Last year, as artists and industry were still navigating a Covid-curbed way of life, producer Danny Howard launched a unique initiative to spark life into a struggling dance music community. Lockdown Link Up was created to connect artists by randomly selecting sixteen duos to collaborate on a track while in isolation. Enter Franky Rizardo and Joe Goddard. The two producers, paired by chance, joined forces for a passionate progressive house tune titled “No Judgement.” And while a product of this pairing is enough to send any dance music fan into a tizzy, the fun didn’t stop there.







Dutch techno technician, Kölsch, was also brought in on the project. This time, for an official remix. What was once an impassioned prog house offering took new life as a hauntingly beautiful melodic techno tune. The crisp chimes of the original transform into echoing atmospheric synths, the steady bass kick now reinforced with a resounding presence. Reverberating soundscapes set the scene for the heart-bearing vocal that served as the cornerstone for both the original and this emboldened edit. Kölsch taps into his signature style of emotionally driven production to deliver a deeply powerful cut that seems more fit for the title “rebirth” rather than “remix.”



The dance music landscape is far different this summer. Now, artists like Kölsch can share the fruits of their labor with live audiences once more and share he has. Festivals and clubs worldwide have been immersed in the sensory experience of a Kölsch set. We are undoubtedly exceedingly grateful for the return of live shows, but here’s hoping we get more tracks like “No Judgement” from the techno titan very soon.



Follow Kölsch on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Follow Franky Rizardo on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

Follow Joe Goddard on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter



Kölsch Provides A Haunting Reimagining Of Franky Rizardo & Joe Goddard’s 'No Judgement”

Hailing from Denmark, Rune Reilly Kölsch brings a little of the emotional and whimsical to the stereotypically dark, cavernous spaces that techno has been known to inhabit. A lighter, playful sound imbues all of his work, whether it’s seminal tracks like “Loreley,” from his breakout debut LP, ‘1977’ and “Grey,” from his second album, ‘1989’

or his extended remix of Coldplay’s classic ‘A Sky Full of Stars.’ Professionally known by just his surname, the DJ/producer has also released music under countless monikers. But despite this, each of his tracks undoubtedly possesses that special something which has subsequently defined elements of the genre and pushed other aspects forward.

Perhaps his sound is so unique because of his upbringing—which was anything but typical. Kölsch, who is half Irish and half German, spent his formative years in Copenhagen’s Freetown Christiania, an autonomous, anarchic commune, spending summers with his grandparents in Germany. His less-than-common experiences growing up became the fodder for his first album, and the inspiration for his second was drawn from the sounds, feelings, and climates he experienced during his extensive travels through Europe.

Now, Kölsch is a name of worldwide dance music acclaim. Currently signed to Kompakt, a label imprint based in Cologne, Germany, he’s a regular at legendary venues like Ibiza’s Ushuaia, Space, and Amnesia, and London’s fabric. Over the course of his career, he’s garnered support from the likes of Pete Tong and DJ Annie Mac at BBC Radio 1 and collaborated with artists including Antz, Gregor Schwellenbach, and Troels Abrahamsen. Kölsch has also graced the lineups of major festivals like Tomorrowland, Creamfields, and Coachella.

Kölsch

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Austin Miller