FOLD Invites

New York und München – zwei ziemlich gegensätzliche Städte. In beiden hat die Künstlerin Bashkka lange gelebt. Als queere DJ und Producerin hat sie es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, den Vibe der New Yorker LGBTQI-Szene in das konventionellere München zu bringen. Sie legt als Solo-Künstlerin auf, organisiert queere Partys und ist seit neustem Resident im Münchener Blitz Club. Wir haben Bashkka zum Interview getroffen, um über ihren Werdegang als DJ, die Sichtbarkeit von queeren Themen und den Unterschied zwischen Vorbildern und Inspiration zu sprechen. Ihren exklusiven Mix gibt es hier auf SoundCloud.

Interview: https://bit.ly/3RNjU0n
Bashkka: https://www.instagram.com/bashkka/

DJ LAB / 024 / Bashkka

This mix is a tribute to all the memorable nights that I experienced in 2024.  Hope you enjoy it, Happy New Year❤️‍🔥

Soundcloud ➟ @corakoala
Instagram ➟ www.instagram.com/corakoala

Upperberry | Cora

Endurance MixXx #8 Cockwhore & Macho

REC 35 w/ DJ MELL G

In January 2025, as the new year cracked open with sharp edges and fresh momentum, DJ MELL G stepped into the booth at Fuse to deliver the 35th instalment of the series. Setting the tone with swagger and intent, DJ MELL G tore through bass-heavy detonations and sleazy machine funk, sculpting a world of sound that was as gritty as it was infectious. It was a fast-paced, screwface workout. Unrelenting, playful, and full of surprises. Lock in and relive a slice of that electric night right here.

▪️ Soundcloud: @djmellg
▪️ Resident Advisor: ra.co/dj/djmellg
▪️ Instagram: instagram.com/dj_mellg/

DJ MELL G ― Recorded Live at Fuse (11.01.25)

Recorded at SOUNDIT Plaza in Barcelona on 5 April 2025.

“IF THIS ISNT RA MIX OF THE DAY WE’LL STOP PRESSING PLAY 🤪"

Blasha b2b Allatt b2b Steffi b2b Virginia @ SOUNDIT Plaza (Barcelona)

Peder Mannerfelt @ Sauna Radio 12.07.25

Deep House Berlin 026

Ciao tutti 💖
So happy to share the recording from my last set at Open Ground from December 2024. 

It was an emotional journey ~ I wanted to tell a story of diving into underwater dream lands, where spirit guides and glitchy creatures meet and send us messages from the other side... where sound takes over the brain and opens something in the heart and body.
I waved through many genres ~ ambient, jungle, electro, dubstep, drill, jazz, techno and the wonky in-between. It felt like I had the chance to express a fuller spectrum of who I am as a music lover. 🙏

That night, I had the honour of opening for the legend Surgeon ~ someone who’s deeply inspired my path since the very beginning. Sharing that moment with him and connecting was just wow. 🥹

Open Ground truly is one of the most special places on earth ~ the care, the sound, the freedom, the community, the crew… just perfection. 

So grateful to be invited back this saturday ! (26.07.2025) 
Don’t skip ~ come sweat and feel with us 🌀💎💦

~ with love & gratitude ~ 
GiGi🧜‍♀️

GiGi FM at Freifeld / Open Ground 14.12.2024

"Designing clubs is about understanding psychology." The famed architects talk about bringing emotions, durability and hidden logic into era-defining nightlife spaces.

How do you design the world's best clubs? Studio Karhard, the architecture firm started by Thomas Karsten and his wife, Alexandra Erhard, in 2003, know exactly which ingredients go into a successful nightlife space. The Berlin-based duo are the visionaries behind Berghain and ∄ in Kyiv, as well as a number of private residences, businesses and smaller venues around the world. Their specialty, they say, is salvaging forgotten spaces and resurrecting them to serve a new purpose. 

In this RA Exchange, Karsten talks about first coming across the building that's now Berghain and working tirelessly with engineers and city planners to preserve its neoclassical facade. As he explains, creating a memorable atmosphere goes beyond just designing for aesthetics. There are countless hidden design features that serve to make venues like Berghain comfortable. 

