suralarm are drummer and sound tinkerer Dave Schoepke from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) and producer Marco Sebastian Christ from Dresden, Germany.
Dave, who has made a name for himself as a versatile and busy live and studio drummer with many projects in the Milwaukee music scene and beyond (e.g. Martin Barre Band, Willy Porter Band), has been releasing his own music since 2019. While the compositions on his first works were exclusively dedicated to the drums, he expanded his sound palette with the use of synthesizers, at the latest with the album “Sun Will Follow,” released on djummi records in 2024. The album “Speleogenesis”, which Dave made together with the musician Chants last year as well, also stands for the desire to break out of familiar listening habits and discover new worlds of sound. It impressively combines live drumming with the sounds and production techniques of electronic club music.
You may know Sebastian from the Dresden band ne:o (2003-2009) or from the projects Shortcuts, The Cream Canteens and Nad Labem. Here he was not only active as a musician (keyboards, guitar). He also worked as a producer for the respective releases of the formations. Sebastian has also produced for many other artists in the past: for example, tracks by the Cologne duo Blarg, all releases by the Scottish electro formation Cinnabar Club and numerous remixes for Keyboard Rebel and Pitchtuner, among others. Sebastian calls his own works “Alternative Ohrwurms”. They shimmer between electro, post-rock, lofi and pop.
Dave and Sebastian have known each other since 2019. That year, the single “Before Black and White” was Dave’s first release on djummi records. He had asked the label at the time whether they would be interested in his music, and Sebastian, in his role as “label boss,” was immediately impressed by his unique drumming. In the following years, a lively collaboration and friendship developed between the two musicians.
The first creative teamwork arose on the occasion of Dave’s third solo album. For the EP “Drowning In Snow,” released in 2021 on djummi records, Sebastian reworked the tracks “Stunted” and “Drowning In Snow” in a way somewhere between a remix and an “expanded composition.” The plan to start a joint project was therefore obvious and finally became concrete in 2023. Still nameless and without any rush, the two began to work on the tracks for suralarm’s debut album, “train of thought.” Due to the physical separation, they exchanged ideas and overdubs in a ping-pong process, allowing the compositions to gradually develop and intensify.
Releases:
suralarm – train of thought (2025)
Links:
Bandcamp | Dave’s website | Sebastian’s website
