Patrick Ditzel and Paul Alqas come together to form Cafe Disko, a Future Bass and Pop band that enjoys nothing more than a smooth melody paired with a symphony of instrumentals. Both members of Cafe Disko have a long history with music, and due to this, they have been able to turn their talents into sold out shows and thousands of listeners. Rough Draft Magazine had the pleasure of interviewing one half of duo, Patrick Ditzel, and learning more about the band’s origin, how they got to where they are today, and where the future might take them.
Music has been a part of Patrick Ditzel’s life from a young age. He began playing piano at the age of six and though it was not exactly something he enjoyed, he admits that it benefited his outlook on his music and his skills as a DJ. In eight grade and throughout high school, Patrick started writing music, and was the lead guitarist for a garage band called Havik. As a student at Depaul University, he minored in Sound Design, and added mixing and mastering to his musical repertoire. Due to his long and sometimes frustrating relationship with music, Patrick was able to explore the genres of music he enjoyed making and fine tune his skills, which led to his career as a DJ and the formation of Cafe Disko with his friend Paul Alqas. Both musicians brought their own style to the group in order to create their own unique sound, and the public’s interest was piqued. Though it has been a gradual process, through hard work and networking, Cafe Disko has seen its presence grow locally and abroad, and as a result, its music has touched the hearts of many people.
During our talk with Patrick, we asked him about rough drafts and their significance to his creation process, and he answered “each rough draft and work in progress has taught me something”. With this in mind, it can safely be said that Patrick has a library’s worth of knowledge thanks to his rough drafts. His catalog of unreleased music is as large as the oceans are deep, and though it may seem like a waste of time to some, for him, it is absolutely fundamental to his craft.
Cafe Disko’s rough drafts allow the duo to experiment, improve, and revolutionize their music. Patrick’s favorite project is the band’s most recent EP, which will be coming out sometime this year. The project features six tracks, one of which known as “Love Me” will be coming out September 1st of this year, demonstrating that he is unwilling to take the easy way out regarding reaching his goals.
Written by: Jeremiah Davis