Adriatique

What’s in a name? For Adrian Shala and Adrian Schweizer, it’s a decade – and counting – of joint creativity. After getting to know each other in Zürich in 2008, Adrian & Adrian became inseparable, not just as friends, but also as artists. They carved out a career as one of the most consistent and distinctive DJ/producer duos in the house and techno scene: Adriatique.

The key to an enduring partnership is, of course, to complement each other, and the two Adrians do so admirably. Music-wise, their various tastes combine into one unique sound, and their respective preference for studio work and performance means that both aspects are equally well covered. Adriatique’s DJ sets as well as their productions are long, meditative, relentlessly building affairs, ever challenging the listener with subtle twists to a hypnotic groove. There is much more to the duo than just a well-oiled electronic music machine, however. They also live together, draw plans together, and support art in all its forms together.

2016 saw the fulfillment of a long-held wish: the founding of Adriatique’s very own record label and platform for the arts. Called Siamese, their imprint releases their own music as well as productions by others, as long as it adheres to the Adrians’ creed: that music should be meditation. Going above and beyond the average for a label, Siamese also supports visual and performance artists, organizing club nights that place these collaborators in the spotlights just as much as the musical stars.

Alongside releasing their music through Siamese, Adriatique are signed to leading labels Diynamic and Afterlife. The former, Solomun’s label and event series, has long been a home for Adriatique, whilst Afterlife is a more recent venture. Tale Of Us’ label released their single ‘Ray’ at the beginning of 2018 and the road to ‘Nude’ began. Adriatique’s debut LP is their most personal artist statement yet, a collection of songs, feelings and memories which stand out in the Afterlife catalogue. The title, ‘Nude’, refers to another side of Adriatique being uncovered on the album. The duo prove themselves to be as adept at creating beautiful, melodic songs as they are driving club beats.

Drawing from their own experience as strangers turned fulltime partners, Adrian and Adrian know that it is the bridging of differences that breeds creativity. This is why, in the future, they plan on expanding their network of collaborators as well as the creative scope of Adriatique and Siamese’s activities. They may be a decade in the business, but Adriatique’s true mission has only just begun.