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Playful had a chat with Sam and Pascal AKA CYRK, who were about to play their longest set together, closing Panorama Bar Monday morning. What’s up, how’s 2023 been treating you?  We are good. 2023 hasn’t been too bad for us, we spent countless hours in our brand new studio preparing releases for 2024, we had full releases on Polari, Folklor Nation and Cultivated Electronics, we played really cool deejay and live shows including P-Bar and the Arte Concert-Tegel stream, we also joined a new agency, we can not complain. Who takes what role, when working together as a duo?  We are a duo on stage but first of all a couple since more than 10 years, so we know each other really well. Sam from Belgium, Pascal from Germany, living in Berlin for more than a decade. In the studio there is no particular role except Pascal does all mixes and Sam more of the arrangements, when it comes to ideas, it is really 50/50. We try to keep a balance but without any pressure. If you could mention only three cities or places in the world, where you’ve collected most of your inspiration, which places would that be?  First of all Berlin has a huge influence on us as we have a lot of awesome friends here, we can see a lot of art, listen to a lot of great music… Detroit for its Influence on music as we are big fans of Detroit techno, house  and electro, We´ve been there a lot of times and have also a lot of friends over there. We would say last Bangkok which is one of our favorite cities in the world, we try to go once a year and we also take some time off in Thailand (Koh Lanta), so it Is a very good source for resourcing and finding new ideas. How is the dynamic and communications between you during your sets? When we play live, we don’t really need to communicate too much: Pascal does all synths, Sam all drums and as we play our own music, we kind of have those automatic habits on how to arrange on the fly, how to make changes, breaks… when we deejay it is a different story and usually Pascal is the main pilot as deejay was his first love and he very often has a better view of what to do (and someone needs to take the lead) What’s your relationship with Panorama Bar? We love that place, it is pretty much the only club we visit as guests, we ´ve been regulars since it opened (when there was no Berghain yet) and a lot of the music we produce is influenced by what happens up there. We very often produce music influenced by a set we heard. We sometimes joke when we finish a track that it is perfect for PBar on a Sunday afternoon, or at 6 in the morning. As far as playing, it is  our first time deejaying as CYRK (we played live before) and we also both played a few solo sets  (Pascal closed PBar in the past) How do you prepare a closing set together? We started by each collecting a lot of music, put everything in a big pot, then decide how we arrange them into playlists. We then practiced to see if Any track was really not working, in that case we deleted it. We then went back and tried the playlists a bit more while re-arranging them.With of course a lot of practice In between. What’s the longest set you’ve ever played together?  We never played more than 5-6 hours together, but we live together and make music together, so maybe it counts lol. Lately we had a long set at Folklor in Lausanne and it was a lot of fun. This might be our longest set together. What can we look forward to Sunday evening/Monday morning?  We will serve a mix of house, new and old, electro, Italo (dark, ebm, happy), some Detroit, some Chicago, some vocals (not too much)… we will try to keep it interesting and entertaining.

By: Filip Sandström Beijer Photos by: Manuel Schuller Autumn and the chill are here, and it can be challenging to reminisce about warm summer evenings, a three-hour drive outside Berlin, near the Polish border. But when we look at the pictures from the very first edition of the Good2U festival, it's easy. In the midst of a quiet, leafy forest lies an old GDR warehouse that, for a few days in August, was transformed into a rave playground for hundreds of people. The location itself is special. Here, the organizers have successfully blended industrial environments we are accustomed to clubbing in in Berlin with a beautiful, green camping area and fantastic urban outdoor decor. As a visitor to the festival, it's almost like arriving at a summer camp as a kid, in a good way. It's evident that the team behind the festival has worked with passion, creating a sense of unity. Since the festival is small, this is something that permeates the entire atmosphere on the site. Festival organizers, artists, and attendees merge into one entity, creating a great atmosphere. The organizers' dedication to electronic music also shines through. The lineup sets them apart from more commercial festival competitors. Instead of competing for the biggest names on stage, they choose to focus on acts that resonate with the dedicated fans. Sure, established names like KiNK , Ogazón , The Lady Machine , and Fadi Mohem surely attract some visitors, but what truly defines the festival is the carefully curated program. The leafy forests are the perfect place to explore new DJs and high-quality music. We are impressed by the sound system, the light show, and the details that come to life as darkness falls and the doors to the old GDR warehouse open in the evenings. During the day, tired festivalgoers gather at the festival's only outdoor stage, which starts with lower BPM and gradually increases as the day progresses. We are also impressed by the relaxation area, located right between the camping area and the large concrete buildings (approximately 20 meters apart). Here, the interior design team has managed to create a cozy and welcoming environment that almost resembles a home party in the evenings and a decadent yet cozy after-party in the mornings. To sum it up: If you enjoy discovering new music in a wonderfully trippy forest setting and becoming part of a larger community, the Good2U family, then this is the festival for you. Interested in Good2U 2024? Then you should keep your eyes open on their Instagram .

