1zimmerapartment is a new project by Electronic music lovers duo „Veteran“ DJ & Producer Chris Maico Schmidt and his voice – „newcomer“ prose poet & presenter Patrizia Battistella. She is the spark for their collaboration and inspiration to the man behind EVOSONIC Radio, also known under the following aliases: Mike S., Cybordelics or Mikerobenics. Eternelle is their first release and certainly not the last.
1zimmerapartment, that's Chris Maico Schmidt and Patrizia Battistella. They first met in 1999 when Mike was a DJ and host at EVOSONIC Radio in Munich. Although they crossed paths from time to time, it wasn't until 2022 that they truly got to know each other. And from hours of chatting and silly giggling, it turned to silly giggling, endless chatting about music and hours of hedonistic indulgence – Mike in the role of the DJ, Patrizia on the side of the audience.
It's hard to say whether it's merely due to mutual fondness, but because Patrizia mostly likes Mike's music and he seems to be obsessed with the timbre of her voice, it was only a matter of time before their first collaborative track emerged.
The creative coexistence of the two not only continually fosters (and challenges) each other's musical evolution – they also repeatedly encourage each other to stay true to themselves, to follow their own path – no matter how quirky or mundane the idea, how contrarian and unorthodox the sound.
For the roots of 1zimmerapartment's artistic identity lie in their philosophical principles – true authenticity, lived freedom, and the endeavor to escape the mainstream and rise above unquestioned conventions – socially and musically.
We are very excited that Mike and Patrizia aka 1zimmerapartment have accepted the challenge to answer our questions and you can read their answers and discover their music roots and future perspectives of this very promising new project.
1-Dimitris: It would be nice to start by telling us your 3 most important achievements or goals fulfilled in your career so far that you very are proud of.
Mike: My successes in the late nineties with Mikerobenics' Julika and Cybordelics – Adventures of Dama. Both tracks are still being played and remixed, and are also on some people’s alltime favourite techno track. German Dance Award for EVOSONIC Radio – I still run the radio station, and today there are of course countless web radios. But in the early days, it was a pioneer in terms of independent radio stations for non-commercial music. It still has a bit of cult status today. And because you can't separate the producer from the person, my greatest success is my son Noah Levin, who now produces and DJs himself.
2-Dimitris: Why and under which circumstances did you took the decision to start DJing or producing electronic dance music?
Patrizia: After spending so much time with Mike while he was live mixing for his radio shows or listening to him producing new songs, it was somehow just a matter of time. By now I could equip a whole studio myself. Fun fact: the only item that I still don’t own myself is a proper microphone :D
Mike: How it all started for me is well known.
3-Dimitris: Can you note down the top 3 producers that have influenced your decision to get involved in the electronic dance music scene and you admire and respect them very much?
Patrizia: Chris Maico Schmidt – the answer might seem constructed, but it is the truth. Being so close to music production made me want to contribute to it myself. Melodies, harmonies and – of course – lyrics and vocals.
Mike: The live show of Tyree Cooper at the Oz in Stuttgart. That must have been around 1989. I was flashed by that kind of powerful House music.
4-Dimitris: Can you tell us the top 3 tracks from the past that have influenced your sound the most and why?
Mike:
- Underworld: after listening to their “Dark and long”, I simply felt the urge to produce myself.
- Leftfield: Album Leftism.
5-Dimitris: It would be fantastic to talk about your latest release Eternelle EP on BluFin Records. Please tell us how these tracks came about and what was the idea behind them.
Mike: I wanted to try out the voice of Patrizia in a track. Somehow I heard some potential. When I heard the first sample – the lyrics of Eternelle recorded on her mobile phone – it was immediately clear to me that I want to work with that voice.
So we produced the first track. But since I wanted to do a Breakbeat version and because we couldn’t agree on some of the sounds, I produced two other mixes.
6-Dimitris: How long it took you to produce it and can u describe the production process in simple steps?
Mike: Actually all three edits were finished pretty quickly. Nevertheless, I was in doubt for months. During that time, I again and again changed some parts, so that it might become a global hit. At some point of time though, I had to admit to myself that it couldn't get any better. Today, I'm absolutely happy with all three versions.
7-Dimitris: Did you had any particular difficulties accomplishing that particular track or any specific technical challenges or obstacles that you had to overcome during its production.
