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When growing up, it was all about the piano for Clara Cuvé. She started her techno journey with a fake ID as a young teen and after a rough experience with the police, her clubbing success rate has been 100 percent. By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photos by: Shanélle de Melo Clara Cuvé for Playful Magazine Today she’s one of the most hyped names on the techno scene and the previous notorious cigarette smoker reveals that she’s started smoking again. What's your first memory from visiting Berlin? "I can’t remember the exact first time. I was always going to Berlin with my friends on the weekends, mostly for partying because there was nothing comparable in Munich that time." How would you describe the difference between your hometown Munich and Berlin? "There is a lot. But for me the most significant difference are the people. I remember my first times in Berlin and the people I got to know there, and I immediately knew I had to leave Munich and move to Berlin." You started playing piano as a 4-year-old. How come? And when did you get introduced to to techno? "My parents always wanted me and my siblings to play an instrument. In the end it was up to us what Instrument we wanted to play but when I first started playing the piano I got stuck, and today there’s still no other instrument where I feel what I feel when playing the piano. It’s a state of inner peace for me. I started listening to techno in my early teenage years through some friends of mine who did nothing else then spinning records all day long and then so did I." Clara Cuvé for Playful Magazine Have you always believed in yourself as a musician? What made you continue to create music and believe in your path? "I definitely had hard times believing in myself and a lot of doubts. But I think this often happens when you are an artist as I also heard it from a lot of friends, who felt the same, especially in the beginning. But it also helps you growing with yourself and as an artist and makes you stick to your goals even more. Because in the end it always was and is about the music. When you just keep focusing on your passion you will find your way." You started to go to clubs when you were 14 with your fake ID, how was your success rate? "The first time it didn’t work out and I got brought out from the club by the police and even got a lawsuit because of this. But I learned from it, and after that my success rate was a proper 100 percent. I definitely was quite a rebellious teenager and drawn to the nightlife early. Sorry to my parents who had to endure me back then." "Later I also started working in a club at the wardrobe which gave me access to my, at that time, favorite club in Munich and I was finally able to listen to the DJs playing there. I guess that’s also where it all started for me as I started playing records around that time." When you’re not listening to electronic music, what artists do you prefer? "There are a lot of genres and artists I am into, but it mostly has to do with electronic music though. I also listen to Hip Hop, Grime and in general Rap music a lot but I also love to start the day with classical music. Actually, the first thing I do in the morning is playing the piano. Some artists which are on my playlist at the moment are: Ashnikko, Martin Kohlstedt, Ivorian Doll." What does the phrase "Dancefloor Killer" come from and symbolize to you? "A friend of mine, a graphic designer from Italy invented that phrase, he also did the layout from my latest merch drop. It comes from “smoking kills” which you can always see on cigarette packages, as I used to smoke a lot and people made fun of it and started throwing cigarettes over the dancefloor to me while I was DJing." Clara Cuvé for Playful Magazine Which is your favorite club to play at in Berlin? And why? "I really like Ohm, because its more intimate and the booth is the same height as the dancefloor and you kind of forget your DJing and feel like you are in the crowd. I also always loved to play at the old Griessmühle, every time was special for me due to the vibes there and the amazing crowd. I also love the new place, Revier Südost. But I don’t really have a favorite though, for me it is always special to play in Berlin, especially when you are surrounded by your friends." When you’ve got friends visiting, what do you always show/ take them in Berlin? "I take them to my favorite bar, Eigengrau Bar, and get them my favorite drink, Whiskey Sour." What's your best memory from a gig in Berlin? "There are many great memories. But one of my highlights definitely was my last gig in Berlin before Corona. It was Hyperaktivist’s Mess party at Ohm and I remember I played the closing and a lot of my friends were there, and the vibe was just amazing from beginning to the end and I was just feeling myself and everyone else did too. I really miss nights like that." Last, do you wanna tell us something that not a lot of people know about you? "I started smoking again." What’s in Clara’s speakers? Ashnikko, Martin Kohlstedt, Ivorian Doll.

By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photos: Shanélle de Melo DJ Stingray for Playful Magazine Meeting Moodyman in Detroit made DJ Stingray choose a then unexpected path of life. Today he’s one of the techno legends living in Berlin – a city he’s felt connected to since he put his feet on the ground here for the first time. The man behind the ski mask is Sherard Ingram. A tall, gentle man that most probably would have ended up working as an engineer or tech scientist if it wasn’t for one of those moments that tend to turn up when least expected in life. Born and raised in Detroit, Ingram I went to a vocation school program for high school students at Crockett Vocational were I tried Histology and then Surgical technician. After high school a few odd jobs including some time in Detroit Recording Institute I got a job at Buy Rite Music a record store in detroit. Later myself and Moodymann started to hold their own slot at a biker’s club in North Detroit and that’s where Ingram developed his style of DJ:ing. He mixed the days half-and-half playing basketball and studying. His big interest for science and medicine made him consider the medical field as a future career with the final goal of becoming a doctor. But then life changed one day. “One day in High school, it was in class and I met with Moodyman, who came from the same neighborhood as I did. I mentioned an edit of the B52s-Mesopotamia on the Electrifying Mojo radio show on WGPR a Detroit black owned station, and he said he could mix better. I was so clueless, and I was like ‘no way’. He said after class that he would take me to his home and that was the first time I had ever seen turntables and mixers. That was the beginning of the end of me having a remote chance of going to med school.” The duo became good friends and Ingram joined the Dj journey Moodyman was already on. (This was the Motorcycle club mentioned earlier) He had to be really fast if he wanted to play his techno tracks. The easy explanation is that the crowd wanted hip-hop. After being part of building the iconic techno scene in Detroit, Ingram’s journey took to Berlin five years ago after being a frequent visitor, playing the most iconic clubs and venues in Europe for decades. “I had friends here and the agency I was with was here as well. Also, it’s a robust electronic music and art scene and the generally safe social climate made Berlin irresistible for me.” “I feel very safe in Berlin. I had a walk today; four miles and I took 11 000 steps next to the nearest canal. Nobody bothered me. People look at me of course, being a tall black man. But it doesn’t bother me, I feel safe, but I still take the Detroit raised precautions.” He still remembers his first arrival in Berlin. An arrival that made a big impact on him. He was invited to DJ Flush of KILLEKILL to play at his parties and events. “It was surreal when I first arrived. I really enjoyed his events. I even took my mask off and played one time” he says and laughs. DJ Stingray for Playful Magazine The second time he decided to stay longer and use Berlin as a base for his mini tour. He rented a place to stay and got to know the city on a deeper level. “I rode the U-bahn, shopped, played at Tresor and went to Berghain for the first time. There was a little Turkish restaurant on Hermanstrasse maybe one or two blocks from U8 Leinestrasse and I would always be there. I also remember the first time I went to Hardwax, getting the records, even going to Aldi, for me my aha-moment with Berlin was that full month.” “I really liked the city. You get the vibe of a big city but it was also so quiet and chilled out. I found it smooth there. Nobody bothered me falling in love was a collective moment of all this” Today he’s living his life in the city The last years covid restrictions has put both his live performances on pause, but also his way of exploring the city. He’s been out running and walking but he’s also admitting that the last year has made him a bit of a hermit. Even if there’s contenders around the world, he still believes that Berlin is one of the most important and dynamic cities when it comes to electronic music and techno. “I mean on any given weekend you can see a young thunderbolt on the decks, or a certified legend, or a steady veteran that just enjoys playing and not in the limelight but could easily be. Several shops that cater to vinyl DJ’s, Modular heads… All with cool atmospheres. Also, I have to give respect to some of the icons that came to Berlin before me and laid the foundation for today’s landscape. I could go on. Berlin is a city I enjoy.” Even though Moodymann might be responsible for Ingram putting his doctor career on hold, he’s still carrying a lot of his passion for technology, medicine and even politics with him. Today it’s fuel for his inspiration. DJ Stingray for Playful Magazine He often watches medical and physics lectures on YouTube, which he refers to as the Universe for independent scientists, and reading scientific articles is often applied to the music he creates. “I have several sites that I visit, and I like to catch up on news about nature and biotechnology. Sometimes I read a scientific paper. I try to read as much as possible, science is very specific and you need formal training to really understand a research paper. With me it’s like, sometimes, I make a track, I read an article and it fits. Other times I have these images and stream of consciousness. When I’m in the sound design process, I’m looking into how to make my stream of consciousness connect with my sounds.” And as much as Berlin needs techno to survive, the world needs technology too. Something that is very close to Ingrams heart. “I’m really interested in how we can use science and solve very heavy problems. Pathogens, pollution, even down to how to deal with food shortages. We’re projected to be around 9 billion people in the world by 2042, and there is a great concern as to how the planet is going to be fed. With the climate crises even if we would plant a billion trees, we still have things that are already put in motion. We need technical solutions.” After a year of pandemic restrictions DJ Stingray 313 is looking forward to playing live in front of an audience again. And he’s got some plans for the summer. “ I'd like to be playing again of course. Improve my Deutsche. Then I would like to achieve some fitness goals and work on a live set. I have plans to release two artists on my label Micron Audio and an LP from myself.”