Get ready for an electrifying weekend of diverse club sounds as Wall to Wall, the renowned RSO in-house club festival, makes its return for its 2023 edition. With an impressive lineup of local crews and a thrilling 84-hour program, this year's festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of electronic music. The highly anticipated Wall to Wall festival, known for electrifying club-goers during its 2022 edition, is set to return for an even more thrilling experience in 2023. This year's festival promises to be a weekend filled with diverse club sounds, showcasing a formidable lineup of local crews that host nights at RSO throughout the year. Stretching across an impressive 84 hours, Wall to Wall is a celebration of electronic music, bringing together some of the most talented and innovative artists in the industry. The festival kicks off on Thursday, August 18th, with the experimental label, Raster, taking the stage. Raster's visually focused program will feature live A/V performances by renowned artists like Dasha Rush, Raster founder Byetone, and RSO resident Yanling, setting the tone for an immersive experience. "The idea of Wall To Wall Club Festival is uniting most of the crews promoting events over the year at RSO with floor hostings on all three floors day and night. A family gathering from Thursday till Monday showing the spectrum of sounds that make our club this unique place.” Says Henning Baer, Musical Curator and Booker at RSO. Friday, August 19th, sees Monolake, the alias of Robert Henke and founder of Ableton, taking center stage on the ROBUS floor. Henke's live concert, featuring 8-bit techno-electro performances on vintage Commodore CBM 8032 computers, promises to create a unique and calming atmosphere before the energy-filled performances to come. FYEMA, a Berlin-based crew, will take over the floor, bringing artists like Animal Farm resident DJ Aisha, London's The Muffin Man, and more. Tommy Four Seven from the 47 label will also join the lineup, alongside BPitch Control's ASEC and Raster's Kangding Ray. The open-air floor will be in the skilled hands of the team behind Home Again, joined by Planet Pleasure and featuring kick-off sets from Traffic Records Frankfurt founders, Bodin, and Martyné. As Saturday arrives, the festival shifts into overdrive with all floors running on full-throttle. Grounded Theory's Henning Baer and crew affiliates Chlär and Caiva are among the selected artists to kickstart the day's events. GEGEN takes things to the next level with R-Label's Somewhen and Rawmantique's Radical Softness going b2b with Demian Records' ZNZL. Self.Control. brings an electrifying fusion of Italo disco and EBM, featuring prominent artists like Italo Brutalo and a b2b set from Fabrizio Mammarella and Giulia Gutterer. TILT features exciting b2b sets from residents Cryptofauna and Faerber, as well as HAMY and N.R.M, leading up to the highly-anticipated closing act from Ellen Allien's We Are Not Alone. This closing set will see Perc Trax labelhead Perc and 47's Stephanie Sykes taking the audience on an explorative journey on the open-air floor. RSO's in-house series, RFLXN, then intensifies the weekend, building up the excitement to its climax. London's Nkisi, Copenhagen's Peachlyfe, and a b2b set from Brooklyn's Volvox and São Paulo's Amanda Mussi, along with RSO resident Xiorro, will leave festival-goers with unforgettable memories. Wall to Wall 2023 is not just a festival; it's a celebration of electronic music's diversity and power to unite people from all walks of life. Prepare to dance, connect, and experience the magic of club culture in one unforgettable weekend!

Lunacy Berlin are hosting two different summer events this year and gathers creative and open-minded people to Renate. We spoke with Founder Billie Rae about how it all started and what to expect. Can you tell us about how the idea to Lunacy came to life? "Lunacy Berlin came into existence during the pandemic. The prior event series House of Red Doors and Bad Bruises felt to me weighted with a lot of stress, bad memories. Memories of the world halting to a stand still, losing loved ones in our communities due to the mental impact of the situation and of the lockdowns we endured. Also ultimately frayed partnerships within the business." "Lunacy was our little beacon of hope and we wanted to embrace a new approach and mindset. Start fresh and be reborn." "Lunacy is about embracing a collective spirit of endurance and determination and also exploration of ourselves, our sexuality and what our desires are. The need to be amongst like minded souls and to feel freedom with our own expression of selves." Was there a lack of something on the scene that you wanted to give? "I think Berlins landscape was very different 8 years ago and the ‘sex positive’ scene was just emerging in the sense that it was still just at a handful of (highly renowned) clubs. There were places you knew you could dress up and get a bit kinky and have a wild night, but for me I just felt I need something lighter and more creative than just black and leather or latex. Not to say it wasn’t there but it just didn’t scratch the itch I had. After years of performing and working in theatres, circuses and cabarets it felt there was a space for this style of play. An immersive and theatrical approach to sex and exploring sex, humans, each other. The vibe of a festival reduced into one night where the audience and performers are all one mass creating a scene of love and