Dynamic Don & Kristian Auth (Berlin)

The DJs Kristian Auth and Dynamic Don represent the Berlin Soul scene and are the residents of the club " At the Soul Inn " (LIDO), which for now remains the largest platform in Germany! They regularly perform throughout Europe at well -proven parties (Soulkombinat, Oslo Soul Experience, Soul Sides ...). Dynamic Don will successfully promote its own Soul & Garage party called "Shotgun Club", while Kristian Auth leads three club projects in different countries at once: "Tour de Funk" in Bonn, "Soul Junction" in Cyul, and finally "Soul Central "in Brussels! Both DJs have collected rare records for many years and characterize their play style just like Dynamic Soulmusic! Details in the interview below.

You are both responsible for the alternative to the "Soul Explosion" scene in Berlin, what is the difference between your parties in the same city?
Kristian: I think that the main difference is our more open musical consciousness, only Funk plays “Soul Explosion” and hate all the shades of Northern, R&B, Reghae Soul, Modern Soul music.
DON: We both have a fairly wide musical taste, it also applies to our Soul Inn parties if it comes to Soul music.

Tell us about the Berlin and German Soul/Fink stage, where is the capital of Soul in Germany if Munich is called "Funk City"?
Kristian: In Berlin, there are several excellent parties of parties: "Hip City Soul Club" and "The Soulkombinat". I think that Berlin is slightly higher than the rest in terms of quality parties.
DON: To be frank, then there are so many collectors ... Each large Berlin Soul Party has its own characteristics and its own style. For example, on “Soulkombinat” there is a second dance floor where electronic music sounds, and in “Hip City Soul Club”, unlike the classic North Soul parties, they play a unique and fresh Soul from the very source to the present day. I myself am from Munich, but I was not there at any funeral party. Hamburg could claim the title of "Soul of the capital" of Germany, relatively speaking.

Then tell us, please, these souls of parties in Hamburg, the owner of our club in St. Petersburg from Hamburg
DON: "For Dancers Only", "Hamburg Soul Weekender"

Where do you come from (what part of Germany)?
Kristian: Western Germany, Cologne
Don: Munich, Bavaria


Your own Lido party is perfectly furnished, as you can see in the photographs on your site, do you have to clean all these scenery every time or are they staying in the club?
Kristian: We decorate the space every time! This is a lot of work, and every time we change everything.

Tell us about your third -party projects, because you are doing them in different clubs and even in different cities. How many such parties do you control at the moment?
Kristian: I have been making Tour de Funk since 2006 in Bonner (in Goldener Negl) and Berlin (in Privat Club), as well as "Soul Junction" in Cologne. "Soul Junction" is a rare Soul music, like "Soul Inn". "Tour de Funk" - a party where HIP -hop sometimes play, in Berlin, my partner DJ Steven Inch is engaged in this party. In Brussels, I make only one small party - "Soul Central".
DON: In addition to "Soul Inn" in Lido, I make "Shotgun Club" there, where we play Garage, Soul and Mod Jazz 60s. Sometimes we make "Shotgun Club" in Bassy - the club is completely dedicated to the music of the 60s. "DIRTYACTION" - a party that we make together with my friend Mark Forrest, here we play the entire set of R&B 50/60, now we are looking after a new place for these events. In addition, I often play in other bars and clubs.

After all, Marc Forrest has his own large party, his name sounds very familiar, should be one of the best German DJs? By the way, do you exchange plates with other DJs?
Don: Marc Forrest is one of the most famous North Soul DJs in Germany and beyond, he has been managing the Hip City Soul Club for 20 years. I rarely change plates with other DJs, more often, I buy records even from friends.

Garage 60s is not so famous here as the style of music, I think. I have not heard DJs playing 60s Garage in Russia. How would you define this style with two words, maybe you could call a couple of your hits of the genre ...
DON: This music can be described in a few words as follows: Simple, Wild and Dirty. The easiest way to get acquainted with the Semplers "Back from the Grave", "Teenage Shutdown" on Crypt and Norton Records. We exist many collections in this genre ("The SONICS" etc.). You can listen to old English gangs: The Kinks, Manfred Man and The Who.
Here are a few of my loved ones: The Rats 'Rats Revenge', Mystics 'Snoopy', EVERYTHING FROM THE SWAMP RATS, MIDNIGHTERS 'Jump, Jive and Harmonize'

Christian, how do you like club life in Belgium, have you been to the famous Popcorn parties, do you like Popcorn Oldies?
Kristian: I like the first half hour, then it becomes boring. Club culture in Belgium is not so good.

