INVOLVEMENT: WHAT WE CAN'T DO WITHOUT

Nico Schultheiß, 18, from Tübingen

The disc jockeyNico, at your school you are the big party organizer and DJ. Has this always been so?

No, it started about two years ago. The DJ for our school party was ill and I took over.

Since then your whole life revolves around music?

I have always been interested in music and have a big CD collection at home. But since the school party, I regularly spin records, espescially at a lot of private parties. At home I produce mixes on my computer, which I burn on CDs.

What music do you play?

My favorite music is techno and drum 'n' bass. At school parties I mainly spin hip-hop and a little from the charts - that's what most people want to hear. As a DJ I can't just do my own thing; I have to respond to my audience.

Can this be difficult?

Sometimes, but there are always hits people go crazy at. When I play those, the dance-floor gets crowded. It's a game with the audience - you try to get them enthusiastic about your music. It's a great feeling when it works and people have fun at your parties. It does something for school spirit. When a party goes well the mood is a lot better afterwards.

Are you going to go pro?

Maybe. But it definitely can go on like this: organizing, listening to music, spinning. It's fun.

Ulrike Adams