lust." What is the concept with Lunacy? "Lunacy Berlin is a creative collection of many incredible and different energies coming together to make a Luniverse of art, theatre, music and a place for the imagination to really have no limits." "We aim to create dreamworlds where you can lose yourself for one night and just let yourself go. The current world can be a shitty and scary place with division, hate, intolerance and violence and for so many people it can get overwhelming. We like to put a brief wall up and invite people inside to have a moment of magic and awe and to maybe forget the pain outside, to indulge in their own creations and to feel part of something beautiful." It's very spectacular and really urges and inspires your guests to be creative. What does a vibe like that add to a party? "The guests are our fuel and this has been the case since our very first event. Their creativity and enthusiasm and inspiring attitude is what has been the catalyst to creating these worlds. When you have many different people coming together under one roof with one theme in mind. It just ignites so much excitement and we explore these ideas together. We’ve said it many times but we are so so proud of our guests for what they bring. Each event is a pleasure to see what they come up with." For a first time goer, what could one expect? "House of Lunacy isn’t just about sex, or fucking publicly in one of our installations (it can be if you want tho ). In fact many of the guests are solely there for the vibes and maybe a little playful interlude. But this isn’t intrinsic to your enjoyment with us. It is such a huge experience on top of the more sensual side. You can explore the Labyrinth of performances, installations and music and spend the entire night filling your cup with inspiration and hopefully plenty of good vibes. It’s a wild and unique space but it’s also incredibly welcoming and caring." How do you work with artist curation? (picking performers etc) "Most of our team have been with us since day 1. We have evolved together and we have grown into one beautiful family. The artists are what bring the essence and the spice. They are the ones that carry us into these crazy worlds and without them we’d be just another party. Our performers are our heroes and our friends and we are a family. We love them all dearly." How do you set your themes? "The themes are often created with our team. We have suggestions, ideas and ultimately we go for the ones that spark the most enthusiasm and inspiration. We also like to sometimes push our guests and create slightly harder themes which we love to see what they come up with and how they interpret them." What's up next for Lunacy? "The next House of Lunacy is our first event in our 2 part summer of Lunacy. We will be celebrating the arrival of summer. Which will be a dark and sensual solstice ritual. With plenty of passion and undulating rhythms." House of lunacy - Solstice Ritual June 22nd Renate Dress code: Pagan, vvitch, ritualistic, horned beasties and conjurers of love magick. "The second in our Summer of Lunacy will be our end of summer event. This will be our light, floral and magical celebration of the summer and what beauty summer has delivered us. " House of Lunacy - Midsummer Dreaming August 31st Renate Dress code: Floral deities, divine creatures of the sun, fawns, nymphs and forest dwellers.

Berlin + Hot Girl Summer = Hot Human Summer (And how to make your own p*rn) By: Alexis Smiley Smith We all know the drill. Instagram pics of 20 something ladies LIVING THEIR BEST FA-A-ACKING LIVES perched on the bow of a speeding motorboat or posing on a Balinese beach donning suspiciously pristine white bikinis sans any dirt or ketchup. Not. A. Care. In. The. World. Alone or surrounded by their entourage, they’re serving up the lyrics that ‘hot girls win’. Welcome to #hotgirlsummer. When Megan Thee Stallion released her track, she unleashed a cultural trope with a staying power complete with spinoffs, a constant flow of memes and ironic edits from our more sardonic influencers. Ubiquitous is an understatement. Social saturation is more like it. I fell curious to its cause myself, but in the context of Berlin. At the beginning of June and with the city as my lens, I made plans with the flowers and bees to open those petals and drink up the nectar. I would create my own version in tandem with the city, following Berlin’s lead. But first, I had to reshape #hotgirlsummer into something way less problematic. I’m in my forties and pretty sure I haven’t been a girl by any standard in thirty plus years. Hot girl summer also reeks of lacking inclusivity. Where is the space for humans who don’t identify as girls or women? There would be no performing no fucks given with a glam squad in the background ever ready for touch ups and hairspray. No catering to this tired ass capitalist patriarchal feedback loop. No bowing to the rampantly active male gaze. So, in the spirit of Berlin’s ever evolving curiosity and activation around deconstruction, social collaging and getting weird… I welcome you to #hothumansummer. Hot human summer is all about the authentic embodiment of self. And then move from that place into pleasure and wild sexual and sensual reflections. Take that mirror colonized with the past and throw it out your window. Admire the gleaming shards below and then toss your hair with a bit of sass. Walk away. Get to some serious productive ‘oude hoer’ with yourself. Do the opposite of glam squad, get your