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By: Amanda Sandström Beijer Canel Ataman for Playful Magazine Hate can’t penetrate something that is already served on a silver platter. Canel Ataman is proving that you can in fact get thicker skin from tough experiences. With a focus on harmony, she found out how to still her mind and disconnect – something that took time, but was well worth the struggle. “At one point all my friends moved to Berlin. We were the ‘reject group’ and all felt that Berlin was the one place that accepted us and that’s why we came here. Although today most of them aren’t here anymore. They got ‘eaten by Berlin’. Meaning they lost themselves in the party scene, or in the drugs, or in connections in the city that weren’t healthy for them, and I couldn’t do anything to help them, so we just drifted apart.” Today Canel has lived in Berlin for two years, but she didn’t move here to work, nor for the party scene. “Berlin is a city that has so many assets, and there’s something for everybody. You don’t have to be into techno and nightlife or kink or whatever. Although I do believe that you need to know who you are, to survive in this city. Otherwise, you’ll be like a flag in the wind; you’ll lose your edges and disappear. In Berlin there’s no room for people with FOMO. They just won’t be able to stay for very long.” “For me, I had my heavy party phase in my hometown area, and even lost some friends to drugs. So I already knew when I moved here that it was a phase, and that I didn’t want to bring that with me onto the next chapter in Berlin. When I got here I wasn’t triggered by it that much.” Even if Canel wasn’t, some people from her hometown were triggered. Most of them didn’t know her but were excited of the idea to see her come back to her hometown with her ‘tail between her legs’. “They made bets on how long I would survive in Berlin, or if I’d end up being a junkie. It’s funny because I was already out of that scene; not doing drugs at all and those people were of course sitting in a circle and living that exact lifestyle themselves. I guess it’s often like that; it comes from where it grows. But hey, I used to be the same, I just hope everybody learns eventually.” Canel Ataman for Playful Magazine Growing up in an area that she describes as pretty rough can make one’s skin thicker, but before coming out on the other side with some new perspective, it can be a tricky ride. “In an environment that isn’t open – but more conservative, it’s easy to get really self-conscious. You can be the most empowered person within your true self, although when you’re the only one who sees the world in a specific way that they don’t agree with, it can be difficult. Along the way I’ve realized which people to surround myself with and which ones to avoid – this led me to grow my self-confidence,” she says and continues; “I mean, I’m a Libra, I depend on my environment and need harmony to grow, and Berlin is that for me.” Just a couple of months after Canel’s arrival in the city, it went into lockdown. To find peace of mind, she, just like many of us, tried various activities to keep centered. “During quarantine I tried yoga for example and it’s not for me. I’m more the ADHD kind of person and I can’t be still for too long as my focus is always shifting. Although I did find something that attracts me a lot during the quarantine when I stumbled upon a video of people doing punch needling which got me intrigued. The first time I tried it, I started at 10 in the morning and suddenly it was dark outside. I hadn’t used the bathroom nor did I have any food or drink in over 12 hours. I hadn’t even looked at my phone. This was a completely new experience for me.” Since then, Canel has created several rugs and started selling them, as some people approached her to buy them. “A friend of mine who's a graffiti artist ordered one of his signature faces as a rug which got me thinking that I could start doing it as a business.” Canel Ataman for Playful Magazine Starting out doing it by hand, today she does it mainly with a tufting gun which makes the process a lot quicker. “With the gun it takes me around 48 hours to create a small rug, but then I need to glue it as well.” Recently Canel found the perfect apartment with space enough for a studio where she crafts her works and has built a rug frame the size of a cinema screen to make it possible to create larger pieces. Besides forgetting about time in there, she has found her spots in the city that she always returns to. “I love going to food markets and restaurants. Where I come from, we don’t really have a lot of that, but here in Berlin there’s so much to discover. The variety is crazy and it’s also very cheap still in comparison to other German cities. A big tip from me is going to Orient Eck at Kottbusser Tor on a Wednesday. They do Turkish food named Manti that looks like tortellini, which you eat with yoghurt sauce and it’s so good. My grandma always used to do it, and now I found this place where they do it perfectly so now, I go there every Wednesday,” she says and continues; “During the winter times I love going to different ‘Markthalle’ that we have around Berlin. I love going there to hang out for hours. Just to eat and drink and try a lot of different things. The one in Moabit is very old, they have a shop where you can buy old magazines and stuff. It’s so cute. And for me who was a big Donald Duck fan as a kid, it’s so nostalgic.” “On my favourite comics, I used to write ’this one is approved by Canel’,” she laughs. Canel Ataman for Playful Magazine As a perfectionist who depends on harmony, the harmony-part is always number one. This dates back to her struggle with mental health problems in the past that even led to hospitalization. “I was bullied in school and those things made me unhappy as well as unhealthy. Just by being different, and I felt like an alien in school for being Turkish, and outside school for not acting Turkish enough. Here in Berlin, it’s totally common, I know so many people who are likeminded, but not over there. I was also the craziest person within the family which made me feel like an outsider even within that closed group. And it’s a big ass family, I can tell you that.” “It made me tougher though. Like now, when I receive hate on the internet, I’m like, duh, I’ve heard worse than all of that combined told directly to my face, so I don’t really care what you’re writing behind your screen. It’s also interesting that I can trigger so much hate, just by being myself, and for example, not plucking my brows. This means I touched your buttons and made you insecure and the only way you knew out of that feeling was to attack. That’s so sad. Just because a woman is not keeping up with the beauty standard that we’re caged into,” she says. “To a certain extent I can understand how my existence can trigger people, but on the other hand I don't understand it. Although I know that by being different I stand out and I can use that as a weapon. I have already put my whole self on a silver platter, which means there’s not really anything for me to hide behind. This is the whole me, and if you don’t like it – that’s fine, but on the other hand, those who like me, they like the whole me.” Canel Ataman for Playful Magazine It may sound as if Canel is made out of steel, but sometimes you need to change the environment to really get past difficult times. “I needed to take distance by moving to Berlin as a final step of getting past all that I was dealing with back in Gelsenkirchen. Because even if I moved forward, the whole surroundings back there reminded me of all that had happened before.” “My big goal was moving to Berlin, and then I wanted to find something I enjoyed doing, and now I have achieved both goals. So from here on it’s just growing and experiencing what those things can offer me. Baby steps are good enough for me as long as I’m in harmony with my life.”

Five of our favorite hotels in Berlin These are the top 5 best hotels in Berlin, with a personal touch, according to Playful Magazines editors. The tourists return to Berlin, which is noticeable at both clubs and bars around the city. In this article, our editors give their best hotel tips to you who are going to visit Berlin or for you who just want a staycation in your hometown. All hotels have one thing in common – a personal and genuine touch. Amano Hotel Amano on Torstrasse has long been a favorite of ours. Here we lived ourselves as tourists, before we moved to Berlin, and valued the location close to Mitte's best restaurants and clubs such as Berghain and Kitkat. The hotel is relatively affordable and the rooms provide a sexy setting of modernity and nightlife. The showers are located in the rooms, only obscured by glass walls, which can give extra spice if you go as a couple or get a nightly visit. The U8 underground line takes you easily to Kreuzberg and Neukölln and you have Alexanderplatz just around the corner. 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin A short distance from the city's most famous clubs, next to the Berlin Zoo and Berlin's fashion streets is the 25 Hours Hotel Bikini Berlin. The hotel is best known for its rooftop bar, one of the few in the otherwise flat German capital. Those who check in here are looking for pulse and fresh rooms with a personal touch and views. The rooms are also equipped with small portable LP players and some random discs that make them perfect for a pre-drink with friends before going further out, or up for a cocktail to the city's best view. The rooms have large windows that are lovely to sit and look out over either the Berlin Zoo or the Kürfustendamm and Charlottenburg city center. Lindemann's How many times have you googled "Hotel with freestanding jacuzzi Berlin"? If you ask us, it is many times. Thankfully, Lindemann's is located in Schönberg, which is also strategically well located between three metro stations. A room for two people, with a bubbling bath and its own terrace costs about 120-140 € for one night and is a great idea for those who are on a romantic trip. How nice would it not be to calm down the backfill in a whirlpool bath overlooking Berlin? ackselhause & blue Just 2 stops from Alexanderplatz, this boutique hotel offers you a unique experience in a 19th-century building in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district. The beautifully restored ackselhaus & blue residence enjoys a quiet location just a few minutes' walk from various cafés, restaurants, bars and the underground station of the central U2 line. The hotel combines traditional architecture with modern facilities. Each room/suite has its own style of furniture and some also have a kitchenette. And when you're curing your Saturday or Sunday night out, you can relax in the Mediterranean-style garden which also has a fountain. Not so Berlin right?! Hotel Art Nouveau You can stay at the Hotel Art Nouveau a full 21 times without one stay being the same as the other. This small boutique hotel in Charlottenburg is an experience beyond the ordinary, with 21 rooms, uniquely designed. We who love rooftop bars strike an extra blow for this hotel because it is one of the few hotels with a really good one in Berlin. This is the hotel you should choose if you want a cozy stay in Berlin.

