Before he steps behind the lengendary Technoclub decks on the 6th October we catch a word with the former half of Dumonde, JamX, a legend in his own right. Here's what he had to say about the current state of the trance scene and his own musical journey to where he is today...

Jürgen Mutschall fka. JamX began his dj’ing career playing Neue Deutsche Welle and Italo Disco diversifying into House, Funk, Soul, R&B and Hip Hop . In 1990 he became a resident at Mega Club Centre EXTRA in Koblenz between Frankfurt and Cologne In the mid nineties he began focusing on developing his musical career. Opening a record store called Vinyl Underground he started organising house parties in the area. While doing this he met de Leon with whom he teamed up to work on his first productions. At the end of 1997 they had formed DuMonde and released the Trance single Tomorrow which gained widespread support from both DJs and radio stations alike . DuMonde came to the attention of German Trance legend Talla 2 XLC which lead to them remixing Push’s Universal Nation and Love’s Coming Down. Founding the Chaos label to release JamX’s Das Licht , Keep it that way and De Leon’s – Hold it & Fate the Jamx and De Leon partnership was producing tracks instantly sought after on the club scene.

Together with Chaos JamX & De Leon pressed on with DuMonde releasing tracks such as See the Light and Just feel free, together with a string of remixes including remixing for the acclaimed Japanese vocalist Ayumi Hamasaki which bought their talent to a market outside Germany In 2002 the production duo signed up with the German Record label Superstar Recordings releasing Never look back a title symbolic of their new moves forward, moves that would eventually see them creating their own respected label F8T and a string of dance classics. For a Decade Dumonde were recognised as one of the foremost production and Dj duos on the trance scene, from production collaborations with artists such as Lange and gigs at God’s Kitchen Gatecrasher, Velfarre and other major venues globally they spent the last ten years at the top until deciding to go their own way as solo artists in December 2008 sees Jürgen Mutschall kicking of his solo career with the aptly named track "Liebe".

With such a deep history within the trance scene and a good relationship with Talla 2XLC it's only fitting he should be invited to Talla's 32 Years of DJ'in at the legendary Technoclub on the 6th October. Ahead of the event we managed to catch up for a few words.

i:Vibes: You are mostly known as Dumonde, but have had your other alter ego Jamx where you produce music. How is the JAMX sound different today? Do you only play at classic party’s or do you make new material?

JamX: Deleon and I had our own style and we always were able to develop our sound further. He sat at the computer and I fed him ideas. Today I am working together with Vace and am always looking after new sounds, but we don’t always have the time. I have always wanted to produce more commercial things and it always is a lot of fun to work with other artists. I do play new material in clubs, but my sound is more trouse and more electric. But I do love to play classic stuff. I am always looking for song writers and singers for dance productions

i:Vibes: Trance is always evolving and you have been a part of it since the 90s. How healthy and what is your overall impression of the trance scene in 2012?

JamX: I am not as involved with the current trance scene as in the past. I have to drive very far to hear good trance. One gets a lot online, but that isn’t live. Last year, I was in Amsterdam and heard Armin van Buuren and Orjan Nilson. It was a great night, but I didn’t hear anything new. I talked to Roger Shah there for a long time and is a hero of the good old days with Armin, Tiesto and Talla. He said there isn’t much happening in the trance scene. It is an established music direction with fresh sounds, but the arrangement stays the same.

i:Vibes: You will be playing at Technoclub on October 6th. How excited are you about this gig and what can we await from this DJ set?

JamX: I am looking forward to seeing Talla and Jam el Mar again. Talla and I have wanted to have a barbeque for the longest time at my place in the Westerwald. I haven’t got anything planned. I will look at the people and then decide what I will play. I will play a lot of Dumonde/JamX tracks.

i:Vibes: How important has Talla 2XLC been for the German trance scene especially now where trance isn’t as big as in the past?

JamX: Talla Has been very important for the structure of the scene and for keeping it going. He fights day by day to organize good parties and he gives me the chance to play this music in Germany.

i:Vibes: When did you first meet Talla 2XLC and what do you remember from that meeting?