fingers deep inside your pussy or/and your ass or/and firmly gripped around your cock and/or other pleasure centers and let’s ride. It’s Berlin, remember, we have no idea where this will take us. But if I’m looking for authentic embodiment in this city, I can trust resources exist. And probably give me what I need, not necessarily what I want. And that’s exactly what happened. With a massive infection from swimming in the Spree bookended with Corona 2.0, I spent most of my hot human summer in my flat. Physically divorced from accessing Berlin, I slumped around and gave into what might be called not-feeling-so-hot-human-winter-of-the soul. But that’s the thing about this city, just when you feel all is lost or got a serious case of the humdrums, magic possibilities can rear their lovely heads. Finally free from my flat, I went to my local to slurp a half dozen oysters, sip on Crémant and seek out some sage advice from my favorite bartender. A total badass through and through, she bluntly enlightened me. Make a homemade porn, mate. That’s what I do. I don’t need anyone except myself. Only in Berlin can one eat the food of mermaids whilst getting that kind of tip. I licked the brine from my lips and hatched my plan. So what if I was a little late in the game for my hot human summer immersion journey? All I needed was a camera, a little courage and… …a professional porn actor as my guide. Enter Noir, a Berlin based performer who works with Hardwerk Studio in creating adult films that not only reshape the mainstream porn narrative, but also actively dismantle the porno patriarchy altogether. He graciously agreed to come to my flat and share his insight and support. This would be the playful act of authentic embodiment I was looking for, but also create a conversation between my sensual self and my inner critic. Berlin + Hot Girl Summer = Hot Human Summer (And how to make your own p*rn) Could I find a space for integrating shame and vulnerability and somehow alchemize this into self-worship or acceptance? And what would happen when I watched the footage later in some meta sexual encounter of ‘myself pleasuring myself watching myself pleasure myself’? Meeting Noir for the first time, I can describe his presence as deep deep water. I felt my nervous system slow down. I knew I was in safe company. His energy sang soothing and soft, but I also sensed a strength in being very clear on boundaries. For him, making porn has been an agent of change beyond the screen. Not only did he learn about his sexuality, but also his trauma and how being in the moment with it while filming actually helped release a lot of shame. Being present with both the positive and difficult moments can create a sense of power and autonomy. With this is mind and in body, and Noir as my guide, I got the camera out and spent a couple of sexually alchemized Saturday hours making a homemade porn. HOW TO MAKE A HOMEMADE PORN STEP ONE Ritualize. Ritualize. Ritualize. Take some time to set up yourself and the scene. Fresh sheets and soft pillows. Build a playlist called ‘music to fuck myself to’. Soak in a lavender infused bath. Cut up pieces of watermelon and juice up your mouth. Create some intentional space for yourself and what’s to come. STEP TWO Logistics of the lens Start with a tripod if you have one. With the camera fixed, it’s easier to explore that sweet spot between performance and authenticity, which Noir believes can co-exist in a porn. When you’re ready, get into handheld close-up mode. Noir invited me to focus on the parts of my body I tend to ignore or shame. Slowly moving the lens over my varicose veins and cellulite felt more worship than critique. Allow for the possibility of your shame demon to transform into a sexy little beast. STEP THREE Do what turns YOU on To start, Noir asked what gets me hot. I get turned on by pouring oil or good quality lube on my tits and rubbing it in until my nipples are hard and slippery. Then down I go. Maybe you have a favorite toy or position or like to lick a latex glove. Whatever it is, be true to your pleasure pathways. STEP FOUR Noir says, If it’s not a fuck yes, it’s a fuck no In your home porn studio, enthusiastic consent reigns. Don’t want to be naked? Great, put on a black lace body instead. Not sure you want to orgasm? Then don’t and focus on other acts of self-pleasure. Feel the need to wear white sneakers? Put ‘em on. Noir also reminded me that taking a break is totally okay. Pause for the cause and continue when you’re ready. Delete anything you want. Just because you filmed it, doesn’t mean you have to keep it. Noir blew my mind when he told me I wasn’t even required to watch the footage. Maybe this is just about enjoying your body as a sensual self-study. You are literally and figuratively calling the shots. STEP FIVE If you choose to watch… Remember this is ‘by you for you’. You’re not the perfect porn performer but you’re a showy little exhibitionist worthy of praise. Maybe your sex face is a bit cringe, but so is everybody else’s. If you’re in the mood, touch yourself. I did. Watching the footage, I saw an imperfect goddess. I saw a nymph discovering her body even with the fire trucks screaming by. I saw a siren, a come hither, a white shoe begging to be licked. I saw a hot human at the end of her summer. I saw me. Happy filming, kittens. And a big extra shout out to Noir’s generosity of time and spirit to co-create not just a scene, but an experience that left me juicy with confidence and ready for more.

