Max HeyraudMALUGI has emerged as a key figure in Berlin’s club scene, bridging genre divides and redefining the city’s traditionalist club culture. MALUGI has no reservations about his love for pop, preferring to keep his parties ablaze with his high-voltage take on house and techno while paying homage to his love of all things playful and glitzy on his new boundary-pushing label imprint, Club Heart Broken.
Berlin-based MALUGI has become one of the most talked-about breakthrough artists in recent years. Although the German artist is far from a new name as he has been consistently grinding with his multifaceted club night and label Club Heart Broken, in recent times, he has been capturing the imaginations of dancers all over the world with his unique brand of magnetic dancefloor burners.
His broad musical palette combines his lifelong love of slamming house with the glossy glitter of pop, resulting in a fun-loving trip that embodies MALUGI as both an artist and a person – high-spirited and high-energy. His DJ sets are an extension of his buzzing persona, as he takes his unique warmth and charm to each location, delivering his rush of euphoria to every booth he dominates.
Whether at Munich’s Blitz or London’s The Cause, MALUGI’s captivating presence and track selection remains a constant. In Germany, he is a regular at the MELT festival, having recently played the final edition to rave reviews. His own Club Heart Broken parties at Watergate add colour and glow to an often dingy and Berlin techno scene. MALUGI’s songs “Reach Out” and “Really Happy” have been played on BBC Radio One, with support from legends such as Gerd Janson and Tiesto.
Following his Boiler Room debut in December of last year, MALUGI readies the launch of his Club Heart Broken imprint as a record label in 2024, along with other planned milestones. The label is another aspect of MALUGI’s multifaceted world, confirming his passion for creating boundary-pushing dance music and assisting artists who want to join the loud and luminous world of MALUGI.
What musical background do you have, and how did you begin your career as a DJ?
I fell in love with electronic music at a very young age. My parents listened to pop music across all genres. My favourites were the Pet Shop Boys, Faithless and Madonna. So some of my fondest memories are of my parents and me dancing around our living room and singing ‘New York City Boy’ with all our hearts on a random Saturday afternoon. As I grew older and started earning money, I began purchasing mainstream compilations and developing my own musical taste by listening to them and selecting my favourite tracks. My absolute favourites at the time were trance legends Tiesto (the GOAT), ATB, and Blank & Jones. From there, I became very interested in electronic music and eventually joined the scene. I really wanted to learn how to DJ myself.
At 14, I worked all summer to purchase my first set of turntables. I spent the next few years going to local record stores and practising DJing every day. Through older school friends, I met a well-known Cologne promoter, who gave me the opportunity to perform my first club show in my hometown at the age of 16. With great enthusiasm, I made a name for myself in my hometown of Cologne. I finished school, relocated to Berlin, and met the people I still work with today.
Which artists influenced you the most when you were younger, and how has that affected your sound now?
There are many artists who have inspired me along the way, but as someone from Cologne, I must say that the city’s local scene has been particularly inspiring. With the KOMPAKT label releasing music by DJ Koze and the Pachanga Boys, I’ve always been drawn to dance music’s pop appeal. I’m definitely influenced by tracks like Jürgen Paape’s ‘So Weit Wie Noch Nie’ and Dntel’s ‘Dream of Evan and Chan’ (Superpitcher Remix).
Later, when I began travelling for raves, I remember unforgettable label nights from Diynamic at Watergate, Keinemusik at ADE, and, especially, from Pampa at Off-Sonar in Barcelona. In the years that followed, I enjoyed Midland and Gerd Janson’s sets, as well as Trevino and Levon Vincent’s productions. My most recent source of great inspiration came from the Dutch club music scene, with acts such as Jarreau Vandal, FS Green, and Jael leading the way. Their skills on CDJs, as entertainers and producers, are unparalleled. The parties they throw have the best vibes, and I admire the spirit in which they all try to help each other advance their careers rather than seeing each other as competitors.
You’ve been running Club Heart Broken for quite some time now, how did it start and what was the inspiration for starting this multifaceted brand?
