Fog Puma (Jean-Marie Dhur) has been djing since the late nineties and arrived around the Mid-2000s at the genre-bending Cosmic-Balearic-Leftfield-Disco axis after detours to Techno, House, Bigbeat, Triphop and Downbeat. His dj sets are percussive, tribally, dubby, psychedelic and driving in slower to mid tempo areas. It’s not his cup of tea to be stuck in one style, and in his sets you can experience his eclectic musical preferences, ranging from Krautrock, Afrobeat, Italo Disco and New Wave to Post-Punk, Avantgarde, Synth Pop and Polyrhythms, to name a few.
He is currently hosting the Mystic Moods nights at Klunkerkranich, with guests as Nu Guinea, Basso, Spatz Habibi, M.Rux, Jascha Hagen, Giuseppe Leonardi, Len Leise, Pingipung Djteam, Frinda di Lanco, Andi Otto, Love-Songs, Islandman, André Pahl, Don’t DJ, Phillip Matalla, Ultraviolett, Lars Noll, Bastus & Baernd Anders, Decent, Low Bat, Lucas Croon, Alec Lee, dj soFa and Ozan Maral among others.
Since 2008, he has been presenting the Abendlandung radio show (cashmereradio.com/shows/abendlandung/), where he shares his musical discoveries - everything old and new between ambient, soundtracks, avant garde, minimal music, post punk, downbeat, lysergica, outsider music and other unusual sounds.
— Fog Puma
Moe Choucair: What was the first record you owned?
Jean-Marie Dhur: I think it was a compilation called "Winnetou-Melodien" by German film music composer Martin Böttcher. He made the music for the film adaptations of the popular German wild west and adventure novels of Karl May (until the 80s, many young people read these stories, now they have disappeared, maybe not without good reason). When I was around 8 years maybe, I was a big fan of these cheesy, stereotypical wannabe Western movies, and also of the soundtracks, which were a kind of exotica meets folk meets jazz meets ambient. I still like some of his music now (the films on the other hand are quite outdated). Regarding pop music, I think the first record I bought (when I was 14) was The Queen is Dead by The Smiths.
MC: Where does the name Fog Puma come from?
JD: In 2009 I was in Lisbon, and friends took me to this former sailor club, where artist Alexandre Estrela shows unknown experimental films (until now!). At this evening, he screened Fog Pumas by Gunvor Nelson and Dorothy Riley. I don't remember so much of the film, it was quite surreal, I liked it. And the name stuck.
MC: What tips can you give to someone going record shopping?
JD: You need to be in a special mood for record shopping. Be relaxed, not in a hurry. And "follow" your feelings: which cover looks interesting? To which band names, song titles do you feel attracted to? Check out the shops that are a bit more off the beaten path. And it helps to take a "wishlist" with you.
MC: You also run a bookstore in Berlin with a very particular collection, can you tell us a bit more about it?
JD: Zabriskie is a specialised bookshop, which I run with my friend Lorena. We have a focus on nature and alternative culture, utopian ideas, self-sufficiency, music + sound, independent publishers ... it is something like a personal library - but as a bookshop. We only have books that we like or find interesting, and books that are difficult to find in other bookshops. Books that give a different point of view to the widespread consumerist, capitalistic and egoistic one.
MC: Where do you enjoy playing music the most in Berlin?
JD: I very much enjoy playing open air in summer, in Berlin or elsewhere. I like playing in smaller or more DIY clubs. Mensch Meier, Jonny Knüppel, Arkaoda, Klunkerkranich (where I host the Mystic Moods cosmic/balearic/tribal/leftfield/disco nights from time to time)
MC: Music is everywhere nowadays. There’s music in restaurants, shops, taxis, etc. Do you think it’s too much?
JD: Yes, it is. I love listening to good music, but the times without music, just with the sounds of the ambience, have the same importance. Listening to your environment and to "everyday sounds" is so interesting. I don't understand people that are jogging in a forest with headphones on!