Plastik Funk

Formed in Düsseldorf during 2002, the German house music duo Plastik Funk brought together Rafael Ximenez-Carrillo and Mikio Gruschinske. Born in Madrid, Spaniard Ximenez-Carrillo relocated during childhood to Grevenbroich in Nordrhein-Westfalen, whereas German-Japanese Gruschinske passed his early years in Tokyo prior to settling in Berlin. The two began working as DJs while still in high school after an upbringing steeped in hip-hop; exposure to Frankie Knuckles and David Morales prompted their shift toward house music, and they first crossed paths once each secured a resident slot at separate Düsseldorf clubs. Their initial release, the “Do It Right” EP, appeared in 2003, after which a run of well-received club tracks earned them bookings across Germany and farther afield. Remixes for David Guetta, Robyn, Shaggy, and Deadmau5 followed, and the pair also issued solo material under the names Guernica and Turbopascal.

The year 2011 proved their busiest, yielding thirteen singles; among them, a cover of C+C Music Factory’s “Everybody Dance Now” secured their first appearance on the mainstream German charts. They were additionally asked to compile several mix albums, one of which was Ministry of Sound’s Sessions Germany in 2009. International recognition arrived in 2012 via the track “Who,” a collaboration with fellow German producer Tujamo that Avicii and others championed and that resonated strongly at Miami’s Winter Music Conference. The ensuing attention led to prominent gigs worldwide and a summer residency at Space in Ibiza. Their profile rose further in 2014 when the retitled “Dr. Who,” now featuring British rapper Sneakbo, reached number 21 on the U.K. singles chart.