Alle Farben’s name means “all colors” in German, and that’s exactly what the DJ/producer born Frans Zimmer’s music is reminiscent of. Farben, who began DJing in Berlin nightclubs and bars in 2010, crosses into the territory of pop in his latest set, Music Is My Best Friend. (The album's single "Please Tell Rosie" hit No. 3 in Germany!) Using jangly guitars and lyrical vocals over electronic layers, he lives up to his name — a monicker inspired by Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser.

Hometown and homebase: Berlin

When did you realize you wanted to DJ?

I first learned to play the violin [before I started producing]. When I was 17 I discovered DJing and realized that it was a nice hobby for me. But of course I had no idea at the time that I was going to become a professional DJ.

How old were you?

I was 17 when I started DJing. The first time I every played out was a set at a Goa festival. It was later on in the same year that I started playing electronic music, so I guess you could say that it did affect my life!

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard you before?

I make music that makes you happy. You can dance to it, that’s important! And I try to find nice melodies.

Where does the name Alle Farben come from? Why do you use a stage name?

Some years ago I thought about studying arts. At that time I was interested in painters, especially Hundertwasser. At the beginning of my career, my stage name was “Hundert Farben” (“hundred colors”). Later on I thought “Alle Farben” (“all colors”) was nicer. Before that I was involved in graffiti art, and in that scene you usually sign your graffiti. From that day on, I used my graffiti alias for all my DJ and production activities.

Any songs that you’d love to remix?

At the moment I am working on several remixes for artists like MOGUAI and Alice on the roof. Remixing is a lot of fun from time to time.

Which musicians inspire you?

In my young years there were artists like Trentemøller, Depeche Mode and The Cure. I like to listen to band music. These bands inspired me a lot, and I think a lot of elements of their music have made its way into my music.

What do you do for fun, or when you’re not producing?

I love to cook. Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies. I can relax and have fun, even if I might look very serious while creating my meals.

What’s your favorite city in the world to play in?

Berlin is very important to me. I have lived there since I was born, so this city somehow feels like it belongs to me, and like I belong to it. And of course I started my career in Berlin. But I am a big fan of New York and Hamburg, too. These two cities are very impressive and I love to be there.

What’s a piece of studio gear you can’t live without?

I would say that the prophet 6 by Dave Smiths Instrument is very important for me. It has such a great sound, and I can get so many different textures and sounds from it, it’s a real workhorse!

What’s the inspiration behind the album title Music Is My Best Friend?

At the beginning of the album process, Music Is My Best Friend was a working title. But I liked this title and continued to work with it while making this album. The last track was “Please Tell Rosie,” and this song made the album title fit very well. In this song I explain what “Music Is My Best Friend” means. The music is always with me, just like a best friend.