The story of Renegades of Jazz starts at the end of the nineties. It is a time when the protagonist must face the harsh realities of his life. Imagine David Hanke, in his early twenties driving his first car. He was wearing ripped jeans, a lumberjack shirt, and his first car. David’s passion for rock music is slowly waning, so he has an electric guitar sitting in the back of his bright red Volkswagen Beetle. His love for the music that dominated his childhood seems to have lost much its appeal. Then, a tape appeared. Let’s first go back a little. David Hanke was born in 1977 and spent his first year of life in Arusha (Tanzania). David grew up within close proximity to Mount Kilimanjaro, and the equally impressive Mount Meru, an East African cultural hub. The family moves back to Germany at the end of 1982. David begins exploring the eclectic records collection of his parents. David becomes fascinated by alternative and grunge music in 1991. David is inspired by the music of Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and Screaming Trees. He also learns to play guitar and grows his hair. He soon realizes that this sound might not be what he is looking for. The scene loses its appeal after a decade of music that feels too sad and repetitive. A good friend popped the tape into the bright red Beetle’s stereo at the perfect time. David was able to jump headfirst into the thrilling soundscapes of sample-based and downbeat music by visiting Visit Venus on one side and Thievery Corporation the other. David shares a flat with a friend and discovers funk, breakbeats, and modern sampling culture. He suddenly finds everything possible, even without a band, and can use any instrument he chooses. He could not have asked for a better creative start-up. His first productions are born in 2003. He is grateful for the help of his grandma’s collection of jazz and David launches Rebel Radio, a local radio station. He and DJ Delikutt form Mash in 2006.
