Kai Tracid

Born Kai Franz in 1972, the Frankfurt native who would later record as Kai Tracid derived his alias from a fusion of the words trance and acid. Possessing both striking physical presence and an ear attuned to sounds ranging from the underground to mainstream clubs, he secured bookings at major German spots, including the renowned Dorian Gray in his hometown, within just a few years of beginning his career behind the decks. By the middle of the decade he shifted focus to original productions, achieving an early breakthrough in 1997 when the single “Your Own Reality” climbed into the German dance Top 30. That success drew the interest of veteran producer Frank Farian, whose résumé includes the internationally known acts Boney M. and Milli Vanilli. Collaboration with Farian supplied the resources for Tracid to construct a personal studio, which he put to immediate use. Between 1998 and 1999 he delivered the widely played club track “Liquid Skies” and the Skywalker EP. Simultaneously he issued additional material under alternate identities, among them “Only the Strong” and “Waveshaper” as K., “The Spice” as Arrakis, and “Vater Unser” as Der Verfall.