My life is music.

Mr. Wenz, we would like to thank you very much for this opportunity to speak with you. How are you doing at the moment?
First of all, I would like to thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to introduce myself and tell you about my life, or some of it at least. Feel free to call me Florian. I'm doing very well at the moment. With my underlying disease “progressive muscular dystrophy, Duchenne type,” that’s not always the case for me. Over time, larger and smaller problems come up that are simply part of my life. I have been on a ventilator for 27 years. I accept that, just like other people have to wear glasses. I can breathe easily and enjoy my life. Things are going really well for me right now. Löwenstein invited me to an interview. That is something very special, certainly not an everyday occurrence and a mega event for me. Then my second disco night is coming up in April. I was also invited to that event. I accepted immediately. So things couldn't be going better. I am very proud of myself. I want to and will do my very best.

Not only have you been producing your own songs for many years, you are also active as a DJ. How did your enthusiasm for music and your stage name “DJ Spacig” come about?
Even as a small child, I was involved with music and listened to lots of it. That has continued over my whole life. I was even allowed to sing in the teachers' band at school. I had a very beautiful singing voice. My parents also enjoy listening to music and derive new strength and energy from it, which they then need for me and my support and care. We are a musical family. Later, the music I listened to on the radio all day long inspired and fascinated me so much that I also wanted to compose and then maybe one day I would be allowed to perform or even have my music played on the radio. I wanted to be like the really big music artists. 

Why the name "DJ Spacig"? This name simply suited me. I am an extraordinary, unusual, and modern DJ. I still really like this name today.

What role does music play in your life?
Music is my life and my life is music. Everything revolves around music. My health was very poor in 2016. I had to be rushed to the heart center and underwent a thorough cardiological evaluation. The doctors were just about to perform surgery. But they ended up deciding just to wait and see what happened first. After several hours, I received the final verdict: that I could go home and that everything was fine. That was a huge weight off my mind. That same evening I composed the song "Colors" – this time it even had vocals.

What has your ability to create independently through dedication and perseverance changed for you and others’ perception of you?
I can create something out of my own strength and conviction, which then pleases my fellow human beings. They listen to me and look at me. I can make them cheerful, happy, and even exuberant with my music. And they applaud me. That’s done a lot to improve my self-esteem. I can create a melody in my head all by myself and then also the corresponding title for the song. I was very sure that I would achieve something extraordinary one day. I have always believed in myself and my ability, my talent and my gift. I wanted this success soooo much. Now I feel strong, valued, and accepted by many people around the world. I am respected for my musical ability, despite such handicaps as a wheelchair and ventilator. I have chosen the right profession!

Your own music covers a wide spectrum of different genres. Do you have certain preferences in your musical composition or a style that you particularly prefer?
When it comes to composing, I have a predilection for trance music. I especially like the musical style of Giuseppe Ottaviani and it inspires me to imitate it a little. Giuseppe is a kind of role model for me. I also really like the musical style of the group Purple Disco Machine.

What music do you listen to besides your own? Do you have role models or favorite musicians who inspire you?
When I'm not listening to my own music, I put on "Radio Gong 96.3". A really good station. In addition to Giuseppe Ottaviani and Purple Disco Machine, I also listen to artists from the world of schlager music, such as Kerstin Ott and Beatrice Egli. I actually like all kinds of things, including old Italian hits and sometimes folk music. I have to be active and knowledgeable of every genre of music for my DJ work. I also have to keep up to date with the latest musical releases. And that’s work too, of course. Work that I love very much. I also create a Beatport chart every month.

What were the biggest challenges at the beginning in pursuing your passion?
I was holding myself back, thinking I wasn't good enough as a composer and as a DJ. I had to learn and practice a lot to gain confidence. The more I practiced, the more confident I became and the more I enjoyed my work. But then my thoughts would arise again: Will I ever be accepted even though I’m in a wheelchair and have to use a mouth controller? Yes, he will be. Today I work with several music labels. A label discovers and promotes new artists, supports them in the production of their music, and handles marketing, promotion, and distribution. My labels are spread all over the world. I think people can see that I'm a "different kind" of DJ. But my music and my skills win over the audience. Thanks to my talent, I am accepted and people don’t just pity me because of my physical disability. I don’t like that at all!