By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photos: Raf & Way The first material that comes to one’s mind when talking about kink and fetish is probably latex. Playful met with one of the cities exhibitionists, Bloodshrimp, to find out more about the lust for latex and the community. Latex Fetishsit: Under the Rubber with Bloodshrimp If you've seen a person from head to toe wearing latex in the streets of Friedrichshain, you've probably encountered Bloodshrimp. “I’m just your average, run-of-the-mill, non-binary rubber fiend. I´m an exhibitionist, so you can usually find me crawling around the streets of Friedrichshain and sweating profusely at kinky parties. I love incorporating different things that inspire me creatively, such as music, fashion, architecture, sexuality and gender identity and expressing them visually through the latex pieces I wear. My goal as a creator is to explore objectification and to try to take out latex/fetish from the “taboo” box of topics and include it in a more mainstream conversation.” For Bloodshrimp, the latex fetish started with competitive swimming and an interest and joy in collecting, and wearing, swimsuits that had been used for competitions. “These suits were made of different blends of spandex, nylon and lycra, and you wore them to reduce friction against water. I’ve heard someone once say that the path from swimmer to latex wear is a straight line. And it makes total sense if you think about it: the enclosure these suits provide, the pressure, the sleek look… Latex catsuits and racing swimsuits intersect at so many points. Latex and water are also inextricably connected, inasmuch as they both provide a sensorial experience through sound deprivation and apnoea . Considering all of this, I think my venture into latex wear was inevitable. In their early twenties, they got their first pair of latex stockings as a gift, but it wasn’t until an ex-partner introduced them to the whole rubber gear play scene that the latex journey really started. “Within a year I was going for full enclosure, heavy rubber. I still love to research and collect racing swimsuits like I did as a teenager, except now I also like to include latex clothing, gasmasks, toys and bondage accessories.” Latex Fetishsit: Under the Rubber with Bloodshrimp To get us into the suit, Bloodshrimp explains the thing with latex. And it’s getting passionate, even in text. “Imagine you’re covered head to toe in latex. Catsuit, socks, gloves, hood, the whole works. You look at yourself in the mirror, unable to recognize any human part of you. Your insecurities, your past, your embarrassing memories (like that time you tripped in front of your crush). All gone. There’s just you, there, at that moment. An object. Just to feel, to react. You lie down, feeling the latex hug every surface of your body. You barely hear anything, except for the sound of your own breathing. The smell of latex overwhelming you. Someone who you trust ties your wrists and ankles with some nice thick cuffs, applying an extra amount of pressure into your joints. They start working on you with a Hitachi, teasing your inner thighs first, then moving upwards... I have to stop here because I’m getting myself worked up!” For someone who’s not into the scene it’s easy to mix up latex, rubber and leather and put them into the same fetish box. For Bloodshrimp, latex is the primary thing. As far as actual material goes, “latex” is referred to as the substance extracted from trees, and “rubber” is made using this substance. I think that in the fetish community, “latex” and “rubber” are terms often used interchangeably. From what I can tell, people more often use “latex” do describe all sorts of garments and accessories both in fashion and fetish wear. Heavy rubber is more often used to describe thicker, “industrial” garments and accessories, like gasmasks, that are used for kinky play. Leather is obviously in its own category production-wise, but there’s a reason why most fetish stores sell both rubber and leather items. Both have a certain look, smell and texture that immediately transports you to a sort of “playful” mindset. Latex is more my jam, though. Having a look at Bloodshrimps Instagram, the majority of pictures are photographed outdoors in public. And describing themselves as an exhibitionist, we want to know more. “I personally love wearing latex in public. When you’re a femme/ womxn/ AFAB person, you are often met with catcalling and street harassment for just using public space. I feel like I’m reclaiming some of that space when I go out in full gear because I am commanding that attention, on my own terms. People are not seeing my human body, something I was born with, but they’re seeing my expression, my choices, what I want them to look at. Except from reclaiming the space, wearing latex in public is also something that goes hand in hand with being an introvert and finding a way blooming in a way that otherwise would be much more difficult. Bloodshrimp explains: “There’s also something extremely cathartic about being a natural introvert and feeling daring in a latex head-to-toe look, just because people can’t possibly recognize you. You can’t even recognize yourself! And that gives you a lot of freedom to do things you normally wouldn’t. If you ever feel curious about going out and provoke people like that, however, prepare to either freeze your ass off or sweat like no one’s business.” As latex fetishists, which clubs are the best? “I think KitKatclub is the fetish club par excellence. There’s also Lab.oratory, although they’re only really open for all genders twice a year. In addition, there are regular and annual events that happen in most venues across town. However, I’m a big proponent of wearing what you most identify with at any event. If I feel like wearing latex (and don’t particularly feel like putting on a whole catsuit), I just pick a harness or a choker and go on my merry way. Sometimes it’s fun to go for a more subdued look and be incognito at regular techno parties.” Getting under the second skin with Fetishboy93 “I am a normal professional and hide behind my civil façade while I live a pretty exciting double life”. Playful had a chat with Fetishboy93, another latex fetishist in Berlin. Latex Fetishsit: Under the Rubber by Raf & Way How would you describe yourself? "I am 27 years old and born in Leipzig. It's not easy to define who or what I am. I would say a person that is going through life and trying to enjoy it wherever it goes. Maybe even a little relaxed. I do not submit to any societal norms, but I set out on a journey according to my deepest innermost needs and live them out." "I like to call myself dark black matter with a lot of self-confidence and see myself as a kind of sex artist. Otherwise, I am a normal professional and hide behind my civil façade while I live a pretty exciting double life." When did you first discover your love for rubber, and how did it turn into a fetish? "I discovered my preference for this very accidentally. I was working in a full rubber suit with rubber boots and found it quite nice. The I was tested if I could wear the mask of an acquaintance on a date. From then on, I was aware that I had a latex fetish." "Maybe a month or two later I went to Berlin and bought my first suit and was very happy with it. That is now approximately two and a half years ago. Since then, my latex collection has been growing steadily. And of course, I love the smell of rubber in the bedroom…" I know it can be hard to describe kink, but if you'd try, how would you make us hot for rubber? "I would say the material can give you a nice feeling of security, as it’s like a second skin. Then add another mask, I slip into my role and I’m transformed. It's a lot of fun to completely disguise myself, because masking is unmasking." "In these moments I embody my real self and it's a damn beautiful feeling to be able to be what one imagines. To share this preference with others is a great enrichment for me and in my life. It's shiny, it fits well, it squeaks and it's damn tight." To me, the whole thing also has something very futuristic, artistic and a lot of aesthetics. Therefor, when you read these things, you should consider trying them out. 2Apart from latex, I actually like everything that has to do with leather and rubber . I do not dislike it. Even so, my focus is absolutely on latex. I think everyone has their preferences and decides individually what they enjoy wearing and what get’s them going. One likes this and the other likes that." The pictures you are often taken in public, is there a public fetish as well? "I find it that in Berlin it’s always fun to wear latex in public as well. People respect you for what you are and understand the meaning behind it, or just leave you alone. Maybe that also inspires one or the other to question who you are.To me, latex in public is definitely an enrichment." Different fetishes fit different people, but would you say that there’s one thing that connects you with the other community members, besides being into rubber? "Oh yes, I believe the respect for each other connects us most of all. And maybe a hedonistic attitude to life in general. Then there are the social networks à la Instagram, which nowadays make s it easier for us to meet like-minded people and to express ourselves artistically, even if we have to overcome setbacks over and over again. In my opinion, every individual is looking for ’the meaning of life’, but in different ways and forms." For more latex content, follow @bloodshrimp on Instagram.