By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photos by: Zeina Idris Raven for Playful Magazine Reckless and naturally spiritual – this Canadian party creator is creating explosions on the dance floors in both Berlin and around the world. Keep seated and get to know Raven. From Canada to Barcelona, from Mexico City to Los Angeles and Athens and you name it, Raven has, to say the least, traveled and lived in very different places around the world. For the second time, she's now back in Berlin. “I’ve been to a lot of different places, and I've been DJing for ten years. I would say that I'm naturally curious and also a little bit reckless. I love to throw myself into new situations and I get bored easily. But it also has something to do with finding a place where I feel like I fit in, where I can find people that resonate with me.” In Berlin, she finally found just that. The feeling of fitting in. But we would lie if we said that it was just love at first sight. “The first time, when I left Berlin, I was like ‘I’m never going back to that place’. Mostly because of the weather. The winters can be so long and dark, and at that point I had lived there for three years, and I was hungry to see something else.” But the bad weather didn't keep her away for too long. “Berlin is totally special. It's the people here. It is totally possible for you to be free, and to be an individual. It's encouraged to be your own person. I really like that liberal feeling, and the freedom that people have here is not so easy to find in other places that I've been to.” But to be completely honest, the weather is still there and it’s still haunting Raven. When we ask what’s the worst thing about the city, it becomes clear. “You know what really sucks about Berlin? There’s a certain kind of shoes that I just can’t wear here. The whole city is always under construction. The streets are a little bit bumpy. It's like cobblestone and then dirt. But that's part of the city, so it’s both a good and a bad thing I guess,” she laughs. Raven for Playful Magazine Becoming an artist full time didn’t happen overnight, even if it feels all very natural and obvious, when you listen to her story. “I was always interested in music since I was a kid. I remember that I used to have this portable stereo and I only owned two, or maybe three CDs. I played them and sang my heart out and got my little brother to listen to me. Then I told him to tell me if my songs were good or not. I was always writing my own music and in high school I started to play guitar, bass guitar and keyboard which I then started to record. After that I started Djing.” Her journey as an electronic artist started when working as an event organizer and ran out of artists to book. “My whole adult life and even before, I've been freelancing. I used to throw events and when I came to a point where I didn’t find someone to play, I started to play myself. I never did it with the intention of becoming a DJ, but I made it happen and got a lot of gigs and even residencies. So, then I was like “shit, now I have to learn this as well.” “The whole thing then became my career. It happened naturally because it was what I loved to do, and I could see that other people also liked it.” When she's not writing music or standing behind the mixers, she makes time for health and spirituality that are two important parameters in Ravens life. If you see life as a video game, I wanna beat the boss and the boss is me. “I'm very centred and health conscious. I didn’t really come from the best circumstances as a child, so I’ve been on this extensive journey of having to discover myself and get over some things that I've been dealing with since back then. I’ve always been trying to become a better version of myself, and outdo myself. Like, if you see life as a video game, I wanna beat the boss and the boss is me.” She tells us her story about growing up with a single mom, who worked hard in three different jobs to support the family. Besides that, she was also a psychic medium, which led Raven into spirituality. Having an aspect of spirituality in life makes it more interesting “She was a psychic medium and the president of a spiritual church, so speaking about spirituality has never been weird for me. That particular church had all kinds of religions, which I guess made me more flexible when it comes to other peoples’ ideologies as well. I'm not overly spiritual and I'm not having a collection of crystals. I envision spirituality differently. For me it's about always recognizing my balance and always realizing that there is more than one way for people to journey through life. Having an aspect of spirituality makes life more interesting but it also makes you more centred.” Another type of self-discovery, she says, is the ones that she gained through relationships with other people. Something that can also be heard through the music she's producing. “A lot of inspiration comes from my experiences with relationships and how they can be difficult. Relationships aren't really about the other person, as much as they are about yourself. You do a lot of self-discoveries through other people. I write a lot about that kind of stuff.” She continues; “I wanna make emotional dance music.” Raven for Playful Magazine When the creative process is not underway for Raven, or when she's not out partying, she sometimes finds herself occupied with one of her guilty pleasures – reality TV. “A guilty pleasure for me is to watch reality trash TV, I watch that a lot!” she says and laughs. And when you say A you have to say B right? “Oh man, really?... 90 Days Fiancé, I've been watching that for so long and I watch all the spinoffs. And... No, I don't really wanna go into this, it's too embarrassing!” So, with all due respect to Raven, we're moving on to the next topic. Since she’s lived in Berlin twice, we're curious about where she would take a visitor who’s never been to the city before on a 24-hour spin. “I would definitely go for lunch in my area in Kreuzberg. Take them to Café Mori, this Brazilian cafe that is just up the street. Then we would go back to my place and I would make them some dinner because I love to cook. Then I would arrange a little pre-game before we would head out to whatever party is going and then after that I would definitely take them to Berghain, of course. After that, we would see what happens. If I can find them.” If we look in the orb for what 2022 will be like, we look forward to an exciting year for Raven with new releases. And we're convinced that we're heading towards a year where we will see her name on club posters both nationally and internationally. “Things are going really amazing. I had my first release in 2020 right when Covid hit. I started all this during the pandemic, and it’s gonna be interesting to see what happens when things start to open up for real again. But I guarantee I will definitely have some more shows and a few more releases and EPs coming up, which is really exciting.”

