Christian Quast’s musical interest was first sparked by American hip-hop. Influential acts such as N.W.A., LL Cool J, Das EFX, and German-language groups like No Remorze shaped his early musical taste. Later, he discovered Electronic Body Music (EBM) through artists like Nitzer Ebb, Armageddon Dildos, and Front 242 – paving the way for his deep dive into electronic music. By the age of thirteen, Christian had developed a strong passion for electronic soundscapes. He began experimenting with music software on the Commodore C-64 and later on the Amiga 500. During this period, he emerged as one of the early pioneers of the emerging computer scene and played a key role in building the now-legendary demoscene group Sanity. He later joined other acclaimed groups like Anarchy and Complex from Finland before leaving the scene to focus on music.
Spending countless nights in Hamburg’s club scene – particularly at the legendary UNIT – further deepened his enthusiasm for electronic sound. In 1991, he took his first steps toward building his own music studio, starting with equipment like the Roland CR-78, Roland JX-3P, and Oberheim Matrix 6r, laying the foundation for his sonic identity.
Early on, he met Gary 138 D., with whom he produced his first tracks. He acquired synthesizers and other studio gear from Gary, fueling the development of his unique style.
In 1995, Christian debuted his first live performance under the alias “Aural Seduction.” His first track appeared on CD alongside artists like Timo Maas, Martin Buttrich, Gary D., and others. Shortly after, he co-founded the project “Propan” with Stefan Brinkmann. Numerous recordings followed in their new analog studio in Hamburg. In 1996, they released their first vinyl, which received widespread acclaim. Between 1996 and 2000, Christian played numerous hardware-based live gigs, using only analog and digital equipment – a defining hallmark of his authentic performances during this era.
Simultaneously, Christian hosted the radio show “Radio Mind Wired” (Future Sound of Hamburg, Music Works), which aired monthly from 1992 to 1997. It served as an alternative to commercial broadcasting and became a voice for the emerging electronic music scene. Notable guests included Azzido da Bass, Tobias Lampe, Martin Buttrich, Steve Bug, Gary D., Timo Maas, Oliver Huntemann, and Boris Dlugosch.
As trance music rose to dominance in Hamburg, the show was eventually discontinued. Career commitments led Christian to pause his musical activities for a time.
In 2001, he returned with a solo project under his real name. His energetic hardware live acts brought him to iconic clubs such as Tresor (Berlin), Phonodrome (Hamburg), Depot (Stuttgart), Golden Gate (Berlin), Waagenbau (Hamburg), Hafenklang (Hamburg), Magdalena (Berlin), and Chillen & Grillen (Regensburg).
His live sets up to 2005 were entirely hardware-driven, featuring classic machines such as the Roland TR-808, TR-909, TB-303, Yamaha RY-30, Yamaha SU700, Alesis FX units, and the Pearl Syncussion – shaping his signature analog and powerful sound.
From the beginning, Christian has used music as a personal form of expression, far from the mainstream. His style evolved into a unique fusion of experimental and modern elements, blending raw, driving sound structures with melodic nuances that also appeal to more sensitive listeners.
Christian was involved in several projects such as Classic the Fist, Praefutura, and Open Source – a successful project co-founded with Mario Thümmler, built around a core of musicians and rotating guest artists, where new musical experiences were created spontaneously in direct interaction with each venue’s atmosphere.
Another notable collaboration was Yatsuo Motoki feat. Paul Sanchez Jr., created with Michael Invertowski, which achieved significant success in the Tech-House and Dub Techno scenes. He was also involved in projects like Dienstag (featuring jazzy saxophone), Platte 19 (percussion-driven), and collaborations with the expressive voice of Shirin.
Classic the Fist was a satirical art project developed together with Christian Schachta (head of the Snork Enterprises label). All music was produced using hardware gear, while the visual artworks accompanying the releases portrayed satirical reflections of the two artists’ life situations – merging music and visual commentary into a cohesive and witty whole.
Christian has released music on labels such as: BPitch Control, Missile Records, Force Inc., Safari Electronique, Glückskind Schallplatten, Neopren, Meerestief, Ironbox Music, Snork Enterprises, Kickboxer (Boxer Sport), Futureaudio, and Salto.
Pioneering Digital Music Distribution
Between 2005 and 2015, Christian shifted his focus to the structural development of the music industry. As a Senior Label Manager, he played a key role in building Believe Digital, now one of the world’s leading digital music distributors. Over the course of a decade, he managed key account clients and worked closely with high-profile artists such as Das EFX, DJ Dag, Dr. Motte, Anne Clark, and Magic Affair.
With his own label Futureaudio, Christian quickly established one of the strongest platforms for electronic music. He launched pioneering compilation brands such as Berlin Meets Hamburg, Colors of Techno, Colors of Tech-House, and Colors of Deep House – concepts that were later imitated by various competitors. Within the Believe group, Futureaudio remained the top-selling label for electronic music for several years.
Later, he also took on a Senior Manager role in developing Believe’s YouTube division, significantly contributing to its strategic growth in digital video marketing.
Futureaudio & Technological Innovation
In parallel, Christian began developing a proprietary white-label platform for the music and media industry: the Futureaudio CMS. Development took place between 2022 and late 2023, culminating in its official launch. The system is considered a technologically unique platform in Germany, offering solutions for music distribution, metadata management, rights and multi-client administration, DSP delivery (Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, etc.), and advanced analytics.
More info: https://futureaudio.de