The Big Questions: Booka Shade
The incredible Booka Shade divulge the best place for hangover food in Berlin, their thoughts on The Weeknd and the most raucous thing they ever saw at Kazantip Festival, and the interview comes alongside a finely crafted exclusive mix
Where are you answering these questions from?
Walter: You caught us in Singapore, we just arrived in the evening before the day of the first show of our Asia trip. We will play Zouk in Singapore, Live RCA in Bangkok, and Storm Festival in Shanghai this weekend.
What’s the most unique hotel you’ve ever stayed in?
Arno: Some hotels in Brazil I really liked, like the ones that looked like they are part of the rainforest. Pousadas in Portugal can be nice, these are special locations such as monasteries or little castles.
What was the worst job you had before you were a successful touring artist?
Arno: To be honest I never had a ‘real’ job except being a musician, but when I was a student I did a holiday job in a factory where I had to clean huge machines from old lubricating grease. It was quite disgusting and I decided that this was not an option in my life. I would have to work really hard in music, and that’s what I did.
What’s your favorite band/music right now outside of the dance music industry?
Walter: We love The Weeknd. He is a fantastic singer with great songs. We hope to be doing a remix for him very soon.
Do you have any pre-gig rituals or superstitions?
Arno: We left the superstition “it’ll bring bad luck if we go on stage sober” behind us a bit…but warming up before playing the drums is important.
What’s your lamest claim to fame besides DJing?
Walter: In the 90´s we received double platinum of a remix we did for Aqua’s Barbie Girl (this was pre-Booka Shade).
What is one place that a visit home isn’t complete without?
Arno: Having a swim in the lakes that surround Berlin. Walter lives in the north of the city and I´m located in the south west, there are beautiful lakes all around.
The biggest regret or missed opportunity with respect to your music career?
Walter: Je ne regrette rien!
Describe your dancing style?
Arno: Ridiculous.
What is the most embarrassing thing you have ever done while performing?
Walter: Throwing up in a bucket next to the stage because I was ill.
What’s the best interview question you’ve ever been asked (besides this one)?
Arno: Who of you is Booka and who is Shade.
The strangest thing you’ve ever eaten while on tour?
Walter: We actually stayed away from the certainly delicious pig’s feet that we were offered in Portugal once.
If you could spend a day with anyone on the planet, who would it be?
Arno: I’d spend the day with any diving teacher at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Scuba diving there was one of the top five experiences in my life.
What do you like to spend your money on?
Walter: Music instruments, like old synthesizers or electronic and acoustic drums.
Go-to hangover food?
Arno: Obviously anything that contains a lot of fat and salt. A curry wurst at Curry 36 in Berlin could be an option too.
What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen happening from the DJ booth?
Walter: You mean like people having sex in the first row? We actually stopped counting these since we played Kazantip Festival in Ukraine a couple of times.
Weapon of choice?
Walter: Being musicians – I can kill brain cells using my Kaoss Pad.
