Ever since Gernot Bronsert and Sebastian Szarzy, AKA Modeselektor, announced back in June that they were going to close the doors on their much loved 50 Weapons imprint, we've been walking around in a daze, not really able to make eye contact with anyone, weeping, ever so slightly, from time to time, imagining what could have been and reminiscing over what once was.Still, we try and carry on as normal. It's hard, but we try.Saturday night sees the crew — Modeselektor, Shed, Benjamin Damage, Fjaak, Bambounou, Addison Groove, Phon.o and a super secret very special guest— taking over east London's Oval Space for one last massive party. To get you in the mood for what's set to be one of the most emotional clubbing experiences of the year, we had a little chat with a few of the gang, kicking off with head honchos, Gernot and Sebastian.THUMP: When was 50WEAPONS founded?
Sebastian Szarzy: We were in Manchester at the time, hanging out with Shlom from Boomkat.
Gernot Bronsert: It was some time in October and we were sitting in his music room and were telling him how we wanted to start a bootleg label where we only released 50 cent bootlegs, limited to 50 releases. I have to admit we were quite drunk when this popped up.
Sebastian: The idea was to release 50 records that really "burn."
Gernot: We actually only wanted to do white labels but ended up having a cover for the first release anyway. After that it took quite some time till the next record was released, that was in about 2007/2008. It really started to pick up pace when we founded Monkeytown Records. We suddenly remembered: "Man, we have that other label, 50WEAPONS! Let's work with that!"
Sebastian: …and then we were like, "right, we still have those 2000 blank covers in a box, let's do something with those!"
Gernot: We had the covers sent to us, stamped and packed the records ourselves. Back then we did our first releases after Bpitch, for example the "Art and Cash" remixes. We were thinking about just calling the label 'Weapon' or 'Wood'…'Wood' is actually a great name for a label.
Sebastian: I'd like to ad something to that. In the techno-scene, especially in the 90's, a really good track was called a 'Brett' (or a 'plank'). We also used to say, "that track is a weapon!" And that's how we ended up with the name.How did you get new signings?
Gernot: When we founded Monkeytown we realized quite quickly that all the music we wanted to release didn't fit on one label. We have two sides: There are Modeselektor, who are reflected by Monkeytown—electronic, playful and colourful. But there is also that dark, techno-side of ours. Both sides wouldn't have fit on just one label. After a while the demos just started flying in and everything just came together.
Sebastian: In 2006/2007/2008 we were on the road a lot. We met so many people and were passed so much music. After 50WEAPONS slowly had built up a reputation, everything really just came to us.What was the concept behind 50WEAPONS?
Gernot: 50WEAPONS, despite the names we are releasing, has a certain anonymity to it. There's always that amount of anonymity in techno – especially in the underground-scene. Monkeytown is more focused on the artists, 50WEAPONS is more about the tracks – the artists are in the background.
Sebastian: As the label grew with time we moved away from the 12" and moved in the direction of album-releases.Why are you closing 50WEAPONS now?
Sebastian: I'm a big fan of metaphors. Compare 50WEAPONS with a planetary system: you got the sun and the planets. Each planet has it's moons. And then there are the asteroids. And the Kuiper-Belt. Infinite - but at one point there has to be an end.
Gernot: Closing with number #50 is only logical. It was so supposed to be like this, so we did it like that.
Sebastian: It just fits after 10 years.
Gernot: Exactly. 10 years – 50 releases.What will be happening to your regular artists?
Gernot: Those artists who want to keep on working with us can of course stay. We will for sure figure out something new.Last statement?
Sebastian and Gernot: Rest In Peace 50Weapons – Hardcore will never die!§In addition to that, we decided to ask three of the label's acts, Bambounou, Fjaak and Benjamin Damage a little about the past, present and future of a label loved by so many. Here's what they had to say.*THUMP: What's been your favourite ever release on the label?*
Bambounou: Probably The Killer by Shed for me. Shed is one of my favourite artists and this album was truly mind blowing.
Fjaak: It's The Killer for me, too.
Benjamin Damage: Its difficult to choose an absolute favourite but "Addison Groove - I Go Boom" is definitely up there.What's the 50 Weapons legacy?
Bambounou: I don't think there's ever been a label which had so much to give. The musical range is very wide and every single release is on point. 50 Weapons, as a label, showed how you can be united even when your artists are making very different kinds of music.
Fjaak: Assfucking music!
BD: High quality underground dance music that was always unafraid to take risks.Is this an end or a beginning?
