In footage shared by anonymous electronic music industry watchdog account Business Teshno, Dixon (real name Steffen Berkhahn) can be seen performing before a crowd of at least hundreds on August 13th with no visible masks. Only a day prior, Nissaf Ben Alia said that the nearby regions Kairouan and Sousse were among those experiencing significant outbreaks, reported Middle East Monitor. “We need to intensify prevention measures, such as wearing masks and respecting social distancing, to prevent the spread of the virus,” she told reporters.

Dixon

August 13th 2020
Hammamet Sud (Tunisia) pic.twitter.com/8KK9mXOIhs

— Business Teshno (@businessteshno) August 25, 2020

Berkhahn’s gig follows those of other notable techno/house DJs who have performed in other parts of Tunisia. A festival that ran from August 6th-9th called Djerba Music Land billed the likes of Claptone, Sébastien Léger and Joachim Garraud, drawing 1,200-1,300 each day per Le Manager.

Claptone
Sébastien Léger
Super Flu

August 6th 2020
Djerba (Tunisia) pic.twitter.com/SezmJTL0EI

— Business Teshno (@businessteshno) August 8, 2020

Confirmed cases have continued to rise in Tunisia over the past two weeks, with daily confirmed case counts sometimes double those of the highest days in March and April. The country is currently sitting at just shy of 3,000 cases with 71 resulting deaths, according to the World Health Organization.

Other DJs have also elicited backlash for playing “plague raves” in countries where the coronavirus appeared to be seeing a resurgence. Amelie Lens performed to at least hundreds at a Possession event in France on August 2nd as daily confirmed cases broke the thousands. Officials in Italy and Spain reinstated event bans due to rising case counts after clubs in the former country hosted the likes of DJ Tennis, Michael Bibi and Patrick Topping.

Spokespeople on behalf of Dixon, Claptone, Sébastién Leger, Super Flu and Joachim Garraud have not responded to Selector‘s request for comment at the time of writing.

To that end, Dixon refrained from taking too many creative liberties with his take on the source material. Save for a few dated synths, he mostly reinforced the percussion and extended the length of the arrangement by about four minutes. The spoken word sample still takes center stage in the arrangement, underscored by the same vocal refrains as in the original.

As the label boss of Innervisions, Dixon is no stranger to fine-tuning the productions of already capable artists. He shortened the demo of “Toukan” sent to him by Raoul K and Manoo before signing it – and tomorrow, he’s releasing two of his own remixes of the single.

The Dixon update of King Britt’s “Oba Funke” is also out tomorrow via Lossless.

Source: Mixmag

According to an interview with Ernst.FM, Dixon (real name Steffen Berkhahn) had shortened the demo sent to him by Raoul K (real name Raoul Konan) before signing it to his imprint last month. The two remixes he’s offered up clock in around seven and eight minutes.

Beyond Borders

Raoul K is known for putting out more than house music alone. Much of the West African Baobob Music founder’s 2014 album, Still Living In Slavery, consisted of more instrumental songs. Alongside the vocals of Ahmed Sosso, the world music-reminiscent percussion of “Toukan” made the song a fitting accompaniment to his discography.

Dixon himself needs no introduction among fans of underground house and techno. The German artist’s credentials extend as far back as the early ’90s, when he frequented such legendary Berlin clubs as Tresor, Turbine and E-Werk.

The remix pack for Raoul K and Manoo’s Toukan comes out on Innervisions on July 14th.

Source: Resident Advisor