Lucas Unklevon speaks to Playful about what took him to electronic music, producing and AI-technology as well as hopes and dreams for the future. What has your musical journey looked like? I started listening to electronic music and rap when I was 13-14 years old. At school every Friday lunchtime we spent time digging and playing music with my friend Marius on the school speakers, that was fun. Then I started to play music and then I wanted to learn how the music I was listening to was constructed, so I learned how to produce music by myself. And year after year I had opportunities to play for events with music collectives in my city, in France, and at bigger and bigger events outside of the city like Astropolis Festival, and then i signed my music on Boys Noize's label, Jensen Interceptor's label for a collab with Salome, and on Nastia's label as well and I started to export and play my music outside of my country in Europe and America. Alex (Boys Noize) trusted my vision and my music and I’m very thankful for that. What drew you to producing Electro music? I think that by listening to albums of Underground Resistance, Kraftwerk, Dopplereffekt, Detroit in Effect, 2LC, Drexciya, Zwischenwelt, Arpanet… I really fell in love with the music which for me has a real soul. I visualise a lot when I listen or produce music and this genre is the one that gives me the most thrill. I am indirectly inspired by all these projects because it’s a part of my culture, but I do it with my own vision, in a new way, I try to blend old school electro sound and next gen electro. What is your creative process when producing a new track? For me when I create music it has to be instinctive. I can start by recording my voice and transforming it robotically and start from that loop and create a song around it, or it can start from a synth or drums or a vocal. When I talk about instinct, I need to feel the song live when I'm building it, and if I start to find it boring I delete everything even if I've spent days on it. I can be inspired by a lot of things around me, the environment, peoples, or technology, space documentaries, if I hear interesting noises inside, I can sample it and integrate it in my music to create a very robotic atmosphere, that’s why some of my tracks have names that is connected to technology and space like Planet Robot Choices, Cyborg Romance, Frequence Zero or Meta Synapse and that’s why you can hear a lot of robot voices in my tracks or in my livesets. How do you approach incorporating new technologies and techniques into your productions? What’s your view on AI when it comes to productions in the future, for example? I think that there are many interesting things to use from technologies, for example to be able to capture sounds inaudible with the human ear. I think that in the future we will be able to integrate sounds that react with the body according to certain frequencies, which can lead to having an even more intense experience with the music. As far as AI is concerned, I think it's very interesting for jobs like science and medicine to succeed in finding solutions for health problems or helping people. As far as music is concerned, maybe it's gonna be interesting for some reasons, create new machines or plugins, but I think, in the other side, that it can be the door to more lies, there are already enough lazy DJs who paid ghost producers so imagine if they just have to pay a machine to make the sound for them… Is it important for you to stay true to your sound, or what’s your view on that and the whole “staying true to techno” conversation? For me it's important to stay true to the music I defend. Because I want to prove that Electro (in a wide spectrum) can be as powerful on a dance floor as any other genre. But it's important to stay open to listen to many different types of music, music is always evolving. About my global vision, I think that everyone is free to do whatever they want, Music is an infinite space of freedom, nobody has any order to give. What I think is bad on the « techno scene » it’s all the dj’s who played the tiktok trends hits inside their sets, some artists are following these trends, to stay bankable, I encourage them to make the music they really like and to stop being followers but leaders of a music they really defend. Music should be timeless, not ephemeral. But you know, do what you want, I just gave my opinion.. What has been your biggest challenge as a producer so far, and how have you overcome it? I had the chance to travel a lot these last months for music and gigs, and I was able to collaborate for my next tracks with producers/singers from North and South America which made me go out of my comfort zone by working differently by mixing my vision and their musical culture whether it is EBM, Rap, Pop, or something else. It's a challenge that I love and I want to do it again and again. How do you approach collaborations with other artists, and what are some names you dream of working with? For the collaborations I've already done it was quite natural, It needs to be a real connection and a shared vision. When it comes to the artists that I dream about collaborating with, there are some, but I keep them to myself, I’m too shy to say it ahah, let’s see what happens.. I trust life, if I get to work with them one day I will be happy, but just chatting with some of them is always very enriching. What are your upcoming projects or releases that we can look forward to? There are a lot of projects on the way. My next EP « PARIS75 » on Boys Noize Records is coming out the 26th may, and I have some very exciting collaborations coming up too. Then I've got releases on compilations, remixes and most of all I'm currently working on my own label. The first release will be out at the end of the year with a very strong line up, I’m really grateful to work with these legends for my first release. I'm so excited, I want to write my own vision, my own story with this label. What’s your hopes and dreams for the future? In a large perspective, I want people to open their eyes a little more to the problems of our planet and that they respect everyone's choices, cultures, and make more places for the minorities. From a very professional perspective I want to be able to continue playing my music, to continue discovering new countries and meeting new people, culture, and exploring new stages. To be able to share my vision with my future label, staying true and happy. To be honest, it's already a dream for me to travel with music, i couldn't have imagined this when I started making music, and I feel very lucky and grateful about that. That's why when I go far away from France for gigs I try to stay few weeks to meet the local artists, make studio sessions, and visit, instead of taking 2 planes of 11 000km during the same weekend. It makes no sense to do this. What would you like to change within the techno scene? That the promoters propose more eclectic lineup where you can have different kind of electronic music represented, like in a « festival » way, and more spaces for minorities. And another point, that people focus on their own business and make it evolve, stop wasting time comparing themselves and waste energy for nothing, Everyone has their own path, some go faster than others, and others come down as fast as they went up, it's not a race. And especially put your ego aside. It's crazy, the number of assholes that we can meet in this environment. You should be proud of yourself, that’s true, but please, stay humble.

Three years in and now an established club with a steady following. Playful had a chat with Natalie Petek and Mark Elms, the duo behind one of Club Ost's flagships Stimulation. Stimulation has been around for a while now and is now a main player within the k!nk/s3x positive club scene in Berlin. How’s the journey been? The journey was wild to say the least. It was always our main goals to establish a community and we were lucky to have this from early on so we just continued to build on it. We worked very hard last year to build up trust with a wider audience and establish a safe space. When we started we played mostly hard techno but as we’ve grown we’ve moved away from only hard music and now the focus is less on big names and more on the people and the energy of the party. We like it upbeat, exciting, colourful and sexy. We’re comfortable with where we are at and we think people know what to expect when thinking about Stimulation. What does Stimulation bring to the table? I think we bring a lot of variety and freedom. We don’t class ourselves as just a fetish event so when you come here you come here and you will find a broad selection of people but all of them understand the space. It’s never boring. Of course we have the fetish people but there’s also the colourful characters who come month after month that make our event what it is. We like the idea of an extended, dysfunctional living room and our door policy reflects this. The social aspect is just as important as the music. What can we look forward to this summer? We are celebrating our 3 year anniversary and we are already heavy into planning for our big celebration in august. We can’t say too much but we prepare some special treats for our community also the club itself is going through some major changes until summer. Stay tuned.

