Northern Lite

Formed during 1997 in Erfurt, Thuringia, the electro-rock collective Northern Lite secured a lasting foothold within the German music landscape through recordings, remixes, and the operation of their independent imprint 1st Decade Records. Vocalist Andreas Kubat and DJ Sebastian Bohn initiated the project, later incorporating guitarist Larry Lowe in 2001 to introduce rock textures into the electronic base. Lowe departed in 2004 to launch his solo project Fujimo, after which Sascha Littek took over on guitar. The Erfurt-based label they established issued the group’s first material in 2001, beginning with the 12-inch singles Trusting Blind, Ways Ain't Working, Treat Me Better, and Trusting Blind Remixes before the album Small Chamber Works appeared. Further full-length releases followed on 1st Decade Records, including Reach the Sun in 2003, Temper in 2005, and Unisex in 2006. Chart entry came in 2006 when “What You Want” reached number 61 on the German singles chart and Unisex climbed to number 29 on the album chart. The following year the Chapeau Claque collaboration “Enemy” entered at number 51. Their remix credits extend back to 2001 and encompass Peaches’ “Set It Off” from 2002, Rammstein’s “Rosenrot” in 2005, Schiller’s “Die Nacht... Du Bist Nicht Allein” that same year, and Yello’s “Planet Dada,” also from 2005.