By: Amanda Sandström Bejier Photos: Daniel Biskup ’To millions of ravers worldwide, it was the holiday of the techno movement, to others simply the party of their life, and the largest peace demonstration ever.’ - Rave the Planet. Berlin's Love Parade – Rave the Planet The techno demonstration started out as a manifestation for peace through love and music and took place after an initiative from Matthias Roeingh, also known as Dr. Motte, and Danielle de Picciotto. The first one was held in West Berlin in July 1989 and grew tremendously year after year - from 1989 when only 150 people participated, to 1990 with 3,000 participants. It reached its peak in 1999 with 1.5 million participants. Some say that this is what created the colorful cosmopolitan Berlin. The Love Parade lost its demonstration status by court in 2001, caused by a counter-action of some ”haters”. In 2004 and 2005, the parade was cancelled because of its funding problems. As a result, the Love Parade almost went bankrupt which finally led to the sale of the brand. After this Dr. Motte distanced himself from the parade. It moved from Berlin to the Ruhr area, and came to an abrupt ending in 2010 after what’s known as the ’Love Parade disaster’ when panic broke out in a congested tunnel which led to the death of 21 people. As a result of this the new owner, Rainer Schaller from the fitness chain McFit, decided to close down the parade. Still, people are asking when the Love Parade will return and Dr. Motte is convinced that the city would need the energy of the demonstration in Berlin today. He is therefore fighting to bring it back, of course in a safe format and under a new label called „Rave The Planet“. We look back and talk about old times with him, as well as with photographer Daniel Biskup who documented the parade for ten years, from 1995 to 2005." Dr Motte, photo by Zandy Berlin's Love Parade – the return of the rave-olution DR. MOTTE Take us back to the Love Parade - what was it like, what did it mean for Berlin? "It was a Rave-olution. Everything was new and innovative. We invented the dance riot as a form of cultural manifestation of a new, growing youth culture formed around electronic music. It started in July 1989, and shortly after that came the fall of the wall. We, the creative people, could suddenly use many empty spaces in East Berlin. Just free rooms to experiment with and to create a completely new style of living." "This was accompanied by a positive self-revolution, looking for what we actually wanted instead of following the entertainment industry. All we wanted was to dance with like-minded people to this new sound, and create our spaces and our world, together and forever. It was such a strong feeling of togetherness." "Many people feel that Berlin and maybe the whole electronic music scene today, would have been completely different without the Love Parade. Some even say, that the parade helped Berlin and Germany, to finally overcome the bad image from the Nazi era and to be perceived as a new, colorful and cosmopolitan city, and even country." "Contemporary Berlin is now a major magnet that attracts creative minds from all over the planet. And today in particular, it's time again to come together, to create a lobby to protect our culture." Berlin's Love Parade – the return of the rave-olution What’s your greatest memories from the previous Love Parades? "For most of the people who joined the rave culture and Love Parade it was very exciting because it was something we created ourselves that was just for us. 1991 was the first time we Berliners realized that we weren’t alone with our rave culture. Suddenly techno families from many other German cities, like Cologne, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Munich and many other cities, participated with their own floats, styles and artists. It felt like a big „hello “and a nationwide family reunion. It was so good to see that we were a growing, raving community sharing the same values: Peace, Love, Unity and Respect for everyone." You are now fighting to bring back the parade, why does Berlin need it today? "When if not now? There's a massive urge for getting together and strengthening the values, again. Just take a look around – there are so much weird and bad things going on and I’ve always been of the opinion that it is better to strengthen the good rather than fighting the bad." "At ’Rave The Planet’ we're a bunch of enthusiasts, music lovers, dancers, artists, entrepreneurs and creators. We started this venture as a non-profit organization which is based on donations. We want to bring back the true spirit of the Love Parade and we want to support our electronic music culture. For example, we want to have it protected by UNESCO as an Intangible Heritage." "Right now, as the clubs are closed since over one (!) year, we cannot come together and live and develop our culture. Since the pandemic appeared in Germany, there is almost no cultural activity at all. Our government doesn’t recognize our culture as an equal part in society. So, we have to stand together and show that we exist – and we must do it loudly if we are to be heard." Berlin's Love Parade – the return of the rave-olution Will it be a copy of previous years, or do you plan on changing something for the next summer? "First, we had the idea to just continue and show the contemporary electronic music culture in form of a techno parade. But we soon realized that this is not the way to do it. There were many things in the old Love Parade which no longer seem appropriate today." "Sure, we will let the tradition and the culture live on, but we must include the contemporary themes as well, like sustainability, protection of the environment and so on. So no, it's not gonna be a copy-paste-thing but a process of re-modelling an old concept and transforming it into a forward-looking concept, together with the community while still always remaining true to our roots." "We are a good part of the society we are living in and foster the good spirit of music and togetherness. This is what we did – and this is what we like to present. We are creative. We are friendly. We are a unique culture." "If you like the idea, join us and if you can, make a donation for Rave The Planet. See you on 9 July 2022, on the streets of Berlin." Berlin's Love Parade – the return of the rave-olution DANIEL BISKUP What was the Love Parade for you when you discovered it? "I first heard about the Love Parade in the early 1990s. For Germany and Europe it was something very extraordinary and it attracted lots of young people. Techno also matched the lifestyle of the time. I can still remember that on my many travels through Eastern Europe I almost exclusively heard music by Westbam, Marusha, Paul van Dyk, Carl Cox. So, for Dr. Motte to register a demo for peace, joy and pancakes in 1989 was just awesome." Why do you believe these kinds of events find their home in Berlin? "A few months after the first Love Parade, the Berlin Wall fell. The reunification of the city was a great gift to the whole techno music scene. Many vacant buildings in East Berlin became legendary clubs that attracted people from all over the world. The reunified Berlin was wild, anarchistic, and a great playground for young adults. The clubs and the Love Parade became Berlin's biggest figurehead at that time." Berlin's Love Parade – the return of the rave-olution You captured it for ten years starting 1995 - could you notice anything changing during those years? "Of course, the Love Parade has changed over the years. If it was a party for a large circle of friends in the first two or three years, it changed suddenly from 1992 when 15,000 techno lovers danced on the Kudamm for the first time. Even then I wanted to be there, but as a photographer I was busy shooting the upheaval in Eastern Europe, especially in Russia and the former states of Yugoslavia, I always got in between the countries. It wasn't until 1995 that I was able to witness the parade in person for the first time." "It has also changed over the years. Participants from the very beginning complained about the increasing commercialization, and of course, the loss of exclusivity." "By 1997 at the latest, many large companies wanted to take part in it. In 1997, for example, MTV had its own floater and broadcasted live from the Love Parade with DJ Carl Cox, who was then voted the best DJ in the world."

By Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos: Sissi Chen Sissi Chen for Playful Magazine Sissi Chen inspires us with her love for food and cocking. We get some tips on how to think, now that we want to discover Berlin's food scene and its changes since last year. Sissi herself never planned on moving to Berlin but believes she got here for a reason. ”I never planned to move to Berlin, but I guess the universe knew I would like this place. I randomly applied for an internship and packed my suitcase to live in Berlin for 6 month, over ten years ago. It turned out I felt so comfortable, that I just stayed.” Sissi is born in China but grew up in Italy - both countries known for how they communicate through food. Something Sissi believes definitely influenced her own connection and interest. ”I always felt a connection to food, because it is truly a universal language to me. When I was 7, I moved from Beijing to Vienna, and I couldn’t say or understand anything in German other than „Hallo“. It was such a struggle in elementary school with so many language barriers to connect to other people, especially kids. But still, I have some vivid memories exchanging lunches and snacks with the others in my class and felt some kind of belonging.” ”Another reason why food is so near to my heart is because of my grandparents. They basically, raised me, but after moving to Vienna, it was very difficult to still be part of each others lives. I had deficits in the Chinese language and could only do very superficial small talk with them but eating together felt still like home. In Chinese culture, food is the most valuable love language to everyone.” Sissi Chen for Playful Magazine On Sissi’s Instagram, it says:” Bringing people and culture together through food” as well as” Mental health advocate”. We get curious about her view on the connection and how food has affected her mental health. ”The connection is very complex for countless reasons and situations. Food has been my safe space and so comforting, when everything around me - including myself - fell apart. Even most people don’t see and know this, I’ve had a very unhealthy relationship with food for the most part of my life. Food can be so rewarding, fun and interesting, but (not) eating can also feel like a punishment.” Eating used to be highly connected to depression, anxiety and low self-esteem for me. After years of therapy, I’m finally in a good place, even if I still fall back to unhealthy behaviors from time to time.” Today Sissi is writing about- as well as doing vlogs on YouTube. Something that can be quite addictive to watch. They make you hungry, happy and excited about life. A great addiction during lockdown, that at least made me remember how life can be enjoyed to the fullest through food. And it all started very coincidental. ”I started sharing more food content with funny filters on Instagram in 2015 and everyone in my friends’ group was super engaged with it. So, I changed my private profile into a public one and continued sharing everything around food. The inspiration comes from my personal relationship with food, which evolves heavily around belonging, identity and cultural backgrounds.” It’s a big bonus that most places she eats at are local Berlin restaurants - and the Berlin food scene actually introduced new food cultures that Sissi didn’t know much about before coming here. "Before I came here, I didn’t really eat Vietnamese, Arabic, Israeli or Korean food, because all of that was rarely available in Vienna, when I was growing up. So naturally, in Berlin it felt like entering food heaven. I stuffed my face with all kinds of foods that I’ve never seen or heard about before. I learned about all the cultural significances when it comes to food, through eating.” Although it’s not perfect. ”Today I wish Berlin had more variety, especially for underrepresented countries and cuisines. I actually couldn’t find one Uzbek restaurant to eat Lagman or Plov at, which is strange.” "Besides that, one of the coolest things about food in Berlin is the accessibility. It is so easy to dive into another culture and learn about somebody through the food, if you are open and interested. There are minimum barriers to let’s say, walk up to an Indonesian eatery and start chatting. Most of the time, people are super welcoming if approached through food and love to share their perspective and stories.” Sissi Chen for Playful Magazine During the period when restaurant’s been close Sissi has been cooking at home, and shared recipes with her audience. Although she hasn’t forgotten what she missed the most. ”I missed everything. From sitting down and