Follow the Snake: Lolsnake on Queer Mischief, Soft Power, and Techno as a Portal
- Amanda Sandström Beijer
- Jan 16
- 5 min read
Leaning into several layers of dance music—from techno and trance to acid and cosmic bleep—Lolsnake moves through sound the way her namesake moves through a forest: curious, playful, and quietly disarming. Born in California to Iraqi parents and based in Berlin, the DJ and producer has become a regular presence at Berghain, where her sets feel less like performances and more like guided trips through feeling, texture, and movement.
Beyond the booth, Lolsnake is the founder of WEEEIRDOS, a queer party series rooted in subversive joy, openness, and community. Since finding its home at Säule in 2023, the party has grown into a Thursday-night ritual—intimate, strange, welcoming, and emotionally charged.
In 2025, her sound has traveled fast and far, with standout performances at Bassiani (Tbilisi), Basement NYC, WHOLE Festival, and a string of celebrated returns to Berghain. With upcoming shows across Germany, India, China, London, Korea, and France, plus guest mixes for Mixmag, DJ Mag, The Lot Radio, and Crack Magazine, Lolsnake is steadily expanding her universe—without sanding down its edges.
What common traits does Lolsnake and the animal have?
Mysterious, mischievous, and always energetic
Much like the classic snake itself, I feel as though I move through spaces with a curiosity, playfulness, and a restless energy that keeps things alive and unpredictable.
WEEEIRDOS has become more than a party. How would you describe its energy?
After the pandemic, it took a little while for WEEEIRDOS to find its rhythm, but since settling at Säule in 2023, it’s grown into a little Thursday-night community gathering full of energy and fun. The space is intimate, which makes it easy to connect with people, and the party stays full all night—there’s a certain magic to it. You can treat it like a cozy bar, a big dance party, or a place to meet friends—it’s all of those things at once.
People will come up to me during the night having discovered a new artist they loved listening to for the very first time
So that’s really when I know I did my job right.
In a nightlife scene that's often dominated by cold aesthetics, you bring softness, surrealism, and humor. Why is playfulness important in queer spaces?
Nightlife should be a space where people feel free to express themselves without a rigid vibe or hierarchy, where you can be curious, a little weird, and still feel welcomed.
It’s about creating space for connection and togetherness—not about the ‘who,’ but the ‘how'
That’s exactly what I’ve always tried to do with WEEEIRDOS: inject fun, mischief, and openness into a scene that can otherwise feel serious.
We’re hearing a lot about queer nightlife being ‘under threat’ right now—what’s your vision for keeping it alive and evolving?
Aside from the wider global economic and political climate, I think a less obvious way that queer nightlife is under threat is that sometimes the community has a tendency to divide itself, and that doesn’t help anyone.
For queer nightlife to thrive, we need to learn how to communicate constructively and respectfully, even when we disagree
It’s about creating spaces where people feel safe, seen, and heard—and where collaboration and care take priority over conflict. That’s how the scene can keep evolving and stay alive for everyone.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about queer techno parties?
That there’s a dress code. I think a lot of people who are curious or want to be part of the community can feel intimidated if they think they don’t “look the part.” But that’s just not true.
It’s not about what you wear—it’s about how you wear it, and whether you’re being true to yourself
If WEEEIRDOS was a creature, what would it look like?
It would be like a large reptilian entity, sort of able to morph into any form. It would be some sort of amphibian—fluid, mischievous, and ever-changing. Part spirit, part creature, it is felt in spaces, sometimes curling around people to guide them.
Curious, playful, and a little elusive, it invites everyone to fully embody their authentic side.
What’s one track you’ll always come back to, no matter how far your sets evolve?
S.O.L. – Pollenflug
Your sets feel cinematic. Do you think in visuals when you’re mixing—or is it more emotional, spiritual, physical?
Absolutely, I think entirely in visuals. It’s also very emotional and spiritual. I literally visualize everything I do before I do it, and sometimes even see little visuals while I’m mixing.
For me, it’s like painting with sound
What does “techno” mean to you today—especially when it’s constantly being commodified and rebranded?
Techno means freedom and liberation, but it also means future
For me, it’s a mixture of both.
What’s your favorite late-night ritual after a long set?
When I can do it, I love returning home and doing a virtual re-run of the set. I kind of love solidifying ideas that I had during the show and expanding on parts of the set that I felt went down well with the crowd. I dive right back into the music while I’m still in that space.
What’s something totally unexpected that turns you on creatively?
Flights. I get a lot of thinking and reflection done in the sky.
It’s almost essential for me as an artist at this point to bring a notepad and jot down all my ideas
What’s the last thing that made you feel deeply human on the dancefloor?
I’m in love for what feels like the first time
When you can run away from the party chatter, having those soul-bonding moments with that person on the dancefloor made me feel a space beyond our bodies, something transcendental. There’s nothing like that connection: moving together, completely present, delicious intimacy.
If you weren’t a DJ, what kind of witch would you be?
I’d probably be the kind of witch you come to when you need a little guidance, a gentle nudge, or some magic to help you feel more centered. Someone who listens, holds space, and helps you see a path forward—using intuition, rituals, and a little mischief along the way.
Most likely, I would be asking you if you’re having enough joy in your life
What do you want people to feel, deep in their bones, after leaving one of your sets?
That they might have just been led by this little snake into another realm without even realizing it, until the music stops
What’s next for Lolsnake, and for WEEEIRDOS? Any dreams, portals, or secret side-quests you’re working on?
Starting a band :)