By: Farah Haze Illustration: Marta Braga These past years I swapped hedonism for therapy. I had to. The pandemic shrunk my world. An orbit of daily stimuli dropped away. A newsfeed I couldn’t handle too much of slowly faded out. Joy got swallowed up by the void of video call technology. Until it was me, a few friends and our mood swings for entertainment. As they say, the only way out was in. This summer, life switches on, and my friends and I don’t have the same energy reserves. All nighters with club slime turn into evenings with natural wine, talking about trauma. There is little tethering me to my old lifestyle. I spend my time floating around Neukölln hotspots, sweating out my climate anxiety. I feel morally bankrupt. I leave a pandemic tech job I’m not proud of with no clear path back into god’s light. I stare wide-eyed at the housing crisis memes from my rent-controlled altbau and I wonder how long it is until I meet my fate as an anmeldung-not-possible Neukölln slumlord. I watch what’s going on in the world and I know we are so lucky here. One of my favourite activities this summer is ‘kiez safari’. You cycle or walk around neighborhoods, taking in people lazing out across the tree-lined streets – just the sight of it feels like a life force. But I also get the sense we are all people at brunch trying to ignore the wasps – the wasps with attitude that get in your face here as summer ends – side-eying the swarming crises and hoping they don’t sting us. I try partying again, and I feel neutered. I don’t have the same stamina. The first night out post lockdown in autumn 2021 sets the tone: I enter an event at Funkhaus to discover that of the people packed in, the average age must be 19. I see a group of boys who can’t be older than 15, giddy, looking as surprised as I am that they made it in. This is absolutely fine, it’s encouraged, we love to see the kids having fun. But I feel I have aged one thousand years in the past two. On this night I’m soon turning 30 and it spins me out. I glance around at the faces in the heaving tunnel and it genuinely pisses me off as I think, they don’t even know. They don’t even know how young they are. How depressing; I’m getting old. The timeless ‘when to leave the party’ dilemma that might hit around 30 feels accelerated by the past years, where there was no smooth offboarding from the 20s lifestyle. Nearing the end of my sad girl summer, clearly I need some fun. At the very least, drugs. I go to clubs and feel increasingly on the outside looking in, so it seems to fit the mood to swap club drugs for some psychedelic processing. I go to a hotel by a lake and munch through two grams of ‘golden teacher’ magic mushrooms. I lay down and start to experience the baggage being squeezed out of me. A long grey tube appears in my visual and I feel I’m being squeezed out along with it, the last of the mess I worked through the past years getting out of my system. At one point the image takes on a vibrant, disco-like tone. As if it’s taking place inside the giant stalls at Hasenheide fair where you win those big teddy bears that cascade among the flashing lights. The tube is now firm and pink and glittering, and there’s a lever being pushed down the length of it by two Berlin rave fairies. They are cherubic versions of the kind of people you see at Berlin Pride. I’m vibing. They hang off the lever, cigarettes casually between their fingers, taking drags and shrugging like they’ve seen it all before. People who come to Berlin to run from something, people who find an escape from it in nightlife, people who work through it in other ways, people who don’t, people who come back to the party, people who don’t. Baggage is the great equalizer. I haven't really found my way back to the party yet. I couldn’t even bring myself to for the purpose of this piece. Instead I go on club queue safari, cycling between the big Berlin institutions taking in the kids with their black and mesh and expectant glares. I say a little prayer for them – I know I am a ridiculous person – I hope they find what they’re looking for, the people at the start of a journey as I seem to be reaching the end of mine. Maybe like this print magazine (love you guys!) I’ll be back in some way. For now, that feels ok.

