Welcome to Il Modo's Exclusive Series Mix for March 2024.  We are thrilled to bring you a guest mix from the one and only Robert Babicz.

Robert Babicz has been redefining the boundaries of electronic music since the early 1990s. His unique artistry encompasses sound, vision, emotion and spirituality. From releasing and performing acid techno as Rob Acid, to his role as a highly-sought after producer and studio wizard infusing technical perfection with deep emotion, to his striking photos, everything Robert does expresses his desire to celebrate beauty and humanity, and to live each moment with utmost consciousness. Robert's art and philosophy are so distinctive there's a word for it: Babiczstyle.

EVOLUTION
Robert made his first record on borrowed equipment in 1992 and played his first gig on gear he'd never used before. “I had no musical background or knowledge, no clue what I was doing. I just improvised. But for the first time in my life I was absolutely in the moment. And people responded – they loved and accepted me.”  Music was a way to rise above the struggles of daily life (in the early years of his career, he slept on a mattress on the floor of a tiny flat in his home town Cologne, his synths his only possessions) and to share the joy of that transcendence with others. Playing as Rob Acid, he ignited parties with fierce techno played by strict rules: every set was 100% live and unique, he deleted the instruments' programming immediately afterwards.

COMMUNICATION
The power of Robert's performances are fuelled by his lack of personal ego: “I'm not playing the instruments,” he says. “The people on the dancefloor are playing me”. He's never DJ'd (“I have so many ideas, I am always trying out my own music”), packs only “underwear and my instruments”
to go on tour, and has a single goal: to feel the crowd, make people forget their problems and experience pure joy on the dancefloor: “The perfect moment is when they stop caring about their job, and are in the here and now. You can see it on their faces. They let loose of everything and are completely in the present. This makes me happy.”

CRAFT
Robert continuously pushes the boundaries of electronic music as an artist, consultant, teacher, and engineer. Among Robert's more than 1000 releases are seven albums and a flood of tracks for labels including Bedrock, INTEC, Mille Plateaux, Systematic, Audiomatique, K2, Treibstoff, SUGA, Punkt and Praxxiz. In recent years, he has focused increasingly on his own imprint, Babiczstyle, which epitomises his sound, emotions and ethos.
Robert's exceptional sound-design, mastering and studio skills have prompted companies like Native Instruments and Apple to request his help on sound-design projects. He also teaches workshops on production and his music philosophy; and is one of the electronic music world's most in-demand mastering artists. Fellow artistes from across the dance music spectrum trust Robert to perfect the technical aspects of their records while rendering the emotions and intention even clearer.

AUTHENTICITY
Babiczstyle is authenticity in action. Wherever he travels the world, Robert is instantly recogniseable for his music, his warm smile, his energy, and his bright red scarf. “It's a bit like Superman's cape,” he jokes. The difference is, when Robert puts on the red scarf to perform he doesn't become someone else. Robert's superpower is the integrity of his art and vision: “I don't want to be dreamed by others,” he says. “I want to be myself.”

We hope you enjoy the mix! 

All tracks by Robert Babicz. 

Bookings: manuela@ad-sound.com

The Exclusive Series - Episode 37 - Robert Babicz

Welcome to Il Modo. Supporters of quality underground electronica, specialising in Progressive House and all related genres. Follow us for Exclusive DJ sets from around the world, both weekly and monthly. Plus our monthly radio shows on DIFM & Subcode! 

We push new and emerging DJs as much as we can, alongside current club favourites and headliners. Fresh talent is always on our radar so if you would like a chance at a guest mix here, impress us! Drop us a message here or through our FB/Instagram channels, we are always listening x

The Exclusive Series - Episode 37 - Robert Babicz

IL MODO