More than 20 years ago, Something Wicked talent ATB began his career in Germany. Over the span of his legendary career, the trance heavyweight has toured the globe countless times, released eight studio albums (many of which are two discs and special editions) and has become a figurehead in the dance music community.
Born André Tannenberger, ATB decided to try his hand at music composition in 1992. His modest start-up equipment consisted of a computer and a small synthesizer. A local DJ let André use his recording studio to finish his first song. In the studio, ATB used the Sequential Pro One synthesizer, ultimately inspiring the title of a later project.
Dance music group Sequential One hit Germany in 1993 with their debut single “Let Me Hear You.” Following up with two other singles, André received a small financial boost and used the funds to create a mini-studio. Ironically, André learned about the art of mixing out of sheer curiosity, “My first gig in front of an audience was as a live act. I started playing as a DJ after a couple of live gigs, because I searched for a possibility to play more tracks than just the tracks I had programmed and prepared with my synthesizers.” Though the outfit gained popularity outside of their native Germany, Sequential One disbanded towards the late 90s leaving André free to create a new solo project.
The world was first introduced to the name ATB in 1998 with his debut release, “9pm (Till I Come),” included on the Movin’ Melodies album. “9pm (Till I Come)” is undeniably a quintessential track that has helped define the dance music as a whole. Topping music charts around the globe 1999, “9pm (Till I Come)” is widely regarded as the UK’s first trance #1 hit. With its distinctive pitch-bended guitar riff, the track solidified ATB’s position as a pioneer of the genre, “I started 20 years ago as a musician and I started touring the U.S. 15 years ago. EDM did not exist yet. Every year I did a tour, being on the road for four weeks in a tour bus and we did all the small cities from the East to West coast. We played small rock clubs and country clubs and we brought this music to the people.”
Since the success of his massive debut as ATB, this Wicked talent has gone on to give the world many more classic tracks like “Don’t Stop,” his remix of Olive’s 1996 hit “You’re Not Alone,” “Hold You” and “Ecstacy.” Despite his arsenal of hits, ATB isn’t one to rest on his laurels, “…when I saw that “9 PM.” entered the charts all around the globe, I was really happy to have had such a great start as a professional musician. But to work as a DJ is not just having one hit single. You have to work very hard every day to be constantly up to date with the current music, to always be able to offer the people new good tracks during your sets. There is so much creative output out there, the internet being a great factor in that.”
Currently, ATB is preparing his ninth studio album, Contact, hopefully due out later this year. “When I get back home from EDC I will be in the studio for five weeks and finish my album, hopefully. So, it’s coming out worldwide in the second half of this year. I have already finished 3 singles. It’s a double album and it’s amazing, I hope! I like it, but in the end everyone has to decide for themselves.”
ATB will make contact with Something Wicked at the Sam Houston Race Park on Saturday, October 26th. Buy your tickets today to be a part of Houston’s premier Halloween event!
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