By: Filip Sandström Beijer With the returning party "We Are Not Alone" she's creating 30 hour (and even longer to come) lineups with techno DJs from different generations. Ellen Allien is the woman behind We Are Not Alone, a party that has been a staple of Berlin's techno scene since 2015. The event is known for its diverse lineup and open-minded program, and it has evolved over the years to become a must-attend party for techno lovers. When asked about what inspired her to create We Are Not Alone, the answer is easy. "To share techno journeys together with dope lineups and an open-minded program." This statement reflects the spirit of the party, which aims to bring together people who share a passion for techno music. Ellen Allien curates the lineup for We Are Not Alone by selecting the best techno DJs from all generations to create a colorful night. Nowadays the event takes place at Revier Sudost, a larger venue than the previous location at Griessmuehle. Even though we all know that Griessmuehle was a special place for Ellen, she's satisfied with her new location. "RSO is a bigger venue and I love the location a lot! The soundsystem is also much better and playing louder at the open air floor is now possible. RSO is an outstanding location in Berlin." The party is a place where people can dance, communicate, kiss, and smoke joints, according to the icon herself, and as frequent visitors we agree on her description. On the 11th of March We Are Not Alone is back with a 30-hour line up on two floors with a very eclectic techno vibe. Get your tickets here

By: Kristina Kirkliauskaite Kristina Kirkliauskaite speaks with four Ukrainian artists who now live and foster their music careers in Berlin. The world counts one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. One year that takes forever for Ukrainians and their supporters. For some Ukrainian DJs, the war became an anger-fear-desperation-forced decision to move out of their motherland and land in Berlin – not only changing their life but also shaping a new perspective on their musical journey. In this interview, we share thoughts of ALIS , Cheka , Ruslan Mays and Travis – originating DJs from Kyiv, Zaporizhzhya, Odessa – who now live and foster their music careers in Berlin. The vibrant rave scene in Ukraine Born in different cities in Ukraine, they have mostly experienced Kyiv's electronic music scene, which can briefly be described as "incredible and uprising" by Cheka or "something you can be proud of if you're local" by Travis. Before the war broke out, Kyiv was a city that didn't skimp on clubs and festivals, inviting music lovers to enjoy a complete range of electronic gigs from venues and communities like K41, Arsenal XXII, Closer, Keller, Veselka, Drift, Brave!, Otel,, ICKPA, Cxema, Strichka, Laboratorium or Rhythm Buro. Sharing her experience in the Kyiv rave scene, Travis mentions: "The level of quality of the raves and the clubs was always so high, so every new project that appeared was following standard, and so eventually, you have a dozen sick places and events you want to visit on any given weekend." Moreover, Ruslan adds: "Before the war, Kyiv was one of the club capitals of Europe." Although the war is still happening, the Kyiv rave community puts possible effort into maintaining the scene. "Many talented people play and produce in different styles, even in wartime", – says Cheka, and ALIS. highlights: "It is my dream to play in Ukraine again since before the war, its rave scene there was only thriving along with phenomenal clubs, venues and events. All of this has a special place in my heart." Moving to Berlin after the life-changing morning The early morning of February 24th was a tragic turning point for everyone in Ukraine and their friends or family outside the country. While ALIS. has been living in Berlin since 2015, Ruslan, Cheka and Travis moved here during the first week of the war. They all share what went through their minds and hearts that fateful morning. "I was embraced by the paralyzing mixture of fear, anger and desperation. Imagine your biggest fears come true. You just couldn't stop thinking of all the worst-case scenarios. And every time I texted my parents and friends, "I hope to see you soon again", I fell into long, deep and brutal mental breakdowns. I couldn't properly eat or sleep and stay on my own for like a week or two, so I spent this time at my friends' places on their couches. I needed someone to calm me down," – says ALIS. Travis also comments: "Berlin was not my first choice of city to move to, but now it feels like the only logical choice for me. I was lost and confused. I was feeling very sorry about what was going on and also angry and disappointed. And I was watching our people hating each other over one person being able to leave and another person not being able to or choosing to stay." Further, Cheka adds: "I was lost and didn't understand what I was supposed to do next. All plans built before just turned into dust for one apparent reason. Moving to Berlin was one of the most serious and fastest decisions I ever made. It's horrifying to leave your motherland, your family and your friends in this kind of situation because we can't even imagine what it will be like tomorrow. Every Ukrainian has suffered to a greater or lesser extent, and people need to continue supporting Ukraine in different ways." "It was unexpected and forced. I understood that it would be easier in a place with friends' support. Before the war, in January 2022, I performed at HÖR at a showcase of the Ukrainian queer community Veselka. After that visit, I had the desire to come back to Berlin to play. Unfortunately, my next visit was because of the war. In March, together with my family, we came to Germany," – notes Ruslan. In between finding stillness and supporting Ukraine Settling down in another country can have a different weight on everyone. Especially when you're forced to do that. Gladly Ruslan, Travis and Cheka found their so-called home in Berlin, even under these circumstances. Travis shares discovering the sweet spot within music and Berlin's culture: "During warm sunny times, I feel really blessed, winter is tense with no snow, but then I am just trying to be as productive as I can, so it's also good. I love my place and can sit at home daily, just working with music. But then I know that when I want to return to society, I can do it easily. The people and places here are amazing." Wherefore, Ruslan says – "Berlin has become a second home. This city reminds me of Kyiv in some places with its architecture and weather." Also, adding to it, he mentions: "I remember receiving many messages from friends in Europe who offered their homes for family and me when the war had just begun. The closest city to my friends was Berlin. We also lived in Bavaria for a while and, after a little adjustment, returned to Berlin." Talking about her experience, Cheka notes the evolving music career and discovered friendships: "Right now, I'm trying to get