Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, and raised in the USA, Bad Boombox blends Balkan rhythms, funky beats, and electronic roots, drawing from European dance music and the soulful grooves of American Motown to create his vibrant sound. Leipzig-based DJ and producer Mischluft, inspired by underground raves and his dad’s secret Shania Twain albums, is known for his catchy, sexy vocal lines and bouncy techno grooves. Together, the two joined forces for their collaborative EP, The Pressure, released on January 23 via Bad Boombox’s Hot Meal Records. The high-energy, four-track EP fuses funk, tension, and raw club energy, showcasing the best of both producers. The duo spoke with 6AM about their exciting collaboration.

Hi Bad Boombox and Mischluft! Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to us. How are you both doing?

So good! Thanks for having us. We’re doing well, back from a brief holiday just in time for club season. To be honest, still recovering and reminiscing about our crazy trip in the US a few months ago.

 

You both just released your collab EP ‘The Pressure’. How did this collab come about? Both of your styles bring such distinct flavors to the EP—bouncy grooves meet moody basslines. Was there ever a moment where your creative visions clashed, and how did you find common ground to push the music forward?

Although our styles are pretty different, technically, I think what brings us together is the mood of our music. It’s always been in the same energy and we bonded over that. Since we’ve been touring together, doing Hot Meal showcases around the world (especially in the US), it was only natural to get in the studio together as well. There’s something about having some freedom in the studio to jam and feel it out that made the making of these collabs super smooth. Many producers send stems back and forth but that would have messed with the energy in this case, we had to discover the feeling in person.

Bad Boombox, you’ve mentioned that The Pressure pushed you into new creative territory. Was there a particular track or element on the EP where you felt you were taking the biggest risk, and how did you approach that challenge?

I never really see certain musical elements as a risk, just that some things are new to me and I have to physically stand up and dance to get a feel for it. These were elaborate jam sessions that we had to feel out. One creative “opportunity” (because I won’t say risk haha) that took some convincing was that in the track Pressure, there’s a triple hit after the vocal that you’d think is some sort of rave stab sample, but is in fact a recording from a live chicken. But we tested it on the dancefloor and we had to trust.

 

Mischluft, you’ve talked about pushing yourself creatively on this EP. What was the most challenging part of stepping out of your comfort zone, and how did Bad Boombox help bring something new out of you?

I think that, because Djeki has been producing for so long, it would be boring for him to simply piece together samples into a track the way some people do. Djeki showed me what’s possible when you flip, cut, pitch, or manipulate samples with various effects. It might take a bit longer, but it’s unique, far more creative, and truly innovative. Creativity also means letting go and experimenting—after all, music is art, and it’s not always about achieving the quickest or most efficient outcome. That’s not to say we weren’t efficient. It’s just that there were things I would never have tried on my own in the studio.

You’ve both played iconic venues and festivals worldwide, but what’s the dream setting to play The Pressure EP in its entirety? Are there particular tracks that you think would hit the hardest in specific venues/events?

In my opinion I love playing these tracks in more intimate settings in which we’re surrounded by the crowd. It adds to the energy. Especially beach cities, since I used to live in Los Angeles it always brings me back to that vibe. Big festivals, where the DJ is far from the crowd, usually calls for more big-festival-tracks that are meant to thunder throughout the land. But club or open-air settings where the crowd is just as much part of the DJ set is the most fun. They have a groovy togetherness vibe, I feel.

 

Dropping an EP in January, when people are looking for something to energize their year, is a bold move. Was the timing intentional, and what do you hope these tracks bring to dancefloors in the dead of winter?

Absolutely. We all need a bit of summer heat this winter. Especially since we’ve been playing these tracks all last summer, this is a callback to so many friends who saw us play. And also it’s great for building what we have in store for this coming summer 

 

Thanks so much again for talking to 6AM. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks again for having us back. We had so much fun playing for you back in September, and we hope to do something together again this year 😏

CONNECT with BAD BOOMBOX: Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify

CONNECT with MISCHLUFT: Instagram | Soundcloud | Spotify