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Belly dancing, queer activism and an inspiration for people who want to find their true self. Darvish is on a journey to make Berlin more authentic. By: Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos: Playful Magazine The Darvish for Playful Magazine Darvish’s decision to come from Syria to Berlin was made easy for him since some of his childhood friends werealready living in the city. “When you know someone in Europe it already encourages the move to that location. My first two years I spent here on a student visa, since I got accepted at Leipzig University and also in Saarbrücken, but I knew that I would start off in Berlin and I consider that decision one of the best I’ve made so far. Berlin is where I was meant to be and it’s where I feel at home.” Arriving without expectations, and without ever having left Syria, made Darvish open up to all new experiences. He left his heart and mind completely open. “Coming to a new place to start afresh, you’ve got to have that mentality of openness and acceptance in order for others to be able to accept you. People tend to be scared of the unknown so making yourself transparent allows others to do the same and to be more approachable. So, I never experienced a cultural shock. Whenever someone asks me about my first week in Berlin, I say… ‘I was walking completely naked in a ‘men only’ sauna. That’s how free I felt’.” “There was a relief in feeling that I can be or do whatever I want, I always craved this kind of independence. Thinking about it now, even back in Syria I had the tendency and will to be independent. And I would choose this city again for exactly that reason: the freedom.” Today Darvish is part of the vibrant artistic queer community in Berlin, which also means that he is a part of the magic it lends to the city. “We make Berlin’s night and cultural life alive and energetic, and I’m drawn to this powerful force. You can’t deny the strength of Queer art”. The freedom, the queer community and the nightlife are the ingredients that make Berlin the place he decided to live in. But the pandemic has left its mark, he says. “Needless to say, Berlin’s reputation and its clubs make it the raver’s number one destination. Though in the last pandemic year it has lost a bit of its charm I must say. We lost our spaces, and we lost our dancing. We said goodbye to our favorite clubs and venues. But the true Berliners will bring it back even better.” The Darvish for Playful Magazine But Berlin is not just a rose garden. As much as the city is a queer haven for the Darvish and many others, it can also be brutal and harsh. This is shown by the increase in violence towards the queer community. "Berlin is really good when you are in a good place, and it’s so bad when you’re in a bad place" “In a way, every metropolitan city has its dark side. In this case it can be noticed by the increase of violence towards our community. That’s why, in my opinion, we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to achieving safety for everyone. I always say Berlin is really good when you are in a good place, and it’s so bad when you’re in a bad place. It’s like this energy vortex that sucks you in only to amplify your own thoughts and energy. You must be tough to live in this city and me personally I have proved to myself that I can be strong enough for both myself and for my community – and this is something that I’m proud of.” Today Darvish is co-organizing the famous Queens Against Borders parties that started in 2015 as a response to several of the political views and ideas surrounding refugee reception. He saw how some politicians tried to make a connection between immigration as a threat to queer culture as it was often linked to extremism and controversial values. For Darvish, the problem was not so black and white. And as a queer identifying person from Syria, he decided to act. “This is something big that political parties are still talking about even after 6 years, accusing immigrants of importing antisemitism or extreme Islamism. Queer and trans people are in a very specific position where we are very useful in various countries for different reasons since we can be held up as a marker of civilizational sophistication. Where their tolerance towards us is used to cover up other crimes,” he says. “Therefore, Queens Against Borders allows a platform for those exact trans and queer people to have their own voice to be able to tell their own stories and change the narratives that authorities are misusing. And to create a place where trans- and queer folks feel like they’re safe and they belong. We discuss political and societal issues at our stage in a context of entertainment and through art and culture, in the recent years we have seen how important this is and what it means for our communities. So from here on the only way is to support the others, be it individuals or organizations, and that’s how it should be in my opinion. Together we are stronger.” The goal of Queens Against Borders is to add more authenticity to Berlin and shine light on the queer community, establish a platform as well as to protect its members. After the pandemic, the group wants to evolve across national borders as well. “Berlin is diverse and colorful but still lacking proper representation. So far, I haven’t seen correct representation of our community and I’m trying my hardest to change that. Berlin needs authenticity and we bring that to our events. In my own events or at QAB, we try to shine a light on a community that is very often marginalized and give it the chance to connect with the more established queer creative community of Berlin.” Our dreams are big. Always. “Our dreams are big. Always. Our goal is to provide a safe platform for many others to be themselves and own their power and their story so as to share their culture, heritage, art, and love for the community. We will be back organizing events soon enough. But for now, we are trying to prepare a Self Defense Workshop for our trans and queer resident artists and anyone that would like to join. Seeing the increase in hate crimes and violence hitting our community we want to provide protection and what better way to protect yourself than knowing how to hit back in self-defense?” “Another dream of ours is to take our message and spread it to include refugees and artists from outside Berlin. We were very close last year to go to Sweden and Greece but then the pandemic hit so we hope we’ll be able to take this step soon.” The Darvish for Playful Magazine But finding and becoming a part of the queer community was something that helped Darvish to find out more about himself and brought him confidence. “The journey for me to find myself, before I speak about finding my community, was not so easy. I believe I’m a product of many human intersectionalities, when I arrived in Berlin, I volunteered to various actions for supporting the refugee communities because I wanted to give back to them and be part of their processes. Then I was one of the first who participated in founding the safe space for refugees to learn Voguing which resulted in us founding our own Kiki House with the support of ASDIQA foundation. Afterwards, as I was building my career in performance art, I became an important part of nightlife and club culture. I found confidence in my work there. "In Berlin it’s easier to find a community that you fit into because there’s something for everyone" "So, for me to find myself and my personalities in each of those communities and learn more about myself, is a blessing and a privilege and it all goes back to this one thought of having an open mind and receiving new input. But it also comes down to how you take those inputs, repurpose and create something good with it. In Berlin it’s easier to find a community that you fit into because there’s something for everyone.” On Instagram, Darvish posts his belly dancing videos. For him, the dancing is essential, but it took its time to be comfortable in his own skin. “I started dancing on stages only four years ago out of mere coincidence and it was never planned as a career, I found my voice through dancing. At first, I was very self-conscious about it and anxious of how people would perceive me. I grew up with the idea that men shouldn’t dance and that they should always present masculinity and never femininity, so I wasn’t comfortable doing belly dance in front of anyone. It took me a while to be very comfortable in my own skin and one thing that helped me to gain confidence was the Voguing community and how it taught me that’s it’s okay to mess up a move or not be precise. I learned how to live with my imperfections but at the same time to have total control of my body. And that by itself brought me power and confidence.” “When I dance. I’m not only representing myself or my culture. But also, the communities that I’m part of here and my journey through them.” With gaining more and more confidence and feeling increasingly comfortable expressing the feminine side through dancing, Darvish now inspires others. “I always say: You cannot truly own anything if you’re not comfortable with it. So first you must be comfortable with who you are. It didn’t come easy in my case either. At the beginning I was not completely happy showing my feminine side, telling myself all kinds of words that put me down. This was particularly true with the body dysmorphia of acting straight and being masculine to be accepted in a clique of our community, which is another problem in itself, but then I realized I must live my true self. We only live once and to spend this life being someone else is redundant. I wouldn’t like to lie to myself anymore and act as if I’m only one thing. I’m so much more and I’m proud to show it. So be authentically yourself and you’ll realize your power.” The advice for someone that would like to explore their femme sides is to experiment and try different types of clothes. Remember that clothes have no gender. It’s a piece of fabric and you wear it and not vice versa “Try them out and explore how you keep it in mind. Remember that clothes have no gender. It’s a piece of fabric and you wear it and not vice versa. Makeup is a tool of enhancement, a way to boost what’s already beautiful and emotions are there to be expressed, it’s what makes us human and a way to communicate, evolve and be. And always, listen to yourself.”