eating from a plate to having some kind of interaction with the people working at the places. Especially the ease and lightness that is connected to enjoying food together in company. And the joy of people running a place because they are truly passionate about what they are doing. I see and appreciate the hard work behind running a gastronomic business and I also see how rewarding it can be to people, when guests enjoy their food.” Although restaurants have been very missed, Sissi points out how food can bring us together in various ways. ”Just to name one out of many, I have met Nitu through Instagram (@familyfoodology), who is from India and moved to Berlin with her husband and son. She wrote me on Instagram one day and invited me to her home to enjoy some superb home cooked Indian food together. Now that restaurants are finally open again, we are thinking about what has- and what may – change. ”I hope it will get more digital. During the pandemic, many places finally switched to non contact payments and I’m hoping for it to stay.” ”The places I missed the most during lockdown was Korean BBQ and Hot Pot. Basically, any types of food that is difficult to deliver and wouldn’t be as enjoyable anymore after it was packed up in a container. To recommend a few I would go to have Korean BBQ at Han BBQ/ Hodori/Arirang and for Hot Pot I would go to Lucky Star.” Sissi Chen for Playful Magazine SISSI RECOMMENDS: A ’life hack’: A “life hack” that I do – and I don’t know if you can call this a “life hack” – is to do a bit of research beforehand and save all the places I find interesting on my Google Maps when I travel. So, you could use the hashtag #berlinfood, #foodberlin or #eatinginberlin and there will be plenty mouth-watering pictures of delicious dishes you might want to try. The cool thing about this hack is, that you will quickly realise the areas on Google Maps that probably are more interesting food-wise than others and plan your way around. Tips: I would recommend people to check out places they usually won’t go to. A lot of times people want or even expect me to recommend the hottest shit in town and a lot of time I do. But more interestingly, I encourage people to also visit the less popular places and try some dishes they are hesitant to try. I guess this isn’t Berlin specific. Top 10 Berlin restaurants by food blogger Sissi Chen: This is very difficult, but I’ll go with a list of food, that is not only delicious, but also culturally interesting: – Bantabaa – Gambian Food ( Kreuzberg) – Mabuhay – Indonesian Food (Kreuzberg) – Magic John’s – NY and Detroit style pizza (Mitte) – Asia Deli – Chinese Food (Wedding) – Cozymazu – Taiwanese Food (Mitte) – Big Bascha – Arabic Food (Moabit) – Hasir – Doner Kebab (Schöneberg) – Der blaue Fuchs – Georgian Food (Prenzlauer Berg) – Swadesh – South Indian Food (Kreuzberg) – Kokio – Korean Fried Chicken (Prenzlaur Berg)

By: Playful Magazine Photos: Alina Rudya Miro Von Berlin for Playful Magazine by Alina Rudya You’ve seen them on the dance floor, early mornings, with infinite energy. In this issue of Playful, we choose to celebrate the audience and the characters that transform the city into a magical place where you can disappear from the outside world for a while. In this series of four, we're starting with Miro Von Berlin . Want to listen to Miro Von Berlin? Check out: Soundcloud – Youtube You’re one of the familiar in the Berlin club scene, how did it all start? I've been going to clubs since I was 14, and dancing on the weekends has always been a crucial part of my life no matter where I lived - Zagreb (my hometown), Singapore, Shanghai, Paris... Moving to Berlin 8 years ago reinvigorated my party lifestyle for several reasons: the parties here were going on for longer than 24 hours (in pre-corona times), there were so many dancing options to choose from every weekend, also I got introduced to techno, and lastly I started meeting like-minded and inspiring ravers. The first few years I often went alone to the clubs, because I didn't really have friends who could follow my party tempo (or at least not every weekend or 2-3 nights in a row), and little by little I formed friendships with other ravers like me, mostly in my favorite place - the dance floor. So, you can imagine how many people I have met by partying almost every weekend here in Berlin, over the last 8 years. Nowadays, it doesn't matter to which party I go to in Berlin, there will always be someone I know there. Your style and clothing is personal and unique. What inspires you and what does dressing up do for you? My style has been a form of expression ever since my childhood, and it brings me so much joy to play around with clothes and to show different sides of me. However, for me personally, everyday situations can be somewhat limiting in terms of what I could wear, but then parties offer me a space of limitless possibilities where I can fully express and reveal myself. One weekend I might show up wearing red mini playsuit with fringes that are moving as I'm dancing, reminiscent of showgirls from Berlin's Golden Twenties but then with a raver twist to it with my chunky platform shoes and long fingerless leather gloves, and next weekend I might be in a tight nude knee-length dress with a black beret and some kind of rope body chain worn over the dress, serving style-commander-gone-kinky look. And both of these sides are part of me - with clothes I choose which side of me I want to convey to the world at a given point in time. Also, I don't believe in making a difference between clothing for men/women, I simply get whatever I feel like wearing and often it happens to be sexy dresses and skirts. I get inspired by my environment, what I see at parties, in the streets, on friends, on Instagram, etc. Previously I've been buying a lot of clothes from fast-fashion brands, but over the years I have shifted towards second-hand, and I love to go digging in Humana or flea markets, actually similar to how I love to dig for new music. Some of my favorite pieces are actually from friends in Berlin who are doing cool stuff, such as Wsiura, UY, Soba.32. Sometimes I also edit pieces, for instance cut off sleeves, or even cut off trouser legs and use them as an accessory to a mini skirt, by fixing them with sexy leather tight belts - these kinds of ideas usually emerge in my head once I'm wearing a piece. What does the club community mean to you, and how does it differ from other relations? As a clubber/raver I have a strong need to be surrounded by fellow ravers, on the dance floor with loud music. It's such a special feeling dancing to good music, around you friends and strangers from all possible backgrounds, fellow freaks, queer creatures, goth babes, and at a certain point you are 100% in that moment not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow, time becomes irrelevant and everything that is happening outside stays outside. You feel the energy flowing through the dance floor and you can feel the special connection to everyone there - we are the ravers, united by the music and dance. So many of my friends, especially the closest ones, I have met on the dance floor. Therefore, it was very hard during the lockdown times, not having the possibility to see all my raver friends at our usual meeting point. I missed dancing with my fellow ravers so much! The way you connect to people at parties is totally different from everyday life - most of the times you skip small talk and dive into a topic, whether it be music, style, experiences with psychedelics, sex desires, etc. For instance, there are some raver friends for whom I have no clue to what kind of job they do or even where exactly they are from, but I know about their experience with Scorpio zodiac, or the whole story of their craziest acid trip. You get to meet people from an angle that is completely different from the usual, and I believe that this broadens one's perspective. Moreover, friendships emerging from this community can easily spill over on the everyday life sphere, whereas you start working with someone you met in the toilet at Homopatik and become close friends; or in the Berghain toilet where you are asked to be painted by an artist and this really happens one day. And over lockdown times you continuously find ways to have fun together and all the experiences you have enhances the bond between you; or the ravers you meet may turn into your besties and spiritual sisters. All of the aforementioned happened to me, and I'm forever grateful for being part of this community. Do you have an all-time favorite memory from a club night or maybe a top 3 that you’d like to share? I have so many amazing memories from Berghain, and one of the last ones was the Freddy K closing just before Berghain closed in March 2020 due to corona. I woke up on Sunday at 4am and started getting ready, and at 7am I arrived in Berghain alone just in time for my friend Tijana T who was playing in Panorama. There was a really nice vibe there with a bit of daylight seeping in through the shutters, mixing with the smoke and club lights, and Tijana got me immediately into the dancing mood with her groovy sensual tunes. Then she played the last track " Madame Hollywood " by Felix da Housecat, and I knew immediately Tijana played it for me as she somehow knew I love this track. That was such a special moment, I had goosebumps and sang out all the lyrics. One year later, Tijana invited me as her guest to Hör Berlin, and I started my set with none other than Madame Hollywood. Back to Berghain on that Sunday: Later that afternoon Donato Dozzy was playing on the Berghain floor, and I was very excited to hear the maestro play, as it doesn't happen often that he plays in Berghain. I absolutely loved his set, it was hypnotic and deep, and I was dancing like under a spell for four hours straight. Some lady, who was in the booth with Donato was giving me water all the time, as she noticed that I didn't take breaks to go for a drink. After Donato's set I went into my 'energy-saving' mode, in order to conserve energy for Freddy K’s closing set, so I was hanging around with friends, flirting a bit and so on. Meanwhile, there was such a crazy queue forming outside of Berghain, some of my friends waited for five hours in the rain and cold to get inside. Just imagine the amount of people who waited for hours and didn't manage to get in. So once Freddy K started on Monday at 2 am, the dance floor was full and he created such an energetic vibe with his fast groovy techno, that he kept rolling until the very end, which was around Monday noon or 1 pm. There was such a great atmosphere on the dance floor till the very end, so many ravers and friends of mine dancing raw, like there's no tomorrow... I can't describe this feeling when the lights went on, and I see all those fellow ravers, some in crazy cool outfits, dancing sexy, and I can feel this groove running through my body and I keep on dancing although I'm dead tired, carried by this positive energy and bliss. What a closing that was, it felt like we were dancing into the infinity. You’re a DJ yourself, what do you seek within the musical experience when clubbing? Actually, my idea to DJ was born on the dance floors, as I found myself yearning for a particular music experience that I wanted as a dancer. I wanted the music to take me on a transcendental journey in a way, to bring me to places I've never been to, to make me experience euphoria and bliss that wasn't attainable in everyday life, to make me feel as one with the people around me, to bring out body movements that I never knew I had, and to allow me to get closer to my essence. I am still exploring how to create this kind of journey to its fullest for others, as a DJ, and I believe I will be able to manifest this over the years as my experience and expertise accumulate. I get a lot of inspiration at parties for my own music, ideas on how to create a certain vibe at a party, what works on the dance floor and what doesn't, what kind of sounds are needed in different environments and during each of the stages of the party, how to build up a warm-up, how to close a set, etc. After all, I'm lucky to be in Berlin where on any given weekend I can hear some of the best DJs in the world and learn from them. I'm obviously very picky with my music and the sound quality, so when these 2 things are on a top level, I'm already very happy. Add to it trippy lights and a cool crowd and you're in for a crazy party! Quick questions: Where are you from? From Zagreb, Croatia. How many years have you lived in Berlin? 8 years. What’s your signature look? My signature is that my look is ever-changing. What’s your fuel? Good music. Favorite DJ? There are several, but if I had to name just one, then it would be Ellen Allien as she has been inspiring me ever since we met. Favorite hour and day of the week at the club? Entering Berghain fresh around Sunday noon and then dancing the night away... Where to find you in the club? See you on the dance floor bebe. Listen to Miro Von Berlin through Soundcloud.

