Travelling has always been an integral part in Daniel Haaksman’s life. Born in Rome, the DJ, producer, label owner and journalist grew up in different countries in different parts of the world. Settled in Berlin since a few years now, he still likes to go abroad. On his journeys around the globe he is not only Djing and collecting records but is engaged in bringing together musicians from different scenes. He presented the sound of the favelas in Rio to a bigger audience and created the term „Baile Funk.“ His label Man Recordings has become one of the leading labels in tropical bass, featuring well known artists such as Diplo, Crookers, Lovefoxxx, Marina Gasolina or Edu K.
At ACUD Club Daniel Haaksman will celebrate the release of his second album „African Fabrics,“ a synthesis of internet and street market finds with current bass music styles of the northern hemisphere. Joining Haaksman behind the desks are two shining lights of the Berlin Afro House scene, Mista Wallizz and Pam Bam, and a surprise guest DJ. We asked him five questions about Frankfurt, his last journey to Brazil, record collecting, writing and his home Berlin-Mitte.
I only lived nine years in Frankfurt …?
… but it was during a time when electronic music, DJ and club culture first blossomed and it was a great place to be. Also, Frankfurt is the only real global city in Germany and this global view shaped my mindset as well.
During my last travel to Brazil …?
… I most of all escaped the Berlin winter which was a big joy. Besides, I played shows in Rio, Brasilia and São Paulo and hung out with various artists and DJs. There’s a new wave of producers in Brazil, especially from São Paulo who have a very special and exciting twist on bass music. I also went to Belém for the first time which is in the North East of Brazil, in the Amazon area. Belém has a complete different vibe to Rio and São Paulo, it´s a city shaped by indigineous culture, which is very present in the local food but also reveberates in the local electronic music styles such as Tecno Brega or Eletromelody, which are really exciting genres
The only thing about record collecting ennerving me …?
… is the schlepping of vinyls when you travel or buy vinyls when travelling. Records are bulky and sensitive so you always need an extra case to store them.
I like to reflect on music not only as an artist but also through writing about it …?
… With sound you can already tell a lot but with the written word you can extend the picture, for example explore the histories and contexts in which music is emerging or developing. I started writing in 1990 for some fanzines and then moved on to local magazines. Now I write on and off for bigger media outlets. The book about Iggy Pop came together by accident. I met the photographer Esther Friedman in Frankfurt and she told me about her life with Iggy in 1970s Berlin and that she had tons of unpulished photos. So we went through boxes and boxes of photos and out came “The Passenger” a book with a lot of unreleased, very private photos of Iggy Pop. I ways loved the raw energy of The Stooges and Iggy’s first albums, so it was great to get a very close view on the personal story behind them.
I am a NoTo person …?
… I live on Torstrasse corner Gormann since 2001, when I moved there it was a shit hole that no one wanted to live in, there was one Italian restaurant and a few Berliner Eckkneipen but that’s it. Now it has become a hot street which is buzzing at the weekends and in its side streets there’s now great little shops, bars and restaurants. Though the many hotels on Rosenthaler Platz capitalized on Torstrasse´s charme and ruined the atmosphere of the square it´s still a very buzzing, very urban area. The new variety of food places is also great. I really like my neighborhood!
Photo: Stefan Korte