By: Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos by: Alina Rudya Dance Divine by Playful Magazine There’s no doubt about their message - on or off stage, Dance Divine is living and breathing a queercore energy and spreads it around like shooting stars. Playful dives in and finds out how the love for performance started from an intense place and is taking on new forms every single day. Describing themselves with three words they use: Transmedia, meaning blending all your media creations to one message: non-binary, and healing. ”In order to create progress in your life you need to heal from your own traumas. Besides that, you need to deconstruct the sick reality that society has laid upon you.” Their parents ran away from the Romanian regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu and settled in Brussels where they finally got legal documents. As kids, Dance Divine and their brother only spoke Romanian at home. ”As a Romanian speaker you were categorized from the start and being a foreigner is already a political social construct. Therefore, we couldn’t speak the language too much as it reminded our parents that their identity is valued upon language.” Some years later the whole family decided to move to Luxembourg. ”I started creating my own digital identity by gaming with The Sims and through music. I remember when I was ten years old, I locked myself into my room and danced in there all the time to avoid keep me away from the violence and pressure from the outside world. That’s when I found my musicality and started writing my own songs and make choreographies for myself”, they say and continue; ”Creating my own outfits that were already drag oriented, from visions I had in my head. At that time, I was already working a lot with arrangements, which I still do today. I arrange sounds to create hard trance, techno, storytelling music and rearrange what I like and dislike until it becomes aligned with the feeling I want to capture.” From a young age they felt that they had to push twice as hard with everything, from languages to social acceptance. One of the few things that came instantaneously while on stage was the delivering of a powerful show. ”It was always a struggle to stay authentic, cause I had a neurodiverse mindset* and was already talking about the stars at the age of 10. Then one day my classmate asked me to be part of a musical that the school was putting together.” Even though every actor agreed about them being the best suited singer for the role, which they also finally got, there were some obstacles. ”The old cis white male co-organizer couldn’t take my body strength to play a female part. That wasn't the first time I experienced fat-phobia, but it was the first time that I deeply felt injustices against my body according to capitalized beauty criteria. And because of this inner revolt and trust in my voice, music became a chosen tool to revolt – willing to become a creator experimenting with the art of storytelling”, they say and continue ”On stage was the first place where I felt accepted by people. You know that survival mode? I even started nose bleeding because of the stress. The impression is still strong when I’m on stage, but believe it or not, I live for this.” Although feeling free on stage even as a youngster, off stage the school was a place where they didn’t feel safe. ”In school I was being bullied. Guys came up to me and asked if we could be together, and while I thought about my answer, it became clear that it was only a collective joke to make me feel stupid. It was really hard, but later I understood that although we can’t trust everybody, we have to find our community and build ourselves up, and then you won’t hold a grudge anymore.” ”By forgiving you’ll be able to become lighter and let go of what unconsciously keeps you distracted. In alchemy we talk about finding the answers to what’s making you create a pattern, so that you can break free from them.” The contrasts of the love they received as a performer, and the reality they faced every day in school, was a bit overwhelming. Off the stage Dance Divine isolated themselves in their room. They started to feel the urge to fight for something. For evolution. ”I could feel that it was a loss of time to try and fit in with the rest of the people, and instead I locked myself in my room and started early on to create the same things that I do today. Crafting my vision slowly improved my mental health.” ”If there’s a voice within you, that pushes you toward something bigger, don’t ignore it. Because if you diminish that, you won’t be at peace with yourself. I’ve always had a voice within, telling me that I’m ’abnormal’ within and outside. I even asked my parents as a kid if I was adopted, because I felt so different. The sense of not belonging. The weirdness.” ”Back then I had such a need to feel accepted. Then when I started to craft my own vision and work on my artist persona, I understood that it’s not about wanting attention, it’s about wanting to feel that one belongs to something bigger than the self. About safety, but also about purpose and finding your community and growing love.” When starting out, they were their own manager. Booking their own gigs, handling contracts, and delivering the show. ”My dream was to be able to have the freedom of action – with whom I want to collaborate and where I want to play and all that political awareness. Queer for me is not a label, neither a fashion currency, it’s a consequence of early discrimination and the revelation of marginalization. Then on that journey I started finding my tribe, and it mostly happened through partying. People who had my kind of body size and who had similar interests and thoughts.” A really important place they came across was L-Festival, a lesbian festival in Brussels where they curated the closing night in 2019. ”I started to understand that I wasn’t strange, but actually one of many who got discriminated by society. And suddenly I found myself within a strong community.” ”Transmedia brings storytelling and in many ways healing. I also do astrology readings and mudra teachings, as well as symbolic storytelling. It’s a way of building self-love, something that has been a work in progress for a long time.” Another thing they figured out was to welcome trial and errors and slowing down the pace of life. Shooting their own video clips to illustrate their music productions, brought a good degree of self-acceptance; ”I think errors are one of the best things you can do. It brings you to an understanding of what’s meant for you. But you also need time to settle, and not always be on the run to something else. When you find yourself in a constant noise, you can’t see clearly. Some time ago I started focusing on yoga for example, as a way to slow down, as well as sound practices where I loop the sound as an art of repetition with mantras. As a way of healing and going within, without conquering the outside and other people’s attention. This way my mind focuses on my own understanding and my own perceptions. The easiness and playfulness of being at joy with myself.” It wasn’t long ago though that Dance Divine decided to move to Berlin from Brussels. ”I felt it was the right moment and understood that I could be all the sides of myself in Berlin, things that I didn’t allow myself to be before. Healing has not only brought me here and towards the expressions I use on stage, and maybe even the next step of healing. Because that’s an ongoing journey.” ”People bike here, food is cheap, partying is culturally present. For all the reasons in the world, Berlin is the right place for me to be in. It’s also a place where I feel I can be an astrologer, a DJ, a music producer, a clip maker, and all the other sides of myself, without being questioned. It’s a place where I’m not bound to fit into a narrow frame but have more substance to float.” Dance Divine wants to welcome new experiences and by choosing a new city, they will attract new circumstances to a wider extent. ”I feel I can be more transmedial in Berlin than in Brussels or Luxembourg. All creative processes include vulnerability and that’s something that’s inspiring in Berlin.” Finally what Dance Divine is saying, is that through expansion, through healing and through self-love, we can bend what’s possible. ”If we’re really passionate about something, we can push the limits. And also, by finding our voice within, we find self-love, and the other way around. You know that little voice inside you that says ’no’, or’ yes’, or ’go’, but won’t be accepted by the outside world and what’s viewed as possible for you. That’s what makes you different and unique - and we need to find that within ourselves and listen to it more often. This is freedom.”

Guide: Top 10 Berlin Summer hot spots Berlin in the Summer is nothing like the winter months, and for newcomers to the city, first-timers or long-time returners, we would like to introduce, or remind you of some of the city’s greatest spots. This article is presented together with felyx . Get the app here and discover Berlin on your e-moped. Felyx Day Pass With a day pass, felyx e-mopeds become your own personal vehicle for 24 hours. – 500-minute drive for just €14.99 – Valid for 24 hours of riding and parking minutes – Applicable for any e-moped Flohmarkt - Rathaus Schöneberg Berlin has several Flohmarkts, and many of them are good. Although this one may be the most underrated. Go there, buy a take-away coffee, and start digging - you’re on a treasure hunt! Fetich and rave clothes for the weekend There are a few stores that have niched down on fetish and rave clothes, and one of them is The Code who works with small independent and local designers. Are you preparing for a night out in Berlin? Get your club outfit at The Code and dive into the night. Maybe to Kitkat, that is just around the corner. FKK lakes - Teufelssee When in Germany one must enjoy the freedom of FKK. Families, friends, and lovers hang out by the lakes together. Listen to music, swim, play games and eat. The only problem is that they tend to be located a bit outside the city, until felyx introduced their ’Day Pass’*. We recommend Teufelssee, but watch out for the pigs! Entertainment, burlesque, and performance Berlin is known as the city of Burlesque and if you haven’t yet experienced Zum Starken August and Tipsy Bear, you should. Take the e-moped to Prenzlauer Berg, park it, and you find these two top locations basically facing each other on the same street. Sunset watching at Tempelhofer Feldt Do we need to say more? Karaoke in Mauerpark on Sundays Karaoke at the Amphitheater in Mauerpark is a very folksy, warm, and polar activity that brings young and old together for a sing along. It’s a very supporting crowd, so if you’ve got it in you, jump up the stage! Record shopping – Hardwax Techno music at its finest is to be found in the legendary record shop Hardwax, that’s been around since 1989. Local and world-famous DJs like Marcel Dettmann and Hector Oaks have both been working here before they pursued their careers. Bar and House Club – Sameheads This lovely bar and club combined, is something special and shines bright on many levels. Owner Nathan is passionate about house music and art which you can see and feel as soon as you enter. The dance floor, located in the basement, is one of the most intimate ones in Berlin. Turkish Market If you’re in Berlin, you can’t miss out on the Turkish food. Go discover the Turkish market in Neuköln or head to Azzam to enjoy the tastes of quality food. We love the smell of a Turkish grill in the summer. Local brewery – Neulich Berlin is a city where you often find independent and small businesses doing a better job than the big ones, and that’s what makes the city so authentic. Neulich is proof of that, and we recommend you to pass by their bar in Neukölln, or to just get their beer from a local Späti and bring it to a park. Enjoy!

