Sound Magnet Records presents our Origins Mixes & Interviews series, which have mixes & stories from artists across divides with music and themes based on inspiration from their city of birth or their current cities or places they reside in, spanning artists and mixes from all over the world.
For mix no. #007 we have a mix by Cologne, Germany based DAWless electronic artist, DJ & producer Ma Foom Bey.
Listen to Ma Foom Bey’s “Origins” mix here:
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Sound Magnet Records. Origins 007 // Ma Foom Bey by Sound Magnet Records Sound Magnet Records |
Ma Foom Bey is a Cologne-based electronic artist, DJ, and event host, deeply rooted in club culture and shaped by a musical journey that began in the 1980s. Working strictly DAWless, he creates his music using hardware only, from Eurorack systems to boutique synth and effect pedals and building sound through direct, hands-on interaction.
His approach focuses on reduction, repetition, and subtle modulation, where groove and texture evolve through small, precise changes. His work reflects a long-standing exploration of electronic music, not bound to genre but driven by continuous development and a strong connection to the dancefloor.
Hi Jörgen! It’s a privilege to have you on our Origins series. Let’s get started with the questions!
Where do you consider “home,” and how does that place live in & shape your sound?
“I’ve lived in quite a few places - the Frankfurt area, London, Berlin, New York, Pune - but I’ve called Cologne home for more than 20 years now.”
“Cologne gives me something that’s hard to find: It’s a city that doesn’t constantly demand your attention. At the same time, there’s a solid music culture here. It’s not overwhelming, but it’s curious, open, and supportive. Especially the smaller DAWless community, which I feel very connected to and that I support with my Modular Madness events.”
Which artists/music scenes/mentors/records shaped your ear early on?
“My musical journey started quite early with high energy and italo disco, but it didn’t stop there. I quickly moved through EBM, industrial, electronica, 90s techno, house, minimal, dub techno… it was never about one genre, it was always about exploring new music.”
“I’ve always had deep respect for artists who introduced something new and uncompromising like, DAF, The Young Gods, Skinny Puppy, Emmanuel Top or Miss Kittin and the Hacker, for example. That kind of raw, forward-thinking approach left a strong imprint on me.”
“But even more inspiring to me are artists who evolve over decades, who constantly reinvent themselves while staying true to their core: Artists like Einstürzende Neubauten, Underworld, Al Jourgensen, WhoMadeWho or Kraftwerk. This kind of artist’s artists never stand still and that’s something truly inspiring to me.”
“For me, music is not a fixed identity - it’s a continuous exploring process.”
What’s a turning-point city, or place (or gig or year) that shifted your musical direction?
“Travelling and going out was a huge part of my musical expansion. I experienced so many scenes: full moon parties in Thailand in the mid-90s, beach parties in Goa, unforgettable club nights in Cologne, Tokyo, Mumbai, New York, London, Havana… all of them left traces.”
”But there are two places that really stand out: The first was Dorian Gray at Frankfurt Airport in 1988. That was my first exposure to a truly world-class electronic music club. DJs like Sven Väth and Talla 2XLC, a crowd fully dedicated to electronic sound, and my first real encounter with techno and acid music in a club context made me feel like stepping into the future.”
“The second was Berlin in the 90s. That was something else entirely. Raw, experimental, and completely open. There were no rules yet - just energy, curiosity, and a sense of new beginnings. That spirit stayed with me. If Frankfurt showed me the power of electronic music, Berlin showed me its freedom.”
About the mix, describe a track or track(s) in the mix that feels close to your origin story. Why that or those ones?
“I prepared the tracks for the Sound Magnet Session over several weeks during winter, a time when I naturally go deeper and more introspective. There isn’t just one track that represents my origin. It’s more about certain elements that keep reappearing: repetitive structures, subtle modulation, and a strong focus on groove and sound structures over melody”
Talking about gear & producing process, what are your go-to instruments, hardware and/or VSTs & how has your process evolved from your first releases to now?
“I work fully DAWless and that’s not a dogma, it’s a conscious choice. I need physical interaction with sound. For me, music happens through touch, not through a PC screen.”
“For this recording, my Synthstrom Deluge was the centrepiece, it handles sequencing, drums, sampling, recording, and even mixing. It’s incredibly flexible and allows me to stay in a creative flow with minimum interruptions.”
“As my main synth, I used the Melbourne Instruments Delia, an amazing machine that makes sound design feel very intuitive and alive. It invites experimentation and feels very natural. Other gear for the session included the MAM MB33 and my Eurorack including the Roland System-1m.”
“For effects, I used tools like the Hologram Electronics Chroma Console, Erica Synths Plasma Drive and Happy Nerding FM Aid.
Over time, my process has become more reduced but also more intentional. In the beginning, I explored a lot. Now I focus more with fewer gear, but more depth.”
What’s next for you in 2026 & the coming years?
“After spending quite some time in my home studio preparing the Sound Magnet session, I feel a strong pull to bring my next music back into a more immediate, club-oriented context and playing live, creating situations where the music can evolve in real time.”
“At the same time, I want to stay open. A lot of what I do is shaped in dialogue with the machines, so the direction will naturally unfold through the process itself.”
“I’m also interested in pushing the DAWless approach further, possibly collaborating with artists who share a similar mindset and way of working.”
ICYMI, here’s Ma Foom Bey’s Origins mix (again):
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Sound Magnet Records. Origins 007 // Ma Foom Bey by Sound Magnet Records Sound Magnet Records |
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Follow Ma Foom Bey:
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mafoombey
IG: https://www.instagram.com/ma_foom_bey/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ma_foom_bey
Modulargrid: https://modulargrid.net/e/users/view/205540
Tracklist:
00:00 – Ma Foom Bey – Delia Dub
05:35 – Ma Foom Bey – Night Drive
12:56 – Ma Foom Bey – Sound of the Oven Rack
18:31 – Ma Foom Bey – Delia’s Interlude
25:13 – Ma Foom Bey – Weekdays at the Gallery
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