue tunes rec
day.din & dj fabio :: rising love :: martin rmx :: blue tunes rec
keenan & dale anderson :: drift away :: martin rmx :: spiral trax rec
feuerhake :: glowing nights :: martin rmx :: synergetic rec
snake sedrik & kahns :: remember :: martin rmx :: blue tunes rec
alex stealthy :: once :: mikrokosmos rmx :: sog rec
alex stealthy :: going home :: mikrokosmos rmx :: sog rec
mikrokosmos :: two places :: mikrokosmos, absolut & greed rmx :: vapour rec
CHILL OUT:
zyce :: strange fragments :: human element bonus rmx :: mikrokosmos
mikroson :: blue flow :: whatts music
mikrokosmos :: white window :: whatts music
mikrokosmos :: deep space :: abstrait music
mikrokosmos :: high fly :: emi rec
EARSUGAR:
earsugar & double click :: beat it :: mikrokosmos rec
earsugar :: wide awake :: mikrokosmos rec
earsugar :: age of the 6th sun :: echoes rec
earsugar :: bonfire :: mikrokosmos rec
earsugar :: mindprint :: furthur project recordings
earsugar :: guardian :: RPO rmx :: echoes rec
earsugar :: randy earcandy :: blue tunes rec
earsugar :: womanizer :: quantize rmx :: blue tunes rec
earsugar :: new era :: mikrokosmos rec
earsugar :: guardian :: blue tunes rec
earsugar :: descend :: domo rec
earsugar vs. dj pena :: k.i.s.s. :: plusquam rec
earsugar :: nonsense :: blue tunes rec
earsugar :: stay :: hommega rec
earsugar :: foretaste :: symphonix rmx :: blue tunes rec
symphonix & xibalba :: we find a way :: earsugar rmx :: blue tunes rec
earsugar :: foretaste :: plusquam rec
earsugar :: womanizer :: plusquam rec
COMPILATIONS:
extrasensory perception part III :: mikrokosmos rec
progress tunes vol. 1 by martin :: progress tunes rec
extrasensory perception part II :: mikrokosmos rec
freak the tune vol. 2 :: blue tunes rec
freak the tune :: blue tunes rec
extrasensory perception :: mikrokosmos rec
labyrinth essential 001 :: mikrokosmos rec
progressive workout vol 4 :: tribal tribe
lobby bar - your private lounge :: emi rec
labyrinth selection vol 3 :: tribal tribe