In addition to your artistic creativity, you have also developed an individual approach to realizing your ideas. How can we imagine the process when you compose a melody? What tools or support do you work with?
I work with my longtime friend Johannes Then, a qualified sound engineer. He comes to my house for almost two decades now. I tell him about my ideas and what else I've come up with. I work with a mouth controller, with the music program Ableton and with my synthesizer, which Johannes runs. He plays precisely the notes, sounds, instruments, and effects that I give him. I have my own exact ideas and make no compromises. It's often a long and challenging road until the song is finished and I can call it my own. Johannes describes me as a very strict boss who never gives up and is never satisfied with anything that’s half-baked. The title for the new song is also created in my head to match the style of music. Once the song is finished and the title is set, the new release is perfect. Then I'm usually a bit exhausted for a short time, but overjoyed and totally proud and wait to see how the new release is received by the individual labels.

You have a permanent team that you work with. How did the contact with the partners come about and how is this cooperation structured?
Johannes Then has been with me for almost 20 years now. He came to me as a young man for family support via Lebenshilfe Freising. We immediately realized that we had the same passion for music. Diar Nedameldeen taught me how to DJ properly, the DJ trade from A to Z. Diar also came to me via Lebenshilfe Freising. At that time, he already had his own band with a lot of experience as a DJ. We practiced to music that was often so loud that the wine glasses often rattled in the cupboards. In the beginning, he stood by my side at gigs at home or away from home in case of emergencies if I needed help. But soon I didn't need any more help. The singers are Caroline von Brünken and jazz singer Gerti Raym, who sang the song "Big City Lights". Maria Wallner, a trained musical singer, was responsible for the children's songs "Hea, die kleine Maus..." and "Die Fliegende Nähmaschine". There are also children's books for these children's songs by Günter Süße. It was his heart's desire to set the books he had written to music. I fulfilled his wish. The songs were recorded at Johannes Then's recording studio in Freising or at my home in the mobile recording studio by and with Johannes Then.

The supportive ventilation makes it harder for you to speak. Nevertheless, you have also set lines in your songs to your own voice. Where do you get all the energy to do these things? That's right, in the children's song "Hea, die kleine Maus...". I was so impressed by the recording of Maria Wallner's singing that I really wanted to sing a verse myself. It was very difficult for me. There was definitely not enough air coming in from the ventilator. Johannes and I worked hard and tried again and again until it finally worked. I had achieved my goal and could admire my voice. It was a beautiful feeling. I am very determined when I want to accomplish something.

With your story and your career, you offer courage and confidence to many people. Is music also a way for you to convey these values? What is your message to other people?
I would very much like my music to reach many people, to encourage them and perhaps give them the strength to carry on. The music I compose gives me inner strength. I have grown into a very special kind of entertainer. I often listen to my own music all day long and often in the nighttime too. Radio Gong 96.3 has to keep quiet then.

If you had to name one highlight in your career so far, what would it be?
That would be the 1250th anniversary celebration in Eching on July 14th of last year. I was invited by the municipality of Eching, specifically by cultural affairs director Ulla Grabow. She convinced everyone in the community meetings to give me the opportunity to be the DJ for one evening or night for the many guests at this big event. And it was a huge success. The guests were already constantly asking Ms. Grabow when I would be performing again. Ms. Grabow didn't wait long and set April 20th as the next party date. I am the sole organizer, producer, and composer. I will be playing all kinds of music that evening. All the guests will hit the floor. There will be something for everyone to dance to. Everything is being prepared, posters are printed and so are the tickets. These are already on sale. And I'm ready for a disco evening to dance the night away, with party classics and hits from music history, at "Let's dance in Eching". Come and join us! I would particularly like to take this opportunity to thank Ms. Ulla Grabow. She believed in me and gave me the chance to show what I was made of. I did not disappoint her.

What projects are planned for the future?
First, I’ll wait and see if anything new emerges from that event. I’ll definitely keep on composing. I’ll never stop. I’ll always keep going.

What is the next big goal you want to achieve?
Performing in a club, big or small, and introducing my music to even more people

Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview in person. Finally, is there any advice you would like to pass on to our Inspiration readers?
Don’t give up when things in your life aren’t going well. It will pass and your determination and persistence will pay off. Believe in yourself and your hidden strengths and perseverance. Start living your dreams.

Thank you very much, Florian!