Zombie Nation

Zombie Nation

Zombie Nation is a German techno and electro project from München, Germany, led by Florian Senfter, who also uses the alias Splank!. The project is active from 1998 to the present and is associated with electro and wider electronic dance music.

Formation and members

Zombie Nation begins as a Munich-based project by Florian Senfter. Until 1999, Emanuel Guenther, also known as Mooner, is involved as well. The project is listed as a group and also includes Michael Blakey and ZZT among its members.

Early releases and Kernkraft 400

The first Zombie Nation release is a five-track EP issued in spring 1999 on DJ Hell’s International DeeJay Gigolo Records. That debut includes Kernkraft 400, which is based on part of David Whittaker’s music for the 1984 Commodore 64 game Lazy Jones. A licensed remake of the track achieves major chart positions in many countries. From 2003, Kernkraft 400 also becomes widely used at NHL, soccer, rugby and basketball games, where it is played by many arenas as a goal-celebration and motivational track.

Later work and labels

From 2001, Senfter releases tracks on different labels under the name John Starlight. In 2002, he does not renew his contract with Gigolo Records and instead starts his own label, Dekathlon Records. In early 2005, the sublabel UKW Records is launched with John Starlight’s John’s Addiction Part 1, followed by Zombie Nation’s Paeng Paeng, which is later licensed to Cocoon Records after Sven Väth recognises its potential.

Live work

Splank! describes Zombie Nation as a project focused on finding the right moment in performance and reacting directly to the crowd. The live setup uses carefully selected hardware equipment, and Zombie Nation live develops into a notable live act in electronic music.