By: Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos: Duran Levinson Duran Levinson: "I'm inspired by the chaos and madness of Berlin" This photographer is driven by a ’loser’/ underdog attitude'. With an open heart he’s living for the experiences of life. Not giving a damn about photographing beautiful people and showing a side of the world that is only attainable for the young, rich and beautiful. This is Duran Levinson 's words, an unfiltered journey of how he became an artist who’s searching for the life he wants for himself, something that’s been ’nothing short of hell’, but with some pretty happy times in between. From Cape Town to Berlin – how were your impressions of the city? I was born in South-Africa and spent the first 18 years of my life in various parts of the country. As soon as I finished high-school I had this deep urge to see whatever parts of the world I could and figure out what the hell was going on out there. I ended up living in London at 19, learning about things the hard way and realizing from a young age that life is about experiences. Since then, I have somehow managed to travel and live in various countries doing what I love all over Asia, Africa and Europe. I was first introduced to Berlin in 2016, when I was touring with a rock band, we spent a few days in Berlin, and I fell in love. I ended up going back to Asia where I was living at the time, quitting my job, leaving half of my stuff behind and figuring out how to get a tourist visa. A few years passed and I ended up moving to Berlin for a girl. We broke up the first week after I arrived, but I decided to dive headfirst into the city and make it work. What was your first impression of Berlin, and what made you decide to move here? It was the music and art scene that initially made me fall in love with Berlin. Just getting a chance to see the musicians I grew up worshiping, performing in Berlin. All the bands that are touring through Berlin was enough for me to take the chance and move here. I grew up in small town in South-Africa and it can feel extremely frustrating watching your life and your friend’s lives pass by with very little change or chances of greatness. I know from traveling and living overseas in my 20’s that life is full of beauty and opportunity and throwing yourself into new situations can be the most rewarding experience. If I were to explain to someone why I moved to Berlin I would say: Photography, Punk Rock, Flea Markets, Girls, Art and Vegan Food. By: Duran Levinson – Berlin photographer How did your photography journey start and what made you continue with it? I started out focusing on filmmaking and was working in the film industry since my teenage years. I originally studied Cinematography and wished to be a Director of Photography one day. I worked on a bunch of Hollywood movies from Black Panther to Resident Evil as an assistant and was trying to find my way in the hierarchy that is the industry ladder. I eventually joined a VFX team for a few years, focusing on postproduction, and my main job was on-set photography. I realized that I had so much passion for photography and analogue photography in particular. So once again, I left my job, and moved to China to focus on my photography career. This was an extremely stressful time. I ended up in various other fields, mainly making social media content for different brands and touring with rock bands to pay the bills and to pay for all my film expenses. I spent many years just self-funding my career and trying my best to not give up. Today I do film photography more as a hobby and try not to take it too seriously. I am the type of person who’s working hard, but still think I’m not good enough or don’t deserve the opportunities I have been given. I feel like the typical “loser / underdog” attitude pushes me today to just not give a fuck anymore, and go as hard as I can, into the fields that interest me. What has your creative journey looked like? Is there something that inspired you once you got started with photography, that still drives you today within your art? I come from a pretty poor family background, but I have also been aware of my privilege in South-Africa since I was a child. I never felt like I fitted in, in my hometown. Although I am lucky that I was still able to have a supporting family. My journey to become an artist and live the life I want for myself, has been nothing short of hell. I’ve lost friends and family along the way, but I realized a few years ago how short life is, and I will be spending my time focusing on the good experiences. I am inspired by underdogs and the underbelly of society. I couldn’t give a damn about photographing beautiful people and showing a side of the world that is only attainable for the young, rich and beautiful. I want to capture reality and the darker parts of society. I shoot a lot of my friends, people I meet in the street, and I find that I am more inspired when talking to someone, or shooting the photos, than editing them or sharing them. I don’t feel like I am the best photographer at all, but I have support from many people, therefor I’ve realized that I must take it seriously and try to create bodies of work that I am proud of. In Berlin I am inspired by the chaos and madness of the city . My favourite genre of photography is ‘street-photography’, and Berlin is just a wild place for this topic. Every day you just need to walk outside to experience it, the city always feels like there is so much going on and I love living in between the rubble and chaos, which fits my current mental state quite well. By: Duran Levinson – Berlin photographer What would you say brings you visions on what to create, and what do you want to tell through your photos? I tried for a few years when I travelled around Africa to make every photo that I shared evoke some type of emotion or feeling. I’m not good with words or storytelling, and that’s why I focus on the visual aspect of things. I know how to make a great series of images but struggle to find the words to describe what I observe for the viewer, or the perplexity of the emotions I personally feel when I’m making images. With Instagram and social media, I feel like my work doesn’t really feel represented in the way that feels natural to me, meaning I struggle to even share my work these days or post much about it. Like I mentioned earlier, analogue photography and film is my absolute passion. I love the whole process and the slowing down of images and time. For me photography is a way to vent my frustrations and keep my wits sharp, while still trying to find frames I’ve made that I am proud of. What’s the best thing about Berlin? Honestly, I just love the mixture of people from around the world that inhabit the city. I’ve met so many cool people and been thrown into experiences I could never imagine myself in, if it wasn’t for such eclectic and energetic groups of people… I’ve been fortunate to meet and work with. I was raised Jewish and have had a lot of my family killed in the Holocaust. Living in Berlin these days just reminds me of how insanely far the world has come in under 100 years. The history is just insane in Berlin, and I love that it has become this cultural hub for all of Europe. Also, the ability to live a first-class life and enjoy things that people in Berlin take for granted still keeps me grounded. I love going everywhere on my bicycle, meeting people, trying new things, and just generally trying to be a useful person. I feel like there are so many opportunities in Berlin and chances to reinvent yourself and truly be whoever you want to be without the judgement of people in smaller towns or smaller-minded communities. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future brings after corona and can’t wait to reinvent myself again. By: Duran Levinson – Berlin photographer When you have visitors, what does a dream weekend together in the city look like? If I were to have visitors come over, I would recommend that they come during Spring or Summer to maximize the long summer days and hazy-stoned summer hangs. I’m always excited to play tour guide, because when I move to a new city, I make sure to immerse myself in it and try to learn as much as I can about the past and present of that city. A perfect weekend for me would entail the following: Friday: Waking up early and hitting either gym or the Boulder Garden, to gather myself together for the weekend. Then I’d meet my homies and take them to Safelight Berlin, to drop my films off for development and scanning. Then taking a coffee or some Georgian snacks across the street at Tbilsi or a treat at Zeit für Brot. Of course, we’d do our traveling on bicycles so I can also pass through P-Berg and Mitte and show them some of the sights and grab some Späti beers. We’d end up in Kreuzberg where we could have a beer on the canal and take in vibes on Admiralbrucke or Weichselplatz. Lunch / early Dinner @ Best Friends or Koisan, for some incredible Asian food. Followed by a bunch of street beers on the Maybachuffer. In the evening maybe heading to an art exhibition or some type of culturally relevant event to ease into the weekend. Saturday: waking up early and heading to Schöneberg flohmarkt, the most underrated market in Berlin where literal treasure can be found in boxes, you just have to dig. I always find flohmarkts in Berlin to be a lot of fun, even if nothing is to be found, with a ton of good photo opportunities. After that heading next door to Rathaus park for a spliff and chill on the beautiful lawns while we gather ourselves for the day. Depending on the vibe I’d take them to Neukölln, my favourite area in Berlin for authentic Turkish lunch at Imren Grill, Akroum Snack or Azzam. After that a definite hang at Tempelhof Feld, chilling in the garden or lying on the grass with a JBL speaker discussing plans, hopes and dreams. Towards the evening maybe a little chill and pre-drinks Tennis Bar / Loophole / Sameheads or Klunkerkranich depending on the mood and keeping it local in Neukölln. In the evenings my favourite actives would be going to punk or hip hop shows and saving the