MT 120 / DJ Hakan Ludvigsson

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Håkan is co-founder of Substream records and a recognized DJ, having played 150 shows in more than 50 clubs over the past 3 years, playing anything from electro house in a nightclub like Absolute House in Shanghai or progressive techno in an abandoned bomb-shelter in Cologne, Germany.

Substream Record Group, http://www.substream.se/, has over 300 artists (e.g. Lutzenkirchen) with 700 releases linked to them, spread across a number of sub-labels (e.g. Clubstream, Baptism).

For Mixtape 120 Håkan shares a mix with 10 techno tunes and some insights into how he builds and considers his sets.

1 – Håkan Lidbo – October Plan (Three Little Pigs Remix) – Clubstream Green

I really love this track as a set opener or a transition from dubby/atmospheric techno to bigger stuff because it has that laidback vibe, yet the hard kick. Three Little Pigs is actually an alternative moniker of the Italian tech-house producers Presslaboys.

2 – ChumahoD – Avora (Lutzenkirchen Remix) – Bequem Digital

To me, this track is deep and subtle, yet builds tension really nicely. I’m not the biggest fan of Lutzenkirchen (even though we have a couple of his tracks on the Baptism label) – but this track really works for me.

3 – Eddine.B – Singapore (Original Mix) – Pumpz Recordings

Letting the mix go a little more loose and percussive with this one to lighten up the mood a bit – still I think this track keeps builds tension.

4 – Hollen – Collision (Original Mix) – Monique Musique

And we’re off! Dropping the first really big one here. I’m a big fan of Hollen’s work – the big pumping groove and full, deep bassline really takes the mix to the next level in my opinion.

5 – Jay Lumen & Max Demand – Hear Them All (Original Mix) – Suara

A bit more energetic and more bouncy, this changes the way people move on the dancefloor without disturbing the vibe

6 – Raul Mezcolanza – Step By Step (Original Mix) – Fresco Records

Keeping the set bouncy, slightly tech-housier track lightens the mood a little and people just love to move to these quirky kinds of sounds.

7 – George Privatti – Aguinaldo (Original Mix) – La Pera Records

Leaving the bouncy stuff for a tight and crisp, pumping track – after “step by step” I think you really need a more simple track without too many distinctive sounds.

8 – Baramuda & Martin Dhamen – MaBa (Original Mix) – Twisted Shuffle

In the same vein as Aguinaldo, this track offers more drive and bigger, more dramatic breakdowns, just to pick things up a bit before the next track.

9 – Hakan Ludvigson, Balthazar & JackRock – Meinungen Mussen Frei Sein (Original Mix) – Ausnahmenzustand

This one is hard to mix (didn’t give that too much thought when I made it) but I really wanted to get it into this set (really love these 80s EBM basslines). It’s a track with a lot of distinctive sounds, one that won’t easily be fully integrated into a mix, and it would be hard to drop too many of these, but one or two in a set is great. The Angy Kore and Alex Di Stefano remixes of this track are much better for mixing so I rarely make use of the original, but I thought id’give it a try this time

10 – Fergie – Exit People (Umek’s 1605 Remix) – 1605 Music Therapy

Just about the best thing ever and for me probably the best thing Umek ever did. The arp reminds me of Silent Shout by The Knife, and it gives the track that progressive, anthem-like feel that we rarely see in techno