Kicki Yang Zhang practicing Shibari with Marie Sauvage. Photo: J Konrad Schmidt Bondage, trust issues and fetishism. The intimacy created by Shibari artist Marie Sauvage is another form of unspoken communication. Playful got curious about Miss Marie, who is one of few women giving the Japanese art form a feminine perspective. ”All practices of Japanese aesthetics are informed by Zen philosophy, including Shibari. Shibari is an activity of acute mindfulness, which puts both rigger and muse in a meditative trance. The precarious nature of lifting a body on thin ropes requires years of mastery- from learning reliable knots, to developing an understanding of the anatomy of the body, and a basic command of physics. The rigger must act with expert agility to not damage the delicate nerves and muscles of their muse. Suspension gives one an intense body high from the rush of endorphins that lingers long after they are released from the physical ties.” - Marie Sauvage; ”Rope on the body was first used during the Samurai era to capture prisoners and criminals, a martial art called Hojojutsu. Even today, Japanese policemen always have rope in their vehicles. This intricate form of binding evolved over the centuries to have erotic derivations, which eventually expressed itself in theatrical performances and paintings in Japan. It’s popularity finally proliferated with the internet connecting bondage enthusiasts worldwide. They thought themselves strange and unique with their rope fantasies, and now the world has realized this visceral desire to be bound is an universal yearning. Whether its for meditative, aesthetic or erotic reasons, Shibari is a powerful tool to find the pathway to one’s inner self.” I’ve always been fascinated by sexuality since I was a kid Marie Sauvage performing Shibari. You come from the art and design world, have you ever been interested in kink before, or did it grow from the aesthetics of Shibari? ”I’ve always been fascinated by sexuality since I was a kid. I wasn’t particularly interested in heteronormative sex, but the psychology of desire. This was a natural progression throughout my life, a sort of primal impulse to explore that became better articulated and understood as I became an adult. Shibari is the most aesthetic and cerebral kink practice, so my fascination settled on there and it’s been the best way of erotic self expression.” You began your rope practice after meeting Shibari master Hajime Kinoko at his art installation at Burning Man, what was the fascination about for you? ”I remember vividly the emotional reaction I had, before having an educated explanation of the practice of Shibari. it was so visceral, speaking to me on a deeper level. It felt dangerous, the dance between the ropes vulnerable, but always done with a tenderness in Japan - it felt like it encapsulated the act of falling in love. The trust to let someone catch you when you fall, the suspension of the ground, like a symbolic act of transcendence into a high state of being. I felt immediately drawn in, I never wanted to be parted from that universe.” Do you believe Shibari should be brought to the mass, and in what way has performing it taught you? ”I don’t want Shibari to be brought to the masses, I only want to use my perspective to show it in a positive way to my audience. Anything that comes to mass attention loses it’s true essence, especially something sexual. In a sex negative society, the sexual aspect of some aesthetic ritual or act will be stripped away from it, to distance it from the stigma.” – ”Mainstream publications have told me I should open Shibari clinics, like yoga studios, and I don’t like the idea of erasing the sexuality of rope to make it more palatable. So what if people are afraid of it? Why run away from our sexual nature? Why run from our shadows? To erase the shadow would take away the spiritual importance of BDSM, the point of it is to make peace with your inherent darker human nature and sublimate it into something pleasurable, cathartic or beautiful.” Marie Sauvage doing shibari on model. Photo: J Konrad Schmidt Berlin is somewhat known for it’s kink scene - would you describe your events to differ depending on the city you’re hosting it in, and if so, in what way does Berlin differ from for example NY or Paris? ”I see myself as constantly creating fantasies, which means I have to be flexible, and my fantasies draw inspiration from my environment. So I adapt or come up with new ideas in relation to where I am. Usually I like to create romantic, baroque images inspired by an old European aesthetic because it’s so visually delicious to look at.” ”In Berlin, which is known for its industrial vast spaces, I felt more inspired to play with scale, negative space, and silhouette. It was a more emotionally removed approach to Shibarithan I usually do but satisfying to play with a different mood. In terms of the audience of the events, I have found that Berlin has much more of a female audience than any city I have spent time in. I’m happy to see so many women take initiative in their pleasure.” Many people are talking about the way our subconscious minds are defining our lives. In what way does Shibari free the subconscious mind, and how can you use it to heal? ”The practice of Shibarican be hypnotizing, even trancelike. A susceptible person is allowed to regress into their subconscious, which in kink vernacular is called subspace. In this mental space, along with the physical restriction of the ropes- a person will lose their mental defense mechanisms, and can be confronted with their own vulnerability. My rope partners have given me feedback in these moments, that other situations related to phobias and emotional traumas come up during these sessions. Facing these repressed emotions while being held by ropes with a trusted partner helps people recontextualize their emotions around trust and vulnerability.” What is Shibari? Shibari is originated in Japan and is a contemporary form of bondage, based on ropes. The word Shibari means "to tie" and the practitioner ties knots that are attached to the body to give a feeling of sensation. Shibari is practiced in the BDSM scene, among other places, but originates from Japan. Sometimes Shibari goes under the name Kinbaku. Interested in Marie Sauvage and her work? Visit her website to delve deeper or have a look at her Instagram . Article written by: Amanda Sandström Beijer

Métaraph for Playful Magazine – Photo by: Zeina Idris Bizarre and beautiful face jewelry, intense DJ-sets and plans of creating a new safe space for the queer community with their own label. Playful welcomes the new kid in town – Métaraph. Jewelry, music production and DJing. Under the name Métaraph, Raffaello Donnaoia works on a variety of projects and often tours the world. Born in Italy, they moved to London in 2014, where their creative career gradually took off. “Once I arrived in London I had to put my artistic interests to the side to become a responsible adult that pays their own rent. Although at one point I couldn’t hold back anymore and started to create again. My interests are mostly within fashion and performance art. Starting out with this part of my career from within the London underground queer techno scene.” Raffaello resigned from their day job as their jewelry brand Inaurem with its expressive jewelry was launched. The jewelry is coveted by the underground crowd, and the new business gave them a lot of new opportunities as well as an international showcase. "I decided to drop my day job and focus totally on my brand, my performance art and then I also started to DJ. With time the brand grew, and I began to reach customers all over the globe and was seen on the face of many contemporary Pop artists. Even on Doja Cat." "The performance work, on the other hand, started as a solo act and developed into the direction of bigger groups that merged conceptual work with fashion, dance, visual and installation art. It was showcased monthly in the previous project held in London called Orpheus." Métaraph – Photo by: Zeina Idris Meanwhile the DJ career kept growing, and Raffaello, or Métaraph; started to get gigs across Europe, East Europe, South America, and the United States. ”About a year ago I had my first official released track and by now we can count fourteen other releases on different European music labels." Not fitting into the norm did not make it any easier for Raffaello to be accepted in the everyday life of the small fishing village of Puglia. The Italian village with its 300 inhabitants quickly became too small for them; and you know what they say - you can take the person out of the cit. And maybe also the city out of the person, to be fair. “Having been born in a small village it has never been one of the most