JamX: We were at the Popkom in Cologne in 1998. Spacecase introduced us and a friendship developed and business relationship also came about. The start was remixes for Tony H – Zoo Future & Push – Universal Nation. Soon after then, we formed Chaos records.

i:Vibes: What is your favourite Talla 2XLC track and why?

JamX: Eternal Mystery is my favourite track because it is very good, but there are many good tracks from him

i:Vibes: How would a Talla 2XLC/JAMX track sound like in 2012?

JamX: That is a tough question. We would just have to give it a try.

i:Vibes: How excited are you about hearing Jam El Mar live? Would you ever have thought that he would be a DJ so late in his music career?

JamX: My first impression was awesome. However it also has to do about his legacy. He has produced so many great tracks. I am curious to see if he will choose a good track selection. If the mixing don’t work so well then we will help him.

i:Vibes: How important was Talla 2XLC to the career of Dumonde? Your first track Tomorrow was added to the Technoclub Vol 4 in 1998 and in 2001, you mixed the Technoclub CD with Talla 2XLC?

JamX: Talla 2XLC gave us the chance to move forward. It may have also worked without him, but he brought us into the scene. We developed our project and brought Dumonde into the world. The Technoclub was a great experience and am proud that I could mix it.

i:Vibes:  Dumonde went separate ways in 2007. Were the ideas gone or was it just a good time to say, it was great, but let us put this project to rest?

JamX: We had different agendas. We wanted to keep developing our sound, but also had to finance our private lives. WE were unable to combine this so we went separate ways.

i:Vibes: Could a Dumonde reunion ever happen again?

JamX: No(?)

i:Vibes: Another project JAMX & De Leon was really nothing different than Dumonde. In 2002 you guys produced Can you dig it. How far did you guys try to keep the two sounds separate?

JamX: JamX & Deleon was our harder project. We had less trancy elements, but still melodies with a hard kick.

i:Vibes: People often remember 1998 from Binary Finary (PVD Remix) the most but there were great other tracks and remixes like 1999 and 2000?. Dumonde offered a great remix for 2000. Where will the Dumonde remix remain in the memory of trancers? I remember as a remix where one could clearly establish the Dumonde style.

JamX: Orbit Germany called me in my record store and asked if we wanted to make a remix of Binary Finary. It was a privilege to remix their song. This remix in general was easy to make, but it took a few days, but the ideas came very quick even though the expectations were high. We used our style with this remix and packaged our soul in it. I am proud to have remixed Binary Finary.

i:Vibes: This is a question that many don’t like to answer, but maybe you will give your opinion. Was trance better in the late 90s?

JamX: Trance was more innovative then. Songs had more parts where the story was prepared and then went again. Today nobody takes the time to tell good trance stories.

i:Vibes: If you could choose to be locked in the studio in 2012 with an artist who would you choose?

JamX: I may start a production with Scot Project soon. We have spoken about it. If it will happen, we will see.

i:Vibes: One of your all -time favourite tracks is Silent Breed - Sync in (Original). What makes this track so appealing to you?

JamX: This track kicks me. I love this track.

i:Vibes: What acts in 2012 do you like? What is your opinion of Arty?

JamX: I don’t know him personally, but he has fulfilled his dream. He makes quality music.

i:Vibes: In a Dumonde interview 8 years ago, you said you would play Perpetuous Dreamer - Sound of Goodbye in your last DJ set ever. Do you still share this opinion?

JamX: Yes

i:Vibes: Where is the musical future of JAMX going to? Where do you see you’re self in 5 years?

JamX: I think I will continue to do my thing and produce with my friend Daniel Korber alias Vace and produce the sound we like. I am not sure what will be in five years. What happens now is more important.

:: If your a singer / song writer please send any demos to: jamx@twistycube.de

CLASSIC JAMX RECORDS

JamX & DeLeon - 'Can You Dig It'

 
Dumonde - See The Light