Danilo Plessow Explained

Danilo Plessow is a music producer and DJ (born c. 1985), perhaps best known for his work as the alias Motor City Drum Ensemble (MCDE).^{[1] [2]} Raised in the German town of Schwäbisch Gmünd,^[3] Plessow played drums from the age of 6 years old and began creating his own music using a computer and samples from the age of 11.^[4] Musical influences include Moodymann,^{[5] [6]} Marvin Gaye, 70s jazz and 90s hiphop including early J Dilla and Pete Rock.^{[7] [8]} In his formative years he would travel into the nearby city of Stuttgart to collect vinyl records. The alias Motor City Drum Ensemble is a nod to his Detroit musical influences as well as referencing Stuttgart (home of Mercedes Benz and Porsche) and his collection of drum machines.^[9]

Plessow is famed for the Raw Cuts series^{[10] [11]} and has released singles and remixes on over twenty record labels.^[12] He has also co-founded labels such as MCDE Recordings, Four Roses Recordings^[13] and Space Grape Records, the latter of which is focused on live contemporary music, such as with Jéroboam, musicians from Kyoto Jazz Massive.^{[14] [15]}

As an international DJ he frequently travels around the world to perform at clubs and festivals.^{[16] [17]}

He was a radio presenter for Gilles Peterson's Worldwide FM^[18] and was a curator for Nuits Sonores in Lyon 2016.^[19]

Other aliases: Inverse Cinematics, Vermont, Jayson Brothers and Basic-Variation.^[20]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Mercedes Not Motown: Tales from German's Motor City . Skiddle . 27 May 2024.
2. Web site: Motor City Drum Ensemble . 20/20 Recordings . 27 May 2024.
3. Web site: Motor City Drum Ensemble: Looking for Light in the Nighttime . Crack Magazine . 27 May 2024.
4. Web site: Machine love: Motor City Drum Ensemble . Resident Advisor . 27 May 2024.
5. News: Vermont review: 'Complex and ambiguous' . The Guardian . 20 March 2014 . 27 May 2024 . Petridis . Alexis .
6. Web site: Crate Diggers: Motor City Drum Ensemble . The Vinyl Factory . 20 January 2015 . 27 May 2024.
7. Web site: Motor City Drum Ensemble Interview . The Ransom Note . 19 August 2021 . 27 May 2024.
8. Web site: Motor City Drum Ensemble . Attack Magazine . 14 September 2012 . 27 May 2024.
9. Web site: Send A Prayer EP . Pitchfork . 27 May 2024.
10. Web site: Premiere . Fact Magazine . 21 August 2012 . 27 May 2024.
11. Web site: Interview: Motor City Drum Ensemble . Mancunion Manchester Media Group . 9 February 2015 . 27 May 2024.
12. Web site: Motor City Drum Ensemble . Vogue . 27 May 2024.
13. Web site: RA.132 Motor City Drum Ensemble . Resident Advisor . 27 May 2024.
14. Web site: Late Late show with Jéroboam . Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club . 27 May 2024.
15. Web site: Best of 2022: Singles . Phonica Records . 27 May 2024.
16. Web site: Danilo Plessow: Past Events . Resident Advisor . 27 May 2024.
17. Top 100 DJs . Billboard . 27 May 2024.
18. Web site: Worldwide FM: Danilo Plessow . Worldwide FM . 27 May 2024.
19. Web site: Nuits Sonores Announces Daytime Curators . XLR8R . 13 January 2016 . 27 May 2024.
20. Web site: Danilo Plessow (FKA Motor City Drum Ensemble) . EartH . 27 May 2024.