Torsten Stenzel

Torsten Stenzel
Torsten Stenzel in 2010
Background information
Birth name	Torsten Michael Stenzel
Also known as	York, Ace, Ace Cozmic, Charly Massive, DJ Koma, DJ Scream, Happy Dreadlocks, Headbanger, Jack Daniels, Joint Brothers, Liquid Is Liquid, Savannam, Slide, Suspicious, Syntetic Sector, T.C.P., Tanzdiebe, Teschnozabel
Born	(1971-09-27) 27 September 1971 (age 45)
Origin	Bad Homburg, Germany
Genres	Trance, House, Techno, Ambient, Chillout, Classical, Lounge, Pop, Smooth jazz
Occupation(s)	Composer, Record producer, Songwriter, Remixer, A&R-Manager
Instruments	Church organ, Piano, Synthesizer,
Years active	Since 1992–Present
Labels	Armada Music, Sony, Universal, EMI, BGM, Virgin, Black Hole Recordings, Kontor Records, Planet Love Records, Liquid Records, 7th Sense Records, Ultra Records, Zeitgeist, Offshore Music, Unsubmissive Records, Positiva, Manifesto, Crash Records
Associated acts	York, Dj Sakin & Friends, Diver & Ace, Trance Allstars, Taucher, Ayla, Dj Shog, Mandala Bros., Vanessa May, Tarja Turunen, Kai Tracid, Waterman, Dj Buzz, Paragliders, Moguai, Sin Plomo, Narany, Paul Lomax, N.U.K.E, Miss Yetti, Dj Tatana, Jennifer Paige.
Website	Official Homepage, facebook.com/torsten.stenzel, facebook.com/Planetloverecords

Torsten Stenzel is a successful German musician, songwriter, composer and producer for more than 22 years. Classically trained from an early age his roots are within the field of Electronic Dance Music (EDM). His interest for music first started at age 5 when he received piano lessons by academic piano teacher Andre Terebesi. Today Terebesi is a professor at the respected Peter Cornelius Konservatorium in Frankfurt, Germany.

Age 13 Stenzel changed to church organ and received his church organist diploma age 15. Graduating from the Protestant church in Frankfurt.

In 1990 he released his first single "Recall IV - Contrast" through Zyx Records. His partners failed to credit him as a writer and because of his lack of knowledge of the music industry, only "mixed by Torsten Stenzel” appeared on the credits. In 1992 Stenzel became A & R-Manager for the underground record label "Crash Records". It was his first job in the recording business and together with his partner at that time - Zied Jouini - he became responsible for the label. Their first release N.U.K.E - Nana went straight to No. 1 in Italy and No. 3 in Benelux.
In 1993 Stenzel started his collaboration with DJ Taucher, who had weekly shows at the legendary Music Hall in Frankfurt. The first release by the duo was the single Happiness. The second single Atlantis (1993: Planet Love Records) is still today considered a classic track within the EDM scene.

In 1993 Stenzel founded his first own underground label 'Liquid Records'. He now had the freedom to release whatever he choose and, unbeknownst to him at the time, it proved a wise decision. Together with fellow German, producer Oliver Lieb, he started the project 'Paragliders'. During this period he kept working with renowned electronic artists such as Booka Shade, Dj Tatana, Dj Taucher, Talla 2XLC and DJ Sakin. Stenzel released over 40 Vinyl-singles through Liquid Records.

In 1995 Stenzel bought the rights to 'Planet Love Records' in which he afore had been the A & R-Manager. He was now focused on developing his trance sounds together with Taucher. Their single 'Fantasy' was licensed to Sony Dancepool, and, surprisingly, it reached a top 50 position in the German media control charts. The third single 'Infinity' reached a top 50 position in Germany as well.
Until 1997 the duo remixed over 52 artists and were named the 'worldwide third best remixers' by readers of the magazine Raveline. Stenzel and Taucher reworked tracks by amongs others Faithless - 'God is a DJ', which in several countries reached a number 1 position in the charts. The Stenzel-Taucher productions were also licensed by famed British producer and Dj Paul Oakenfold for some of his compilations. Furthermore, the duo also released productions under their alias' 'Red Light District' and 'Diver & Ace'.