raving for Sundays, so finding some fun show at SO36, Cassiopeia or Lido to attend. Great thing about shows in Berlin is that they always end by midnight so there’s still plenty of time to go out or have an early one, usually I save myself for Sundays anyway. Sunday: My usual Sunday is quite intense in Berlin, I am an avid thrifter and have my own vintage clothing business so this day entails waking up extremely early for me around 6am, throwing on my Sunday best and getting my ass to F’hain as fast as possible. Starting off at RAW, digging for treasures. I find RAW to be one of the best clothing flohmarkts in Berlin where you can find the craziest stuff – sometimes for great prices. It’s just the luck and timing of it all that I love. Then heading over to Boxi or Maybachuffer for more markets and digging, followed by a delicious coffee and croissant from La Mason or The Croissanterie. After that a little chill or change of clothing and then depending on the weather heading to either Grunewald or a club. I absolutely love forest Grunewald and the lakes around there - I could easily spend an entire day in nature just chilling, swimming and relaxing or going into the middle of the forest, getting lost and cycling on those gorgeous forest roads. Club wise I tend to enjoy Berghain the most or if there are any events or shows by The Brvtalist or Spandau2.0. For Berghain, I realized that I could be jumping the fence in broad daylight in front of bouncers, and still be let in every time, So I just stuck to that technique. Never got bounced and hopefully my guests get in with me. Then inside the club I’m just taking it easy and watch people, while having some fruits and iced coffee. That’s pretty nice. When it gets to the point of leaving, I’d head back to Neukölln, where I stay and end it off with some legit Italian pizza at either Masaniello or beautiful Vietnamese food at Hamy opposite to Hasenheide. After that I head back to the apartment to throw on some Kitchen Nightmares or Netflix with a nice Indica spliff before bed. By: Duran Levinson – Berlin photographer What 3 words would you say captures your photographies? Sexy, Vegan, Nightmares. What’s your view on limitations within your art, is there something you’d like to do, but for some reason feel limited to get started with? I actually got signed in Germany as a Director and VFX artist and that’s how I’m able to sort of live between Berlin and Cape Town right now. I feel very limited in this field as I know I am a very visual person but driving narrative based work is extremely challenging for me and knowing that I usually only win about 10% of the projects I pitch on, can be very disheartening and overwhelming at times, when it feels like you are constantly failing, you’re having the urge to push forth and erase those mental limitations that keep getting you down. Do you believe people can hide behind an attitude? If so, how do you make vulnerability shine through in your photos. Like what’s the connection between those two? I think many people use all kinds of ways to do this yes, myself included. I find that I am still quite a shy person, even though I have improved my skills to talk to complete strangers all the time and also try to make their portraits. But I also find that I cannot objectively judge my photos at this point anymore, and I am always surprised when a certain photo gets a big reaction while other photos I share might not hit in that way, I am unable to really connect to almost anything I’ve shot, because by the time I post them, I am already over it. I guess this is another reason using Instagram as a main source of showcasing ones work can be a shitty way to judge anything, from self-worth to vulnerability to “technically good photography” and so on. In short I think a good connection and a simple image can convey a lot of emotions which can be interpreted in so many ways by the viewer that I cannot really plan how my work hits at all. Many people you shoot, have an energy of having ’lived’, what’s your view on ’everyday life’ and routines? I don’t focus on shooting fashion models and heavily retouching my work, but rather on looking for unique characters. I like to show the darker sides of reality and do enjoy raw images. By: Duran Levinson – Berlin photographer You’re playing with femininity and masculinity - what’s your view on that? I never really think about traditional gender roles or traditional femininity in my work anymore. I try my best to present and post different types of people and levels of photography because I don’t like to be judged as another male photographer who only shoots women or models. I don’t want to be known as another guy who posts stuff for likes - I honestly hate that. Who are 3 of your Berlin inspirations when it comes to photography? My favourite Berlin born photographer is Jürgen Schadeberg, who died in 2020 . He lived in South-Africa and photographed key moments in South African history, including iconic photographs such as Nelson Mandela at Robben Island prison. His body of work is insane, a true hero and artist. I also love Wolfgang Tillmans, because his work feels so raw and real to me, I love his attitude with social-media and the way he shares his work, especially through his exhibitions. Finally, I’d say Juergen Teller is my favourite German fashion photographer. His work is just so good, that it really inspires me to try to seek out more portrait and commercial jobs to try to inject my own style into it. Follow Duran on Instagram .

The Code was launched from the Berlin fetish and club scene to give exposure to the independent designers and artists currently creating the aesthetic of the Berlin underground. These are three of the current designers that you can find at The Code – Köpenicker Str. 79. Lena Quist 3 Berlin clubwear designers you should check out Your stage clothes have been seen all over the world, tell us about your vision as a designer! I want to see a world dipped in glitter! My brand is all about self-expression and an individual style that is over the top and extravagant, in other words, perfect for making a lasting impression, on or off stage. My vision is that of a world where people dare to dress up in stage wear also in everyday life, and don’t hold back due to fear of judgement from others. Can you tell us about the design process? I often draw inspiration from my passions, be it space travels, obscure religious cults or rock music. I have many interests, and you can find little pieces of me hidden behind all the glitter. Once I have decided on my theme I spend months sketching tons of designs, only to pick the ones I feel create the story I want to tell. My collections are never just about pretty clothes. There’s always a story behind them. During the pandemic I really missed rock concerts and decadent parties, so naturally that’s where my mind went as it was time to get back to the drawing board. What’s up next, any new collections coming this year? If so, can you tell us about it? Yes! We have just wrapped up a new collection, which I’m super excited about! Can’t wait to share it. It will be released in drops starting early summer. Think 70’s Studio 54 meets Mötley Crüe on tour in the 80’s. It’s non-stop sex, parties and rock’ n’ roll. Glamour and decadence. A rockstar jet-setter fantasy. STUDIO MONIKA JAUN 3 Berlin clubwear designers you should check out Can you tell us about your vision as a designer? I wanted to focus all of my artistic skills into one passion project: fashion design, styling, creative direction. Studio Monika Jaun is the sum total of my artistic experience. I hope to empower those who wear my garments, giving them the freedom to evoke a feeling, and express uniqueness. Essentially the brand philosophy is to accentuate confidence. What makes your collections unique? I interpret leathercraft from the prism of fashion. I try to make something that has versatility in your wardrobe. Leather garments are something typically celebrated within the fetish scene, and while my collections have definitely been inspired by, and have application within that arena, I want to make something that could be worn at a nightclub and also the philharmonic. I'm looking for duplexity. Sustainability of my brand is something that I stand behind. All of my garments are made from recycled leather and locally sourced materials from other independent businesses. What makes Berlin the base for your leather accessories and products? Berlin has the best of both worlds. The scene is large enough to allow for anyone to find their lane, however it doesn't have the institutionalised mode of operation that's found in Paris, London or New york. The community has an appetite for fashion and they strongly value something that is handmade and unique or one of a kind. This means a lot when you are a small independent designer constantly competing with big fashion houses. I feel that anyone can find their marketplace in this city and that is magnificent! TIGHT LACED 3 Berlin clubwear designers you should check out Tell us about TightLaced and your unique design! Tight Laced lingerie is on the fine line between luxury for your everyday life and extraordinary lingerie for erotic moments. High-quality materials and sophisticated cuts combine sensuality with a high level of comfort. We offer a wide range of clothing sizes and exclusive custom-made products. The entire collection is produced in Berlin. Where do you get your inspiration as a designer? My inspiration comes from a lot of things. I was always fascinated by structures, lights and the human silhouette. So I really enjoy playing with that silhouette and try to create unique structures on bodies and love to play with sheer and opaque materials to imitate light and shadows on them. What does TightLaced stand for as a brand? Tight Laced is a slow fashion brand, so everything is made in Germany more specific in Berlin, while comfort and high quality are an absolute priority for us. Our creations follow timeless design aspects and incorporate contemporary influences. Our Lingerie stands for independence, self-confidence and urbanity.

