Fritz Kalkbrenner
FRITZ KALKBRENNER
It’s no coincidence that DJ and producer Fritz Kalkbrenner grew up in 1980s East Berlin. The social and political upheaval that served as the backdrop to his youth shaped his perception of the Arts’ power. The seismic shift catalysed by the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany paved the way for new ways to express oneself and build solidarities amongst a once-divided community. In the midst of the country’s creative epicentre, it was impossible not to feel inspired. This was epitomized in Berlin’s nightlife culture and Fritz found himself lured in by the newfound outlet provided by a burgeoning techno scene. In 2003, having absorbed the livewire energy of his vibrant surroundings, it was his turn to put pen to paper. He recorded his first vocal feature for childhood friend Sascha Funke’s ‘Forms & Shapes’. The single, which included a remix by his brother Paul Kalkbrenner, received critical acclaim and set the stage for Fritz's ascent.
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He spent the next five years honing his craft, and 2008 marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career. Paul’s production and Fritz’s inimitable vocals piqued the interest of filmmaker Hannes Stöhr who commissioned a lead track for his seminal film Berlin Calling. ‘Sky and Sand’ quickly became a generational anthem.
Fritz seized the baton and ran, continuing to develop the unique strain of emotive electronic music that struck a chord with so many around the world. In 2010, following a string of successful singles, his debut album ‘Here Today Gone Tomorrow’ landed: the crystallization of his efforts to carve out a space for his signature sound. Tracks like ‘Facing the Sun’ and ‘Kings in Exile’ paired house beats with melancholic vocals, making them dance floor essentials as well as staples in home-listening collections.
Following Fritz’s first European tour, he got to work on his second album, followed by his third. Both ‘Sick Travellin’ (2012) and ‘Ways over Water’ (2014) reached the German album charts Top 10; whilst one of the tracks on the latter – ‘Back Home’ – became his first Top 20 single. By now, Fritz’s reputation preceded him, and a flurry of overseas bookings secured his place in the international electronic music circuit. His 2016 album ‘Grand Départ’ reinforced his global esteem, celebrated by performances for ARTE and the French CERCLE format which were filmed at the stunning Domaine de Chantilly.
2018 was a particularly significant year for Fritz. He broke new sonic ground, releasing his first purely instrumental album ‘Drown’: an homage to the raw, club-oriented sounds of his early days that uses vintage synthesizers and drum machines to create a sound at once timeless and future-facing. It was also the year he launched his own label, Nasua Music. Major label outings and high-profile collaborations followed, culminating in ‘Kings & Queens’, the lead single taken from his 2020 album ‘True Colours’, which reached #6 on the album charts.
In 2021, Fritz dipped his brush into deep house via the Nasua Music release ‘King Curtis’ – yet another hit single which amassed millions of streams. He continued riding the high in 2022, with ‘In the Morning’ – a pop-leaning single marked by his signature emotional charge. 2023 continued the streak of melodic, club-ready productions with ‘Moments Gone’ and ‘Waiting For The Sun’ – the latter being a vocal-led track that quickly became a favourite on radio and streaming platforms, keeping Fritz’s voice on heavy rotation.
The single’s eponymous tour filled major venues across Europe and beyond, drawing eager crowds and considerable media attention. Whilst on the road, he released ‘Set You Free’, an old-school house track brimming with energy and dynamic grooves. Its visualiser shot to number one on Clubbing TV’s worldwide best music video list, showcasing Fritz’s artistic versatility. Fritz Kalkbrenner’s appetite for creation is steadfast. With an impressive lineup of club and festival gigs across Germany and Europe, and a steady stream of new releases, he continues to push things forward over two decades after his first found fame. In May 2024, he announced his collaboration with Universal Music / Virgin Records with the single ‘Fall Between The Cracks’ which, when premiered on BBC Radio 1, caught the attention of critics across the world.
His latest album, ‘Third Place’ – released in November 2024 – broke into the German Top 20 Album Charts, receiving widespread international acclaim, helped by standout singles like ‘The Telepath’ and ‘Into The Night’.
This year, Fritz Kalkbrenner is set to embark on an exciting artistic evolution, unveiling a fresh and unmistakably unique sound within the global house music landscape with his new single ‘Kick It With You’ — the first of many to come. As the year unfolds, anticipation builds for his highly awaited Kontinentego Tour, set to follow a scorching summer-full of festivals.
Their Resident Advisor profile, in full and unedited.
Records out on Universal Music, BPitch, Stil vor Talent and Suol. — their own list on Resident Advisor
The nights
2026
- Sat 15 AugSPIN Open AirSAGE · first time · All Artists Agency GmbH, SAGE Berlin, SPIN
2025 — 1 night
Who they play with
One night, and this is who was on it.
- Sat 15 Aug 2026Swimming Paul · Tripolism · Ede · KENZA KAYATI · Daisy Weweh · Le TIZI · MUKKIMIAU
The nights, the rooms and the bills are the listings themselves. The biography, the labels and the photograph are Resident Advisor's. Nothing on this page was written for it.