I wasn’t in the best place before I started Club Heart Broken. I was trying to fit into a Berlin techno scene that felt introverted and dark. As a pop fan, I felt a little out of place. I lacked authenticity and identification. So in private, I stopped listening to electronic music. I began to discover new music beyond genre boundaries and decided to hang out with my friends who attended hip-hop events. I ended up at some of the most inspiring parties I’d ever been to.
I was so inspired that I decided to start my project and mix all of my influences into one big playground of a club night called Club Heart Broken. Since then, I’ve tried to keep Club Heart Broken as dynamic and intuitive as possible, while also allowing my collaborators to try new things. I would describe Club Heart Broken as a ‘creative hub’ for my partner Marlon and me, as well as all of our close friends.
How did you first meet Marlon Hoffstadt?
Marlon and I met through music. We were both 18, Marlon was a resident at a club night in Berlin that had just started a label. Marlon asked me to sign my debut release to them and made my dream of releasing my debut on vinyl come true. We hit it off, invited each other to parties in Berlin and Cologne and quickly became friends. A few months later I moved to Berlin to study audio engineering and Marlon offered me a room in his apartment. From there we became the amazing team we are today.
We have to talk about your Boiler Room, did you expect it to blow up the way it did?
Absolutely not! Of course, I hoped to cut through the noise and get some attention, but I never expected to receive this kind of response. The best part is that I decided not to do anything too fancy, instead showcasing the essential Malugi style, playing the same tracks I would play at a regular club night. It’s an incredible feeling to be well-received, and I’m grateful for the many opportunities this set has opened for me.
Although you’ve been on the scene for quite some time, you’ve gained a lot more status in the last year or so, how does it feel and how are you adapting to a busier schedule and more attention?
Honestly, it feels wonderful. I’m living my dream and am grateful every day. Physically, I am adjusting to the busier schedule with sobriety. I have stopped smoking and don’t drink alcohol at the moment. I’ve started working out again and trying to manage my sleep as best I can.
Would you agree that the Malugi and Club Heart Broken projects are a rejection of the snobbishness that the techno scene is notorious for? The techno scenes can be very serious.
I prefer to say that I have found a way to express my pop-driven self in a very serious environment. I don’t reject the techno scene at all. As a raver, I love a good Berlin club night. Sometimes I just had the feeling that I didn’t fit in as an artist. At some point, I decided to go my own way and that was when I clicked with my work. I hope that I can contribute to a scene that I love instead of rejecting it.
I feel that you kind of personify the concept of “fun club culture”; it seems approachable and centred around having a good time. Is that your intention?
For me, the euphoria I feel during my sets is the purest emotion I have ever felt and I want to pass that excitement on to my audience. It can provide a space of authenticity, acceptance and community in an often harsh society, and help you deal with your daily struggles a little better. In the bigger picture, all of this is part of a ‘fun’ club culture that goes way beyond just having a good time.
You played in Dublin last year in The Racket Space, how was that?
It was amazing! The party was early in my career, and I’m guessing not many people in Dublin knew about me, so it wasn’t sold out, but I had a great time! The atmosphere in the room was amazing. Everyone who came up had the most insane energy. I fell in love with Dublin that night and am excited to return for DistrictX in September.
How would you describe your sound to someone who’d never heard your music?
I would say it’s very fast house music!
How do you start a track, and what does a studio day look like for you?
The ideal studio day for me is one with no to-do lists and plenty of inspiration from touring. Before I begin a project, I sometimes have ideas for entire songs. So I go into the studio and just let it out. I write the song, produce and mix it and even take a layout with me to test during a set. Those are the best days. But of course, it’s not always like that, sometimes you have to finish projects and meet deadlines. But to be honest, as a sound engineer, I can also get very nerdy about technical tasks and put hours and hours into production. So I guess it is a balance of creativity and precision that makes for a great day in the studio.
Do you have any exciting plans you can share with us?
I have some exciting plans for the next few months. I will be going on my first-ever USA tour and will have the great honour of playing the infamous closing weekend at Amnesia Ibiza. I’m looking forward to a packed ADE schedule and my return to Australia in December. In the studio, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate with some incredible artists, including Legzdina and Lucy Dye, with whom I recently released my favourite production to date, ‘Move My Body’.
