Individually, it is Friedrich Trede and Stephan Braun. Collectively, it is Rhode & Brown.
Proud natives of Munich, Germany, the duo has been writing piano-driven house records for over 15 years–songs with a positive temperament and contagious rhythm. Browsing their catalogue, the two have had their EPs released on stellar labels, including Public Possession, Permanent Vacation, and Shall Not Fade.
Speaking of labels, in 2016, Friedrich and Stephan decided to plant their flagpole in the ground, launching their imprint, Slam City Jams. Word on the street is their bi-monthly parties at the Goldener Reiter club in Munich are an excellent night out. I mean, looking at who they’ve booked in the past, i.e., C.K., Sinéad, Telephones, and Barbara Boeing, you understand this pairing has an ear for the best in underground. If you’re eager to get a taste for a Rhode & Brown set, tune into their monthly Slam City FM show on Munich’s community radio station, Radio 80000.
When I connected with them just a week ago, the boys were still glowing from their maiden set at Berghain’s Panorama Bar and are recording a series of guest mixes, which has them feeling mighty inspired. No surprises, but due to all their panning for sonic gold, the guys have been bunkered down in their studio and have just wrapped up two very different records.
“One record will be out via Permanent Vacation—a deep, dubby, yet bouncy house affair. The other, dropping on Australian imprint Planet Trip, is something completely new and unexpected from us: a record inspired by street soul, R&B, boogie, and digi-dub from the ’80s and ’90s.”
Before we get into TROVE 020, Friedrich and Stephan were eager to inform me of the Slam City Jams brand refresh. “After nearly 10 years, it felt like the right time for a bit of an update…shoutout to our designer Felix Widman, who understood the vision and took a holistic approach–from the new logo to release artwork, party posters, and our monthly radio show flyers.”
Bake it, away toys!
This one’s a current favourite of ours, and we can’t wait to play it in some sunny festival situations this year. It’s got this bubbly, floating energy—like the soundtrack to an underwater club. It comes in hot at 136 BPM, but we usually pitch it down quite a bit—it shines at a slower tempo as well. Also, be sure to check out the Advance label if you haven’t already—plenty of hidden gems waiting to be discovered.
We’ve been rinsing this bouncy roller in every set lately. That filtered synth that goes ‘whoa whoa’ paired with the sexy vocal—gets us every time—a sure shot on the dance floor.
For this one, we have to quote the only comment on YouTube, which perfectly describes this tune as a “Soothing Banger.” And it is just that! The raw, jacking drums and bass line, combined with smooth chords and high-pitched R&B vocal samples, are somewhat unique. A perfect party starter!
A timeless house tune that, for us, fits easily into all kinds of moments throughout the night— perfect for warm-ups, winding down a notch during peak time, or closing out a set. The clever use of these different vocal samples makes this one stand out for us.
This one was a real inspiration for our upcoming EP on Permanent Vacation. The call-and-response between the bass line and those filtered chords is super catchy, and we love how it just rolls along effortlessly with only a handful of elements and some well-placed trippy effects.