Gerd Janson is one of the most highly respected DJs in the world of house and techno. Quite often, “highly respected” goes hand-in-hand with “underrated” but over the past few years, audiences around the world have also found out what insider types already knew: Janson is a DJ that reconfigures the classics you already knew in an unexpected way – and introduces you to new classics, a few months (or even years) before you’ll hear them played everywhere else.
In 2013, he was named de:bug’s #2 DJ of the year, as well as being high on the Resident Advisor Top 100 DJ List and #8 in Groove Magazine. This is also due in no small part to his work as the brain behind the Running Back label, an imprint that has been a home to numerous artists over the years. It’s testament to Janson’s curatorial instinct that music both popular – Tensnake, Todd Terje – and cult – Maurice Fulton, Theo Parrish – feel right at home. In addition to his work helming Running Back, Janson has also teamed up with Philip Lauer under the Tuff City Kids alias. Originally taken on as a remix project, the partnership has quickly evolved to include original productions.