Austria’s calling this Christmas. And here to showcase what the country has to offer, aside from mountains and The Sound of Music, is uber trendy Austrian DJ Peter Kruder from the Kruder and Dorfmeister duo

IT’S A TRICKY dilemma that people find themselves in this time of year; “Where shall we go for the holidays?” Most people opt to make the arduous journey home to visit loved ones and see if anything has changed, which invariably it hasn’t. But for others it is a chance to take a weeklong break somewhere new and exciting. And it doesn’t come more exciting than Vienna.

Austria these days is a lot more than simply Mozart and snow-capped hills. Vienna is one of the most happening cities in Europe. A clubbing capital, Vienna is home to countless dance and trance clubs and numerous locations that house partygoers alongside the art and culture for which it is famous.

No duo represents this other side of Vienna better than trip-hop DJs Kruder and Dorfmeister. Known internationally for their remix work for artists like Madonna and Depeche Mode to name a few, K&D are legends in their hometown of Vienna having released a plethora of self-made albums such as G-Stoned and DJ Kicks since they got together in 1993.

This weekend Peter Kruder has been brought down by the Vienna Tourism Board to play a set for eager Dubai fans. Here we speak to him about his time in the industry and his favourite haunts in Vienna - after all who would know the greatest places to visit better than him?   

How do you think your hometown influences your style of music?

Vienna is a town that is not ruled by trends and fashion and this makes it a perfect ground for developing your own thing without too much influence. Some say that this very fact makes Vienna boring but I absolutely disagree with that. Also audiences here are very critical and if you’re able to please them with what you do, your chances of succeeding elsewhere are great. A very good example of that is, whenever Frank Zappa had a new band to tour with, his first concerts were always in Vienna and if the show worked he knew he was on the right way. By the way, he also got booed a couple of times!

Tell us something about yourself that not many people know?

I have lived all my life in one of the poorest parts of Vienna and even though I can now afford to move somewhere else I have no plans to do so. I always enjoy the look on people’s faces when they visit me for the first time as I can see them wondering why I live there. That said my apartment and my studio are very beautiful spaces and you would never expect that something like this exist sin that area.

What’s your definition of success then?

Wealth surely is not a measure of success in my world. Success for me is synonymous with happiness. If you’re able to do what you love to do then you’ve reached a position that can lead you onto the right path.

When you look back over your life so far, what do you believe is your most significant accomplishment?

To be able to live my life as I choose. To do only the things I feel right about and to have people around me who I love.

What is the worst mistake you have made along the way?

A mistake is only a bad thing if you don’t learn from it. In that sense I don’t think of mistakes as such, I only think of them as a possibility that did not work out. In music the best things happen due to mistakes and that is something I have learned to appreciate.

How do you think you have sustained yourself for so long in the business?

I’m only interested in releasing work to the highest possible standard and quality and that’s the same for my performances. I’m not interested in commercial success. I’m interested in work that pushes the envelope. I think one of the biggest problems our industry has is the mediocrity of music that is released: it has lowered the value of the art, but I’m certain that people can feel quality and passion and that is something we all need to bring back.

How do you cope with the pressure of trying to be inventive with every new song?

Everything is about timing. Just like in music life has its own timings. To avoid pressure and stress you need to time things accordingly and even though I knew this all my life, only in the last couple of years have I found the right ways of living accordingly.

How would you like to be remembered?

Just to be remembered is fine for me.

The Vienna experience Kruder style

Restaurant recommendation?

Skopik & Lohn - Under the marquee

‘Where I grab a Viennese dinner with DJ Hell.’

For a drink?

The Loos Bar - Grandfather of all design bars

‘Best spot to imbibe on exquisite cocktails.’

The right style?

Advanced Minority - The artist driven t-shirt brand

‘Yes, t-shirts engineered with exact precision can make you look ten times better. Fact.’

After midnight snack?

KENT - Turkish for all

‘When I’ve forgotten to eat again, working late nights at the studio, I come here for delectable Turkish grub open until 2am.’

Shopping?

Vienna’s Flee Markets - Cheaper by the dozen

‘By now it should be clear that I’m a fan of street fare. Whether meeting friends and neighbours or scoring a vintage analogue synth, it’s always worth a visit.’

For the record?

TEUCHTLER - 60 years of vintage vinyl experience

‘Hands-down the place for some of the rarest and weirdest vinyl you’ll ever find. Find me scouring the racks here.’

Best club in town?

FLEX- An Institutional Revolution

A Vienna Classic?

State Opera House

david@khaleejtimes.com