exciting environments to grow up in. It always felt very tight, suffocating, intimidating, and alienating. But I knew that I had to keep being myself. There's always a price to pay for the freedom of being yourself fully in this society. Especially if you’re queer” “Verbal and physical harassment, judgment, assumption, shouts and being chased are some of the obstacles you might encounter when you are “different” in a village. Not to even mention my different ethnical features, my homosexuality and queerness. But this also gave me the strength to take the step and move to UK as soon as I finished high school in Southern Italy.” London, which was the start of Métaraph's career, is a city they still hold dear. Although the lack of new venues and the fact that the city too often felt too representative in their bookings made them go one step further and move to Berlin. As of this writing, they have lived here for a little over a year. “My life would have been very different if I’d have moved elsewhere instead of starting off in London. It was crucial for my development as an artist and person, it’ s essential and important to be surrounded by a fertile environment rich of individuals and a pure state of creativity. Seeing crazy outfits and characters has totally inspired me to refine and deepen my own aesthetic. London lacks new venues and locations for new parties. It needs more DJs and new talents because the line-up can get very repetitive. Berlin is the new base for my projects to carry on and develop further” Métaraph – Photo by: Zeina Idris As a newcomer in Berlin, every week is still a discovery. But the tranquility of the city is something they got used to. “I like to lose myself in walks along the canal or deep in the forest at the edges of Berlin. Nature is where we ancestrally belong and feel at home. When I seek answers or need a moment of internal silence, I go for a walk in the forest, alone by myself.” Developing creative projects, Raffaello finds that going back to his ancestors to find inspiration for the creative projects, brings new oxygen to their ideas. “For my jewelry the inspiration is the meeting of the past and future within the present time.” “My Maori background has a major influence on my jewelry work which portrays a tribal aspect that get twisted with a futuristic otherworldly touch. The industrial collection with more raw designs with spikes and nails was inspired by the time in London and how the punk and goth subcultures have influenced me whilst exploring the nightlife and its communities. For my music the inspiration comes from the depth of my emotional field, where I syncretize emotions occurring in my life into the creation of hard, fast and aggressive beats - balanced with the softness of the melodies and textures summoning emotional streams.” “Although when it comes to my performance there has been different types of inspiration from biology, philosophy, ritualistic arts and symbology. I have always been fascinated by those topics ever since I was really young and spent a lot of time with reading books.” The jewelry's bizarre and unique look has its roots in Métaraphs teens when they started to use recycled jewelry and metal to create their own pieces. The designing was brought to a more professional level when they started to notice the lack of nose piercing design on the fashion market. “I started about five years ago and designed the first jewelry for Inaurem. I was very upset with the fashion market that didn’t really offer many designs for nose piercings, so that is when I decided to start to make them myself. Since the age of 14 I was very confident with jewelry making ever since I started recycling broken jewelry and heavy hardware pieces and put it together. They became my jewelries.” Raffaello started with a simple and minimalistic design by exploring different geometries around the triangle and spiral. ” Most of the time I don’t even know the whole final design of the piece, when I touch the metal, I envision the moment that I have to bend it and the design starts to create itself whilst I make it.” As a multidisciplinary artist, Métaraph is now ready to put their mark on Berlin with various projects coming up in the near future. In 2022 they’re starting their own label which will focus on the queer community and the party scene. The community I envision to gather through the label and party will be a queer all-inclusive community, a network of artists, ravers, and lovers. It will propose a conceptual artistic rave where different art disciplines merge themselves to create a powerful experience that will give the ravers new perspectives. Métaraph – Photo by: Zeina Idris The need of safe spaces for queer people in Berlin is crucial after the pandemic, that forced a lot of places to close as well as marginalized artists to put their time in safer office jobs. “A lot of safe spaces for queer people and collectives have sadly disappeared, but I’m also trusting that the pandemic can bring new spaces and support for the upcoming ideas of new adventures and projects.”

By: Amanda Sandström Beijer Photos: QU1N5E, FEDE REYES & RACHEL ISRAELA Styling by: Rita Bråten Herrensauna's MCMLXXXV Herrenscheide for Playful Magazine He isn’t a person who waits for experiences or hides behind a facade, but rather grabs life by its horns with an urge to feel its energy in each cell of the body. Playful got under the skin of a person who’s living for the contrasts in life, and whose interests are taking new forms; although always with the same drive - to create more freedom for people, with a special focus on the queer collective. We meet at an old German bar. Nicolas wears lederhosen and a black leather jacket of his own co-design, making it clear that he’s not a person that adapts to other people’s idea of fashion or norms. As we speak, this side of his personality gets increasingly clearer. ”As a child I was definitely a weirdo. I didn’t have too many friends, but I was living in my own world, and that was not too bad. I was really interested in ’60s psychedelic rock. Like when I was 14, I started to only wear ’60’s clothes from this one shop in Vienna that sold them”, Nicolas laughs; ”I came to school in leather stilettos like the Stones. But by then I had already been the weirdo for so long, that no one cared. I could do whatever I wanted. Evan now when I like something, I really like it and I just go all in.” ”Dressing up has always been a big interest, every day is still a dress up party for me.” Nicolas always had the support from home to be whoever he wants to be. ”I guess they understood from early on that it was useless to fight who I was, but better just to accept it. From an early age I started to wear my mother’s clothes and I preferred playing with dolls. It was quite clear from the start that I wasn’t a straight boy, and they always supported me.” ”But I mean, just like back in school, people who meet me still think I can be a bit of a weirdo today, so that hasn't changed. I'm just trying to communicate better with them.” Having had a safe upbringing, Nicolas points to the neighborhood outside of Vienna, as a place that was more openminded than many others. ”If I had been going to the school just a bit further down the road, I would probably have been beaten up every day. But then, I also knew how to defend myself and stand my ground, which probably helped a bit. Yet, I still spent most of my time alone at home when I was a kid, but that wasn’t really a problem for me as I never wanted to hang out with the other kids.” Herrensauna's MCMLXXXV Herrenscheide for Playful Magazine Today Nicolas is less introvert and a person who’s synonymous with the underground techno scene in Berlin. ”At times, it can still be a lot of work for me to socialize. I’m a Pisces, which means that I’m either the total extrovert or the total introvert - and it can switch at any moment. Sometimes I can just decide to leave, and it can come from nowhere.” As he grew older Nicolas got more interested in punk and finally techno as he began to DJ at some parties in Vienna. By this time, he started to hang out with some older friends, which is also how he came to Berlin for the first time. ”I think I was around 17, and was friends with these 30 years old women that I had met through some mods parties. As this scene was pretty big in Berlin, they were going, and I came along. The whole trip is a bit blurry, but we even made it into Berghain. So funny.” ”I remember I thought the place was really weird. We only went because Alexander Robotnick was playing. It was in 2007 and it was pretty cold and also pretty empty. We were like ’what’s going on?’ We didn’t even like electronic music or raves. But I still liked Berlin, it was so much that happened. I could feel that people could be who they wanted to be to a bigger extent in this city than elsewhere. Which is also why I decided to eventually move here.” ”Vienna wasn’t enough for me. I felt like I never really stopped being an outsider over there, even though I was part of the scene and had friends at the time. I just wanted to go to a place where there were more likeminded people.” Today Nicolas has started one of the city’s most successful clubs, Herrensauna, and made a name for himself as one of the most recognized techno DJs in Berlin. ”You see, that’s how the tables turn”, he blinks. ”When moving here I liked living in this city from the start. I could go out by myself, and I would just meet so many people that I would connect to and have fun with, and on a different level than back home, for that matter. It was a nice contrast.” Coming here with no intention whatsoever of starting a club - although finding himself two and a half years later planting the seed to what today is the internationally famous Herrensauna. ”It sounds intimidating to come to a new city and start a club in a city that has such a big variety in nightlife.But that’s not what happened. I thought ’What am I gonna do here that doesn’t already exist’. But then some friends approached me, among them was Jordan Davidson from back home, and he knew the parties I used to create in Vienna, and we found a concept that was missing here. We were totally blown away by the success it had from the start.” ”We thought we were going to do it for some friends. CEM, Jordan, Mikka and I got a small club that we hoped we could fill and when we opened the doors there was a line and we didn’t know why to be honest.” Herrensauna's MCMLXXXV Herrenscheide for Playful Magazine Today Herrensauna is touring the world and describing it with three words Nicolas says: ”Freedom, diversity and hedonism.” Things that he himself was once in a big need of, but that wasn’t available where he grew up. As part of the queer movement, Berlinprovided him with a community that he expanded through Herrensauna - a place where people who have been taught that they aren’t good enough and aren’t worthy as they are; can expand, grow and be themselves. ”The people I’ve met, the things I’ve learnt just by being in Berlin with its vibrant music scene and tireless fight for freedom. It’s a crossing point of so many different sub-cultures and that’s so interesting. It’s like a multi- sub-culture universe”, he laughs. Although ’making it in Berlin’ had its ups and downs, it proved to him the importance of never to give up. Nicolas was drawn to the nightlife from an early age and got into the DJ booth as a teenager when the actual DJ at the club didn’t turn up. ”I didn’t know much about DJ equipment during the first gig I had, but I somehow made it work, and that was the beginning. Although I had manifested it for a long time even before that night–” ”There used to be this TV-show at an alternative music channel, named ’Go TV’ where they always invited musicians who could select their favourite music and I was dreaming about doing that until I figured out that it was basically the same as being a DJ”, he laughs. And just before the pandemic hit, Nicolas’s life was, to say the least, hectic. Today we have had some time to adjust and get back to something close to the old reality and eating it all up has been good and intense. ”It’s been a bit overwhelming, and I’ve realized that I have to take better care of myself and be stricter if I want to continue doing this. But I have also realized, now that I’ve started touring again, that I can still do all those things, and that I really do enjoy it, which is very motivating.” ”Also realizing that during the pandemic, not knowing how to pay the bills and what to do, is over. This winter will for sure be a lot better than the last one.” The first months of lockdown was first like a relief for him, but then it turned into a dark hole. Although they say that darkness feeds light, or maybe they don’t - but this period made it possible for Nicolas to focus on creating from his mind, as there weren’t any distractions. The various forms of art he creates is an assembly of how he perceives the world. Besides the music and the club, there’s his physical art, fashion design and acting among other expressions. ”All I do is collages, in a way. Within the art I create, as well as music and even the club. I’m very quick at connecting two things that seem disparate and that’s what drives me – letting my mind wander off and create new connections.” ”At this time, I want to focus more on my visual arts.” Even if the partying that follows a touring lifestyle easily can spill over on the rest of the days, Nicolas is trying to stay focused and not let the temptations win too often on weekdays. As the lack of sleep prevents him from staying focused on pursuing the visions he has for his art. ”During the pandemic I realized that I need to make more time for painting. I can’t create without sleep; after touring for example. Therefor I need to be strict with myself.”. ”Life is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and sometimes I need to remind myself of that.” Herrensauna's MCMLXXXV Herrenscheide for Playful Magazine The leather jacket he’s wearing is half filled with the letters HIV repeating itself in red font - his own design, that he wears proudly; and that’s a part of the conceptual art and multi-media that he produces for a coming exhibition. ”It’s all related to HIV. Something that was also channelled to me during the pandemic as I was researching how HIV originated and found that it’s basically man made. Well, it was a decease among monkeys, but then in the ’50s scientists were looking for a vaccination against Polio and they created a vaccine from monkey bone marrow, which was infected with this virus. They realized what they had done but didn’t care as they prioritized the money and being first with their vaccine on the market.”– ”They consciously distributed this infected vaccine. They didn’t know to what extent it was harmful, but they knew of the risks and still gave it to people.” Nicolas explains and continues. ”It’s interesting how the government handles a situation when they want to prevent something, and how they neglect something when they don’t care. How quick it was to spring into action with corona, and how they did nothing to prevent HIV, for decades. How they still don’t care enough to abolish their patent laws that make the remedies inaccessible for large parts of the world. Millions of lives could be saved if they didn’t care more about maintaining the western market prices.” When researching this topic, Nicolas got sick of the stigmatization and shaming in connexion with HIV. ”I don’t care what people think about me. I’m in a position where people look up to me, and I can influence people and use my voice to stand up for the ones that don’t have the same possibility. I don’t have a problem running around with a huge HIV sign on my body, and if that can raise awareness and help someone who’s struggling with their status, then I have to do that from my present position." ”I mean I was positive for years without talking about it publicly. This creates a dialogue, and it’s punk. It creates awareness." Disclaimer: There are several approaches and hypotheses when it comes to HIV research. The opinions in the interview belong to the interviewee himself.

Here are the lakes that can be worth a visit if you want to swim naked. The best lakes for naked sunbathing in Berlin - FKK Teufelssee One of the more famous lakes for nude swimming. The Teufelssee is easily reached by public transport and is located in the wonderful and scenic Grünewald. The only warning we have applies to wild boar. According to photos and videos on Instagram, they sometimes show up and are very shameless. And the last thing you want to be when you are chased by a wild boar is naked. Plötzensee Plötzensee is a popular bathing spot near Tegel Airport. On the larger, and dressed part of the beach you can rent sunbeds and parasols. For those who want to throw away their clothes, there is a slightly more secluded part of the beach that is dedicated to nude bathers. The lake may not be the most beautiful local area has to offer, but it works! Müggellsee Müggelssee is Berlin's largest lake and thus also one of the city's most popular bathing spots. For those looking for a sandy beach, Müggellsee is an excellent alternative and to avoid sand in your underwear, it may be best to throw them away. That is what many people do here! Any lake In Germany and Berlin, people are generally very OK with nude baths. It is even culture under the concept of FKK. Therefore, it is not uncommon to take the liberty and throw away the clothes. Simply feel the atmosphere!

