It's hard to categorize the output of Otto von Schirach. Miami Bass, grindcore, surf rock, hip hop, dub step and electro are all elements of his strange, yet extremely compelling, sonic brew. From 8000 B.C, his debut album released on the Schematic label in 2001, to the 2008 masterpiece Oozing Bass Spasms and the 2009 album Magic Triangle, he's proven over and over again that it is possible to stay unique in a world where you thought you had heard everything.

It's in the middle of the night in Miami, Otto's city of residence. Last Saturday he played at a gallery in his home town as a part of an art event.

– It was a performance by the TM sisters, two sisters of Scandinavian/Puerto Rican descent. They were roller skating and swimming, doing coordinated moves. The skater represented the Puerto Ricans and the swimmer represented the Scandinavians. I was there playing Nordic disco mixed with Miami Bass and weird sci-fi video game sounds. It was beyond awesome.

Nowadays people know what to expect when Otto von Schirach enters the stage. But it hasn't always been like that. In the beginning of his career it wasn't uncommon for people to get confused and upset by his performances. Today the emotional outbursts of the crowd happen because of other reasons.

– In France, the crowd almost tried to kill me after the show was over. They didn't want me to stop. They threw bottles at me so I had to play a song to calm them down. But in general there's a very positive vibe going on. People turn into children, get naked, come up to the stage to party and what not. They really get carried away. It's a real cleansing. For some people, I think that is better than lying on a sofa in front of a shrink.

Otto von Schirach started DJ'ing at an early age, mostly because girls asked him to. But the interest in music soon grew stronger and just playing records wasn't enough anymore.

– After a while I started thinking, how do they make that sound wave stuff? So I bought a sampler and some drum machines. The first songs I made were super experimental as I didn't know anything about music. I just felt how the frequencies opened up the third eye.

The third eye is a synonym for the pineal gland, located near the centre of the brain. Throughout the ages it has been thought of having metaphysical functions. The French philosopher René Descartes described it as the seat of the soul.

– I love rituals in music. Lately I've been singing healing prayers to get in the mood for a recording session. I constantly want to reinvent myself. I mean, you can't vary an 808 kick drum for ever.

Continuous transformation is one of the main characteristics of Otto von Schirach. But there's only so much you can learn by only sticking to yourself. Getting influences from others broadens the perspective and Otto von Schirach has collaborated with acts such as Modeselektor, Venetian Snares and Skinny Puppy. The list doesn't stop there though.

– When I went on tour with the Locust, their drummer, Gabe Serbian, played live drums in some of my sets. It's great to work with other musicians, especially with the super talented ones. You always learn something in the process.

– Recently I've collaborated with a guy called Blowfly. Working with him is a completely different experience. Back in the seventies he was doing a lot of funk music. He's not used to all this technology stuff, but he really likes it. He does vocals and I try to score them.

Technology is of course essential when Otto von Schirach crafts his songs. He used to work on a Mac, but switched to a PC because of the wide range of music applications available. The computer is important, but it's not the only tool he uses.

– I've always incorporated analog synthesizers and other outboard gear in my songs. Previously I used to record them to my computer as static samples. Now I try to be more creative with the gear. I love the Machinedrum. I usually load it up with samples taken from other beat boxes and instruments and mess with them in real time, twisting the knobs and applying filtering and effects. The Machinedrum totally brings new sounds to the world. I put my soul into the machines.

After a slew of full length releases, each release containing ideas and elements for at least a dozen albums, it would be hard to blame Otto von Schirach if he was to run out of ideas. No risk of that. There's always something new to explore.

– I want to incorporate Santeria vocals in my music, make more emotional music. I have been conjuring energy and singing like the old native American Indians did right before the hunt. I grew up listening to a lot of Miami Bass and I'd like to expand on that as well, getting back to the roots you know.

We look forward to it.

Interview by Jon Mårtensson