Part of the Pornceptual crew and often seen in a beautiful wedding dress on the Berghain dance floor, Diego or Projekt Gestalten is next in Playful's series with the famous faces of the Berlin ravers. Projekt Gestalten for Playful Magazine by Alina Rudya Tell us how you started wearing a wedding dress as your signature outfit when clubbing? It just came to me. People wear too much black in clubs (including myself) and I got fed up with it. What does the wedding dress represent to you? It represents the combination of both my masculine and feminine sides into one single thing. Not crossdressing as a woman but borrowing parts of all genders to make me whole. Therefore, applying the Gestalt psychology alluded to in my artist alias (Projekt Gestalten). The Gestalt Psychology states that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts; that means, in order for you to understand something, you need to look at the whole picture as opposed to analyzing specific parts separately. Sometimes, I get people asking me in a derisive manner: "are you a man or a woman?" and I only reply: "I am everything..." What’s the best part about living in Berlin, would you say? Berlin can be very unforgiven but it still is one of my favorite places. The best part is the people coming from all parts of the world making the city colorful and vibrant. Without them, this city could not stand as it is. You’ve made a lot of connections at clubs, why are the connections you make at clubs different? I don't know if they are different from connections I make elsewhere. The only difference is that, sometimes, I have very deep conversations with people I will never see in my life again. But that doesn't mean these moments are any less important for me. It’s funny when I stumble with people in another continent and realize I've met that person on the dance floor years ago; on the other side of the world and now we are together again in a whole different context. What do you hope will change for the better once the clubs open up again? No racism and xenophobia anymore. Where are you from? Brazil How many years have you lived in Berlin? Eight long years. What’s your signature look? I think that goes without saying. What’s your fuel? People's energy. Favorite DJ? Me. Favorite hour and day of the week at the club? Sunday afternoon. Where to find you in the club? Everywhere and nowhere!

As one of Berlin’s most iconic and coveted performers, Bishop is involved with various club-, show- and film projects in the city. Starting out in the adult business at the tender age of 19, Playful got curious about how porn shaped him - as well as the importance of sex education from a porn perspective. Bishop Black for Playful Magazine – Photo: Michelle Gutiérrez You came to Berlin from London - what about this city made you chose it? I came to Berlin after working with an artist friend in London. He brought me to Berlin, and I ended up getting involved in the art scene as a performer. I was already in the process of thinking about moving away. I loved London, but I didn’t want to live my entire life there. I wanted to travel and live in other places. So, this was the ticket I needed to make the move. What was your impression of the city the first time you visited? I came three times to Berlin. The first time I loved it. I thought it was amazing. And I fell into the Berlin tourist trope, where I just could not shut up about how cheap it was, how it was so relaxed, and how raw the city felt. The second time I hated it. It was in mid Mars, and it was still winter. The vibe was off, and I was like, what am I doing here?! The last time, I was like ’Fuck it, let’s do it’ and so I moved here in the winter of 2011. How would you describe the years in Berlin when it comes to your growth within your art and performance, as well as a person, and do you believe the city in some way had something to do with it? My growth has been in waves and cycles. Sometimes it’s strong and at other times it’s been really difficult to be creative. I have always felt a necessity to explore the concept of my own identity through my body and through sexuality. Berlin gave me that energy, through the people and ideas within the queer scene, the performance scene and the porn scene. It has given me the space to explore and experiment. The winters bring up the melancholia that brings an introspection that I don’t think I would have had in London, for example. As much as the winters destroy me, they also fuel into my inner goth. Bishop Black for Playful Magazine – Photo: Noel Alejandro How did you find your community in Berlin? Trial and error! Seriously Berlin is so transient sometimes and you make friends with people who leave like two years later. I found people within the aforementioned scenes I gravitated towards and they’re close people. Also, outside of that, I met people through the bar life. Through this, I discovered my community. It always changes, but I’m thankful to have a good group of people who support each other. Have you always been a performer or how was your introduction to performing and what is the reason for you to do it? I’ve always been drawn to performance in some way, and I always loved to dance and sing when I was younger. I stumbled into most of the fields I work in now and it was always on the basis of ‘why not?’ Being in Berlin did nurture that and I became more confident to manifest some ideas that I probably would have doubted in another setting. I also ended up meeting amazing performers in Berlin who inspired me to be more creative. Bad Bruises and the whole crew really helped nurture this a lot, as well as people like Caritia from Karada House and Ballhaus Naunynstrasse. I love being able to perform. It’s a way to channel my feelings and my emotions, whether it’s being euphoric or melancholic. Music is also a catalyst and I love that it can create an atmosphere or a mood that I can utilise for my work. Can you tell us how it was when you decided to start doing porn, and found that you were good at it? I first got involved in the adult industry when I was 19, doing glamour photography and later when I was 23, when I did my first gay porn. It was not until Berlin, that I began to work with porn more frequently and I met amazing directors like Jennifer Lyon Bell, Morgana Muses, Petra Joy and got to meet people I consider to be friends today who also worked in the scene. It gave me the possibility to explore different expressions of sexual identity that made me feel more and more grounded in how I enjoy sex on and off camera. It has not always been so clear cut , simple and without hiccups. How has ’mainstream porn’ affected your view on - and relation to - porn? Porn is still a heavily stigmatized medium and there are definitely some things that can do with improving. But although we are being more open with expressing ourselves and platforms like Onlyfans, that has allowed people (some sex workers and some not) to be able to make money independently, being a sex worker and I mean a full-service sex worker, can still be dangerous. FOSTA and SESTA (the fight online sex trafficking act and stop enabling sex trafficking act) target consensual workers and policewomen’s bodies on platforms like Instagram and Craigslist. There are still laws that are pushed that stigmatize sex workers more than they claim to help them. Yes, there are a lot of things that are very problematic that definitely need to be tackled, but mainstream porn is also affected by the consumer. A revision does need to take place, particularly in the way that we talk about sex with each other, from sex education to being franker about how we are with each other. Bishop Black for Playful Magazine – Photo: Jo Pollox Why is porn and sex education so important? Porn has been used as a form of sex education arguably by the younger people. It is a form of entertainment that some of us watch and talk about, either publicly or privately. And the way we see and talk about pornography is shifting, bringing it out of the ‘shameful’ place we put it in. So, in some way, it’s great that porn has had so much of this continuous exposure, as it normalizes certain things about how we enjoy ourselves sexually and what we get turned on by. Before Tumblr fell, a lot of people curated their own form of sexuality on their pages by sharing content with each other or discussing topics of sexuality and identity. This was a lot more of an accessible way to explore their own relation to sex that traditional sex education did not have. Sex education can be seen as archaic and sometimes does not explore these other forms of non-normative sexual identity and instead can be heteronormative. But we also need to update the ways in which we discuss sex education, from differentiating that all forms of sex are sex, even without penetrative sex. Or how important consent is and how we can properly communicate our desires without feeling shame or shaming others. When Berlin clubs open up - what’s the first place you’ll visit and why have you missed it? To be completely honest, other than the Peepshow at Wilde Renate, I’m not such a club party person. I am more of a bar person. But if there is one party I do miss, it would be BodySnatch. It was one of the best nights I had out, and I had only sweated that much in one other party, which was a random night out at Berghain. What’s one of your best memories in Berlin so far? I think that there are too many good memories to name! What’s your view on the culture of sex parties in Berlin? I’ve had some great times in some sex parties here and some awkward to not so great times. All in all, I love that it can be accessible here and it can be super fun. I actually look forward to that whole scene returning. I also think that there should be a level of responsibility for yourself and each other’s, especially in terms of navigating non sober scenes. You’re also an art performer, in various projects such as ’The peep show’ and ’Weisse Maus’ - do you have any project you dream of doing, and if so, what is that? I forget how grateful I am to have done so much in Berlin, so there’s not so much I would dream about doing. Although I’m always open to experiencing different projects with people. I think what I would like to do is to be more committed to my learning of dance and performance and improve myself.

