Wankelmut is the stage name of Jacob Dilßner, a German electronic music DJ and record producer from Berlin, born in 1987. He is associated with house, electronic, electronica and techno, and is based in Berlin.

Career

Wankelmut first gains international attention through his remix of Asaf Avidan & The Mojos’ “One Day / Reckoning Song”. He makes the track in Ableton Live after experimenting with one of his favourite songs, adding filtering, cutting and a simple four-to-the-floor groove to the original folk recording. He uploads the remix to SoundCloud as an unsigned track, and it spreads rapidly online, attracting large numbers of plays and considerable attention from music blogs.

Before this breakthrough, he is already DJing in small underground clubs in Berlin, including Sisyphos and M.I.K.Z. In autumn 2011, he is a student and part-time DJ who has recently returned to Berlin to study philosophy and political science. After the remix gains traction, booking requests increase and the track is eventually cleared for an official release through Four Music, which holds the rights to the original song.

Breakthrough release

“One Day / Reckoning Song (Wankelmut Remix)” becomes one of house music’s major crossover tracks of 2012. It reaches number one in the national charts in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands, and also tops the German iTunes and Beatport charts at the same time, a first for a release in Germany. The track is certified platinum, and its official video passes 18 million views.

Later activity

After the success of the remix, Wankelmut’s schedule becomes busier, with DJ bookings across Europe. He also works on further remixes and his first solo release.