Groove Architect: Mousse T. Exclusive Interview

For over 30 years, Mousse T. turned funk, soul, and house into international anthems — and the groove hasn’t stopped since Horny ’98. As the founder of Peppermint Jam, his fingerprints are all over the evolution of European dance music. And in 2025, he's still pushing it forward.

Headlining Glitterbox at Hï Ibiza, reviving classic house energy with his Revival House project, about to hit Mexico with a fresh tour, and somehow even finding time to cook up magic with Bootsy Collins. That’s a legacy in motion. We had the pleasure to talk about history, hedonism, and house music that still hits.

Peppermint Jam has been shaping house, funk, and soul for decades. Looking back, what are you most proud of — and how has the label evolved into 2025?

First of all, thank you for your beautiful introduction. I'm blushing!

Well, to be fair, it all looks like a master plan, but we simply love good music and learned our craft by moving forward and making the mistakes (Learning by burning!) That's why we initially founded Peppermint Jam: to be able to put out music we like independently. Without knowing at first, we have built an incredible catalogue of music rights over the years, which is the backbone of a record label. Also, with the label and the producers attached, we are proud to have contributed to global hits like Moloko's „Sing it back“. Now, 31 years later, we are in a beautiful position to work this legacy and invest in building new artists and building the brand with events, etc. It feels good indeed!

The Revival House project feels like a love letter to classic house — but also totally fresh. What sparked this idea, and what’s your vision for it moving forward?

I'm blessed to be involved in this project. It's a collective of like-minded music lovers, serious players from the industry, and the best musicians and singers you can think of. It started quite immaturely with the idea of doing amazing danceable reworks of our favorite songs with a surreal production effort, i.e., recording at Abbey Road Studios. Over the last 3 years, the collective has grown, and we are tapping into bigger collabs (Madonna) and expanding into more live shows like Glitterbox. We like the fact that it´s basically club music with the talent in the forefront who really deserve the spotlight.

You’re back in Ibiza this summer with a Glitterbox residency at Hï — a place where disco meets dancefloor euphoria. What does that vibe mean to you in 2025?

It's my 10th year with the Glitterbox family. Glitterbox has grown so phenomenally over the years, which is proof that the club scene needs positive ideas that are purely about the music, the dancers, and inclusive vibes. For any DJ or performer in any right, it's a blessing to be a part of this movement and to contribute to unforgettable nights at HI, which has been voted the No. 1 club in the world 4 times in a row, and to events worldwide. We are also building something beautiful in Germany as we speak.

The Glitterbox crowd is legendary for energy and inclusivity. What’s one moment from your past sets there that still gives you goosebumps?

Well, it´s pretty simple, really: the crowd vibes off the performers and vice versa, and the dancers have to get the biggest credit for this. I have to say that all the events for Glitterbox that I have played have been off the hook. It´s the perfect recipe. Glitterbox at HI is always a sure shot, but I need to point out that last New Year's Eve at Warehouse Project in Manchester and Koko in London on New Year's Day have been for the books.

You’re about to hit Mexico on tour — what are you most excited for on this run, and how do international crowds shape the way you build a set?

Can you believe that after all these years, there are still some countries that I haven´t been able to visit yet? It´s my very first time coming to Mexico, and I´m super excited. That is the power of music; it connects you with people from all over the place. Since the music I make is pretty international, my sets will consist of a lot of my music that folks are waiting to hear, and I´m 100% sure that I will get inspired by the culture big time. Also, with my sets, you can always expect the unexpected, special edits, etc. Just can´t wait to connect with the people, and especially with Mexico, I know that it will be a lot of smiles and sweaty dancers.

House music is always reinventing itself. With Revival House and Glitterbox, do you feel like you’re preserving a legacy — or actively rewriting it?

As you said, House Music is always reinventing itself, and in my humble opinion, it's the DNA for dance music period. The roots, like Chicago, Detroit, and disco music in general, are vital for this process. Preserving something would be too one-dimensional for me. I like the idea that we are a small piece of a puzzle, and we are blessed to be contributing to this wonderful thing called House Music in our own way of interpreting 4 to the floor.

You’ve just done a spontaneous collaboration with none other than Bootsy Collins. How did that come together, and what can you tease about the result?

It's not that spontaneous :) I've known Bootsy for over 30 years as we worked together on several albums and projects over the years ( our first track was „I'm leavin' U“ ft. MC Lyte ). Meeting him the first time gave me a lot of inspiration and hope that even when you are a legend, you can be down to earth and actually do it for the love of music. Anyway, Bootsy just released his latest album with an all-star cast and just hit me up out of the blue that he would love a remix for the single „Bubble Pop“ featuring Ice Cube and Fantaazma. The remix just got an exclusive play when Bootsy presented his album at the Grammy Museum last week. You can imagine that the remix is quite funky :)

When you work with someone like Bootsy — a funk icon — how do you balance your sound with his unmistakable voice and swagger?

Well, when working with artists, for me it's about respecting the artist’s input and at the same time adding my juice to the project, since this is why they are reaching out to me in the first place.

From Tom Jones to Gianni Morandi to today’s dancefloor generation — what does it take to stay creatively relevant across so many eras?

I have started my career with dance floor music, and the love for great singers, and this still counts today. I have learned that you can explore different genres without „selling out“ and that one is only as cool as your last success. You will always be compared to your biggest records, but that's only human and totally ok. As long as you put out records and do this to your best ability, the music listeners out there will recognize your work.

You’ve built a legacy, a label, and a global sound. What’s one thing you haven’t done yet — but still want to?

Thank you for your kind words. I would like to continue doing what I do for a very long time and explore more collabs that may seem awkward out there. But this is my way to stay curious and hopefully do something outstanding that will stand the test of time.

From the clubs of Hannover to the stages of Ibiza and beyond, Mousse T. has never stopped moving the needle — not just on turntables, but on culture. Spinning classics, shaping new sounds with Revival House, or bringing the funk with legends like Bootsy Collins, he does it all with soul, precision, and a fresh sense of play. And in 2025? 

The beat goes on.

Photos courtesy of @mousstigram