They met for the first time in 1994 at an import record store in Stuttgart, Thomilla the sales assistant and Michi Beck the customer. When the two vinyl junkies discovered that their shared preferences extended beyond the mere subject matter right down to the last groove, the concept of a joint project was already within reach - albeit not quite conceived
At the time, Thomilla and his collaborators from the Stuttgart crew collective, "Die Krhen", were in charge of THE hip-hop club night in Stuttgart - at the RED DOG (helmed by the brothers Ali and Basti Schwarz, a.k.a. Tiefschwarz), then the ultimate on Stuttgarts club scene, despite the fact that only 400 people could find room in the tiny cellar.
Following their regular encounters at the record store, it was decided that Michi Beck should join the Wednesday team at the Red Dog, the small club becoming the birthplace of the DJ and producer team, Thomilla and Michi Beck, these days better known as TURNTABLEROCKER.
During that time, 1996/97, the first album emerged from their joint studio efforts: Michi Becks solo debut, "Weltweit", produced by Thomilla, featuring Michi Beck as host and MC alongside a number of illustrious guests, such as Wyclef Jean, Scorpio and Melle Mel, Afrob, Smudo. The album also introduced the track "Turntablerocker/Beweg deinen Popo" feat. Max, giving birth to their joint name at last.
"Weltweit" was followed by a live tour and countless DJ gigs which proved that their DJ team vibe was worth manifesting on their next record production - no longer the classic set-up consisting of producer and frontman, but a joint composing and producing of tunes without vocal performances, getting by, above all else, without renowned features.
During their first TURNTABLEROCKER album production, "CLASSIC", Thomilla and Michi Beck discovered that their new project required a change of musical habits, approaching their compositions in a different way than they would rap or RnB instrumentals - creating step by step the new TURNTABLEROCKER style that they would come to refer to as BOOGIE.
Not only the Turntablerockers enjoyed the result, which went from ..0 to ..17 in the German album charts - an established hip-hop act with an album that seemed experimental by the musical standards of that time. TURNTABLEROCKER not only caused a stir in Germany: based on their live and DJ shows, and last but not least their success in the German-speaking territories, CLASSIC was released almost globally. Japan, Canada, Mexico, Europe, Australia - for the first time it was no problem to purchase a Four Music product worldwide in specialist stores.
2002 saw the arrival of TURNTABLEROCKERs second LP, named "SMILE". This production told even more of the two protagonists countless DJ weekends, featuring decidedly clubbier and faster tracks, the two single hits "LOVE SUPREME" and "RINGS" among them.
That development has continued to this day, in the studio productions by the two Berlin residents, as well as in their sold-out DJ gigs.
After more than 10 years together behind the decks, these two have begun to move away from their hip-hop base, sparkling with their very own electronic wildstyle, somewhere between house, straight beats, breakbeats and thumping electro. "TTR.OY" and "I HEARD YOU WERE DEAD", their most recent releases on London club label, FINE RECORDS, also exemplify this style.
TURNTABLEROCKER are currently back at the studio, and were all eagerly anticipating the arrival of their next single. So far, these two have always been good for a surprise
"Alles schlägt hier im Takt, einer endlosen Macht, die gebunden an mehr, als nur Tag oder Nacht, uns leitet, ins nächste Extrem, als winziges Glied im System...
Hier ist Gutes zu seh'n... So viel Gutes zu seh'n...!"
Hey ihr seit am 30.10. im Washroom in Dresden und ich musste heute schon wieder zurück in die Schweiz fliegen. Schade schade!! wäre gerne dabei gewesen!!! Lasst krachn!
