Interview with rave techno musician Dj Schwa

With a passion for electronic sounds from birth, probably thanks to his upbringing in the Czech Republic and living above the renowned ORM studio in Prague in the 80’s, Michal became genre-fusing music producer Dj Schwa. The music producer has received much acclaim over the years with a feature in DJ Mag UK as well as running Prague rave warehouse Komiks which has hosted acts like Derrick May, Omar S, Robert Hood, Kink, Marcel Dettmann to name a few. Recently the DJ and collaborator Name Does Not Matter announced the Obsolete EP via RFR Records, which is set official release on the 15th of June.

While we wait for this EP to be unveiled in the next few days, we chatted with Dj Schwa, who has a natural ability to alter his sound without hesitation and finesse.

For anyone that hasn’t heard it yet, how would you describe your sound?

It’s not up to me to describe it. My sound has evolved a lot over the past years. I release music on labels such as Compost Black, Pets recordings, Beef and lately also on RFR records. If I have to give some tags it would be #acid #electro #techno #house

At what point in your life did you have that moment where you said to yourself “This is it. This is the type of music I want to create?”

Honestly, never. I am always very puzzled about this. I am never 100% happy with the result. With some distance, I can only say that I am really happy with the result of the ‘Ape King’ and ‘Do’ tracks EPs for RFR Records Munich. I am also very happy with the sound of the 6 Steps EP that came out in 2016 on Beef records. Track ‘Analog Love’ for Compost Black is also pretty decent :).

What piece of gear could you never live without?

Mac mini and Ableton with my favourite plugins. Hardware-wise; it would be the 303, The Tempest drum machine and lately also Eventide H9. And of course, my set of speakers (Adam and Genelec). However, during the pandemic, I was stranded in the countryside with very limited access to hardware gear. Honestly, I didn’t mind. You always gotta adapt and work with what you have handy.

Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, what do you prefer?

I need both. Both worlds are very important for me. The only problem is that the more gigs I have the less studio time I manage to keep for my own production.

What’s the weirdest or most amazing reaction you’ve had to your music?

I was told once that I play great music to fuck to :). Not sure if this is good or bad.

Favourite BPM?

120 – 130.

All-time favourite album?

Q&A: Tensteps tells us about ADE 2023

Underworld – Second Toughest in the Infants

What have you got in the pipeline for the near future?

A new project called WD-40 Trax that I started with my cousin. We just finished the Depeche Mode remix. Debut EP should be out in a few months, it’s in the pressing plant already. That is very exciting. I am also looking forward to taking Komiks from hibernation soon. Komiks are big warehouse rave parties that we have been running in Prague with Fatty M and Lumiere since 2014. It’s something in between an art exhibition, circus and rave party :)!