Photo: Paula Schopf
»Karaoke Kalk was never anything more or anything less than a bunch of kind-hearted people who would invite you to have tea with them without thinking twice.« This is how Thorsten Lütz puts it himself. If anyone knows, he would – he’s the one who founded the label years ago. In the meantime, Karaoke Kalk has put out records by Bill Wells, Hauschka, Toulouse Low Trax, and many others in a collection of music bridging the genres of minimal, ambient, and techno. Lütz still runs the label to this day, as always with a genuine love for niche. For 13 years now, he’s operated it from Berlin Mitte rather than the from the Cologne Kalk district for which it was named. Lütz also plays under the name Strobocop; as such he’ll grace »Pop-Kultur« with a birthday set of sorts.
Karaoke Kalk on FacebookAbout »SKM 60«
Even if your own memory might initially recall it otherwise, 1997 was a good year for pop music. After all, three labels were founded that still help to define the sound of contemporary pop: Shitkatapult, Karaoke Kalk, and Monika Enterprise. They released and still release albums by T.Raumschmiere and Apparat, Bill Wells and Hauschka, Barbara Morgenstern and Gudrun Gut. Put briefly, they specialise in visionary sounds, clever lyrics (when there are lyrics at all), and yes indeed – hits. All three labels survived the radical industry changes of the early 00s and remain relevant in both pop and electronic music. At »Pop-Kultur«, these Berlin indies celebrate twenty years of label work in a programme focus entitled »SKM60«. The focus consists of concerts, DJ sets, and talks.