The past few months have been pretty ridiculous in the career ascent of Tensnake, AKA Hamburg producer Marco Niemerski, currently the hottest property in dance music. But where does his super melodic, pleasure-sensory pleasing sound originate?

Raised on a diet of Disco, Soul, Boogie and Funk, Marco grew up in the German suburbs “where there was nothing to do except listen to music so the radio was the most exciting thing around me. But my older brother was into D*Train, Shalamar and boogie. I always liked electronic music.” And boy does it show. His ever-incisive productions veer from dreamy synth soundscapes like ‘Congolal’ to deep disco singles like ‘In The End (I Want You To Cry)’ and the breakthrough smash ‘Coma Cat’, included in a slightly edited form on this, his first-ever commercial mix, ‘Tensnake In The House’ which includes tracks from Michael Mayer and Mount Kimbie alike.

Right now, everyone wants a piece of this Snake’s skin. Here’s how it happened...

December
Tensnake plays live at Fabric London and unleashes ‘Coma Cat’ for the first time. Later that month, that insanely successful Resident Advisor podcast (RA.187) airs.

January
Permanent Vacation release the ‘Coma Cat’ EP with ‘Need Your Lovin’’ on the flip. It immediately connects with the disco/house cognoscenti.



February
Marco plays live at Kleine Reise in Berlin where his audience starts to become aware of his unique boogie-influenced sound.

March
Key Tensnake records are heard all around Miami Winter Music Conference
from Aeroplane’s supremely cosmic drops of ‘Coma Cat’ to ‘Need Your Lovin’ at P Diddy’s Star Island house party.

April
A new Tensnake remix of Goldfrapp's ‘Alive’ is completed. With a nod to Kevin‘Inner City’ Saunderson & early 90s piano house, more divas soon come knocking.



May
‘Jump back!’ Next up is a deeply trippy Tensnake remix of 83 U.S. cult classic ‘Jam Hot’ by Johnny Dynell.

June
‘Coma Cat’ is signed to Defected to widespread excitement at the house label. Plans for Tensnake In The House are also hatched.

July
Tensnake plays live at Bam-Ba-Lam in Ibiza, Field Day in London and in front of 1,000 disco fiends at The Big Chill at Eastnor Castle in Herefordshire. Marco is so excited after the latter that he decides to miss his flight and stay the whole weekend.

August
Round Table Knights remix of ‘Coma Cat’ gets crazy props from Pete Tong and Annie Mac alike, with Annie excitedly playing it on her show the same day she hears it. Tensnake remix of ‘Reckless (With Your Love)’ goes straight to #1 on the Beatport Indie Sales chart.



September
Now one of the biggest anthems of the summer season, ‘Coma Cat’ comes back for a second bite. Meanwhile Marco DJs at a secret villa location in Ibiza with Simian Mobile Disco. Unbelievably, he still doesn’t really consider himself to be a DJ.

October
Plans for a live tour of the US and Canada are hatched. Then there’s that studio album to consider...watch this space

Words: Ralph Moore

Tensnake In The House is out 27th September - click to listen & pre-order