How long have you been going out?

 

For a good 20 years. 

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What was the 1st genre of electronic music you started with?

 

Drum and Bass (laughs) .. I liked it very fast.

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… And your 1st impressive party situation?

 

Well, that was crawling into a basement of an old house in Berlin, you know, when Rosenthaler or Hackescher Markt were basically ruins. So yeah, we crawled in there and it was three rooms I think and I walked into one, young, naive and they were playing gabber. But not only that, the room was pretty much pitch black, apart from the occassional strobe but when a siren went off on top, I really made my way out of there - quick. Out of that room, not the party. 

 

 

What does Techno trigger in you?

 

It's like a whole range of emotions. It is really opening up my mind and my body, so you can feel that your chest almost moves towards the sound, it’s in the frequencies. Also, there are certain basslines and grooves that just convey not only certain strength, but the full depth, so in a way you feel empowered, or you feel like; this is how I want go trough life always. 

 

 

Which club do you feel a special connection with?

 

It is not so much a club but the parties that took or sometimes still take place in different spaces. I love this adventure, this certain liberation when reappropriating a space, if only for a night - and extension. So I ve seen a few in Berlin but in London this was my main scene, starting with Lo*kee and of course ToiToi. But also for clubs, fabric has definitely been a focal point for me for a long time and always so very welcoming.

 

 

.. And what about Festivals?

 

I like Sonar, I mean Off-Sonar, a lot. Because it's in a city and Barcelona is really amazing. So relaxing to have everything around and the sea of course plus they have great venues and the line-ups united everyone.

I also like Houghton a lot, which is not in the city at all, it's proper country side. There you have good music throughout and so many stages, so wherever you go, you will find some quality, even if you really don't know who is playing, you can tune in for a little bit. All the stages are down to the environments as well, so it's like one big playground, or like a park with completely different., hm not different vibes, but different areas.

So you have a lot to explore and play about and especially the first one was just such a representation of the scene you know, from a warehouse setting, to a big stage, an afters-open-air vibe like CDV and so on.

 

 

What are your favourite drugs?

 

Well, they all got their time and place. For going out I prefer Speed and Ecstasy. In general I am more on the upper side of substances and I'm a big fan of Acid, lately.

 

 

Are you a dancer or a talker?

 

Definitely a dancer (laughs) but I can be outspoken to the point to ask people to stop talking (laughs).

 

 

Floor or backstage?

 

Depends on the floor. I much like being on the floor because of the better sound - if you are lucky - but sometimes it's so packed, so the backstage can be a nice bit of retreat once in a while, I find.

 

 

What makes your favourite DJ?

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Personality in the sense of having something to propose, but also conveying a feeling of being in safe hands. So somebody who knows where we are going together and then shows us places. Of course there is taste as well and the ability to keep it together and have a real progression throughout the set, to the point you think it cannot get any more amazing and then it does. 

 

 

What was the best DJ set you have ever heard?

 

Uh, this is really hard to say. Ricardo at off Sonar, I don't know which year to be honest, was such a perfect combination of situation and sound, well everything. I also remember Rhadoo playing fabric and just layering and layering, pretty mind-blowing and I am a big fan of Fumiya, such *** class and so badass at the same time. And then there are certain live artists of course, Burnt Friedman at Houghton was out of this world for example.

 

 

What are the most important elements in a good club?

 

Apart from the sound you mean?! For me a great club starts at the door, the staff sets the first tone really and I also like it when you have different areas to explore. I'm not the biggest fan of huge light shows. I much prefer to keep it low and to immerse in sound. Of course there sometimes is this really good light person who knows what they are doing but this style of ‘Oh hey, there is the drop coming, may I indicate’ .. Come on (laughs).

 

 

And what about the after?

 

For me what’s most important at an after is definitely people and good conversation and also a little more complex and intriguing music that you can hook on to and wonder about a bit.

 

 

How do you keep your rave life balance?

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Well, in my head (laughs)... To be honest, this is a really good question and I’m still not entirely sure about my answer.. I think in a way rave life balance keeps itself.... Sometimes. And sometimes obviously the scale tips to one side for a time, like when you have a lot more to do, or a lot more to rave. But I think for me, the most important thing was  that at some point I understood that I could allow myself and also be realistic about it. So you know, rather than sitting at an after saying “I’ll leave at six, really,“  just to then find yourself still being at that same after ten hours later, still telling yourself: “Really, I should leave.“  So I realised at some point, that if would go out, I’ll be out so I might as well commit commit to it, rather than believing I would manage a “responsible pull-out”. This is not gonna happen, so I have to decide. If I go out, than I go out. And if I don't go out, I don't go out, well, trying to.

 

 

Whats your secret weapon against hangovers?

 

Nice, clean food like Rice, Avocado, Egg, maybe some Lemon or Miso Soup is really nice. For me especially the first day and also straight after the party I try to eat something when I get home and before I go to bed for sure, even it's just a soup or something small.

And for me it definitely has to be vegetarian.

 

Raven, thank you so much : )