Nene H in Playful Podcast In this podcast episode, we talk with techno DJ and producer Nene H about how her career has evolved and how her mindset has changed when she stopped laying her power in other peoples’ hands. She lets us in on what techno has meant for her during her own healing and we talk about how the techno scene is changing. In the extra material Nene H tells us about what led to her success, gives tips to new aspiring producers on how to evolve, and her thoughts on what equipment to invest in. The extra material is only available for our Patreons. Become one to get all Episodes one day before everyone else, all extra material and much more. Available on Spotify, Podbean, Amazon, YouTube and soon on all Apple podcast apps. Playful Podcast is recorded at Factory Berlin and covers underground culture, kink and electronic music. Read more:

Playful Magazine hangs out with Ampi Battaglia, AKA Catnapp to talk about her new album, her connection to Berlin and to stay true to yourself. By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photo: Daniel Iglesias Catnapp for Playful Magazine With a one way ticket to Europe from South America, Catnapp fell in love with Berlin the moment she arrived for the first time. Playful meets with Ampi Battaglia when she’s in the middle of preparing for the new album which according to the artist herself is the best so far. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, Ampi Battaglia, AKA Catnapp moved to Europe to invest wholeheartedly in music. With a Spanish passport, she avoided the visa process and was able to quickly settle in London, which was the first stop when she left South America in 2015. "I wanted to leave Argentina so I bought a one way ticket to London. Then I created a small tour by myself in different European countries to check it out and see what felt best. But after I stayed in London for a couple of days, I did not really feel the vibe. So when I started to travel, I arrived in Berlin and when I did I felt completely at home . It was a mix of the general environment, the amount of things that was happening all the time and how open it was, and is, to everyone in general. " The difference from Buenos Aires was noticeable when she started to get to know her new hometown. "I changed from living in one country with one type of cultural mindset, to a city where a lot of people come from different places. But another change was the nature in Berlin, I like it very much. There is actually a lot of green here. The lakes, huge parks in the middle of the city. That is very rare in Buenos Aires. So for me the people and nature were a perfect combination . And then I liked the fact that you did not have to work 9 hours a day, and you would still be able to pay the rent." It has now been seven years since Ampi moved to the city and even though she still feels at home, it happens that she gets bored when being in the same environment all the time. Maybe we also have the pandemic to blame. I love parties but when you have a party every day, it's just a party, like Miley Cyrus very wisely said.” "When I get used to something, I get a little bit bored. I am easily getting comfortable in the place I am, but I feel now that there is something missing, like my driving force. I love parties but when you have a party every day, it's just a party, like Miley Cyrus very wisely said.” As a remedy for restlessness, Catnapp is highly relevant with a new album that has just seen the light of day when this issue is published. At the end of May, TRUST was released and now a summer full of gigs and festivals awaits. "I'm going back to what I did in the beginning, it's all about energizing people and making them dance. " The album is Catnapp’s second via the record label Monkeytown Records and for Playful she tells about the creation. "What I want to convey with this album is that I was tired of depression and the darkness that covid brought. I wanted to make something more energetic with an inspiring message. Something that makes people dance again. I'm going back to what I did in the beginning, it's all about energizing people and making them dance. " On the latest album, the lyrics and expression are largely about fears from childhood. We look in the rearview mirror and talk about what made the album Damage unique, to then compare with TRUST. "With Damage I was bringing a mood into the show and the visuals that could resemble a childhood nightmare, the monsters you fear as a child. When you're waking up in the night, thinking that something’s under the bed. Then I also had one experience when I was a child, in the 90's; we went to Disneyland with my mum and I went to one ride that was about the movie Alien. I don’t know how they could let children take that ride. They make you sit, and then you start to hear and feel how aliens are running around you, the lights are off. You can feel their breaths on your face and how they spit alien saliva on you, which at the time made me super afraid. But instead of rejecting it, I went out and I really wanted to do it again", Ampi says and continues; " It was an exciting fear, and this is something that I tried to remake from my childhood when we did the Damage experience.” But it’s not only the childhood fears that function as reminders from the past in Ampis life. When we ask her if there is something that rarely nobody knows about her, she tells us about her toothbrushing procedure that has been following her since she was a kid. “This is a really weird thing I noticed about myself. Every time ‘m about to brush my teeth, I hold the toothbrush under the water and I hit the toothbrush five times against the sink. I don’t know why I do it and it’s something I’ve been doing since I was a kid. But now that I realise that I’m doing it, I don’t dare stop doing it because… What if something happens?” She says ands laughs. Catnapp for Playful Magazine With TRUST, Catnapp has worked in a completely new way and tried to create a story that leads the listener throughout the album. The lyrics are personal and balance between love and anger. "There are a lot of different topics, and I'm mixing different types of things. We have love songs but also angry songs. I'm always touched more by a similar subject, but this is technically my favourite album of all that I made. " During the creative process, she has worked with Modeselektor, which is also part of Monkeytown Records. "I tried a new technique, which the guys from Modeselektor have helped me with. It's about combining old songs that I had which boiled down ten demos into four. We've been putting the tracks together and we manage to find that they all matched in a crazy way. This brought the album to a next level. Shari and Gernot from Modeselektor have also helped me with feedback, and they have been very involved in the production process. Their help was actually a big one this time. " In addition to love and anger, authenticity is a topic that Catnapp addresses. Something that has always been important during her career as an artist. " It's also about staying true to yourself and not accepting the easy way out to succeed . An example is when I as an artist get a chance to work with someone that is super famous, but to do this I have to break something from who I am. I have a song on the new album that is all about this. It talks about not doing that and instead staying true to yourself. This song is called Stay Unsaved. " Catnapp photographed by Daniel Iglesias in Berlin Now Ampi is looking forward to touring again and in between spending sunny days in the city she has come to love Berlin. “When the pandemic began, I started roller skating. I was living close to Tempelhof, doing it all day long. "Or I just love to hang around the canal with a beer. The first day of a little bit of heat, when people are going down to the canals is always special. Berlin is very beautiful in the summer. I always tell people who come here and feel depressed during the winter, that please stay until May and you will see the truth of Berlin. "

By: Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos by: Daniel Iglesias Martini Cherry Furter for Playful Magazine Martini Cherry Furter is someone you notice immediately. It’s the presence that takes over a room, the softness in her smile and cheeky glimpses in her eyes. Besides that, it’s telling a story on stage, and the stories she tells – if so singing, dancing or even setting herself on fire. Growing up she came from a family with a big interest in arts and culture. As a kid she wanted to be an architect or a director of photography, although those options weren't really available on the island of Martinique. ”Where I grew up, those things weren’t an option unfortunately. Therefore, I tried the other side of the camera, and discovered that acting came naturally to me. I enjoyed it and therefore kept doing it in various ways.” Growing up, Martini was basically the same person she is today; the interests didn’t change; they just took place in other countries, and took on new forms as she started to travel. ”As a kid I was basically the same person that I am today – and everybody thought I was gay. I loved dressing up, cheering up my peers, dancing salsa with my parents, singing joyfully and I didn't have to worry about money at that time.” As she grew up and started theater high school, she found a second home there. ”I actually slept on every stage that I was playing, I was a sponge. At the time, Yoshvani Medina had directed a mind-blowing version of The Vagina Monologues, which actually turned out to be illegal, and they presented the last rehearsal in the theater of my high school.” says Martini and continues; ”Yosh had a huge influence on the audience of that night, teachers, and students, which turned out to be a casting for him. A few months later, most of us were attending a modern theater class in high school, meeting companies like Théâtre du Soleil, studying Chekov and on the other side, the controversial Studio Théâtre SI that he opened after that. Those moments are definitely influencing what I do today.” When seeing Martini Cherry perform, it’s not only the presence with the audience, but also the awareness of what she wants to deliver and what story she wants to tell, and how she will tell it. ”The first year and a half in the studio, we worked exclusively on the key playwriting elements: the Body, Space and Voice. The training process was about mastering our main tools, being an actor and directing an actor. Cuban theater has an interesting picky influence from the Soviet Union, both understood very quickly that entertainment is a weapon, and made symbols and polysemy a central spine in their productions. It is all about Actions.” Martini Cherry Furter for Playful Magazine Cherry Martini spent six years with the theater group, preparing for the Theater Conservatory in Paris. After leaving Paris for Lyon where the love for theater took on new forms. ”I started evolving a love- hate relationship to theater and started an affair with burlesque. And so far, here I am, silly enough to think that I can still apply all of that while showing my ass.” Not only is she cheeky on stage, but the name she chose for herself is also showing off her playful side in a subtle way. ”I chose Martini Cherry Furter to piss off the graphic designers with a long name.” In 2016 she hosted a show for Bana Banana, in Berlin, although it was a real challenge, as it was hosted in English to a German crowd. ”It was a fantastic experience, and I fell in love with Berlin the very first second. I knew a lot of amazing people in the city already and that made this part easier. When I came it was the Berlin Burlesque Week and that also added some extra fun to the experience. The first night, we attended a friend's birthday which ended in the most epic way. Cake and ass, what a beautiful way to celebrate life! Berlin stole my heart that night.” ”I then decided to move to the city as I needed a change. Berlin was, and still is the Capital of Burlesque in Europe, so I gave it a try and here I am with less stress, a master of my time and a bit more money in my bank account." Then of course, not every week is Burlesque week, and if you live in this city, it’s possible that you can list a few things you’d like to change in it. ”The definition of acceptance, and indifference are broadly understood in Berlin, and it makes everything else tolerable.” Martini is still living in this city and is known for bringing the heat to the stage, especially with a performance where she’s setting herself on fire. ”In Lyon, I was also working at one of the oldest theaters in France, it burned something like 4 times. Fire was a huge problem in the entertainment industry, that's why there are so many rules about its usage even nowadays. So, I had that in mind when I created this act.” ”I wanted to perform this ceremony where I set my whole body on fire and the challenge was to be able to bring it to as many spaces as possible. I came up with a technique that allows me to perform virtually anywhere and be the only one doing it.” Besides loving what she does, being a performer, an entertainer, a Madonna, everything she creates also has a political angle to it. ”My work is political. I'm driven by the energy of people not knowing what to expect and being surprised. Even the people who have seen it all or the depressed ’queerdo’” ”This Summer I’m starting out touring together with Peaches. I’m very much looking forward to working with her again, I really love her as a person and the way she works. I have also made a baby with my friend Lola Rose named Lipstick & Cox that is produced at Tipsy Bear, a lovely bar in Prenzlauer Berg - come and see it.” Martini’s top 3 location to perform at: Volksbühne SO36 And the swimming pool of the Soho Club.