Mike: The constant struggle with myself and my standards. And not to forget that I also have to please the other part of our duo, which is not less challenging ;)
8-Dimitris: If you would have the opportunity to change something in your track and maybe to do a new remix what elements are you unhappy with and you are going to change? Is there any artist that you feel would be fantastic to remix this track and why?
Mike: Richie Hawtin. And Underworld, of course.
Patrizia: Far & High. And Acid Pauli... of course 😊
9- Dimitris: Which music composition software or hardware you prefer and why? What is your opinion of the latest movement to produce music with more analogue equipment and with less or without any digital software?
Mike: I mainly work with plugins and Ableton Live as my DAW. I don't really care what someone is using for his productions and whether digital or analog „is better“. To me, it’s the result that counts.
10-Dimitris: Do you prefer vocal or instrumental tracks? If there are vocals on the track we discuss about tell us about the singer you work with?
Mike: Normally, when I use voice samples in my tracks, I use them as kind of an instrument. With Patrizias voice it is slightly different, I put it much more in the foreground. She is no singer, but she has a very powerful and subtile versatile voice. If I had to describe her: when I hear her, I see her as the dubbing voice of Eartha Kitt.
11-Dimitris: You are the owner of EVOSONIC Records please tell us when did you set it up, the reasons behind this decision and your top 3 releases on the label so far plus 2 or 3 releases that we should look after from your label.
Mike: EVOSONIC Records, since 2016. Because I wanted to have my own label and I also had the opportunity.
Top Releases:
1. VA – Ohral Is In The Air (EvoRec 043)
2. VA – Evosonic25 (EvoRec 063)
3. Elektrifizierer – Was Du Nicht Weißt (Chris Maico Schmidt Remix) (EvoRec 008)
Releases to check:
1. Ariyam – Alle Releases
2. Barry Coleman – Interstellar (EvoRec 93)
3. DJ airBuss – Alle Releases
4. Mike S. & Patrizia Battistella – Also Tanzen Wir EP (Out March 2024)
5. Cybordelics feat. James Davis – Adventures Of Dama Rework (EvoRec 005)
12-Dimitris: Tell us about your fantastic radio station Evosonic Radio. Why is the coolest choice for any electronic music lover?
Mike: Our radio is designed for anyone who likes electronic music outside the standard. I try to filter out the most interesting tracks or albums from the genres House (Afro, Deep, Funky, Progressive, Tech and Melodic), Breaks, Electronica, Indie Dance, Minimal, Nu Disco, Downtempo, Ambient, Trance (Psy, Raw, Deep and Hypnotic) and Techno (Peak Time, Driving, Raw, Deep, Hypnotic and Hard). In addition, there are genre-bending ALL time classics from the last 40 years. When choosing shows, imperfect uniqueness is such a criterion for the DJ/radio host AND his music.
You also have to listen to it, because we allow the word, we also see ourselves as "educational radio". For example, our two professors from Trier University of Applied Sciences, who take everyone on an exciting journey into the future of renewable energy systems with their weekly show "Climate and Coal – The Campus Talk". Together, they will discuss how we can master the energy transition and make a personal contribution to mitigating climate change. Another example that sets us apart from the rest is the show "Gods House". As the name suggests, it is a new form of God's service. Basic knowledge from the Bible, explained in a comprehensible way and garnished with current as well as classic house music, which has its origins in Christian gospel. One of our most successful shows is "Innovation Germany". Every Thursday we talk for 30 minutes about current trends, innovations and with start-ups from the German start-up scene. Live over the phone. It's unbelievable how many innovations are being created in Germany. Our listeners learn things about the sourdough bread machine for everyone to sustainable shipping packaging. If that's not a reason to listen in.
13-Dimitris: What the future holds for EVOSONIC in 2024?
Mike: In 2024, we are not only entering our 27th year, but are also facing a new challenge. An association has been founded: EVOSONIC e.V. While our listenership has grown over the years and so have our costs, we face a reality: financial support is crucial. The independence and freedom with which our station has always broadcast can only be maintained through the generosity and commitment of many. If many contribute by becoming members, especially our Radio Hosts, we can continue to make electronic music and its values resound in all its diversity. Donations will help ensure that our station not only survives, but continues to bring inspiration, connection and joy to the world.
