Lars Bartkuhn--DJ-Mix for Electronic Beats Radio, 2008-10

A passionate music lover from childhood

Lars started out writing his first pieces of music with a synthesizer and sequencer which his parents bought him when they realised how obsessed their son was by music. Playing guitar as a teenager Lars fell in love with the music of Pat Metheny, Keith Jarrett and John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, and Wes Montgomery but also with countless other styles beyond jazz such as soul, funk, rock, brazilian sounds, classical music, contemporary, and techno.

In the following years Lars worked as a session musician, playing in countless Jazz quartets, Funk crews, Brazil bands and Fusion combos always searching for new vibes and styles in the world of music. In the mid 90s Lars became fascinated with the deep and soulful side of House music. He realised he shared a common vibe with his older brother Marek Bartkuhn as well as DJ Yannick and together they formed Lamaya Productions and their label NEEDS where they put out only their own productions.

Since then Needs has rapidly become a synonym for high quality soulful music. Many of Lars Bartkuhn’s productions have been played, charted and loved to death by DJ heavyweights around the globe - including Passion Dance Orchestra’s seminal anthem "Worlds"; often heralded as a true dancefloor classic.

On the DJ side of things Lars and his Needs crew were hosting their legendary 'Needs (Not Wants)’ nights in their hometown, while regularly playing all over Europe. For promoting his albums he also toured to Japan. Lars also worked with the RedBullMusicAcademy as a lecturer (Rome/Ekaterinenburg) and studio producer (Seattle).

Lars came back this year with the 12" entitled Dimensions followed by a full length album called The New Continent on Sonar Kollektiv in November 2008. The album shows his most intense and complex arrangements so far. The tunes and harmonies carry memories of brazilian music from the 70’s as well as contemporary touches of jazz and some hints of an electronic background.