Berghain, KitKat Club, Sisyphus goers are caught on camera. Warning, these photos can trigger club abstinence. Nighclub Fashion: Berghain, KitKat Club, Sisyphus goers Sabrina Jeblaoui is the person behind the Insta-Famous and Berlin based account @Nachtclubsberlin. Sabrina, tell us about who you are and how it all started with @nachtclubsberlin? I felt really free fr om the social constraints when I moved to Berlin, I used to live in Paris so you can imagine. I also did party a lot during the first year, though I didn’t take a lot of photos and might have felt a bit lost. I got the idea and thought it would be interesting to take pictures of party people like myself. As I started a relationship with my current boyfriend, I calmed down with partying and decided to give the project a try. One day, I took my analogue camera and decided to go check out the Berghain queue with a friend. Yes just the queue. I was so excited and afraid at the same time that people would reject me when I asked to take their photos. But I forced myself, and I really enjoyed these first shots. People were interested in my project but of course not everybody wanted to be photographed, which is totally understandable. When I saw my first pictures developed I was so happy that I decided to create the Instagram account NachtClubsBerlin. I just wanted people to find the account. And they did. Nighclub Fashion: Berghain, KitKat Club, Sisyphus goers What inspired you? Streets, other photographers, people I met. Everything can inspire me – especially in Berlin. With Photography, I am in the present moment, and that moment inspires me a lot. Also, I am a big fan of the American photographer Nan Goldin. Her work is really deep and documents the LGBT Community and the heroin addicted subculture. She also documents herself through her intimate autoportraits. But I am also inspired by women like Oprah Winfrey and Mar ina Abramovic. How do peo ple react when you want to photograph them outside the clubs, since there are ’no photo rules’ inside? In the beginning, I had to put a lot of efforts and energy into explaining my project and convince them to be part of it. I always try to be myself and to come very close to people without any barriers. Now it’s easier because some people already know of the project. But in general, people are freer when they are out from a party. Some are shy and some are comfortable. It really depends. Nighclub Fashion: Berghain, KitKat Club, Sisyphus goers What do you think inspires the Berlin fashion? Berlin is known to b e the underground city par excellence where people are free to wear what the heck they want. I love how Berlin Fashion can change from an area to another. Punk and techno culture from the 90’s and the historical moment of the fall of the Berlin Wall le d to what people today call « Berlin Fashion ». What is the most common outfit people have when they party in Berlin? Black outfit, leather, waist bag and sneakers. Definitely. What is the most spectacular outfit you've photographed? Outfit of Lucio Vidal when he came out from Berghain, long white fur with huge disco heels. I really love when people dress up and are being creative. I was also amazed by the guy in front of Berghain with the monster.

This is the story of one of Berlin's greatest originals – 72-year-old Komet Bernhard. By: Filip Sandström Beijer Komet Bernhard for Playful Magazine If you have been out clubbing in Berlin, it is not unlikely that you have encountered a charismatic old man with a white beard and a gleam in his eyes. Maybe you have even been lucky enough to be invited to Ritter Butzke , where he has a standing guest list, or you’ve got picked up at the S-bahn to join the Komet party train. The man we are talking about is, of course, Komet Bernhard, one of Berlin's strongest personalities and artists who is known for gathering groups of party people on the U-Bahn to join him on his party path. Sometimes he goes under the nickname “Techno Grandpa”, famous for dancing nonstop in the Berlin techno clubs. Playful Magazine has decided to meet him at the brand-new bar The Hause in Kreuzberg. It is his manager Patrick who runs the bar and when we meet, he takes the role as a translator. Komet understands English but is more comfortable in expressing himself in German. A few minutes before we enter the bar, we see that Komet is already sitting on the outdoor terrace. He sits and focuses his gaze on a small plant that is placed on the table and makes gestures with his hands. When we meet and I ask him what inspires him as an artist, and he tells me: "Everything. Everything in everyday life and everything that exists inspires me. It makes me who I am." "I have always been fascinated by space and that we are part of the universe. What is it not to be fascinated by?" He was nicknamed "The Komet" early on, growing up in his hometown of Mainz because he devoted most of his time awake to thinking about the universe. "I have always been fascinated by space and that we are part of the universe. What is it not to be fascinated by?" Komet Bernhard is known to be richly gifted. He has always worked as a carpenter making frames for his art works that he keeps stacked in his apartment. Just Google “Komet Bernhard” and you’ll see. The apartment is a center for all his creativity, and this is where he both collects and creates his art and music. Yes, of course he is also a DJ. Komet looks at me with an intense gaze when I ask him if the apartment is starting to fill up. He makes a grimace and closes his hands as if something is going to explode. "Kaboom! I’m just waiting for it to explode!" As the apartment is on the verge of rupture, he looks forward to it eventually expanding in terms of a creative explosion. That's when his art goes to the next level and a black hole will open, he tells me. Hazy? Maybe, but who said that an artist should be concrete? Komet Bernhard for Playful Magazine For the partygoers, Komet Bernhard is a well-known face. He usually goes out clubbing 4-5 times a week when there are no Corona restrictions and assures us that he managed the break well. "I have so much else to do, so it has been no problem." Among other things, he creates music and in recent years has made a name for himself on Berlin's DJ stage. This is one of many things he’s been focusing on during quarantine. The style of his music is, to say the least, distinctive and experimental, completely in line with Komet's personality. He talks about trips and tours abroad, hotel nights and luxury restaurants. My prejudices tell me that Komet must be difficult to travel with. That he has a hard time arriving on time, because he gives the impression of being on the go all the time. But, as it turns out, I'm wrong. Patrick, his manager and today our translator, describes him as the complete opposite. Perfect to travel with and very reliable. Things are not what they seem to be, and the space fanatic is more down to earth than you might think. In Berlin, he has, among other things, been opening act for Fritz Kalkbrenner at a secret concert, where he basically stole the show. Kalkbrenner was supposed to be the surprise act, but things turned out a little bit different. "When I stepped out on stage, everyone thought I was the surprise, so it was almost as if they were disappointed when Fritz went on afterwards," says Komet and laughs. Patrick and Komet met for the first time a few years ago when Patrick was to record a music video that Komet was invited to participate in. Patrick says that he was convinced that the old man, whom he had only heard of and seen on YouTube, would not show up. But he was wrong. Well before the appointed time, Komet Bernhard was on site, neatly dressed and ready to deliver. In other words, the prejudices about his being a total madman were shattered. Komet Bernhard for Playful Magazine The two are today colleagues and close friends, so close that they even celebrated holidays together. "I celebrated Christmas with Patrick's family this year," says Komet. "Berlin is like a small universe. It is infinite." During the interview, we are constantly interrupted by people who come by and say hello to Komet. He is careful to greet back and meets everyone with a smile and an honest look. It is almost as if he is Berlin personified, something he himself also agrees with. He loves the city that gives him the opportunity to dance, be creative and at the same time inspires him again every day. "Berlin is like a small universe. It is infinite." I ask him what inspires him in life and in the creation of all the art he does. He looks me in the eye and says. "I am because of you"

