DJ Shir Khan started spinning records as a teenager in Berlin. Over the course of the last decade he has not only became one of Germany’s most badass DJs, but is also the founder of Exploited, a record label which boasts artists like Homework, Joyce Muniz, Consistent, Lorenz Rhode among others. With a trained eye for sizzling new talent and fearless style-mixing, Shir Khan has successfully turned his label into a magnet for numerous international producers and a solid epicentre for nonstop musical freshness. Last off was the release of Homework’s new EP ‘Hudson Square’, which followed their mind-blowing ‘Fissa tune’, both proudly released on Exploited.

As if this weren’t enough, this busy tiger also has his own weekly radio show on Fritz, is a part time blogger at Berlin Battery and a frequent party thrower in good old Berlin. In other words, I actually felt privileged when Shir Khan took his time to do an interview with us.

What are you most proud of?

My last name ‘Spielberger’. When people hear it or read it out loud, they look at me in a way that makes me feel like I’m some kind of special person. Whether they think I might be related to Steven Spielberg, or whether they just like the name – it’s kind of funny to see how respectfully I get treated sometimes. Some girls have already wanted to marry me just to have my surname as their own. No joke!!

A journalist described you as “the king of mash-ups”, would you agree on that?

Definitely not! I did a few mash-ups back in the days, but that’s another story. However, I do like playing edits and blends of current tracks. Sometimes I do them myself and sometimes I get special edits sent by friends which I just play out.

How did you begin as a DJ?

I started DJing at the age of 19. Before that I was mainly playing guitar in hardcore bands so I have a rock background but at the same time I was very much into hip hop. Actually, I’m still influenced by hip hop I would say. I digged all the old Funk & Soul-stuff and Rare Grooves as well as Acid Jazz. I also liked the beginning of Dope Beats & Trip Hop, Jungle, Ragga and Dancehall. 2 Many Djs introduced me to the way of eclectic mixing. Whether it was Disco, House, Acid, Techno or Hip Hop – I liked mixing it up. However, I think I will always move on with time. For example, right now I’m playing a lot of House and I am definitely not as eclectic anymore as I used to be.

What’s the story behind your name?

Shir Khan was my tag when I tried to do graffiti. I was a bad sprayer and all my friends said that the name was too long and that I would get busted by the police. I thought the name was quite exotic but, since my friends at school started to notice my tag and telling me that I didn’t have any skills when it came to graffiti, I stopped. But by then all my skateboard buddies had already given me the nickname ‘Shirki’ which is the short version of Shir Khan. It was natural to adopt that name when I became a DJ.

What led you to start Exploited and how has the label developed over the years?

I started the label in 2007. Around that time I was already playing out lots of exclusive tracks from friends and some of them thought I was a pretty good networker so they asked me if I wanted to put out their tracks. For example, Adam Sky had this track ‘We Are All Prostitutes‘, a collaboration with Mark Stewart from The Pop Group, and he was trying to set up his own label but didn’t manage so he asked me to put it out. Previous to that my original plan was actually to put out a Mix-CD of mine and since I didn’t know on which label to release, I decided to set up my own. While I was collecting tracks from friends, another label, City Slang, asked me if I wanted to release the Surkin Remix of their act Justine Electra. They were unsure if to release it and gave me the vinyl rights. It was the first track I released on Exploited and I made Surkin the original artist of the remix since it was completely his own production. I was also very amazed by Siriusmo and asked him for some tracks for my first Mix-CD ‘Maximize!’. In the end we decided to release a whole Siriusmo EP. That’s how it started.
In the beginning the sound of Exploited was somewhat reflecting what was going on in dance music at that time and served as a statement against boring ‘minimal’ music. That’s why I called my first Mix-CD ‘Maximize!’ although I must say that this sound probably had its peak in 2007 and 2008 for me and in 2009 I was already bored with it. Over the years the sound of Exploited has been shifting more into the House direction although it’s usually never serious House. On the contrary it always has this cutting-edge feel to it and sometimes goes a little bit freaky.

What comes first, DJing or producing?

DJing. Everything I do is meant to keep DJing alive for me. If you don’t have a label, or don’t do remixes it’s hard to get bookings. But I would prefer to be only a DJ if I am honest.

There is little doubt that internet has become vital for every artist but do you think there is a downside to today’s use of if?

Probably it has got a bit harder to filter the interesting stuff. You get spammed everywhere. I really don’t like reading my emails anymore since I get so many demos and promos. Then you have all those social networks. It’s hard to keep track of everything. When there was only vinyl around you didn’t have so much choice but would focus on a few good ones. Now you have access to so much music and you don’t want miss the good stuff but it has become a lifetime mission. Sometimes I feel like I check charts of DJs I like just to inform myself about what I have already missed…again. But in general I’d say that internet is a good thing since everyone deserves to get a chance and to get heard although you have to do it cleverly.