Christoph Faust (former Inhalt Der Nacht) brings a feeling of being born from ashes and raised, not through fire, but powerful music. Not only did music give him strength to survive, but he also lost himself for some time, pulled himself together and raised even stronger. By Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos by Playful Magazine Christoph Faust for Playful Magazine ”My moms girlfriend told me when I was a young adult that if I hadn’t been to Berghain, I hadn’t really been to a techno club, and she showed me what kind of DJs played there and told me all kinds of crazy stories from when she was there. I got so excited, and finally I had to try it out and went there by myself and stayed for 18 hours.” ”I was so nervous before entering, and waiting those three hours in line, thinking; I hope no one can tell that it’s my first time. Then at the entry they asked me three times how old I was, and I said different things all the time until they took my ID and I was allowed in. It was a complete new world that opened up.” To Christoph it’s not only the sound system and lights, it’s also the architecture of the club and the people who work there. ”To me it’s really important that people care about what they’re doing. That they are doing it full heartedly and committed, and this is something that is very rare but at that place they are fully committed. After that time I went there every week for a couple of years, and it’s what thought me the things I practice today, music wise.” Although what made him buy turntables himself was before this, when being at Tresor. ”My parents had some friends who were interested in electronic music and who got themselves turntables and controllers, so we organized some school partis, super fun but nothing serious. Although when I visited Tresor for the first time and got down to the cage, I saw the relationship between the people who danced and the DJ’s - from this moment I decided to start creating music myself.” Then everything happened very quickly. Christoph started his first project without any thoughts of having it as a career. But things can shift and his first gig took place at that exact spot - Tresor. Christoph Faust for Playful Magazine It’s not difficult to figure out that the parents, who were both big Rock music enthusiasts, have influences his music preferences as well. Even today Christoph listens to Rock when needing to rewind and clear his mind. Music has had a big impact on his life, not the least during his teenage and young adult life. ”I got cancer when I was 18 years old and when I was doing chemotherapy I had some really crazy days when I thought; okay, now it’s over for me.” ”But music with a lot of energy gave me power and strength. It motivated me to keep on going every day. It definitely helped me understand the power that music has, and it’s also around this time I decided that I really want to create music.” It’s easy to spot the influences when it comes to genre within Christoph Faust. Although Rock is still not associated with work for him. ”When I feel that I don’t have more creativity while producing in the studio, I completely stop listening to it, and listen to only Rock music. It relaxes me a lot and clears my mind. The guitars, the singers that are screaming and the power in the music really does a lot for me. It’s like drinking a strong coffee. I love Rammstein for example, it’s funny because most of their songs are love songs, and people don’t recognize that at all. I love the contrast within that.” ”Rock music, with it’s lyrics calms my mind. When I listen to electronic music I’m way more picky, and I always think about how it’s created, why the person chose to do this or that, any why something works well or not. I also start thinking of where I could play it, what energy it needs when being played and at what time I could play it. In my head I’m opening Ableton and am already getting started, no matter where I am. When I love a techno track I can’t stop analyzing it.” ”I need a good club with a really powerful sound system, and a nice crowd around me to get this real techno feeling today, and I’m super spoiled now a days with these things. Techno is made for bringing people together, and to be able to relax with techno everything needs be perfect, orals miming turns it into work.” ”But when I listen to rock, I’m just easy and don’t turn my ’work mind’ on. I just enjoy it from the start.” When it comes to him finding his own voice as a musician, Christoph is his own biggest fan and toughest critique. ”I’m not thinking I’m the best DJ or producer, but when I play, I play for me. I don’t play for the crowd, although I enjoy to share the moment with them and when they dance, but the most important thing is to create the best set possible for myself, and for my label partners.” ”It’s important for me to not lose the fun for myself. I think it has to do with my past and the time when I was sick. I think that if you focus on playing for your own ears, you get a unique style within what you create.” ”Today it means so much to me, every time I play techno at a club.” Christoph Faust for Playful Magazine Christoph has now ben doing it for over ten years, and the road hasn’t been straight to success and knowing what he wants from it. ”I made so many mistakes in the past. I was a barista before, and always prioritized the music. Whenever I got a gig, and my boss didn’t give me the day off, I quit the job without a blink and just left.” ”Really terrible, as I put them all in the shit. I really loved that job as well, but I took the risk and was of course fired and without a job on the Monday after, and had to look for a new job. But besides that I treated my friend really bad and was very egoistic back then. My only focus was to get myself to the point that I wanted to be at. I even forgot to enjoy my life, but most of all to take care of my friends and relationships.” ”Then I had a really bad turning point at the end of my last project Escape To Mars. On one side I got bored of what I created within that, and on the other side I hurt so many of my friends. I was lucky that they told me like ’hey this isn’t you.’” By this time he freaked out and left Berlin for three months and lived in the South of Germany to figured some things out. ”I couldn’t keep on living like that anymore. I realized that when you want something too much, it’s not coming to you. You’re focusing on it so much that you’re ignoring the mistakes you do. I had become an asshole, and I decided that I didn’t want to be an idiot anymore. Today my friend forgave me, and now he’s really proud that I realized it and changed.” ”You have to take time and reflect on what’s really important. The truth is that I wasn’t very happy at this time. I focused too much on my career, and totally forgot about being happy. Whenever I had a really good gig, it was nice, but my mind was always focused on the next step.” Another thing he realized in the South of Germany is that he’s 100% a Berlin kid. ”I really missed my hometown. All parts of Berlin is like visiting a new country. You meet different people every day and can have interesting talks with people who have had so different experiences than you did.” Although some other things has changed since he was a young adult. There among going to clubs to let go on the weekends. ”This is one bad things that happens when you play at so many different clubs. I started to get very picky when it comes to clubs. I really like seeing when people work their asses off to create something with 100 percent commitment. Today I would say Berghain is my go to, due to their engagement and the energy they put into it.” ”Berghain has a crazy sound system, amazing lights, almost always a really really nice crowd and the whole architecture is perfect. The crowd is also really respectful when they se a DJ and respect that we come there to let go, just like they do, and they don’t bother you. This is something that can get very strange at some other clubs sometimes. People can assume that they can talk to you at all times and that you can take time away from privacy to talk about what tracks you played at some party or whatever.” ”But I have to learn this as well. I’m still pretty young, and my friends always tell me that I’m too nice, because at the same time I’m so happy for the people who appreciate my music, but it can go too far. Sometimes I don’t drink and let go at all, because I’m scared someone who knows of me will see me and say something negative about it. But I do want to get fucked up once in a while, I need that as well.” Christoph doesn’t think the ’super star thing’ really fits the underground scene and hopes it won’t escalate. ”Well it’s weird. Techno DJ’s shouldn’t be treated like super stars. Because in the end we’re just people who enjoy the music and to make a party and staying awake for a long time in clubs, just like the ones who are listening.” ”I think these years, with Corona and lockdown, has separated the techno scene more. On one side there are big locations and giant DJ’s, and on the other side there are DJ’s like Freddy K who are; very popular, but so underground that they prove that it’s not necessary to have a hype.” ”I also hope that Instagram will become less important. Sometimes I feel like stop posting photos of myself, and create a website to put my schedule on. We don’t need all photos really.” TOP 3 DJ’S – Peryl & Vergil – Quelsa – Inox Traxx

