In this Virtual Sessions episode, Jens Lissat joins from Cologne to reflect on his 45-year journey through dance music, from discovering disco in the late 1970s to managing more than 60 labels today. He recalls his first experiences seeing DJs mix in Hamburg, cutting his own slipmats from T-shirts, and teaching himself beatmatching long before BPM counters or tutorials existed. His early experiments with tape edits and bootlegs led to official remixes in the 1980s and eventually producing one of Germany’s first house records, laying the foundation for his enduring career.

Jens discusses his evolution from hardware-heavy studios to streamlined software setups, explaining how production times have shrunk while the industry’s pace has accelerated. While he no longer focuses on touring, he continues to produce techno tracks and runs labels spanning genres from house and tech house to new disco and Afro house. For him, success today comes from adaptation, curation, and helping younger artists rise through his network of imprints.

The conversation explores Beatport’s dominance in the digital marketplace and the potential of streaming to eventually replace downloads, though he believes both will coexist for years. Jens also shares insights on edits, the culture of short tracks, and how DJs are increasingly focused on two- to three-minute transitions that reflect modern audience attention spans.

Finally, the discussion turns to AI in music production, playlist curation, and creative support. Jens views AI as both helpful and inevitable, provided artists maintain the personal and spontaneous energy that keeps live performance authentic. With humor and honesty, he emphasizes health, balance, and curiosity as the keys to sustaining decades in such a fast-moving industry.

0:20 - Returning from Ibiza and family milestones

2:15 - New release “I Am A Pokin” and dedication to Commander Tom

6:50 - Discovering disco in 1979 and first DJ inspirations

11:30 - Learning beatmatching, BPM counting, and DIY slipmats

18:10 - Early edits, bootlegs, and first official remixes in the 1980s

25:22 - Producing one of Germany’s first house records in 1987

33:45 - Transition from hardware to software and modern workflows

41:18 - Running over 60 labels and focusing on Afro house and tech house

50:29 - Beatport, Traxsource, and the future of downloads vs streaming

1:06:45 - AI in music, short-form edits, and staying healthy in the industry

Follow Jens Lissat on Instagram @jenslissat_official for updates on new releases and label projects.

Discover his latest tracks and label catalog on Beatport.

Explore more exclusive interviews and live sessions at thedjsessions.com.

About Jens Lissat -

For over 30 years now, Jens Lissat is one of the biggest names in the club scene. Insiders gave him the nickname "Godfather Of Techno". His tracks are released on trendbreaking labels like his own, „Monkey League & Studio3000 Records“. 

Further on Noir Music, Get Physical, Suara, Toolroom and Stil Vor Talent. The last 15 years he was part of the Duo Lissat & Voltaxx, and they created many House anthems and Remixes. 

His discography is very successful, with a lot of charted releases on his Monkey League label in the Top 100 Beatport. Today he is touring the world solo, under his real name "Jens Lissat". 

Most of his productions are created for his label "Monkey League". The style is groovy based Tech House and Melodic Techno. His sets are energetic and he often surprises his audience with a Tech-Anthem, creating the spirit of Love, Peace & Unity.

About The DJ Sessions -

“The DJ Sessions” is a Twitch/Mixcloud "Featured Partner” live streaming/podcast series featuring electronic music DJ’s/Producers via live mixes/interviews and streamed/distributed to a global audience. TheDJSessions.com

The series constantly places in the “Top Ten” on Twitch Music and the “Top Five” in the “Electronic Music", “DJ", "Dance Music" categories. TDJS is rated in the Top 0.11% of live streaming shows on Twitch out of millions of live streamers.

"The DJ Sessions" is listed in the Feedspot directory as one of the Top 60 EDM Podcasts.

It has also been recognized by Apple twice as a "New and Noteworthy” podcast and featured three times in the Apple Music Store video podcast section. UStream and Livestream have also listed the series as a "Featured" stream on their platforms since its inception.

The series is also streamed live to multiple other platforms and hosted on several podcast sites. It has a combined live streaming/podcast audience is over 125,000 viewers per week.

With over 2,700 episodes produced over the last 16 years "The DJ Sessions" has featured international artists such as: Matt Staffanina, The Midnight, BT, Plastik Funk, Redman, Youngr, Dr. Fresch, Ferry Corsten, Robert Owens, Darude, Herbert Holler, Meecah, YORK, Martin Jensen, Sevenn, Amber D, Joey Riot, Drove, Martin Trevy, Thomas Datt, Siryuz & Smoky, Simon Shackleton, SurfingDJ's, Jacob Henry, Rïa Mehta, Vintage & Morrelli,  Joachim Garraud, Mizeyesis, Drop Out Orchestra, Dave Lambert, Tom Wax, Kenn Colt, Nathassia aka Goddess is a DJ, Joni Ljungqvist, mAdcAt, Wuki, DiscoKitty, Handshake in Space, Thaylo, Moon Beats, <a href="https://www.thedjsessions