How has the importance of playing live and touring changed in the industry for electronic music artists?

Every label tells their artists that it’s absolutely necessary to DJ or play live since you don’t really make much money with sales anymore. In other words that artists can only survive if they play out to a crowd. Personally I think that’s quite bad. Some producers are forced to become DJs even though they themselves know that they suck at it because they don’t have the training or knowledge. It’s also unfair that big party promoters only are able to draw a crowd with big producer names. I wish the situation would be different but this is how it works. Flashy names on flashy flyers.

Do you like all the travelling involved?

I love seeing different countries and cities and meeting different people. I guess it can also give you a lot of wisdom after doing it for a long time. But of course I hate the process of checking in at the airport, waiting for hours and not getting enough sleep. But that’s part of the biz – not complaining.

When you’re not travelling, what is the best thing about living in Berlin?

It’s always good to come back to Berlin although it is changing so fast that you sometimes get the feeling that you have just missed something, but in the end it will always feel like home to me. It’s also the most open minded city in my opinion. You have a lot of freedom to do what you want to do and, of course, most of my friends live here too.

What do you do when you’re not doing music?

Well actually I’m not doing that much music at the moment but probably more DJing. Apart from that I host a weekly radio show on Fritz, I also organize some parties, manage a few artists, do some label biz, and if I’m not working I really just like to chill, take a walk or ride my bicycle.

In ten years time you’ll be…

Hopefully not homeless… haha!

Thank you!

Amelie Malmgren

1. Shir Khan – The Jungle VIP Intro / Black&White
2. JK Soul – The Music (Shir Khan Edit) / Cold Busted
3. Discodeine – Antiphonie / D.I.R.T.Y.
4. Martin Patino – Make Love / Freerange
5. Hercules & Love Affair – My House (Stop Making Me Remix) / Moshi Moshi
6. Storm Queen – Look Right Through / Environ
7. Dyed Soundorom – Tapioka (Art Department Remix) / Tsuba
8. Phil Weeks – Luv U, Need U / Robsoul
9. Guti&Dubshape – Every Cow Has A Bird VS James Curd – Buffalo Girl (Derrick Carter Dub Remix) / Crosstown Rebels / Greenskeepers Music
10. James Curd – A friend / Lost My Dog
11. Audiofly – Fela (Davide Squillace Simple Chaos Remix/Shir Khan Edit) Vs Re.You&Rampa – Work Vs Rafael Kakudo – Dedicated To You / Get Physical / Keinemusik / Clap Your Hands
12. Sqim – Forever More / White
13. Soundstream – All Night / Soundstream
14. Superlover – Romance / Autist
15. Joyce Muniz – Bedstories (Mr. Ho Remix) / Exploited
16. Doctor Dru & Adana Twins – Juicy Fruit (Calm Down Winter Bootleg) / White
17. Homework – Hudson Square / Exploited
18. Daniel Steinberg – You Got It / Arms&Legs
19. DJ Le Roi – Valdemossa / Compost Black Label
20. Oliver $ – Doing Ya Thang / Play it down
21. AFMB – Backup Days / Compost Black Label
22. Sebo K, Anja Schneider – Rancho Relaxo / Mobilee
23. Maya Jane Coles – What They Say / Real Tone
24. Julio Bashmore – Battle For Middle You / PMR
25. Djedjotronic – Uranus / Boys Noize
26. Kolsch – Loreley / Kompakt
27. Siriusmo – Signal / Monkeytown Records
28. KINK, Neville Watson – Metropole / Rush Hour
29. Frankie Knuckles feat. Jamie Principle – Baby Wants To Ride (Bubba & T. Bone’s Still Believing Re-Edit) / Trax Records / DJ History
30. Consistent – Higher Feel / Exploited
31. Nico Purman – Its All About (Shir Khan Edit) / Vakant
32. Parallel Dance Ensemble – Shopping Cart / Permanent Vacation
33. Scope – Kaoz Vs Joao Brasil feat. Lovefoxxx – Love Banana (Acapella) / BCB / Man Recordings
34. Chubby Dubz – Taken it back (Back in 94 Mix) / STHLM
35. Belfie & Toche vs. Gabriele Carasco – Mad & Son / Off Recordings
36. Rills & Stenny – This is My Home / Off Recordings
37. DJ Sneak – Boogie Allright / Robsoul
38. Cocolores – Fire Eyes / Exploited
39. Homework – I’m Into This (Andre Crom&Martin Dawson Remix) / Exploited
Released by: Exploited
Release date: Mar 11, 2011