Satellite Voices

Munich

Munich Hustlers Part 4: The Zenker Brothers

October 4

Presenting the wild boys of Munich through our Munich Hustlers series

• Text by Christine Bierhals

You can call them hedonists, artists and musicians. They are young, have style and their love for music interconnects them all. Marco, 22-years-young and Dario Zenker, 27, are DJs and producers, who founded their own record label Ilian Tape and are responsible for Harry Klein Records. When Dario get home from his tours in Europe, America and Australia, the brothers perform live and rock their hometown of Munich.

Satellite Voices: Do you remember your first favourite song?
Marco: I'm not sure about it. My mum and dad always listened to a lot of music which influenced me a lot. One track I remember and I really liked is Wes "Alane". Still a heavy tune and really funny!

Dario: I think it was Michael Jackson "Bad". I am not really sure. But that's what I remember. I was totally into Michael Jackson as a kid and I still am. The productions of Quincy are simply out of space.

SV: How did your love of music evolve?
Marco: I was always really interested in music and a wide range of genres. I started making music just for fun with a friend. We used to record hip hop tracks together, but it slowly became my biggest passion after I heard Dario playing at Harry Klein club for the first time. I never heard music like this in such an environment before and from there on everything started.

Dario: Well I grew up in my Mum's belly with music already. Music always really relaxed me in a way. And when I went to the club for first time with loud music and saw dancing people around me, I felt that's what I want to do. So I started DJing. That was almost 13-years-ago.

SV: What else are you up too?
Marco: We run the record label Ilian Tape and together with Julietta we are mainly responsibe for Harry Klein Records. Besides that I work two-days-a-week with my Dad in the center of Munich. It's a nice change in between.

SV: What’s your dream project?
Marco: A completely analogue live set without a computer. But I need a few more machines for that.

Dario: I have many dreams. A studio in a big house by the sea with a huge vegetable and flower garden and big kitchen maybe?

SV: What’s your next project?
Marco: I'll release a solo record on Ilian Tape at the end of the year and a split EP with another artist on Harry Klein Records.

Dario: My new record on Frozen Border under my alias #.4.26. was released this week. In October I will release my next record on Ilian Tape and also a split on Harry Klein Records later this year. And there are also two remixes for "Freak Seven" coming on 2020 Vision anytime this year.

SV: What inspires you about Munich?
Marco: I grew up here and I just love the city. It's really green and the river Isar is perfect for swimming and hanging out in the summer. I also really love the central station district where I live. It's really multi-cultural and always busy on the streets. 

Dario: Munich is a very comfortable city to live. It's quiet and very green and relaxed. Of course, it is not very cheap – but in comparison to other big cities in other countries it is cheap. It's not the most artist friendly city either, but maybe that is the inspiring thing about it. I just feel extremly comfortable here. I love it. It’s my hometown. That's how I feel.

The Zenker Brothers will play live at Digitalanalog Festival in Munich October 14. This is followed by an upcoming US tour in November, Ilian Tape label nights in Kassel, Vienna and Athens and a Harry Klein showcase at ADE, the Amsterdam Dance Event.