After moving to Berlin, Cera Khin became one with the techno scene in no time. Four years after her first gig, she tours the world and runs her own record label LazyTapes. And also –she trains to be a hypnotherapist. By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photo: Lamia Karic Cera Khin for Playful Magazine Like many others, it was the freedom and openness of Berlin that attracted Cera Khin six years ago when she packed her suitcases and moved from Tunisia to Germany. “In Berlin, you are free to do whatever you want. No one will judge you. In Tunisia many people feel much more restricted. I mean, I see so many men from Tunisia in Berghain for example, living out their real selves in a safe environment. People can be themselves and authentic in Berlin.” In Berlin, she met the club culture that never sleeps and spent days and nights on the dance floors at the city's best clubs. Love was instant, but at the same time she felt that she wanted to contribute to the culture and music herself. Said and done, she went and bought her first turntables and started producing her own music. “I’ve always brought the music with me from my childhood. It’s something that’s always been part of my family. But I had never been DJ:ing before” In 2016 she had her first gig at Paloma Bar in Kreuzberg – the same place where she, two years later, came to have the first main event for her own record label LazyTapes. The rest is history and Cera Khin has now played Berghain, About Blank, Griessmuehle and almost every club you could ever think of in Berlin. And she’s been touring the world making crowds go crazy from her high bpm techno, being a self-appointed technogym trainer. Just Youtube her and you will understand. “Going to my gigs is like going to the gym. Both me and the people on the dancefloor are dancing and sweating a lot. It’s basically like working out, and I really do like working out. Instead of going to the club to take drugs, you can just dance instead and it helps you to stay fit. At the clubs today people are even wearing outfits that could be their gym outfits” Cera Khin is one of those artists who must be experienced live if you are to feel the full impact. No two gigs are alike, and she says that she is very good at feeling out the energies. From sweaty technogym to rhythmics and influences from the east and 90's ambiance. Everything is mixed together into a sound free from rules. Cera Khin for Playful Magazine "I never have a set list when I play. At most I have an opening song. But after that, it's always a journey with the audience. I think I'm good at feeling the atmosphere at the moment and the dynamics on the dance floor and I think empathy is one of my main qualities ” With a sound that even makes Berghain shake, one can assume that Cera Khin herself is a person who lives on the dance floor when she is not playing. But actually she plays and tours so much, that she doesn’t go out very much when she is home. “I'm a pretty lazy person and I enjoy being at home and writing new music. When I play, I go all in, but then I make sure I get enough sleep so that I can maintain my energy level, because I tour so much” Despite bookings at festivals and clubs around the world, Berlin is still the base for Cera Khin and it is not uncommon for her to have her best experiences at home. When we talk about positive concert memories, she tells us that one of her absolutely best memories so far was actually her latest gig – a covid-safe gig at Else, just before Berlin was shut down and forced into lockdown 2.0. “It was absolutely fantastic to get back there and the crowd was just wonderful. So dedicated and respectful to each other. If someone took off the mask for just a few seconds, someone was there and told. You noticed that people cared and took everything seriously. It was actually one of my best experiences so far. It was so wonderful to see people dance and be together again. ” 2020 has been, to say the least, a special year for the entire artist industry and Cera Khin, like many others, has experienced canceled tours, closed clubs and an everyday life that no one could predict. At the same time, the year has given her an opportunity to gain new insights and write new music. “I am still a beginner and there are lots of opportunities for me to develop. During the year, I have had time to devote to making new music and become better technically. As a result, I have just finished a new EP that I will release in 2021, depending on how the pandemic develops”. Cera Khin for Playful Magazine In addition to music, she has also had time to pursue one of her major interests - philosophy and hypnotherapy. “Since I suddenly have the time, I’m studying hypnotherapy for the moment. This year is special for everyone and I think that we need to expand ourselves. But also, I’m a person who is curious about different aspects and phenomena of the human mind. There are a lot of people struggling with mental health issues, and this year hasn’t made things easier. And now I feel like besides music one of the my life purpose is also to become a therapist. Although the future is somewhat uncertain, it is ensured that Cera Khin is already in the starting pits when the pandemic is over, and has some new music in store for us. Whether it's a technogym or not. ”We will see, maybe it’s all very ambient” she says with a laugh.

You've seen her on social media, dancing in the grocery store or on the street. Playful had a chat with the DJ and the internet personality in who has now started her own record company and has dreams of touring the world. By Filip Sandström Beijer Photos: Lamia Karic Stella Bossi for Playful Magazine Whether it's in a restaurant kitchen, at a train station or with her head down a freezer counter at the grocery store, Stella Bossi is there to gild the sometimes colorless everyday life with her dance steps and freaky Instagram posts. Something happened in late 2018 and this year the number of followers is increasing faster than ever. “When I started doing Instagram, I didn't have a plan. At the end of 2018 I posted a picture of myself and also started looking at other people's content. I noticed that I quickly get bored with most of the content and decided to do something creative. The dancing then came along after a wild club night.” The clip from the wild night can be found on underneath and is recorded outside the club Kater Blau after closing. The clip was the starting shot for what would become a cavalcade of a dancing Stella Bossi in more or less public environments. The public is not always prepared for her antics and sometimes it's gone wild. “Of course, I got in trouble while shooting. Everything from being kicked out of the supermarket to getting surprised cops called after me, everything has happened” Stella Bossi for Playful Magazine With great attention, the pressure to deliver entertaining material on Instagram will not ease. The ideas usually come when she goes to bed in the evening but also when she least expects it. “I get inspiration from very different situations, but most of the time when I'm relaxed. For example, when I go to bed. As soon as I lay down and my senses calm down, all kinds of things come to my mind. Whether it's a new video idea, cuts for one of my unreleased videos, or melodies. Then I have to get up and write them down. This process can take minutes or hours." "Another example. This summer I swam across the Krumme Lanke lake and suddenly I got a rush of ideas in the middle of the lake. That drove me crazy, because I couldn't write anything down and then I sang the ideas repetitively to not forget them. It's hard for me to keep ideas and melodies in mind. Suddenly they come in my head and if I don't write them down, I'll forget about them“. But Stella Bossi is much more than an Instagram personality and social media star. Born in Berlin and passionately in love with techno she’s also a DJ and recently a record label owner at The Beat Must Fuck. “I always get a lot of music sent and have always held music competitions on my account, which worked very well. So, I decided to found a label for electronic music, where I let my users vote on which track gets a deal. Nobody has done that before and considering the number of tracks I get it will be a big deal.” The mission is clear. “To give small artists a chance and let the people hear music they really like.” Stella Bossi for Playful Magazine If it wasn’t for the pandemic we might not have been this lucky to get a day off with Stella Bossi. Her DJ carreer is in the making and the international bookings are around the corner. “My biggest dream is that my job as a DJ brings me around the world so that I can celebrate with all cultures.” And as it seems, Stella is good at partying. When we’re talking Berlin party memories there are many, but one is standing out. “There are many wild, funny, beautiful, less beautiful and many more. But there was a situation that I always like to think about and in which I had to laugh so hard (certainly also because of my condition) that I sat in the corner for about one hour straight just laughing.” Stella is telling us about the special moment at the Chalet Club. “A bald guy walked through the club relatively intoxicated, which is nothing unusual. But the funny thing was that he had an old joint stuck on his bald wet head. Not behind his ear. It was literally stuck in the middle of his bald head. An old burnt joint that looked like it had been lit five times. I was wondering how it got there. Does he light it up and when he no longer likes to smoke, does he simply stick it back on his bald head? No idea. I was quite amused by that” “In any case, the guy with the joint on his bald head ran into one of his buddies. At first, they had a short chat and then suddenly his buddy pulled the sticky joint off his bald head without finding it strange in any way, lit it and smoked it. The two looked at each other wordlessly and smoked the joint as if it were the most normal thing in the world. This situation was bizarre and so funny and, in that moment, it was just awesome. But as I said, there are so many good memories.” And even if the world is in front of Stella’s feet, the Berliner’s got no plans to leave her hometown at the moment. “The best thing about Berlin is the freedom that you can't find anywhere else in Germany and hardly in any other places around the world.” Listen to Stella Bossi Follow on Instagram