Bambounou: It is definitely a beginning, I think 50 is influencing a lot of producers at the moment and I hope it still will for years to come.
Fjaak: When one door closes, another one opens.
BD: 50Weapons is choosing its own ending and going out in its own terms. For me and all the other artists on the label it's a new beginning.You can experience the full 50 Weapons finale this Saturday night at Oval Space, London. Head here for more information.
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Sebastian Szarzy: We were in Manchester at the time, hanging out with Shlom from Boomkat.
Gernot Bronsert: It was some time in October and we were sitting in his music room and were telling him how we wanted to start a bootleg label where we only released 50 cent bootlegs, limited to 50 releases. I have to admit we were quite drunk when this popped up.
Sebastian: The idea was to release 50 records that really "burn."
Gernot: We actually only wanted to do white labels but ended up having a cover for the first release anyway. After that it took quite some time till the next record was released, that was in about 2007/2008. It really started to pick up pace when we founded Monkeytown Records. We suddenly remembered: "Man, we have that other label, 50WEAPONS! Let's work with that!"
Sebastian: …and then we were like, "right, we still have those 2000 blank covers in a box, let's do something with those!"
Gernot: We had the covers sent to us, stamped and packed the records ourselves. Back then we did our first releases after Bpitch, for example the "Art and Cash" remixes. We were thinking about just calling the label 'Weapon' or 'Wood'…'Wood' is actually a great name for a label.
Sebastian: I'd like to ad something to that. In the techno-scene, especially in the 90's, a really good track was called a 'Brett' (or a 'plank'). We also used to say, "that track is a weapon!" And that's how we ended up with the name.
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Gernot: When we founded Monkeytown we realized quite quickly that all the music we wanted to release didn't fit on one label. We have two sides: There are Modeselektor, who are reflected by Monkeytown—electronic, playful and colourful. But there is also that dark, techno-side of ours. Both sides wouldn't have fit on just one label. After a while the demos just started flying in and everything just came together.
Sebastian: In 2006/2007/2008 we were on the road a lot. We met so many people and were passed so much music. After 50WEAPONS slowly had built up a reputation, everything really just came to us.What was the concept behind 50WEAPONS?
Gernot: 50WEAPONS, despite the names we are releasing, has a certain anonymity to it. There's always that amount of anonymity in techno – especially in the underground-scene. Monkeytown is more focused on the artists, 50WEAPONS is more about the tracks – the artists are in the background.
Sebastian: As the label grew with time we moved away from the 12" and moved in the direction of album-releases.Why are you closing 50WEAPONS now?
Sebastian: I'm a big fan of metaphors. Compare 50WEAPONS with a planetary system: you got the sun and the planets. Each planet has it's moons. And then there are the asteroids. And the Kuiper-Belt. Infinite - but at one point there has to be an end.
Gernot: Closing with number #50 is only logical. It was so supposed to be like this, so we did it like that.
Sebastian: It just fits after 10 years.
Gernot: Exactly. 10 years – 50 releases.
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Gernot: Those artists who want to keep on working with us can of course stay. We will for sure figure out something new.Last statement?
Sebastian and Gernot: Rest In Peace 50Weapons – Hardcore will never die!§In addition to that, we decided to ask three of the label's acts, Bambounou, Fjaak and Benjamin Damage a little about the past, present and future of a label loved by so many. Here's what they had to say.*THUMP: What's been your favourite ever release on the label?*
Bambounou: Probably The Killer by Shed for me. Shed is one of my favourite artists and this album was truly mind blowing.
Fjaak: It's The Killer for me, too.
Benjamin Damage: Its difficult to choose an absolute favourite but "Addison Groove - I Go Boom" is definitely up there.What's the 50 Weapons legacy?
Bambounou: I don't think there's ever been a label which had so much to give. The musical range is very wide and every single release is on point. 50 Weapons, as a label, showed how you can be united even when your artists are making very different kinds of music.
Fjaak: Assfucking music!
BD: High quality underground dance music that was always unafraid to take risks.Is this an end or a beginning?
Bambounou: It is definitely a beginning, I think 50 is influencing a lot of producers at the moment and I hope it still will for years to come.
Fjaak: When one door closes, another one opens.
BD: 50Weapons is choosing its own ending and going out in its own terms. For me and all the other artists on the label it's a new beginning.You can experience the full 50 Weapons finale this Saturday night at Oval Space, London. Head here for more information.