Which of you makes flyers for "Soul Inn"
Kristian: We share this work, Don is engaged in this for a month, another month - me.

Christian, when the last time you played HIP-hop, and what was it?
Kristian: Sometimes at parties "Tour de Funk", it was mainly a hiphop of the second half of the 90s (De la Soul, a Tribe Called Quest ...)

You come to Russia with a duet, do you prefer to play Back to Back or separately? Did you buy the same plates on ebay? How did you meet?
Kristian: We are neighbors;-) ... we prefer to play for 30 minutes replacing each other. On ebay, we do not often fight for the same records.
DON: In general, there are many identical records in our collections, we were able to agree not to participate in auctions at the same time, but this happened before we did not know each other personally. I prefer classic 30 minute sets, then you can also Back to Back in the final.

What tour performances were most remembered?
Kristian: Italy, France, Belgium, Norway ... I think that Oslo Soul Experience is one of the best parties.
DON: New York !

Do you collect LPS or only 45S? Are certain genres or are you interested in all the shades of the Soul of Music? What is your sound?
Kristian: I collect 95% 45s, before I bought mostly Deepfunk, then 3 years - Crossover Soul, and recently - Modern Soul.
DON: Mostly Soul and Funk 45S, but also R'N'B 50X, Reggae and Garage. When it comes to LPS, I buy modern material.

How great is your personal collection of records?
Kristian: approximately 2500 45s and 500 LPS (mainly jazz)
DON: I have not counted for a long time, I think within 3000 pcs.

Does Modern Soul are gaining momentum?
Kristian: Definitely
DON: No comment ...

Can you afford to play the track in German at your Soul Inn party or are there any certain restrictions?
Kristian: There are no such good German funk tracks, so we rarely do it.

DJing is not your main work, as far as I know ... What do you do in life?
Kristian: DJing was my main work several years ago, but since 2007 I have also been working for the European Parliament in Brussels, as a web editor.
Don: with a sign

What are the 10 best records from your current playlist, please.

Dynamic Don (Top Ten 45s):

1. The Highliters "Funky 16 Corners" (3 Diamond)
2. Perk Badgar "Do Your Stuff" (Hit Sound)
3. David Robinson "I'm a Carpender" (Orbiton)
4. Johnnie Morisette "I'M Hungry" (J & J)
5. Contours "Whole Lotta Woman" (Motown)
6. Nathaniel Mayer "From Now on" (Fortune)
7. OTIS CLAY "Three IS A Crowd" One (Derfule)
8. Prince Buster "Whine & Grind" (FAB)
9. Clancy Eccles "Feel The Rhythm!" (Doctor Bird)
10. Pepe Fernandez "Having Fun" (Century Fox REC)

Kristian Auth (Top Ten 45s):

1. Barbara Howard "I Don 'Want Your Love" (S. Reece)
2. Mickey & The Soul Generation "How Good Is Good"
3. The Rising Sun "Good Loving" (KingSton)
4. Moses Smith "Come on, Let me Love You" (Cotillion)
5. The Jolly Jax "Preciate it" (Cookin ')
6. The Black On White Affair "Bold Soul Sister, Bold Soul Brother" (Topaz)
7. Dianne Elliott "When He Speaks" (New Horizon)
8. The Vonns "So Many Days" (King)
9. Billy Storm "Apologize" (Le Mans)
10. Jimmy Ricks "Oh! What a Feeling" (Festival)

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Don & Kristian performances in St. Petersburg:

06/11/09 "Friendship" http://www.lookatme.ru/cities/sankt-peterburg/events/66360

06/12/09 "Sochi" http://www.lookatme.ru/cities/sankt-peterburg/events/66323

Flyer: