DJ Friction

DJ Friction

DJ Friction is the name used by German disco, hip hop and crossover electronic artist Martin Welzer, and it is also used for a separate drum and bass DJ and producer. The German DJ Friction forms part of the hip-hop and electronic scene, working across turntablism, production and collaboration, while also appearing as a member of Freundeskreis and Bodymovin.

Career

As a hip-hop DJ and producer, DJ Friction starts out in a trio with an MC and a singer in a group called Raw Diamenz. That project breaks up because of musical differences, but by then he is already developing a reputation as a producer and beatmaker. He supplies beats in Stuttgart’s young hip-hop circles and works across several styles, including jungle, instrumental hip hop, house, electro and disco.

He releases a jungle version of James Brown’s “I Feel Good” on Eastwest, and the Pulp Friction EP on Gap Rec. brings attention to his instrumental hip-hop work. He also produces a house track for the EP The Difference on Continuemusic. In 1998, together with Don Philippe of Freundeskreis and Thommy Wittinger, he releases the electro track “Rock the Most” under the name DJ FK.

Work with Freundeskreis and solo releases

Since the mid-1990s, DJ Friction appears on the German, Swiss and Austrian charts with Freundeskreis. After two studio albums, a live LP and two gold records with that group, he begins work on his solo material. He releases Science Friction, a hip-hop album with guest contributions from several major German MCs, which he also produces. He later issues Friction, a set with very few guest appearances that mixes his earlier musical influences with newer sounds.

Style

DJ Friction works as a universal beatmaker, moving between disco, electro, big beat, instrumental hip hop, funk, soul and hip hop. His role centres on DJing and production, with a career built around blending styles rather than staying within one genre.