SPFDJ talks about the importance of sex positivism, her hardcore techno lifestyle, and her thoughts on anal. On her journey she continues to prove her critics wrong, or actually, they are pretty good at invalidating themselves. By Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos: Rachel Colless SPFDJ for Playful Magazine Her friend and colleague Hector Oaks describes SPFDJ on Resident Advisor with the words: “Her Insta was deleted for nudity and offensive content. Plays techno dystopia, gabber kicks looking angry but classy. May get with the staff, drink other artists beers, regrets it when she wakes up but forgets it when she steps up. Book at own risk." Together with that mentioned above, many people would agree that these two techno DJs are taking the 'rock star dream’ to a new level with their lifestyle. To Lina Jonsson it’s just normal to sleep 20 minutes here and there, totalling three hours during weekends, due to prioritizing a good party. The busy lifestyle with lots of partying did come to a halt during the pandemic, as it did for everybody else. Lina says that she’s not the same person that she was before the Covid outbreak. With comfortable eye contact, Lina is somebody you immediately get a feel for, as being smart, secure, and fearless. The first mentioned is backed up by her personal history since she’s a physicist who studied astrophysics in Leeds and later in Potsdam. Some people probably even expected her to become an astronaut rather than a DJ. “Since that was my big interest, it’s really weird when people talk about wanting to become an accountant or work with PR. In my world it’s been more natural wanting to study space, or even go there myself.” SPFDJ for Playful Magazine She did play the keyboard when growing up, although her introduction to electronic music was much later through one of her best friends at the university. “He was a legend. He had his own big YouTube channel where he posted UK Bass music, and he sent me lots of fresh music. I also heard it out at parties, and suddenly I was stuck and spent all my time with electronic music. I used to even hang out in the chat at Boiler Room back in the days when it was new,” Lina laughs, continuing, “I was a big nerd. I guess I still am. When I like something, I dive deep and don’t do anything else. Right now, for example, I’m all about psychology.” It makes total sense that Lina came to settle in Berlin in order to study, as she was offered a doctoral position in Potsdam. Although partying hasn’t been de-prioritized and you can kill two birds with one stone… “When it comes to astrophysics, there were better alternatives for me. But then, here I could live in Berlin. When I’ve visited the city to party in the past, I’ve always felt at home here.” The ‘rock star lifestyle rumor’ did not happen by coincidence. Although, today her priorities have changed, as her interest in psychology got ignited and she started to go through her own family history with a new lens, and deal with past traumas. “I realised that I was keeping myself busy to avoid dealing with stuff, and partying is a great tool if you want to distract yourself from your baggage. I have suffered a lot from depression and mental illness, and I guess you find your own ways to deal with it. That’s also why I loved Berlin and felt at home here. I didn’t exactly stand out from the crowd for wanting to party a lot here.” “It can be both good and bad. Sometimes it’s probably a bit too easy to find a party here. It can be a trap where you lose track of your own problems because there are always other people more fucked up.” “Thankfully now I’ve come to realize that I’ve been running away from problems, and instead I’ve chosen to actually deal with them.” Being a Swede from a small village in the north, she left in order to get away from a judgmental atmosphere that you tend to find in those places. I am more drawn to a wide range of characters, such as we have in Berlin. “In many ways you’re not judged here by anyone, people do their own thing. I haven’t lived in Stockholm or such, but I get a feeling that people there are judgmental too, and everyone dresses the same. It’s pretty boring. I am more drawn to a place with a wide range of characters, like we have in Berlin.” “I don’t really do small talk either, and here I have my crowd and we just skip that part and go right into depth.” Even if Lina’s life pace is a lot calmer now, you get a feeling that she’s comfortable with having a lot on her hands and does everything in her own time. “I guess that’s also a reason why I like it here, there’s always a lot to do, but everyone is walking slowly in the streets, and they don’t rush. The same goes for the subway, well sure it can be annoying if you yourself are in a hurry and people are just standing motionless in the middle of the escalator. It’s so different from London where you really feel the effect of capitalism on people, and they run everywhere in the subways. Here it’s alright to have a beer by yourself on a bench, or walk with it at 9am on a Tuesday morning, people won’t see that as a reason for considering you a drunk or a miserable person,” she says, continuing, “The weekdays can stand still, yet the weekends can also be chaotic, it’s up to you what you choose.” “Then the worst part with Berlin is probably that it can be easy to get stuck. Especially if you have a penchant for escapism. It can be hard to seek help for problems in other ways since it’s so normalized here to distract oneself.” Since this is something that Lina explains she has been good at doing herself, and the normal tour life is getting more present every day, she can’t say how that’s working out for her yet. “Well, let’s see how it goes. I’m a bit nervous about it myself to be honest since it’s been over a year since I lived that hectic lifestyle.” SPFDJ for Playful Magazine In Berlin, Lina is connected to Trésors Herrensauna. A gig she got through her friend sending them her mix. After being booked on the day before New Year’s Eve 2016, she became a regular. It’s a form of rebellion against the ways that female sexuality is being suppressed, something that has made me quite angry Another thing we bet you know about Lina is that she’s not exactly a prude. Following her on Social Media you see her posts about anal sex, butt plugs and other sex toys – something her audience goes along with. This is not new, but evolved from Linas sexual explicitness, long before becoming a recognized DJ. Going pretty much naked to Berghain was not unfamiliar. “It’s a form of rebellion against the ways that female sexuality is being suppressed, something that has made me quite angry. But then of course the butt plug thing and all, go hand in hand with the hardness of the music I play. I probably wouldn’t have screamed as much about anal sex as I do, if I played piano. It reflects part of my severity.” But again, all this slut shaming is so tiring. Therefore, speaking about, and being, sex positive, and yet be taken seriously as a woman, is something that still needs to be fought for. “But again, all this slut shaming is so tiring. Therefore, speaking about, and being sex-positive, and yet be taken seriously as a woman, is something that still needs to be fought for. One person criticized me on Twitter saying that I was embarrassing for shouting about anal sex every chance I got, and compared me to a 13-year-old boy in the back of the class shouting profanities, which is ironic – as he just proved why I need to do it, without realizing it. He wouldn’t compare me to a 13-year-old girl – and that says a lot about how girls are being limited in a way that boys aren’t.” “Some people also suggest that I use my sexuality to get followers, and again – they all keep proving my point. If they only knew that I actually lose followers every time I post anything about sex. It’s interesting to believe that someone would get gigs for posting about sex. It just makes me so sad to realize what a big problem this still is.” “Another thing that I’ve talked about with my male friends who work within the music scene, is that they can find hook-ups for the night after their set – and that’s just rock n’roll. Meanwhile when a woman does it, she’s considered to be unprofessional.” With or without being affected in various ways within the male-dominated scene, Lina has also struggled to feel worthy of the success she’s got. “There are so many extremely talented DJs out there that don’t get the same kind of gigs that I do and feeling deserving of them is something that I’ve worked on. This doesn’t mean I don’t have confidence in my skill, but I see many talents go unnoticed. I’m good at what I do but I’ve also been lucky.” Another problematic thing, besides feeling unworthy, can be to be overly influenced by others, losing touch with what actually is your own quality and niche. You need to find your own uniqueness, and build on that “Finding your niche and what you’re good at is very important when you start off, and during the whole journey, as well. This is what makes you stand out from the crowd. Since there’s so much competition, you need to find your own uniqueness, and build on that. Copying someone else will only make you a worse DJ since your way of doing it already comes from an authentic place and as a copycat you are only playing to other people’s strengths.” SPFDJ for Playful Magazine SPFDJ’s label Intrepid Skin has signed many new DJs. Spotting someone else’s skill is something that can be a lot easier than spotting and approving of your own productions. “I started Intrepid Skin partly with the intention to eventually release my own music without having to wait for anybody else’s approval. It was cocky of me though (she laughs) as I’ve realised how much harder it is to judge your own music and sometimes you need that unbiased filter of another label manager. It’s also been difficult not having audiences to test the music on.” “The processes of producing and DJing are very different. When I DJ I’m tapping into intuition and feeling that I built up from years of being on the dance floor myself before I started to DJ.” “Finally it is important that within any aesthetic field you need to be careful about listening to what others have to say about you but also to think twice about who you ask for feedback. Even record labels and big producers, as their words aren’t some absolute truth, unless maybe their suggestions are something technical. Often it can be better to just listen to what feels right for you and where you have a flow. Don’t get confused by other people’s opinions because then you may just end up sounding like a wannabe version of them.” 10 QUICK ONES Tallin or Mallorca? Tallin 2 L cheap wine or a rare IPA? Both Sex party or Masquerade? Sex party New Age or Satanism? Satanism PornHub or Erika Lust? Erika Lust Vabali or Hasenheide rave? Never been to either. But probably Vabali. Money or sex? Both Real housewives of Beverly Hills or Harry Potter? Real Housewives of BH Camping or 5 star hotel? 5 star hotel Whitney Houston or Ozzy Osbourne? Whitney German kneipe or Soho House? Kneipe, always!

