Inside the mind of Part Time Killer: Cyberpunk Techno, Inspirations & Future Plans: Interview

In the ever-evolving world of techno, few artists manage to balance emotion and intensity as seamlessly as Part Time Killer (PTK). Known for his cutting-edge sound design, emotive vocals, and high-energy rhythms, PTK has carved a unique niche in the scene. His music oscillates between hauntingly dark soundscapes and uplifting compositions, reflecting the duality within his artistic persona. With a strong cyberpunk aesthetic and an innate ability to create deeply immersive auditory experiences, PTK has quickly become a sought-after name in the techno underground.

A pivotal figure in the international techno party brand and record label Selected, PTK has gained recognition through his relentless drive and boundary-pushing productions. His collaboration with Mika Heggemann on the 2024 hit ‘One Day You Will Be Fame’ solidified his reputation as a forward-thinking artist, while the launch of his own imprint, Tuesday Records, has further established him as a tastemaker. Beyond his solo work, he has been instrumental in supporting emerging artists like Layton and Cara Elizabeth, teaming up with the latter on ‘Phonk Me’. As 2025 unfolds, PTK continues to reach new heights, pushing the boundaries of cinematic, cyberpunk-inspired techno.

In this exclusive Q&A, PTK delves into his inspirations, the evolution of his sound, the meaning behind his moniker, and what lies ahead in his career.

1. Hello and thank you for joining us! Could you provide us with an insight on the main inspirations/influences that led to your chosen career pathway in music?

A friend of a friend offered free ableton classes when I was in my late teens and just like that, a little experiment turned into a hobby and after years of producing silently on my own it became a career.

2. Combining cutting-edge sound design with emotive vocals and high-energy techno rhythms, we would like to know the origin of your style of play and how it has evolved over time?

I actually started by trying to immerse melancholic melodies into hard techno but realized soon that it doesn’t have the same impact as using bassline notes that follow the chords and melodies of the track. As a consequence, I naturally started producing tracks that sound more trancy without even listening to modern trance. Now however, I am influenced and inspired by the other big names of the scene and they definitely shape how I approach new projects myself now.

3. Pushing boundaries with each of your endeavours, could you talk us through the PTK project as a whole, the message it conveys, and how it has shaped your career in the dance industry thus far? 

I chose the name Part Time Killer to convey the split nature of my music. Some of my tracks are really emotional and some are hard club bangers. Combined with the fact that numerous people told me I look like Christian Bale in American Psycho, a part-time killer seemed fitting.

4. Becoming an integral part of the renowned techno label, Selected, we would like to know the overall feel behind such an achievement, and the impact it has had on showcasing your music to a wider audience? 

Knowing the whole team since the beginning of selected, I am just always blown away by how far we’ve come both as a collective and as singular parts of it. It is immensely helpful to have a network and community to showcase new tracks and sets. 

I am able to experiment with what feels right to me instead of relying on other platforms and whether they like to spread my music to a wider audience. This creative freedom is incredibly valuable.

5. Teaming up with Mika Heggemann on the release of ‘One Day You Will Be Fame,’ could you talk us through the main thought process behind this production, as well as any lessons learned during this collaboration?

As a friend of mine, I’ve casually asked for a collaboration. I’ve sent him some rap vocals of mine and told him it would sound good on a Kick-Bass combination of one of his tracks. One afternoon we met in his studio. I made the main melody with a synth he showed me and in a matter of less than 2 hours the track was completely finished. What I’ve learned from this: good tracks often come fast. They often evolve super quickly while the producers are in a state of hypnotic flow.

6. Launching your very own imprint, Tuesday Records, we would like to know the core values represented by the label, and the support it provides to up and coming artists within the dance scene? 

Over time, an incredible amount of other artists emerged in the scene that reached out to me saying they are inspired by my style. Therefore I wanted to build a platform on which I could make those artists come together and hopefully turn it into a community. We often meet and exchange ideas or collaborate on tracks to establish our shared ideal of this bouncy yet catchy club sound.

7. With 2025 now in full flow, we would like to know what the future holds for Part Time Killer, always in terms of new music, upcoming collaborations and live performances?

There are lots of songs which are written and recorded by myself in the pipeline and I am hoping to build live performances with both me rapping and singing some of them and the singers I have collaborated with joining me on stage.