Lauer’s Timeless Instinct for Connecting Dance Music Generations

We had a chat with the German dance music veteran about his latest EP, ‘K1m Fantasy,’ on the Brooklyn-based Melodize label and how the release feels like a fantasy dance floor where the music moves effortlessly.

Think of Phillip Lauer, better known simply as Lauer, as a true music romantic. He’s the kind of artist who finds beauty in the subtle textures of sound and translates those small inspirations into a style that is something that is exclusive to his sonic hive mind. For over two decades, the German stalwart has championed a creative signature that is defined by lush synthesizers and nostalgic 80s pop aesthetics, all while remaining deeply rooted in his appreciation for Italo-disco and the raw soul of early Detroit house. The defining factor of Lauer’s work lies in his ability to bridge these disparate eras, filtering them through the hip-hop and punk rock energy of his youth to craft dance music that feels transcendental.

This refined craftsmanship is on full display in his latest release, the ‘K1m Fantasy‘ EP, out now on the Brooklyn-based label Melodize. Across the four-tracker, Lauer navigates the intersection of indie dance and house, balancing high-energy club dynamics with a signature retro-futurism and a sense of warmth. Listening to the EP feels like a sensation of holding the reins of a horse with an infinite path stretching out before you.

Despite having one of the most relentless release and tour schedules in the industry, the ‘K1m Fantasy’ EP serves as a reminder that Lauer never sacrifices emotional resonance for productivity. The EP arrived alongside a string of club performances, and in the middle of this, we caught up with him to discuss the creative evolution of the release, his unique artistic outlook, and what the remainder of the year holds for one of electronic music’s most consistent visionaries.

TFword: What was the starting point for ‘K1m Fantasy’?
LAUER: Ehsan (Melodize label boss) asked me for an EP and I just had dusted my beautiful Kawai K1m ..

TF: The title ‘K1m Fantasy’ feels quite evocative and slightly surreal. What does it represent for you? Is it tied to a person, a character, an idea, or more of a feeling?
LAUER: The name comes from a synth module called Kawai K1m, which looks like an early 90s answering machine.

TF: You’ve described a lot of your music over the years through atmosphere as much as rhythm. What kind of emotional or physical response did you want this EP to create?
LAUER: I’d like to think that I manage to include something unique and mystical in my tracks, rather than just producing club tools. I’m not trying to create a response. Most importantly, I need to be happy with it and the rest hopefully falls into place.

TF: This EP feels playful, cinematic, and club-minded at the same time. Did you approach it as a dancefloor record first or as a more personal listening experience?
LAUER: The latter, as mentioned above. I might have some plan at the start but then end up somewhere else. Not a big strategist.

TF: Your music often feels like it exists between eras; there are echoes of cosmic disco, synth-pop, electro, and classic house, but it never sounds purely nostalgic. How do you balance those older reference points with a modern club sensibility?
LAUER: It’s probably because I’m a huge fan of 80s and 90s music and I’m using older machines. I can’t tell where modern club sensitivity might come from, but thanks!

TF: A lot of producers reference the past aesthetically, but your records tend to feel lived-in rather than retro for retro’s sake. What helps you avoid falling into pure pastiche?
LAUER: I refrain from analysing those things too deeply as I might ruin them somehow. I guess the way I produce and the fact that I’m not a very technical person are keeping me safe from falling into pure pastiche – I simply wouldn’t be able to pull that off.

TF: You’ve been shaping your sound for over two decades now. Where do you see ‘K1m Fantasy’ sitting within your wider catalog?
LAUER: Slightly darker, heavily leaning towards VIEWLEXX – Dutch italo-trenched electro stuff. And faster than the rest.

TF: Has your relationship with dance music changed over the years, either as a producer or as a DJ, and does this EP reflect that in any way?
LAUER: Well, I seldom listen to dance music at home or in the car these days –  it’s more guitar music, dub or crazy stuff. I guess that has some influence. There are actually guitars on the record.

TF: This EP feels very singular and self-contained. Was there a conscious decision to keep this one entirely solo?
LAUER: The original plan was to have a remix on there, but then I had those 4 tracks and it made sense to us.

TF: Do you find solo records more revealing in a way, almost like a clearer snapshot of where you are creatively at that moment?
LAUER: Definitely – I’m the boss  ; )

TF: You’ve been active since the late ’90s, yet your music still feels curious and forward-moving. What keeps electronic music exciting for you after all these years?
LAUER: Although I generally struggle with excitement, I’m still very much into listening to and finding out about music that was unknown to me before. That can be everything in terms of genres.

TF: Do you think experience has made you more instinctive in the studio or more deliberate?
LAUER: Hard to answer for a one-trick-pony like myself.  Experience has made me faster, I know more chords and progressions than before and I’m more efficient at finding the sounds I think about.

TF: What has changed the most in the way you make music today compared to 10 or 20 years ago?
LAUER: Not so much, I have to admit. I found better gear over the years. I got a decent microphone a couple of years ago and I enjoy recording real instruments.

TF: What kinds of sounds, scenes, or ideas are inspiring you right now? Inside or outside of dance music?
LAUER: As mentioned before, I listen to music all the time, often on NTS Radio, and I read books and watch stuff too… living the life.

TF: What comes after ‘K1m Fantasy’ for you? Are you already thinking about the next EP, more club-focused material, or something broader in scope?
LAUER: There are 2 more EPs dropping soon: one on Altered Circuits and one on XXX and a couple of remixes. Besides all that, I’m working on a new LP. Let’s see.

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