Malbetrieb

Malbetrieb, in real life known as Niels Schilder, is a DJ and producer based in the North of Holland. His work can be described as deep melodic house and techno with a progressive flair, sometimes melancholic, always on point and with a unique style of its own.

As one of the original founders of the Klopfgeist label and club Paradigm in Groningen (best underground club Benelux 2015/2016), Malbetrieb is partly responsible for the up and coming scene in that area. Pushing his musical tastes, the Klopfgeist label featured music from artists like Tale of Us, Darko Esser, Nuno dos Santos and Sigward, while his Paradigm residency (named 'Parody') featured artists like DJ Tennis, &Me and Mano le Tough to name just a few.

Malbetrieb's first connection to electronic music was a cassette tape of The Prodigy, given to him by a cousin. A few months later The Orb performed live on Ray Cokes' MTV show and it all made sense to him: turning moods into music.

His musical inspiration comes from early electronica, pop music and progressive house. Sasha, Aril Brikha, Nuno dos Santos, but also The Alan Parsons Project and The Prodigy were a huge influence on his musical taste, which you can still hear in his music today.

Starting off with a Soundcraft mixer, Korg MS20, 808 and a halting Siel synthesizer (all without MIDI) he began creating productions in his parents' basement. It wasn't until later in the 90's - when computers and MIDI made their entry in home studios - he decided that trading-in the 808 for a Pentium 1 computer seemed like a very good decision. Now, his setup is fully back to analog again, eliminating the visual aspects of arranging and producing and letting the ears and the mind do their work.

Malbetrieb is an acclaimed producer, releasing music on labels such as Klopfgeist, SoHaSo, Chapter 24, Selador and Kontra-Musik (to name a few), His music has been supported by the likes of Patrice Baumel, Nuno dos Santos, Kollektiv Turmstrasse, Eelke Kleijn, Robert Babicz, Frankey & Sandrino and many more. Sebastian Mullaert (aka Minilogue) remixed the title track of his first album 'Life in the Clouds', and in return Malbetrieb remixed Sebastian's 'Movement' that's coming out on Kontra-Musik later this year, accompanied by Voices from the Lake and Abdullah Rashim.

His performance is always energetic, melody-driven and pushing towards euphoria. With way over ten years of experience he has a keen eye for his audience, and plays all his records with full passion, taking crowds on a journey through sound that they will remember.