Tiefschwarz

Tiefschwarz is a German electronic group from Stuttgart, formed in 1996 by brothers Ali Schwarz and Basti Schwarz. The project also includes Peter Hoff, who runs the Benztown studios in Stuttgart. It is active as a DJ and production act, and is associated with dance, electronica, house, minimal, electro and electronica.

Background and name

Ali and Basti Schwarz begin working together after years of DJing and promoting. The name Tiefschwarz comes from German and means “deep black”; it combines their family name, Schwarz, with their interest in deep house. Before the group is formed, Ali opens the on-u club in Stuttgart in 1990, followed by the red dog club three years later, which becomes a well-known deep house venue.

DJ work and club scene

As resident DJs at red dog, they play alongside artists including Tony Humphries, Masters at Work, Frankie Feliciano, Mike Dunn, Mousse T., Matthew Herbert, Lary Heard, Chris Coco, Matthias Heilbronn and others. They also travel together through Europe and overseas from 1995, performing in major clubs and events in Germany and Switzerland, including Zürich, Geneva, Lausanne, Bern and Basel, as well as in cities such as Miami, New York, Washington, Melbourne, Sydney, Prague, Sarajevo, Amsterdam, Brussels, Antwerp, Rimini, Stockholm, London, Leeds, Sheffield and Ibiza.

Recordings and releases

In 1996 they co-found the continuemusics label and release their first single, “24 seven”, with remixes by Boris Dlugosh and Michi Lange. In 1998 they sign with edel/benztown records. Their first release on that label, “music”, features Joy Denalane of Freundeskreis and becomes a major club track in Germany and the UK. It reaches number one on the MTV Germany Dance Charts for nine weeks and also tops Germany’s Club Charts. The track is licensed to Wave Music in New York, run by François Kevorkian, and is remixed by Matthias Heilbronn.

Albums and later work

Their debut album, ral 9005, presents a wide range of styles across nu jazz, deep house, garage, 1980s-influenced beats, downbeat electro, soundtrack-style pop and club-oriented tracks. Their second album, Eat Books, includes the track “Damage”, featuring Tracey Thorn of Everything But The Girl.

Remixes and reputation

Tiefschwarz also remix around 30 tracks for artists and acts including Ultra Naté, Byron Stingily, Jam & Spoon, Jennifer Paige, Randy Crawford, Masters at Work, Earth, Wind & Fire, Shakatak, Mousse T., AWA band, Whirlpool Prod., Sabrina Johnson and Sharon Philips. They are associated with other German names including Boris Dlugosch, Mousse T., Knee Deep, Ian Pooley, Dixon, Jazzanova, Rainer Trüby, Ata and Vincenzo.