Lukas Viar is using analogue photography to snap pictures of the people that he spends his nightlife with. By: Filip Sandstrom Beijer Photos: Lukas Viar Portraying the 48-hour party people in Berlin It all started at a drag bar in London, where Lukas Viar worked and met people who inspired him. He started taking pictures with his Polaroid camera and immediately noticed that he had a distinct ability to capture people in the present. "I was constantly surrounded by these amazing people and their fantastic characters. I got my Polaroid camera and started taking pictures. The polaroids were really amazing pictures and I got so much from it. So I started to feel inspired constantly. I decided to continue, I started on the polaroid and then I moved to a 35mm and now I work a lot with a 120mm.” At 21, Lukas decided to move to Berlin, which he knew from his own experience was more accessible to him, “Berlin has this serendipitous vibe, where everything sort of comes together for a reason and it works really well for the art I want to create and the life i want to lead”. "People do not need to work so much in Berlin. Here it’s more space, more clubs, and more venues. You can go from a lake straight to a club and then dance for 30 hours. In London the venues only exist to take your money and they close at 4, It kills the magic. Ofcourse London is an amazing city and I grew up there and it made me who I am, but the magic I look for is hard to find and more exclusive. " Portraying the 48-hour party people During his first year in Berlin, he was sober. And so he abstained from the partying. The reason was that he didn't feel inspired anymore, and he felt that he needed to take a break and find something to hold on to. "It was interesting, but I did not make so many new friends, even if Berlin is a city where you can find all kinds of people. For me, as most of my connections were through the international queer party scene. When I came here, being sober, I was surrounded by more normal people and it was also quite hard to feel inspired . " he says and continues; "But it's really valuable to check yourself sometimes and I learned a lot from it. The issue for me was not that I was partying too much, it was that I was partying and did nothing else. I felt like I wasn't growing as a person or as an artist. For me it was ok to have fun and do a lot of things, but if I didn’t have an anchor, or an objective, I didn't want my life to be stagnant. I've always partied because I want something from it, not because I have to." After his sober period, Lukas threw himself into the nightlife again and continued to be inspired by the drag scene and the parties, but this time in Berlin. He talks about why that particular environment is so inspiring and means so much to him. "I like this element. Some drag queens are partying a lot and of course, in some way, this makes them really become themselves. The people who they are in these moments are real. The pictures show the person they want to be and not the person the society wants them to be. I think capturing this moment where the person is representing themselves, and the fantasy is real - that is magic, and that makes life worth living." “I guess one of the reasons alcohol and substance abuse is so prevalent in queer communities, is because it numbs you to how other people perceive you, and I think queer people are hyper aware of how people perceive them because of closet trauma.” Portraying the 48-hour party people Photography became the anchor he needed and today he has gone from hobby photographer to professional with plans to exhibit his photos and do more portraits. But these pictures are still very personal and do not lose their role as a diary. "I could describe it as a visual diary of my life. I live a specific life that I think is a bit bizarre sometimes and it's nice to have such memories" After becoming part of the nightlife again, he has also made new friends. After meeting at a festival where Lukas was a backstage photographer , he and Marina Rubinstein became best friends. This in turn has resulted in Lukas b ecoming a sidekick in Dr Rubinstein's Youtube Stream 'Quarantine FM' which started out as a way to offer music and socialising to the disenfranchised community during the lockdown, and now attracts thousands of viewers. The duo has no current plans to stop. A week in the life of Lukas: Monday: Catching up on sleep Tuesday: Food and work Wednesday: Eat a lot and do the stream. Thursday: Lakes in summer, ficken and/or roses in winter. Friday - Sunday: “no sleep, bus, club, another club, another club, another club, plane, next place, bus, another club, no sleep”. For more pictures from Lukas, follow him on Instagram .

By: Amanda Sandström Beijer LEGZ Photo: Sebastian Schanz Julian Fricker, the person behind the performance and video art persona LEGZ grew up in an artist family in Switzerland. Today they are transporting people into new worlds of gender fluidity through their art that is created as an opposite pole to capitalism. ”Both my parents are ballet dancers, and it was totally normal to do shows in the living room as there always was a camera on. But I felt like an alien in that country since you’re only a good citizen if you earn a lot of money. I tried that out for a while, but it wasn’t for me so I moved to Berlin.” Frequent travels to Berlin from Zurich and a feeling of not belonging in Schweiz finally resulted in splitting their time between Berlin and Zurich. ”I told myself that if I findCollaborating with people to create the perfect vibe is a powerful and effective way a job and a place to live, it’s meant to be.” After their arrival Jules was looking to find themself and their artistic expression and became part of the Berlin drag scene. The drag scene in Berlin was so uplifting and it was a way of freeing myself ”It was a very freeing experience but I didn’t think much about it, I just felt that the drag scene in Berlin was so uplifting and it was a way of freeing myself. So I started doing weekly shows at Pansy.” Jules engendered an alter ego as they started figuring out what they wanted and so Legz was created. ”It’s giving you a lot of freedom, and it’s very empowering. I would explain it like you’re pushing your limits and all that you’re having inside but don’t dare doing or describing from the person you are. That’s how I started with my character Legz. Actually some people don’t even know my real name.” LEGZ interview Playful Magazine Photo: Nikos Doulos Together with the saxophonist Bendik Giske they started doing collaborative shows that were informed by pop culture, and where going to techno clubs was part of the informed movement, like the notion of repeating movements with variations and the communal aspect of entering a ritualistic zone together. ”I have been interested in feminist Sci-fi for some time and that informed my practice. I felt it was very binary in its gender. I wanted to expand and go into an alien form and have a voice of gender fluidity.” Jules started creating their own costumes and have always been working a lot with friends in all different fields of the process toward their art creations. Collaborating with people to create the perfect vibe is a powerful and effective way ”I strongly believe that you need to bring the right energy to good performances. Doing that by collaborating with people to create the perfect vibe is a powerful and effective way.” In one of their most recent performances Legz is wearing a black hat with tentacle alike arms that was a collaboration with Jochen Kronier, who did designs for Lady Gaga and others. The texture of the hat is made by a specific material that makes the ’arms’ move in slow motion. ”I am fascinated with conquering time, it fits well with what I want to express. It’s for example very filmic in movies when scenes of parties are played in slow motion, and I wanted to work with that notion.” LEGZ interview Playful Magazine To Jules, art is always political and to them it’s vital to use their privilege when creating art. ”Growing up in Switzerland I always felt privileged and we’re living in a time where it’s crucial to speak up. Capitalism is on its forefront in and around Europe and it’s affecting the art scene very much.” Jules highlights the importance of collaborations within art to experience different-, and very important viewpoints from all over the world. ”We have a responsibility to mobilize and go back to political drag and less binary depictions in performance where activism reaches all the way.” The art scene in Berlin is often very attached to the subcultures, something that Jules felt deeply connected to from start when moving to Berlin and searching for their community. Berlin is the kind of city where artists are rooting for each other ”It’s a big scene of people who find each other because we search for a community and a way of feeling united. Berlin has a lot of artists, and it’s a counter-pole to