PURPLE 💜 DISCO 🪩 MACHINE ⚙️
Experienced Tino Piontek's joyful disco show in Warsaw, PL | MC #88
In Warsaw’s Progresja club, a vibrant crowd buzzed with anticipation. The atmosphere exploded when a man in a bold tropical-patterned shirt and a perfectly groomed hipster mustache bounded onto the stage. "TINOOO! TINOOO! TINOOO!" the fans roared.
This wasn’t just any DJ. It was Tino Piontek aka Purple Disco Machine, the nu-disco maestro from Dresden, DE 🇩🇪. With a warm smile, Tino took his place behind an array of synths, drum machines, and controllers, ready to work his magic. Then he began serving top-notch, disco-centered sounds, constructing rich, layered soundscapes, and transporting his fans into another realm… the DISCO realm 🪩.
For hours, Purple Disco Machine and his "Paradise Tour" crew captivated the crowd, seamlessly blending beloved remixes with the latest tracks. From the very first beat, they had the dancefloor buzzing with energy, and he didn’t let it cool down for a second. You could see the joy on Tino’s face as he watched the audience lose themselves in the music 💃🎶🕺.
The synergy that night was undeniable. Everything worked together perfectly like well-oiled cogs in the titular MACHINE ⚙️ - the music, the band, the visuals, the sound systems, the guest artists, the dancers, and even the crowd. From the first moment I saw Tino’s performance, it became crystal clear to me why his European tour has been a whirlwind of sold-outs. He delivers unforgettable live shows, and multisensory experiences, bringing together all generations of disco listeners, proving that disco never died but evolved. And now it’s thriving!
What especially stuck in my mind is this giant heart made with disco ball tiles 🫀🪩. It glowed and pulsed rhythmically to the beat of the absolute banger "Beat Of Your Heart" enhanced by strong live vocals of ÁSDÍS.
PDM’s (Purple Disco Machine’s) vibe is like Daft Punk meets Depeche Mode meets Prince and Chic. His style is extremely groovy, and coherent in aesthetics. Tino brilliantly revives music mainly from the 1980s, giving it a fresh, and irresistible twist. He has cleverly carved out a niche for himself in today’s music based on nostalgia for the 80s music.
“It’s all the ’80s,” Piontek says over Zoom from his home studio in Dresden. “Everyone has a connection to the ’80s, from your childhood or your parents — everyone is linked up for some reason through the ’80s. It’s like a special feeling that’s playful but genuine. Other genres have become so serious over the years. EDM got so aggressive, with the build-up and the dirty drop. On the other side, tech-house is also quite serious, dark, and moody.
“Purple Disco Machine stands out among the other sounds,” he continues. “When I play the main stage at these festivals in the middle of all the EDM and tech-house guys, this is the only sound that is bright and joyful. We’re all together in the sunshine, even if the sun has already gone down.”
The crowd erupted when Tino spun his electrifying takes on classics like "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" by C+C Music Factory & Freedom Williams, Madonna’s "Like A Prayer", "Rhythm Is A Dancer" by SNAP!, and Eric Prydz's "Call On Me". Each track radiated fresh energy while honoring its roots.
Tino’s remixing skills have made him a favorite among global stars like The Rolling Stones, Elton John & Britney Spears, Lady Gaga & Ariana Grande, Gorillaz, Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa etc. These remixes have made him a household name, with millions of listeners turning to his tracks for their daily dose of feel-good vibes.
But Tino is not only a famous "remixer". In tracks like "Body Funk" or "Emotion", he blends disco, Italo beats, and soul into something uniquely his own. PDM masterfully creates groovy anthems that resonate across generations, igniting euphoric reactions from audiences worldwide.
🪩 PDM’s Journey to Disco Stardom
Growing up behind the Iron Curtain, Tino’s exposure to global music was limited. Yet his parents, a painter and part-time musician, nurtured his creative spirit, while a stash of smuggled funk and disco records became his earliest inspiration.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 was a turning point for young Tino. Suddenly, exposed to a flood of new cultural influences, he soaked up sounds from across the globe, from classic disco to modern house 🌐🎶. His newfound freedom and deep admiration for icons like Prince or Giorgio Moroder shaped his dream of creating music. By his teenage years, he was experimenting with turntables, producing tracks, sending his mixes to different clubs, and setting the stage for his future career.
