Krake x Brvtalist is proud to present a new mix from Marsman. Ahead of the Krake Festival in Berlin this coming weekend, we're excited to bring you this special edition mix from one of the fest's headlining artists. Founder of Rotterdam's Pinkman records alongside its three offshoots Mindri, Broken Dreams and Charlois, he also ran a beloved record store at the beating heart of Rotterdam’s creative district, and co-founded Rotterdam's online radio Operator. What his work has in common is its ability to form a community out of a disparate group of outsiders with bravado. As a DJ, Marsman wants to make you dance with your head held high. His sound evokes a retro-futuristic euphoria. Nostalgic without being stuck in the past, it fosters the return of songs to the club; of sex, warmth and basslines to thedancefloor. Not confined to any one genre, expect to hear some of the best outsider soundsand infectious tracks from across wave, body, italo and well beyond. I
In addition to this mix, we also present an interview with the artist which you can read below.
The Brvtalist: How long have you been running the Pinkman label? Would you say the sound direction has pretty much stayed the same over time?
Marsman: For 11 years. For me the sound hasn't really changed because what I release was always quite versatile to me. I'm just trying to connect the dots between different genres. I think the music is generally melancholic, and there should be a certain dramatic atmosphere. I don't care if it's music for clubs or to listen to at home.
TB: What challenges do you face with the label in 2024 that maybe you didn't face when you started it? Or maybe there's a lot of the same?
M: Well, running a niche underground vinyl label has always been a challenge, but I like thehustle of it. Although in recent years the production costs of pressing a record has almost doubled due to the inflation, this made things definitely harder to release everything on vinyl . Therefore I also put out lathe cuts, tapes and digital only releases so I don't have any concessions when it comes to the music I want to release.
TB: Being from Rotterdam, tell us a little bit about the city's scene.
M: We have a large pool of talented producers, DJs and label owners here. Everyone is very supportive of each other, which is very inspiring for me. However when it comes to nightlife, Rotterdam is a city of high peaks and deep lows. Things are difficult at the moment as 3 important clubs have closed this year. But, as always, I think it will get better soon. I know some people who are already planning to open new locations and I think the city will bloom again after the summer!
TB: As a DJ describe your current sound and what we can expect at Krake Festival.
M: I always mix up different sounds and moods, new and old music. For all of my gigs I don't have a plan upfront, so for Krake it's the same. I just try to capture the vibe on the dance floor and play music I think is suitable for that moment and try to surprise people.
TB: What are some DJ highlights for you this past year and what are your favorite types of events to play?
M: Every year the Intergalactic FM festival in The Hague is the ultimate highlight for me. Four days surrounded by friends from all over the world and hearing only quality music on 5 different stages. It is a unique event and I would recommend everyone to check it out. It's also my favorite festival to play besides the various club nights they organize. I might end up playing at one of their (Italo) Disco events, and then a month later at an Acid party. It challenges me as a DJ, and that's what I like a lot.
TB: What's coming up next and anything else you're excited about.
M: In August I will be back in Mexico for a 3 week tour, playing 9 events there. I love this country and the crowd there is really interested in what I do and I've made a lot of friends the previous times I toured there, so I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone again. When it comes to the label, exciting things are also happening. After the summer I'm going to release albums from some bands that I really love. There will also be a new division of Pinkman and we will continue to expand!
Catch Marsman at Krake Festival June 22nd. For more info and tickets visit: https://krake-festival.de/