the other side where Amazon is expanding its presence with this huge tower in the city center. Meanwhile the clubs no longer have any space and are dying, called ’Clubsterben’ that is caused by gentrification”, Jules says and continues; ”In Berlin there’s a lot of community where you're empowering each other. Berlin is the kind of city where artists are rooting for each other. It’s not so much the elbow thing. But artists in Berlin are also used to do gigs for free, so you don’t earn a lot, something we should be a bit cautious of. But I like Berlin very much.” When it comes to gaining inspiration for their art, Jules like to dive into new worlds. ”It can be going to clubs and dance my heart out or going into sci-fi worlds of books and movies. I always had a strong imagination, so It’s not that my creativity is drying out, but rather about being transported to another world and then transport others to a new world through my art in return.” Top 3 Sci-fi inspirational (Books/movies). Octavia E. Butler – Lilith’s Brood trilogy (I love to listen to interviews of Octavia with her unforgettable voice and imagine how she would read her books) The Broken Earth Trilogy – N.K. Jemisin (Jemisin won several prices for her intricate and most extraordinary trilogy of the recent years that is a must for Sci-Fi fans) Dhalgren – Samuel R. Delany (I love how Delany explores sexuality in the city of this brilliant tour de force) Top 3 Sci-fi inspirational (movies). Born in Flames – Lizzie Borden (I love that ”lesbiance” that this movie is) Sense8 – Lana and Lilly Wachowski (so many places I know from my Berlin times, especially the hot Stadtbad Neukölln group sex scene are major) The Fifth Element – Luc Besson (clearly my alien drag is inspired by Besson’s worlds)

By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photos by: Sven Hoffmann For 10 years, the DJ and now entrepreneur Reka has lived in Berlin and made a name for herself on the European techno scene. In Playful she tells us about her new project that's going to change the way artists tour, what she loves about Berlin, and her first time playing a Sunday at Berghain as a former resident DJ at club rival Tresor. REKA interview for Playful Magazine For Reka , just like for many other artists and DJs, 2020 was a strange year where everything was put on hold. But just because the clubs and stages are closed does not mean that she has been idle. Even before the pandemic, she had sown the first seed of what is today being developed into her own company start-up with a vision of changing the way artists tour. "It has been very challenging and exciting, and it is giving me fuel during this corona time. What we're creating is a software tool to make touring for artists more sustainable. We also want to make the whole process more efficient. But unfortunately, I cannot tell more since it hasn't been launched yet." There is so much random, unnecessary traveling. We could do it in a smarter way But there is no doubt that the constant travel and touring for many artists causes problems for both the environment and the artists themselves. "There is so much random, unnecessary traveling. We could do it in a smarter way. One day you play in Lisbon, and the other day in Moscow, that's two different directions on the same weekend. Sometimes you play in two cities in the same country but on different weekends. For example, you can play one weekend in Paris and the next weekend in Lyon. These cities are just 2 h train ride from each other, so it makes no sense to do those gigs on two different weekends and waste all that time on traveling and adding unnecessary CO2 to the environment." REKA interview for Playful Magazine Constant travel eats away at both the environment and the psyche. She says that it is customary to say yes to most of the gigs but that it is complicated to coordinate the trips. "Most of us have to say yes to very uncomfortable and unhealthy schedules because we want the job; we basically make money with the gigs. In the long run, it's both stressful and bad for the environment. Some artists deal with it better because they're more partygoers, have been touring for a lesser amount of time, or they do drugs, but I don't think it should be a given that we have to work under those conditions". For Reka herself, traveling has sometimes been painful. "I like to have a healthy lifestyle. I love productivity and things that are well done. I'm always aiming to get things going in the best possible way. I've seen so many faults when it comes to touring, so I'm trying to streamline the booking/touring process so artists, agents, and promoters can all have it easier and save loads of time". But it has not always been obvious that she would work as an artist and DJ, even though her interest in music has been there since she was a child. What many do not know is that she has a degree in Genetics with Honors. She is addicted to books and learning and quite nerdy, building and repairing her own computers. On the other hand, she loves adventure sports and motorcycles, and of course, she drives them herself, though, in the last years, yoga has been what she dedicated most of her activity time. There are melomaniacs who become DJs because they just love music. And others become DJs because they want to be a DJ. That's a huge difference The massive interest in music took over , and after she once got behind the turntables, she couldn't stop. She describes herself as a melomaniac. "There are melomaniacs who become DJs because they just love music. And others become DJs because they want to be a DJ. That's a huge difference. I belong to the first group. Back in the days, it was not exactly about becoming famous, touring incessantly, social media, followers, and all that. Then it was 'I love music, and I just wanna share what I have.' As simple as that ". The obsession with music can be found in Reka's own creations, which she herself does not necessarily want to label. As a young woman, she listened to rock, metal, and electronic music with a common darkness. "I listened to a lot of everything. I listened to loads of 80's music (pop, rock, disco, technopop, Italo, Acid House, New Beat, and EBM) when I was still a kid. In my teens, I kept listening to Depeche Mode and The Cure but got really into grunge and metal of all sorts; Nirvana, Tool, Marilyn Manson, Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Megadeth... Almost in my 20's, I started raving and got into electronic music again; Prodigy, Orbital, Atari Teenage Riot, etc... and then came techno, electro, ambient, and IDM; Autechre, Aphex Twin, I even listened to trip-hop; loved Portishead." But even for someone who is open to many styles of music, there are limits. "I can't listen to psychedelic rock, or house of any kind. It does not do anything to me. Trumpets, I can not do. I hate trumpets. I have hyperacusis (extra sensitivity to mid-high frequencies) that makes the trumpet sound unpleasant to my ears. I struggled so much back in Madrid. There was a period of time when most of the clubs played house, and most of my friends worked or wanted to party there. The techno parties were outdated. For me, those years were a bit of a struggle. "she says and laughs. REKA interview for Playful Magazine The screaming house trumpets finally took her from Madrid to the techno capital Berlin ten years ago. "Before 2010, I came here for gigs and stayed a couple of days or a week every time. Then I moved here definitely. I'm born In Barcelona, and I've been living in many parts of Spain and the States and a short time in Mexico. I do not have strong roots. For me, it was very natural to come to Berlin. I've always imagined myself living anywhere in the world. But now I've traveled so much, and I really feel like staying put. I will probably move from Berlin one day; I mean, it's been 11 years soon, but still is great here." Also, you know, I'm not easily starstruck, but I'm always a big fan of people who did things first; the pioneers. For me, Juan Atkins is the father of electro. After being a Berlin DJ for more than a decade, it's surprisingly easy for Reka to find the best memories. The first takes us back to Tresor's 25th birthday anniversary. "I was playing before Helena Hauff, and then Stingray got on. Thirty minutes into his set, Moodymann and Juan Atkins came into the booth, and they all started playing back to back. I was thrilled; that was such a special moment; I felt connected to everyone in the club and thought: "Wow, I am here, being part of this underground magic. Also, you know, I'm not easily starstruck, but I'm always a big fan of people who did things first; the pioneers. For me, Juan Atkins is the father of electro." Another shining memory is when she finally got to play a Sunday afternoon spot at Berghain. "It was a BITE takeover in Berghain, Phase Fatale's record label, where I released my first record. That was the first time I played a slot on a Sunday afternoon. Finally. It was not easy getting gigs at Berghain, having been a Tresor resident for years and previous to this I had only played Berghain on Saturday night, which as everyone knows lacks a bit of the typical Berghain´s Sunday vibe. It was such an incredible party; loads of friends in the audience, most performing artists were part of my musical family; I will never forget!!