Martin Gretschmann is a German DJ and producer better known as Acid Pauli. Under that pseudonym, Gretschmann plays and creates electronic music that ranges from club-oriented tech-house to psychedelic, freeform modular experimentation. This Saturday, Future Primitive hosts an open-air party on Chinatown’s historic Gin Ling Way with Acid Pauli and DJ Tennis playing open to close. We caught up with Gretschmann by Skype in advance of his performance to talk about his recent trip to Armenia, his latest EP and forthcoming releases, and what fans can expect on Saturday night.

L.A. WEEKLY: How did you get the opportunity to play at Garni Temple in Armenia?

MARTIN GRETSCHMANN: I was actually just this year getting more into this idea of playing in Armenia, and I was reaching out to my friend Viken [Arman], because he already invited me some years ago and we tried to fix a date but it didn’t work out. And somehow this Cercle thing came up and I [immediately confirmed]. I was told that weekend is also Urvakan [Armenia’s first major electronic music festival]. So I was super happy to play.

Of course, I wanted to play some Armenian music, so I was listening to all of this Armenian music, some of this I already knew. And also my friend Berge [Armenian-American DJ/producer Berge Sahakian] — who you probably already know is Goldcap — was sending me some more stuff. And so I did some edits, and then we played this amazing location, and it was just very impressive and unforgettable, this whole experience, and to meet all these people there. The scene, especially [as it’s] just starting, you know. . . it’s all pretty fresh there. And it’s extra interesting and fascinating.

Could you tell us a little about your new EP with Nico Stojan, Flying Lizard?

It was the second EP that Nico and I did together. I think we were working on it for the past three years. But very slowly. Both of us were touring a lot. And so we didn’t find a lot of common moments at the studio, or moments together. But finally we managed to get this thing together.

What’s your studio like?

I was just moving into a new place two years ago and basically spent most of the past two years constructing it, making it a nice place, then reconstructing a year because I found out that some things needed to change, but now I’m super happy. It’s a place where there are a lot of studios, offices, a bakery, a restaurant, and a cafe. . . a physical therapist. Basically everything you need.

The setup is pretty much a lot of analog gear, modular synths, which I’ve been collecting since quite a long time. I’m working on this place where one day I just switch on the power, and it’s making music by itself. Which it almost does at the moment already.

Do you have plans for a new album?

Actually it’s already recorded and it’s just waiting to be released, which is going to be next February I think. But there’s an EP coming out in the late summer. First there’s going to be an EP with more club music, and then the album is next year, and it’s going to be more experimental again. I think it will be [titled] MOD.

Could you describe your creative process?

All of it was recorded in the past two years at my new studio. Pretty much all of it done with the modular. I’ve been creating some patches, and it’s a lot of live recordings. It’s more of live recorded modular sessions. Pretty minimal, but not really club music. It’s more experimental.

What can fans expect this Saturday night in L.A.?

Maybe they should not expect anything. That’s the best way to be surprised and to not be disappointed.

Acid Pauli and DJ Tennis play the Chinatown Block Party on Saturday, June 22 from 5 p.m.

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