Chopstick & Johnjon (Sat 02/11)

Habitat are proud to present SUOL duo CHOPSTICK & JOHNJON

CHOPSTICK & JOHNJON
A decade has passed since the masterminds behind the Suol label, Chi-Thien Nguyen and John B. Muder, set out as Chopstick & Johnjon with a clear mission: to blaze a trail through the international House and Techno scene.

Those ten years seem to have passed in the twinkling of an eye, both as joint label managers and as a production team, they’ve come a long, long way. Techno, Electro, House, Hip Hop – during their early years in particular the duo set about exploring electronic music like kids in a sweet shop. Fearless and bold, they surrendered themselves to the moment, but with the Suol label they seem to have found their spiritual home for the time being.

Suol’s forerunners, Criminal Records and Baalsaal, were important stages in allowing them to hone their profile and gradually acquire the necessary know-how to develop an internationally-successful label. We learn from our mistakes, as the saying goes and all those diverse influences crystallized aesthetically too, as they gradually created a collective sound concept, which is based on their shared experiences – unaffected by the intense maxi single craze, which sometimes strangles the creativity and carefree mindset of the House and Techno scenes. Over time, their collaborative tracks started to become slower and more organic.

What is today commonly known as Slow House was for Chopstick & Johnjon a natural outgrowth of their passion for Hip Hop and Groove in particular. House music that kicks ass. The creative pair compliment each other perfectly – both in the studio and behind the decks. Thien, the classically-trained ‘muso’ and John, the former Hip Hop DJ with an ear for tight, compact arrangements. The chemistry is just right: tracks like “Clear Eyes” from their “Friday Night Lights” EP, “Keep On Keepin’ On” with label-mate Fritz Kalkbrenner on the microphone, or their biggest hit to date “Listen” are all proof of that.

Behind the decks they form a DJ duo that is always perfectly in sync. Whereas others tend to fire all canons in a single volley, a Chopstick and Johnjon DJ set is like a drawn-out foreplay session, a tease. A good groove doesn’t need a rave signal. They’ve mastered the art of slowly, imperceptibly turning the House thumbscrews tighter and tighter until they have total command of the dance floor.

Chopstick and Johnjon are consummate experts at bringing a party to the boil at 116 bpm. With Suol, the successor label to Baalsaal brought to life in 2009, they are in the process of cementing their long-term success as an A&R team. Featuring Trickski, Till von Sein, Fritz Zander, Sven von Thülen, Daniel Bortz, Meggy, Chasing Kurt and Fritz Kalkbrenner, they have put together an illustrious roster of artists within just a short space of time. Their conquest of the world of House continues.

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Supported By Green George, SNB & Deep Under.
Doors: 11pm
Tickets available below.