On December 14 2020, THE CODE’s doors opened for the first time in Berlin and a new place for fetish and club fashion was born. PHOTOS BY: ACHSO The Code Berlin This article is sponsored by THE CODE . The people behind THE CODE have been frequent club goers themselves since years and the connection to the fetish and club community was already strong before the premiere. “While out partying, you meet so many creative people - artists and designers from different subcultures, making their own outfits, creating new styles and contributing to the whole aesthetic of the Berlin scene. I wanted to find a way to somehow bring them all together.” Dor Ramon, owner of THE CODE says. “The idea was to make a shop that gave all these designers, niches and subcultures a stage. That, by combining them, we could somehow recreate - and contribute to - the rich, wild and free experience and environment that is the Berlin scene.” After a successful opening, the pandemic hit Berlin and we all know the result. But the new unforeseen circumstances also came with opportunities for the new store owners. “We spent lockdown sourcing our first collection from Berlin designers and providing outfits to live stream events for clubs like KitKat and Insomnia. This was the first time we got to see our collections on the bodies of those who’re living the true lifestyles we wish to promote.” The Code Berlin What you really notice when you step into THE CODE is the love and relationship with the local designers. The Store Manager Michelle is happy to tell you about the history of the different styles and designers. The interest is genuine and means that the customer gets a personal relationship with the clothes that hang well placed in the store. The most important thing is keeping a majority of Berliner designers in our collections. Our workers know all our designers personally - and know the stories behind their designs by heart. It's important for us to spread these stories, showing customers exactly what they're buying and where they came from. We want to give each of our designers their own place and stage in our store. Big, established brands sit alongside unknown and upcoming ones and if we see someone in a club wearing a homemade harness or outfit we like, we’ll ask them: would you like a space in our store? We see it as our mission to push these young Berlin brands forward. Dor Ramon makes a careful selection of what should be represented in the store, to create the best atmosphere and mix. “We choose a designer’s products based on their uniqueness, exclusivity, the way they translate onto the body, but, most important of all, we want designs which can be easily combined with other designs to make new outfits” he explains. The Code Berlin After an autumn that is slowly beginning to return to normal, customers have begun to flock to THE CODE again. Many people choose to stop by before it's time to line up for the club, as the opening hours are generous on the weekends. “We want to build a place where any individual can explore themselves, their kinks and their sexuality without judgement, without the risk of discomfort or embarrassment - and also where they will find something - a product, outfit or accessory - to help them express themselves. “I’ve never understood the difference between what makes something niche, alternative or mainstream. I don’t see the use in categorizing. With THE CODE, we’re finding a common ground between all subcultures”

By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photos: Playful Britt Kanja's passion for dancing and bringing people together led her to open the doors to one of the oldest famous clubs in Berlin, the 90 ° as a co-partner, just before the fall of the wall. During her lifetime she has seen Berlin change several times and now she gives her trust to the culture and the creative people in the city. Britt Kanja by Playful Magazine A Lady dressed often in different shades of yellow, with an eye-catching headdress on top, lights up the sidewalk in the magnificent parts of Charlottenburg where she comes rolling on her kick scooter. That Britt Kanja is Berlin's own Audrey Hepburn, can be seen from a long distance. We sit down together at one of Kanja's favorite cafes and she begins a greeting procedure for both the staff and the guests who light up upon seeing her. Immersed in Kanja's presence, the stately turn-of-the-century apartments and the café staff's way of dressing up, we forget that we’re in Berlin for a moment. Britt Kanja orders a strawberry ice cream and a mint-ginger lemonade which she happily recommends as a fresh summer drink. We hand over some previous issues of the magazine and her gaze is drawn directly to another Berlin icon, Oumi Janta, who was featured on the latest cover. In the summer I use either my scooter or my skates, they are my Ferraris. “I’m a roller skater too, but not as good as she is,” Britt says, and she talks about how she skated both as a child and later as a young woman in San Diego, California, where she lived for many years. Today it is either the roller skates or the kick scooter that is her means of transportation. “In the summer I use either my scooter or my skates, they are my Ferraris.” Britt Kanja by Playful Magazine Britt Kanja was born in Berlin, just five years after the war, in a city that had recently been divided into East and West. “It was a ruined city, and it was totally flat in most areas because of the bombings. Even my mother's apartment was bombed, so my father and her found a place in Wedding, which is now Mitte. " One time, I was out walking and this big group of nazis came up to me. This young guy saw me, stood up in front of me and asked me, ‘What do you have on your head?’. I said in Berlin slang, ‘It is a curtain don’t you see?‘. And he just went silent. A part of her upbringing was spent in the slightly tougher neighborhood areas in Wedding, where she learned to never express fear, which made her street smart. “One time, I was out walking and this big group of Nazis came up to me. This young guy saw me, stood up in front of me and asked me, ‘What do you have on your head?’. I said in Berlin slang, ‘It is a curtain don’t you see?‘. And he just went silent. I knew if I was about to say something normal, I would lay on the ground. My thing is to never have fear.” Another reason why Britt is the colorful and unique personality she is today is due to her mother. When Britt became a teenager in 60's Berlin, her mother placed a great deal of responsibility on her, without putting any pressure on her. “I had a wonderful mother, and what she did to me when I was 14 has been very important to me. She did the best thing you can do to a young teenager. If she would have forbidden anything, I would have done it, and she knew that. So, she told me ‘Britt, now is the time. I give you all your freedom, you can come home whenever you want, but you must find your own borders and you are responsible for yourself. Whenever something happens, you can always come to me. I'm your best friend and it doesn’t matter what happened.’” Her mother's actions during her teens resulted in Britt rarely feeling any guilt over being who she was and is. She says that during some early adult years she experienced that some people were against her, which she later identified as a kind of subconscious jealousy. There I learned, that I don´t have to move within the limits that others want to set for me. Her mother's attitude and freedom took her to dance and the love for culture, the area she decided would be her career. Inspired by American music, which she had access to in West Berlin, she started dancing. “I love to dance. In that time, 1964, West Berlin was the center of gay life in the world. The gay clubs were thriving, and we had all the drafted American soldiers and their radio stations. In that way you got all the music that was new in America. Everything was changing, we had to discover the world and it was the flower power revolution. I was in the middle of it, life felt so alive.” Her blooming dance career eventually took her to Switzerland and Lugano. There she met William on the dance floor, the American who became her passionate love and husband shortly afterwards. Her male dance partner back then became suspicious and jealous that William was taking more and more of her time, so she chose to quit her dance career and accompany William to California I had LCS, Life Changing Sex We ask what made Britt take the final decision to leave the dance career and follow William to America. “I had LCS, Life Changing Sex,” she says, laughing. “I got a cultural shock in California at first because I´ve never experienced such a high number of people who couldn´t make up their own mind. That made me concerned of not getting kicks anymore”. Britt experienced a social climate different to what she knew before, but after a while she found her social hangouts and a adorable bunch of close friends. Not all love lasts a lifetime. After a little more than five years she decided to move back to Berlin. “I don´t want to miss the time in America, where I learned about enormous aspects of life and my own self” Back in Berlin in the mid-1980s, Britt got a cultural shock again - feeling that the Berlin she left had gotten colder and more egoistic. She decided to change that and partnered up with her new friend Bob Young who would become her partner starting what would soon be Berlin's hottest nightclub in the late ‘80s and‘90s, named 90°. Britt Kanja by Playful Magazine “We became very close friends Bob and me, spending both days and nights together. Bob liked to dance too, and we had that energy so we could attract people that are motivators to others. And then we started to think about starting our own parties. We saw that we needed a change in Berlin. We needed joy. We started to create parties every four to six weeks in different locations and named it Tanzstelle. We gathered people around us with beautiful souls and spirits to create joy. Joy is a very exciting wisdom, actually.” After the parties started and got more and more successful there was an opportunity to take over a big old shoe store, with massive windows pointing at Hermannplatz in Neukölln. The city wanted to tear down the building and we got a good deal to rent it during the last year of its existence. “We had it for a bit more than one year and called it Hermanns Fenster. Many artists were having showcases in the windows, and we had the club inside. In that way we got new decorations every month. It was a really good spot for the artists who could get their art showcased for the public passing by.” After the continuing success of the old shoe store, Britt, Bob and their wonderful team took over an old car repair shop in Schöneberg, in 1989 just before the downfall of the wall, and this became 90°. The time was politically vibrant in Berlin and Britt clearly remembers when the wall finally came down. In 90°, East and West Berlin melted together quickly and after one month, the difference wasn’t visible anymore “We were just in the middle of it. The first night, the second or third as well, we had a party at the club. I remember seeing a lot of pale people with big open eyes. It was like they were shocked but in a good way. In 90°, East and West melted together quickly and after one month, the difference wasn’t visible anymore. We the Club Scene, the creative, gay, hetero, androgynous, beautiful souls of all ages, wealthy and poor made Berlin come together.” 90° went on until 2007 with celebrities as Leonardo DiCaprio, Britney Spears and George Clooney visiting over the years. Everything has its own time. Today, Britt Kanja lives a lively life in Charlottenburg, riding her scooter, spreading joy on the streets of Berlin. She’s famous on social media for her style, her charisma, her authenticity, her philosophical quotes and for dancing, many times with her bbf Günther Krabbenhöft. She enjoys to have more time for herself now - that has kept her from attending as many events as before. “The thing is that I get all this invitations, I could do ten events every day, most of them with very good DJs and lovely people. But at a certain age you have to be careful that you don’t overdo it. And the same goes for young people. If it gets too much you can lose yourself. It can lead to a burnout. A soul burnout. I’m taking care that I always take time by myself to be creative.” Having experienced a Berlin after both World War II and the Cold War, Britt has seen the city change before. She is concerned about the right-wing extremist forces and that society is ignoring climate change. But there is a glimpse of hope. “There are so many incredible forces, many of us have resilience, and it’s important that open-minded people lead the way. One genius feeds another genius and I hope that we can finally see a more open and joyful society again.”