Before starting as Purple Disco Machine, Tino spent over a decade as a DJ under the Stereofunk pseudonym, but also created music for ads and worked as a ghost producer. Purple Disco Machine, starting as a fun project name in 2012 became a global sensation years later.
"Was the name Purple Disco Machine ever intended to be a long-term thing, or was it only supposed to be for a few of your own productions? Where did the name come from?
I was hanging with friends and we joked about names, and that’s how it came together. It actually started as a fun project, I never thought that I’d be playing under this name ten years later, with gigs around the world.
We were listening to Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine, and that’s where the ‘Machine’ part came from – and then ‘Purple’ was influenced by Prince, and of course Purple Rain. ‘Disco’ was the music I wanted to make, in a new way of course. All together, I came up with Purple Disco Machine, and I remember that the first logo I had had a palm tree on it, to show that this was summer music, summer vibes."
In 2012, PDM’s breakout single "My House" introduced the world to his groove-heavy sound, a perfect blend of vintage influences and contemporary beats. That moment was his club record breakthrough on Beatport. Since then, he has released a string of chart-topping tracks, including "Devil In Me" (his first big radio hit in Europe), "Body Funk" (his first HI-NRG record with italo bassline, that became a huge club anthem), and "Hypnotized" with Sophie and the Giants (that was his biggest radio and streaming hit to date).
Since bursting onto the scene with his debut album "Soulmatic" (2017) Tino has been redefining modern disco. In 2021, he followed up with "Exotica", diving even deeper into nostalgic vibes. It was a dazzling showcase of his ability to channel 80s funk and disco vibes into modern club anthems. Standout tracks like "Dopamine" with Eyelar and "Fireworks" with Moss Kena and The Knocks became instant dancefloor staples.
PDM’s newest album "Paradise" (2024) is a must-listen! It’s insanely dance-worthy, filled with great collaborations, soulful vocals, and happy, bouncy grooves. Be sure to check out especially these two addictive tracks: "Honey Boy" with Benjamin Ingrosso, Nile Rodgers & Shenseea, and "Something On My Mind" with Duke Dumont and Nothing But Thieves.
Piontek’s achievements speak for themselves. A consistent chart-topper on Beatport, he’s a dominant force in the Nu-Disco/Disco category and one of the platform’s most celebrated artists. With his unmistakable blend of funky grooves and infectious beats, he’s claimed the title of Beatport’s No. 1 artist in his genre and ranks among the platform’s best-selling artists of all time. His success highlights his unparalleled influence in bringing disco to modern dancefloors.
Speaking of achievements, in 2023 Purple Disco Machine won a Grammy Award under the category of Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical for his remix of Lizzo's "About Damn Time". That same year, he lit up the stage at the Tomorrowland festival. In April this year, he debuted at the Coachella festival, where his high-energy sets turned that huge crowd into grooving, unified masses. These milestones underscore his ability to craft timeless tracks that captivate audiences worldwide, cementing his reputation as both a trendsetter and a timeless artist.
🪩 Purple Disco Machine Love and Playlist
I admire his work and love that despite his fame, he remains a humble and funny guy.
“Sometimes, though, I still think I’m a pretender, and maybe in two or three years people will realise that I’m just a random guy who had a lot of luck, a guy who can’t play any instruments. Hopefully no one will realise I don’t really know what I’m doing.”
Tino offers his audience a true escape from reality to a disco paradise universe where every moment feels like a celebration 🎉🪩🌴. I must admit, that I haven't danced and experienced such a joyful concert like this for quite a while. Thanks to Piontek and his "Paradise Tour" crew I could put my guard down for a couple of hours and totally forget about the world. They had us all dancing nonstop from the opening beats to the final encore.
If PDM plays a concert in your area in the future, treat yourself and buy a ticket! His show is not one to miss. In the meantime, check out my special curated playlist of Purple Disco Machine’s greatest hits - it’s guaranteed to get you grooving!
It’s not the first time I mentioned Purple Disco Machine in my newsletter. I wrote about his live sessions on YouTube as one of my party providers during the 2020 pandemic.
It feels like November is going by both super quickly, and veeeery slowly. I hope you're well and having a good one. Let me know how you're doin’ and what was the last concert you’ve been to?
Have a great Wednesday!
Until the next time,
I am very happy about your return📣I will be glad to hear from you in the next episodes📀💿💿
Well, see you then🌞
Your Stygisen
So nice to see you in my inbox again! 💛