By: Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos: Shanélle de Melo Fjaak for Playful Magazine Humbleness, a good laugh and a joint may be the recipe for success, at least for the DJ duo Fjaak who are letting you know that if you keep doing you and stay focused, nothing will stop you. Meeting with Felix and Aaron is as energizing and fun as their sets. Although their personalities are quite the opposite of one another, none of them stresses the presence. Instead, it comes natural to them to have as fun as possible all the time. It’s obvious from the start that they do everything with 100 percent involvement, and it’s not hard to see why they are a continuously growing hype that never bursts. The duo has a busy schedule, as they are producing more music now than ever before. This includes collaborations with Honey Dijon as well as Miss Kittin. As we’re walking around the space of The Factory building, their minds are definitely not shut down, quite the opposite, and serious topics alternate with jokes and funny stories. Fjaak for Playful Magazine How would you describe each other? Aaron: Felix is a very energetic, talkative and euphoric guy who has a huge passion for music, plants & nature. He’s a herd animal, doesn't really like to be alone, always loves to have someone around, as long as the situation allows it. Felix: Aaron is a very sensitive music addict, looking for harmony and fairness in everything he approaches in this world. He can be very quiet when he wants to be but is also able to channel his inner party animal at the rave. What was your biggest struggles as DJ’s before being able to live on your music? In the very beginning it’s hard to get recognized as an artist and also to envision yourself as an artist. You might have people around you - including your friends and family - telling you that you are wasting your time and you might even question your own way of life. And often it may appear to be even worse than what people told you. But in the end if you give your best and believe in it you will succeed at some point because passion is not for sale. Hold on to your dreams and passions and never let them down. Because if you let them go, you might regret it for the rest of your life. What are your most favored features of Berlin’s culture scene. Is low culture the new high culture? All culture is high culture. We appreciate everything from Hamburger Bahnhof to a one-man-band playing guitar and singing at Warschauer Strasse. If you’d need to have alternative jobs, what would they be? Aaron: Felix would be a dispensary x music store owner in California. Felix: Aaron would run a surf shop in Santa Cruz. What’s the best thing to do in the spring in Berlin? The spring is probably the nicest time of the year; it’s the moment when the mood suddenly changes from everybody being depressed- and the world looking all grey, to people getting big smiles and being happy about simple things like the sun and the first hang outs in the parks. Especially since there’s been so many isolated days recently. We can’t wait to meet a lot of friends outside in a chilled environment. Everybody will be in the parks or by the canals enjoying life. You are fighting the battle to legalize weed, why is that important to you? The same reason why more and more countries legalize it: Two main reasons are criminals making billions off selling weed which is mostly made in really bad- and dangerous quality. It’s harming the health of the consumers because it’s not controlled by anybody. People get criminalized for a plant which is proven to be less dangerous and addictive than tobacco, alcohol or even coffee. In some Countries weed gets grown and sold by professionals and big brands while at the same time, it’s being handled like real medicine. And for sure there will never be a day when cigarettes or vodka would get sold to you by a doctor as a medicine, and that’s for good reason. If you have to place these things in order of importance - which order would it be? Music, each other, family and weed. Family Each other Music Weed We just noticed that it’s also the chronological order of when we get to know these things. Fjaak for Playful Magazine If not working, where will we find you in Berlin? Rarely outside the studio during these days. Basically , in there 24/7 to be honest. But if not, hopefully in a park or with our friends and family, enjoying life as much as possible. Which ones are the best clubs you’ve ever been to and why? We don’t really have a favourite place, as each one has its own kind of magic. Of course, there are some clubs that come to mind like Bassiani, ∄ or Berghain because the people visiting and enjoying these clubs are creating a very special vibe… something that can make these places feel like a world of its own somehow. City Club in Augsburg would also rank high on our list. Big shout out to them! What’s your view on Instagram? Instagram is a social platform which can connect billions of people sharing the same passions, hobbies or emotions. But don’t forget to switch off your screen and look up, into the real world every once in a while. What are you working on at the moment? There is a lot of stuff ready for you and just waiting in the pipelines. Like the next SYS number 3, new mainline FJAAK records are coming too, some more Spandau20 but also some special remixes and a release for a project together with a German museum. Now and then we are working on our third Album. Did a dank remix and some features we can’t announce yet. What’s your best saying/Quote? Dikka Who are your 5 favourite Berlin based musicians? Anna Z. & J. Manuel Claus Schöning Elli Acula Fadi Mohem Nikk, RIfts, Dajusch But there are too many to name them all! What would you say to people who get told they shouldn’t try to do the ’impossible’/ believe in achieving their dream? Hold on to your dreams and passions and never let them die. Always keep fighting for your dreams. Keep your feet on the ground and start reaching for the stars! Fjaak for Playful Magazine Quick ones: Sex or Money? Sex Cinema or Picknick? Picknick Michael Jackson or Leonard Cohen? Would like to see a feature! Gin or Whiskey? Aaron: Whiskey Felix: Gin Sativa or Hybrid? It’s all Hybrids. Perfume or Natural? Eau de cannabis. Board Games or Books? Board Games Burlesque or Opera? Burlesque Tidying Up with Marie Kondo or SpongeBob? SpongeBob The Alps or NYC? Hard one…… But the Alps. Children or Animals? Animals Greta Thunberg or Dalai Lama? They should do a feature too!

By Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos: Tim Wolf & Jim Kroft / Lumona Oumi Janta for Playful Magazine If anyone knows what it’s like to become famous overnight it’s Oumi Janta. Staying connected to the ground she’s using her global megaphone to encourage us to rethink ourselves and to break societal norms around age. In the end, it’s all about not giving to much of a fuck. In Berlin you’ve seen her for years rolling in Tempelhofer Feld, and we are many who got obsessed. There’s something calming, liberating, joyful and it’s completely unpretentious watching her jam skating on the field as well as Instagram together with good music. If it’s any energy we want to keep, lift and spread this summer, it’s definitely hers. Born in Senegal, Oumi Janta came here when she was just two months old with her family, so her view on Berlin as a local is pretty refreshing, and it’s good hearing that the pandemic is not at all the essential change she’s seen in in the city. Actually, it was the World Cup, but more about that later. ”The best thing about living in Berlin is that you’re able to be free. In other cities people tend to be more ’in boxes’. It’s not that Berlin doesn’t have any of these boxes, but more so that people are free to do their thing without other people making it their business. I feel that I can be myself without having to explain myself.” One year ago, her life changed over-night when one of her jam videos went viral. That said she hasn’t gone unnoticed for local Berliners before, and her vibes have been spreading joy all over Tempelhof for years already. ”My general life view during the pandemic has changed a lot. I’m an outdoor person and I love to surround myself with people, but since Corona I have noticed that I’m actually also an introvert, or at least I enjoy being by myself as well.” ”It was a bit difficult in the beginning, but I have never felt like, ’Oh my god the world is ending’. I just realized that there’s not so much to do right now, but I can always skate - and since we’ve always been allowed to do sports outside, it has been alright.” Oumi Janta for Playful Magazine Having lived in Berlin always, except for seven months in Oslo, and two months in Senegal, her view of this city is not the same as for people who have been here for the past ten. ”The biggest change isn’t the pandemic, but a lot has happened these past ten years. Berlin in the ’90s wasn’t very crazy. Everything changed after the city hosted the World Cup in football in 2006 at Olympiastadion.” ”Before that Berlin was completely different, everything was in German which they had to change because the tourists didn’t understand where to go on the trains or nothing. This was the first time when I started seeing a lot of different and new people in Berlin for the first time and heard people speaking English around me. It was the first time I was conflicted with more diversity. This moment actually stands out more to me than the pandemic does. From that moment and on, Berlin got more diverse. So, it’s basically thanks to the World cup”, she jokes. Although speaking of this past year, now that we’re (knock on wood) at the end of the tunnel, Oumi doesn’t necessarily think it was all bad. ”There has also come some good stuff out from this past year, I have seen how people start trying new stuff, and start seeing life from a different perspective. People have had time to think about their lives. For many of us it has been the first time we’ve got more time, which in one way is also freedom, even if you’re not allowed to do certain things.” ”Many people have started new projects even if they have lost their economic security. That is very challenging, but it’s also very rewarding to be brave and discover what you’ve actually been dreaming of and to work towards that goal.” ”It can feel horrible when you’re in the midst of it and lose touch with the way you used to live - your routines changing, but when you give it some time you will also see that it gave you a new perspective on life. For example, ’I have no money, what can I do now’, instead of being stuck in your bubble or your ’wheel’ without enough time to question if there is something else, you’d rather put your time and energy to. Dare to rethink your life. Because even if you’re 40, 50 or 60 there is so much time left to discover new things and passions.” For Oumi herself she found her joy for doing roller skates when she joined her friend to a Roller Disco as a teenager. Although her first interest was lit when she was watching the World Cups in ice skating on television years before. ”I really enjoyed the way they were gliding, and then being a teenager and wanting to be cool or whatever, skating on wheels was a bit more rad. So, when we went to the roller disco, I was like ’what in the name of… is that’, and I got hooked. People were rolling around and the thing that amazed me was that they were dancing on the skates, without it being stereotyped or anything. It was just cool. And it wasn't limited to teenagers - all ages and genders were doing it together.” ” When you’re young, you just hang around with people your own age, but this was the first time that I started to hang out with 60-year-old people, skating together. This is when I stopped caring about age. It was simple, ’you skate, I skate - let’s skate together’, without questioning anything but the fact that we had the same interest.” ”I just want to skate, and nothing else is really important. Maybe their names, but honestly a lot of people that I know I got to know through skating, I have no clue about what they work with, their family situation or whatever. A girl I have skated with for over four years told me that she was a lawyer, and that is nothing I ever knew, because when we’re just humans who love to spend time on roller skates, and that’s what we care about.” Oumi Janta for Playful Magazine The blurred lines when it comes to gender identity, age, clothing preference or whatever - is something that is easy to recognize in Berlin generally. The same goes when it comes to the club scene. When Oumi lived in Oslo and studied industrial design, she noticed a cultural difference there compared to Berlin, especially socially. ”Over there I had to be very aware of ’opening the can slowly’ although, once it was open you have them as friends. But people had a bit harder to open up, and it took more effort to become friends with them.” ”Me as a Berliner I am very open and sometimes I had a feeling that I was way too much for them, but it was a nice experience for me to get to know the cultural differences. But seriously, I would probably not have any friends if I wouldn’t have been as annoying to them as I was”, she laughs. ”I banged on their doors like’ hey, you wanna have breakfast with me’ and I thought that the person I tried to befriend, didn’t really like me, but all of a sudden we talked about boys and she totally shifted and opened up. I was like, ’alright, if that’s the topic, let’s go there.’ In many ways it’s not as complicated in Berlin.” Oumi moved back after the studies ended, and is loving life in Berlin at the moment, although optimistic at heart - she’s a bit scared it will change. ”You kind of have to be optimistic to get the energy to move forward. But of course, a lot of things have changed, and one thing that worries me in Berlin is the housing situation. The more popular Berlin gets with the people who have lots of money the more it changes the market and prices. To me, if this changes too much, and if Berlin becomes as expensive as London for example, it will really hurt the culture scene and it scares me. It wouldn’t be Berlin anymore. ”I’m really concerned about the culture and hope the decision-makers take this into account - to protect Berlin as a capital that supports culture.” Oumi Janta for Playful Magazine Oumi is a big symbol for Tempelhof, and today she is recognized, not only by the locals, but by tourists too. ”I love being associated with Tempelhof and using my platform to show the world that Berlin is a city that prioritizes common spaces like this. An empty airport that is used for everybody as a huge public park in the middle of the city centre is just the kind of spaces that we need to protect. It feels good to raise awareness of a spot that is for everybody as a way to promote spaces like this in Berlin.” ”If you want to change something in this world you need a big megaphone, and now I have that. I am very thankful for being able to reach out to the broad mass that includes investors as well as people like myself who also want Berlin to remain what it is today.” This past year has been intense for Oumi. For her it meant getting famous over-night - in June 2020. ”It wasn’t super easy to get used to it, I had a feeling that it came like a bomb and I couldn’t prepare myself for it. I had no time to but had to function in my new reality right away and was totally confused. Now, a year later I am used to it and have adjusted and cleared my head. So, I’m much more chilled than last year. People didn’t see it, but on the inside, I was in shock last year.” One thing that probably everyone can agree on is that fame hasn’t changed Oumi. Even for this shoot, the production team brought all kinds of clothes from Versace to second-hand pieces, but Oumi felt most comfortable in her own pieces of clothing, and so - decided to wear that instead. ”I love this with Berlin, that people are down to earth. When I meet with people who might know me, even if I don't necessarily know them, I feel respected and that there it’s no ’barrier’ between us, so there’s still a possibility to live normally here even if people ’know you’.” Berlin, being a city that attracts many creative people - famous as well as unknown - makes it a space that supports and lifts each other up, instead of competing. ”Everyone is doing creative stuff in this city; if many fishes go up - you go up too. I mean if you’re surrounded by people who are curious, brave and try new things, it’s easy to follow.” ”Being creative means attracting other creative people, which attracts even more creativity. It’s magnetic. But at the same time, when the city has all this potential, investors will follow. Something that we have to deal with in the right way so that the city continues to be cultural, and not gets ruined by only seeing the economic profit in everything. Because then we lose everything that we have put into it.” – – – –  – Hidden fact: My middle toe was probably broken as a baby and it stopped growing - therefor it’s tiny and I’ve got a baby toe in the middle – Best vintage shop in Berlin: The flea market in Neukölln and on Warschauer Strasse in Kreuzberg – Playlist: Type ’Oumi Janta’ on Spotify – Favourite Berlin restaurants: Pretty much all Berlin vegan or vegetarian restaurants – Favourite Berlin lake: Stechlinsee – Best roller disco in Berlin: SchwuZ – – – – 10 quick: Early mornings or late evenings? Early mornings Big city or Beach? Beach Relationships or casual sex? Relationships Aperor Spritz or Gin Tonic? GT House or Techno? House Nightclubs or German bars? Nightclubs Fine dining or vegan Schnitzel? Schnitzel Cinema or Theme parks? Theme Parks Children or animals? Both Planning or living ’day by day’? Day by day