Nico Coltsfoot celebrates 25 years as a DJ this year and picks his favourite Âme/Innervision tracks ahead of his upcoming night with Âme Live.
Nico Coltsfoot “discovered Âme and Innervision in November 2005.” While he can’t remember the precise time of day, he knew “exactly” where he was when he heard it. Digging through some records at London’s Black Market records, he first “heard the song Rej from Âme,“ and he was a changed man for it.
“It was a magical moment” between what was still a burgeoning DJ and a still fairly unknown artist. Nico would follow Âme and later their label Innervisions “through thick and thin” in a DJ career that stretches 25 years this year.
The Norwegian DJ, Sunkissed resident and long-time Jaeger affiliate, has been around as long as Âme and Innervisions, with his pursuits as a DJ often intertwined in that sound the German artists perpetuate through their work and their label.
In the time that they’ve been around, Âme have established something of a dance music empire. Together, Frank Wiedemann and Kristian Beyer are Âme and they touch on everything from Soul to Techno in their electronic sounds, always with a futuristic view of the dance floor. Alongside another world-renowned artist and DJ Dixon, they’ve established one of the most successful independent dance music labels in modern times in Innervisions.
Innervisions are also celebrating an anniversary this year, marking 20 years of the label and 20 years of Âme’s first single and breakthrough record Rej. In the 20 years since, Innervisions have remained consistent and in a world of ever-changing trends, Âme has remained an integral part of the label’s strong catalogue. Only last year they released Asa, a record that garnered as much if not more attention than their breakout some 19 years later. It’s a display of the unshaken resolve in their sound and one that Nico knows all too well.
Nico has been there since start too and he has been a fervent follower; “from hanging out at Innervision’s nights at Robert Johnson in Offenbach to the famous Lost In A Moment parties in Barcelona, Amsterdam, Osea Island (London) and the unforgettable party in the old castle in Burg Rabenstein outside Berlin.”
Whether it’s Kritisian Beyer taking on the DJ duties or Frank Wiedemann performing as Âme Live, Nico Coltsfoot is often there and at Jaeger he is often on the bill. The last time he “heard Frank play live was at Koko club in London in November 2023,” but it’s been a while since he played on the same night as Âme — we have to go back to 2018 for that.
It seems appropriate that we celebrate this 25 year milestone and a birthday for Nico, reuniting him with Âme Live and Frank Wiedemann in the basement. “I can only look forward to the evening at Jaeger,” says Nico and on the back of that excitement, we’ve asked him to put together a little playlist of his favourite Âme/Innervision tracks.
“Here are my favorites:”
Marcus Worgull – Dragon Loop – IV03 from 2005
I brought up this song again a few years ago and I have to say it has stood the test of time. I played it so much back in the days and it is still fun to play it. Floating and a pleasure.
Osunlade – Envision – (Âme remix) – IV35 from 2011
The summer of 2011 was fun and this song went viral in the club world. Just search: “Sitting ovation” for AME and Dixon @ Robert Johnson on YouTube. Everyone squatted down when that song came on at the wooden floor and jumped up when the bass came on after the break. I was there ;)
Ry & Frank Wiedemann – Howling – IV 39 from 2012
You can play the original on a low down dj set or the Âme remix if you want to get the floor boiling.
Culoe de Song -The Bright forest – IV 21 from 2009
This was actually one of Culoe’s first releases and it was a long time before afro house was a commercial term. The sound was something completely new and different at that time. This is probably also the IV song I’ve played the most of all time. I would say that the song still works today.
Rampa – Necessity – IV67 from 2016
I heard it for the first time when Âme played it at the Lost In A Moment party on Osea Island. It’s an island that can only be reached when the tide is low. I had the vocal in my head for several weeks before it was finally released, a little later in the fall. You’d have to search a long time for a tougher song.
Ede – Poptroit – IV107 from 2023
Good proof that IV is constantly challenging the soundscape and bringing out new talented producers.
The XX – Reunion (Âme remix) – YT095 from 2013
A nice collaboration between the group The XX and Innervision.
Trikk – Florista EP – IV69 from 2016
I could choose many releases from Trikk, but it has to be this one. Super solid productions and he delivers every time he releases new music on IV or other labels.
Butch – Lale – IV91 from 2020
This came right into the pandemic. This was a song that helped keep the spirits up during the dark years.
Henrik Schwarz & Amampondo – I exist because of you – (Dixon’s Stripped Down Version) – IV 15 from 2008
My all time Innervision favorites !!! I must point out that Âme (Kristian) and Dixon played this song when they played b2b at Sunkissed ØyaNatt at Blå in 2009. I am convinced that several of the bricks in the wall moved a few cm that night.