Kölsch

Kölsch at Pacha: Kinema, the live “machine,” and memories under the cherries

An Ibiza Live Radio Q&A, recorded at Pacha minutes before showtime.

IBIZA LIVE RADIO (ILR): We’re at Pacha with Kölsch - Danish producer/DJ, long-time Ibiza regular, on the night he debuts new music from his forthcoming album Kinema and teases a live tour concept. We talked first memories, songwriting, synths, and the theatrical stage he’s building next.

“Pacha is the quintessential Ibiza club—the energy is still here.”

Pacha, then and now

ILR: What’s the standout memory that ties you to Ibiza?
KÖLSCH: The first time I came here for Isle of MTV - I ended up dancing surrounded by about twenty gay men in leather, a few trans girls, everyone just… free. That feeling of community stuck with me.

ILR: And Pacha specifically, how did it pull you in?
KÖLSCH: Pacha’s always been the Balearic address. I used to come when Roger Sanchez was playing. I was broke - turntable era, so I’d rock up with a crate of vinyl and a sweatshirt hiding a bottle of vodka, and say go “promos for the DJs,” and somehow get in. (I’m sorry Pacha! Really I am, those were different times.) I also spent summers here with Darren Emerson’s Underwater Records crew - terrace hangs, the booth tucked in the back… glamorous days, and it still has that spark.

ILR: What’s actually changed?
KÖLSCH: Not much at the core. The VIP has grown, but that’s everywhere - but the vibe, the energy, the Balearic soul, still intact.

New album: Kinema

ILR: In one line, what’s the core of Kinema?
KÖLSCH: Progress - moving forward. I’ve let myself lean into songwriting more than ever.

ILR: What changed in your approach?
KÖLSCH: I’d held myself inside “techno” rules for years. Now I’m bridging into songs, there’s folk influence, there’s literally an opera-techno track, lots of vocals I wrote. It’s been liberating.

ILR: Where do the emotions sit on this record?
KÖLSCH: In the lyrics and scenes. One song is about feeling safe in the crowd - hiding in numbers but still craving recognition and belonging. Another is about who feels like home. A lot of intimate, very human moments.

ILR: How long has Kinema been in the making?
KÖLSCH: Longer than people think. Some ideas are 10–15 years old. I just didn’t dare before. With age you allow yourself to say, “Yes, I’m a songwriter.” It sounds weird coming from me, but it’s the new me.

“If you don’t capture the emotion in 30 minutes, it’s not going to work.”

Process & tools

ILR: Walk us through the creative process.
KÖLSCH: It’s simple: the core emotion has to land within 30 minutes. A loop, a chord, a vocal phrase, whatever, but it has to hit fast, or it won’t translate. I avoid overthinking.

ILR: A piece of gear that shaped the sound?
KÖLSCH: Two, actually. An old organ from my aunt, not expensive, maybe 50 euros, but it’s all over my early releases; I had it driven from Germany to Denmark to save it. And a hand-built ’70s synth that sounds kind of… shitty in the right way. I love its imperfections.

ILR: Who’s singing on the album?
KÖLSCH: Mostly unknown studio vocalists, I wanted to control the process end-to-end. I wrote the songs, demoed some myself, then had them re-recorded. It kept the emotion intact.

The new live show

ILR: You’re following the album with a live tour. What can you reveal?
KÖLSCH: A new concept a kind of “machine” I perform inside, surrounded by modulars and studio pieces. It’ll feel a bit sci-fi.

ILR: Stage design?
KÖLSCH: High Scream is designing it. I wanted theatrical, cabaret-inspired staging, not too many visuals. We’ve already seen all the screen overload. The music should breathe.

ILR: Venues you’re hyped for?
KÖLSCH: KOKO (London) - beautiful room. Le Trianon (Paris) - another stunning, historic theatre.

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“I want to be in the machine—close to the audience, not hidden behind screens.”

Tour at a glance

• Amsterdam (ADE - Melkweg) - Thu 23 Oct 2025
• Berlin - (Kesselhaus) - Fri 7 Nov 2025
• London (KOKO) — Fri 14 Nov 2025
• Paris (Le Trianon) — Fri 21 Nov 2025
• Antwerp (Trix) — Sat 29 Nov 2025
• Madrid (LAB) — Fri 12 Dec 2025

ILR: In one breath: melody or rhythm, improvisation or planned sets and a venue still on your list, where do you stand?

Kölsch: Melody leads everything; I love both big studio sessions and playing live. Analog synths all day. I live for improvisation, the magic happens in the moment. And Robert Johnson in Offenbach, was the one still on the list - finally happening in October.

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Rune Reilly Kölsch left us with a smile, then disappeared into the booth to do what he does best. We followed - into a set that was pure proof of why many call him the inventor, of romantic techno. Precision, emotion, and that unmistakable closeness he spoke of, Kölsch reminded us why the dancefloor still matters.

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_{Words: Zvjezdana Lastre for Ibiza Live Radio}