More information and how to become a member can be found at
All information about receiving EVOSONIC Radio can be found here:
Including app for iOS and Android, as well as a skill for Alexa.
14-Dimitris: Please share your most funny and most serious incident that happen to you during your DJ or LIVE PA performance?
Mike: Too much to mention.
Patrizia: I wanted to throw something at Mike while he was on air. And the object just so perfectly hit the crossfader that there was absolute silence.
15-Your current Top 3 tracks with short comment:
Patrizia:
1. Where to – Acid Pauli Remix: everythings’s at ease.
2. Love Type – POOLCLVB: my summer hit in winter.
3. Tight Dope – Apaull: it’s just so refreshingly different.
Mike: This is almost never possible for me to tell. Here are three tracks I played most often in all my radio shows combined in 2023.
1. Ariyam – Serotonin (Noah Levin Remix)
2. Oida Holz - Psychologie Expérimentale (Chris Maico Schmidt Remix)
3. Stefan Obermaier - Voy
16-Dimitris: Can you describe your music as certain music genre such as trance, house, techno or your music exempts these categorizations? What is your opinion about hybrid styles and artists who are attempting to mix influences from various genres in their tracks?
Mike: I can rarely, if at all, categorize my productions into genres. However, it would be better in order to satisfy the "box thinking" of the masses and thus to achieve more success.
Patrizia: To be honest – this whole genre discussion s****.
17-Please choose for us your favourite holiday destination and share with us your most unforgettable holiday experience(good/bad)
Mike: I don’t have any free time.
Patrizia: Since I heard that “Chris Maico Schmidt” has a bunch of fans in Alaska (!), I imagine us going on vacation to Alaska with Mike having a couple of gigs there.
Thanks so much to Mike and Patrizia for their fantastic answers.
Thanks so much to Andrea Engels from BluFin Records for arranging this super nice interview
Find Eternelle EP on Beatport
Additional info:
THE HISTORY OF EVOSONIC RADIO
The history of EVOSONIC RADIO begins on May 1, 1997, as the world's first station specializing exclusively in electronic dance music. At that time, the radio station could be received throughout Germany via cable and satellite and broadcast live from Cologne.
EVOSONIC was not based on the concepts of traditional radio stations (so-called format radio), but largely left the design of the broadcasts to the music editors and DJs. These bring the current club sound 24 hours a day non-stop into the living rooms of the listeners. The shows cover all kinds of styles in the field of electronic music, where "word contributions" were not the focus.
At the end of the 1990s, the station became so successful that Mike S., whose real name was CHRIS MAICO SCHMIDT (then as now head of programming), received the German Dance Award in the category "Best Medium" in Hamburg in January 2000. Due to the loss of carrier frequencies (cables), EVOSONIC can no longer be received via cable as of June 1998. This is followed by the relocation of the station from Cologne to Munich. However, after unsuccessful negotiations on a new feed into the cable network, broadcasting had to be stopped for good on 1 October 1999.
The success of EVOSONIC was based not only on the completely new and innovative way of creating a station program, but also on the great response that the station was received by its audience. They loved the "different" culture at EVOSONIC and wanted to continue celebrating their music.
Attempts have been made again and again to bring EVOSONIC back to life. In 2010, Mike S. finally took over all name and trademark rights and put "EVOSONIC.DE" back online. With lasting success. In the coming years, large LIVE events will be held on the Internet again and again, thus maintaining the spirit.
In 2016, Mike founded his own record label EVOSONIC Records. The first release is the LP "Two Point Zero", which Mike releases as "Chris Maico Schmidt", as he calls himself an artist from now on – and EVOSONIC takes the next step towards "revival".
On May 1, 2017, the time has come: The station, which so many have sorely missed in the media landscape, will finally go back on air for its 20th anniversary!
24 hours a day – 7 days a week – 365 days a year. Still led by Chris-Maico Schmidt, various greats of electronic music are now represented with their own broadcasts on EVOSONIC, and new formats and new presenters are constantly being added. Not only from Germany, but from all over Europe.
The station quickly became the first port of call for electronic music in Germany. The mixture of independent live broadcasts, DJ mixes, a wide variety of styles and even talk radio quickly makes EVOSONIC one of the most popular stations of its guild again. Always a little different from the others – always with a good ear for the "special".
Also check on BluFin Records