Pounds & Pénz

It was the time when the Loveparade was nearing its peak. In 1997, I visited Berlin for the first time—an experience that overwhelmed me and irreversibly changed my path. Shortly after, I decided to move to the city. At the time, I was organizing events in the Czech Republic under the name “Sunflower Promotion” with Michael Burian, while also working as a promoter for MFS DJ’s in the Czech Republik.

Berlin’s nightlife was incredible for us. We visited the E-Werk, where Paul van Dyk played at an MFS-Night and even played a set ourselves at the Wunderbar in Mitte.

The Creation of Pounds & Pénz

Around this time, I began producing music. Armed with a Yamaha 3000 sampler and Cakewalk software on my Windows PC – but no synthesizer – I sampled records and build tracks from the ground up. This minimalist approach fascinated me, pushing me to explore creative boundaries. It felt, as i would leave the knowing world. My first demos caught the attention of Mark Reeder, the manager of MFS. In the summer of 1998, I moved to Berlin, and shortly after, I collaborated with Alex Flatner and Noel Pix to create “Pounds & Pénz.” The “Geldregen Mix” combined the energetic MFS sound with heavier basslines, reflecting my unique style. Alex, whose tribal techno tracks were a staple at our Czech events, offered to produce a remix. The “Deutsche Mark Mix” was a game-changer. Mark Reeder was thrilled and ensured the track’s release.

A Breakthrough Moment

The track was a hit. DJs like John Peel, Pete Tong, and Timo Maas played it regularly. Pete Tong even made the remix a standout feature on his show, ensuring it became a staple in DJ sets for months.