used to living in Berlin, to find myself here even temporarily, and to grow up as a DJ, thanks to my friends supporting me here. I had friends here before the war started, and to be honest, I have moved thanks to one of them. ALIS. is also a Ukrainian DJ. We invited her to play in Kharkiv and participate in our Ukrainian tour with the collective Laboratorium, and we became really good friends." Moving to Berlin 7+ years ago, ALIS. put her focus, heart and creativity towards supporting Ukraine and all Ukrainians who were also moving to Berlin. She says: "When everything happened, I hosted 2 of my friends from Kyiv and a cat for a month in my small one-room apartment, and I think we managed to live quite sustainably together. It was quite obvious to offer help with my already seven plus years of experience in Berlin, German language knowledge and some first steps in the Berlin DJ community. Helping my close friends get bookings, guest mixes or other jobs is a natural phenomenon." Adding to that, ALIS. actively participates in fundraising parties to support those who need it the most: "Fundraising parties, EPs, merch sales, etc. make a huge difference, and I can definitely feel the power of the community. I personally collected over €6k by simply placing a donation box at parties where I played or creating a PayPal pool. The whole amount was donated to different volunteer collectives or individuals affected by the war and is reported on my IG page. I am really grateful to every person supporting us. Donating money from my fees also became a daily routine." She also has organized one fundraising party herself. Shifting to a message-driven musical journey Multiple intercultural changes and emotional roller coasters create a combination of a newly formed perspective towards many parts of life. It wasn't an exception for ALIS., Cheka, Travis and Ruslan. When it comes to music, Travis feels the war has affected her deeply: "Still, being away from my motherland has impacted everything, from music selection to how I perform. Without being too obsessive, I am kinda trying to represent as much Ukrainian music in my mixtapes and shows as possible. I started to dig a lot through Ukrainian releases, there is a lot of very crazy and cool stuff, and I am happy to see people in Berlin or Vienna going crazy over another sick dubstep track written by Kyiv homies. I want to keep working with Ukrainian projects in the future, and will definitely release some collabs too." Although coping with emotional pain, Ruslan highlights embracing and learning to express his feelings through music: "When you come with pain, it's not easy to adapt to another country and do creative work. Every day you cope with the news from Ukraine, and at the same time, the intense scene of Berlin inspires me to keep believing in music. This "bipolar life" is reflected in my creativity. I am still learning to translate all these emotions into music and performances." Cheka shares being warmly welcomed and inspired by the community in Berlin: "Despite the stress, I found people who supported me, developed in music, and started learning how to produce and support my country from abroad. I overcame my emotions, moved on to my goals, and found myself a super hard-working and strong person." Further, ALIS. notes the importance of bringing a clear message to the Berlin rave scene and the whole world – "saying "no war" is not enough now. You have to prove your words with actions" – mentioning that, she adds: "I will never share a booth with a Russian artist who hasn't shared a clear anti-war statement or done anything to support the victims. Or saying "no war" and then organising huge events or playing gigs in Russia to earn some cash, a part of which will be taxed to kill my people and destroy my home is a no-go for me, and I am not only talking about Russian artists who play in Russia now." Advice for others coming to Berlin – how to settle For more positive reflections, aka final interview remarks on their current journey, ALIS., Cheka, Travis and Ruslan share some important tips for new-coming DJs moving to Berlin. ALIS. notes the essence of hard work and learning the local language: "The only thing I'd say is that It's not gonna be easy, and you have to work really hard to achieve your goals and make it as a DJ/producer here. I genuinely recommend you try to learn a bit of German, and don't forget to take care of yourself." Cheka recommends every DJ coming to Berlin be sharply focused and work on reaching their dreams: "There are many opportunities for DJs and producers here, which is one of the reasons I moved here, and you have to be really hard-working and stress-resistant to find your place here and have a solid motivation to build your part of life outside of your home country. For me, it's a temporary part of life, I hope." Staying authentic to yourself and being dedicated to your creativity – the message that Travis sends: "In Ukraine, you might have felt much more important than you will be feeling in Berlin, and this will be frustrating for you. You will have to start from the beginning, but it's OK. Many more doors will open for you in the end. And for newbies: don't be afraid of well-known competition. In Berlin, there are as many parties as DJs. If you have something catchy, if you are original and confident, you'll be noticed very fast." Running down his personal experience, Ruslan shares his three quick tips: "Have the support of friends, establish good communication with new people in the club scene, and actively show your creative skills in music in the form of sets and tracks." How to Support Ukraine Any kind of help matters – support these organisations to stand together with Ukrainian people: Kyiv angels Charity Fund "Hugs" Save life in UA

In this weeks episode of Playful Podcast, we meet with Antigone, who is at the forefront on the French techno scene and is also seen as a leader and mentor for a new generation of producers and DJ’s. In this episode we speak about his journey up until today, compare Paris and Berlin and talk about the scene and the new generation amongst much more. Playful Podcast is available on Spotify, all Podcast Apps and YouTube. In the extra material we speak about who Antigon’s is in the studio and how he works when producing, as well as his view on goal setting. Go to Patreon.

It’s Christmas and not everyone is having a jolly time with their family. We are therefore inviting you to accompany us on Playful Podcasts Christmas episode with the amazing fetish photographer Raf Gaweda. In this episode we speak about how it was celebrating Christmas with a homophobic father, not being accepted for who you are, share tips on what to do when feeling taken down by your own family, and we also dig deeper and get to know much more about Raf and his past. From building a career that wasn’t accepted in the family, fighting through a crystal meth addiction and so much more. Playful Podcast is available on Spotify, all Podcast Apps and YouTube.