Satin Jackets Found the Perfect Way to Deal With Introverted DJ

When one listens to German duo Satin Jacket's debut album Panorama Pacifico, it sets a certain tone. We close our eyes and imagine a chic cocktail lounge on a distant planet. It's decorated with lights that seem to float and full of frail women dressed in shiny gowns. Sometimes it's the sound wafting in warm, sunny air as smiling, happy people hang aimlessly on golden beaches. Other times, it's the perfect song for a long night drive in a convertible, top down, volume up, thoughts lost totally in nostalgic reverie.

Each tune is lush, romantic, and decidedly cool, just like you'd expect a satin jacket to be.

“I really wanted it to be the sound of the project,” says producer Tim Bernhardt. “You have to be able to listen through it and not lose interest. It has to be that the listening experience is diverse, has different aspects, and keeps your attention going... I put about two years of work in it — poured my heart and soul into it basically. It's great to finally have it out.”

Satin Jackets' sound is a fresh mix of '70s disco, '80s pop, '90s house, and modern depth. Panorama Pacifico is sparkling and mysterious. It sounds sexy and rich like a French model. It plays with the steady hand of good songwriting, each track compelling and complete. It's meant to be listened to as a whole, but in the live setting, it gets a hefty energetic injection to ensure it's ready for the club. That's where Bernhardt's partner Den Ishu comes in.


“I'm just not a great performer,” Bernhardt admits. “I love to be in the studio, lock the door, work days and nights on sounds and arrangements. Touring is something you really have to thoroughly enjoy to be able to do — that kind of lifestyle on the road and everything. I found that's just not so much me.”

When Satin Jackets comes rolling through Bardot's Slap & Tickle Tuesday, May 17, Ishu will stand hidden behind the Mr. Satin Jacket geometric mask, performing original edits and remixes of the album tracks with flourishes of live keys and effects. Bernhardt caught the tour in London, unknown and unburdened as if he were any other fan in the crowd, and he said the experience was quite magical — not only because he's the man who made the music.

Ishu brings Satin Jackets' music to life so Bernhardt can keep busy in the studio making jams for the future. While the producer is certainly celebrating the release of this first LP, he's not sitting on his laurels.

“After the album is basically before the album, eventually,” he laughs.”We'll see how that goes.”

Slap & Tickle presents Satin Jackets. 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, at Bardot, 3456 N. Miami Ave., Miami. Tickets cost $20 plus fees via showclix.com;  305-576-5570; bardotmiami.com.