But according to Karsten, Studio Karhard's masterpiece is ∄, which they began designing in 2018. He describes the special experience of first visiting the abandoned  brewery—which was then in extreme disrepair—and bringing the lessons they took away from building Berghain to make this Ukrainian space their most successful project yet. 

This episode takes a look under the hood of the psychology, anthropology and emotional study that inform the venues that have shaped underground electronic music culture. Listen to it in full. -Chloe Lula

EX.775 Studio Karhard

“Girls @ Work” is where the corporate grind gets a chaotic glow-up. Brought to you by Antwerp’s it-girls Dana Montana and Babu, this multidisciplinary establishment fuses DJing, party concept, fashion, performance, and unapologetic clownery. Clock in, break the rules, and remember: the girls are running the office now.

Dana Montana & Babu present "Girls @ Work" @ Kiosk Radio 23.07.2025

Accompanying this mix, our in-house journalist, Smoki, posed some questions to Claudio on his approach to warming up a dance-floor. We hope you enjoy what you read and hear.

Claudio PRC is a favourite amongst the entire team at FOLD. As the first DJ playing at the Semantica Records night he set a perfect tone for our dancers and his label compatriots. From listening to this set you can clearly hear the passion Claudio has for his choice of music. We relish the opportunity to allow DJ's like Claudio to comfortably perform exactly the way they want. Accompanying this mix, we posed some questions to Claudio on his approach to warming up a dance-floor. We hope you enjoy what you hear.

Thanks for agreeing to this interview Claudio. Your recent warm up set at FOLD was a masterclass in how to get a deep techno party started. First, I'd love to ask what you thought of FOLD?

When I played for the first time at FOLD I was amazed by the structure. A warehouse which totally represents the true underground spirit in London. Finally, something that the city absolutely needed...for my past experiences! How it was made and managed is very pure, a community completely devoted to our culture. The sound system and its DJ booth is perfectly made and curated, along with the LED wall and lighting system. I always feel comfortable playing there.

How do you prepare your warm up set? Do you mix in a different way when playing at this time?

When I prepare a warm up set I want to start from a primordial sound. Like concrete sounds. In general, field recordings related to a specific experience or a specific place - which in that time - are inspiring me most. Then slowly I like to add synthetic sounds, beat-less, mainly drones with dilated elements, long pads and wrapping atmospheres aimed to create an imaginary life to the room. A frame, an imaginary soundscape. Always slowly, I start to add percussive elements and rhythms, some melodies, trying to reach a point where the groove can come in. The method of mixing is very deep and dilated in space, aimed at creating the right climax

In your opinion, what makes a great warm up set?

The warm up set is the most important part of the party. It’s the beginning of the story of the night, so it leads the night in a specific way. From my point of view the opening set must give to the people the proper welcome in the club. I like warm welcomes, so as a dancer I would love to be hugged by the music with warm and pleasant sounds, to let my ears adapt to the sound system and to be comfortable with the space and with the other dancers. Another very important thing is to be respectful to the artist who is playing after, to leave to him/her a proper key to start his/her performance as best as possible. It’s important to really know who is playing after and to listen to a lot of his/her music!

Tell me about playing to audiences in London, Claudio.

For a couple of years I’ve been playing regularly in London and during this time I was able to build a passionate crowd who constantly come to my gigs because they want to listen to a certain type of music and to have a deeper experience. It's beautiful to see in the last years how deep music has created a common sense of party all over the world! London is undoubtedly part of this scene, it’s a community which is linked to each other and I am very happy for this.

Lastly, I’d like to find out which producers or DJ’s are really exciting you right now?

Thank you so much for giving me the possibility to tell you my point of view on this topic which I love so much. I've been impressed in the last couple of years by my dear friend Luigi Tozzi. He is a young talent but he already has great maturity on all these things we discussed here. Both his productions and his DJ sets are an example of how something should be done properly. If you don’t know, I totally recommend!

Thanks for the taking time to answer these questions Claudio!

FOLD Invites Claudio PRC + Interview

Klaudia, thanks for agreeing to this interview. It was such a pleasure to record your mix to share with the public. 

How was the transition from Jasmin to Andromeda?

I started playing with my middle name Jasmin while studying at University in Leeds and becoming part of a thriving scene that was the perfect breeding ground for aspiring artists. I was drawn by the raw and classic sounds of acid house and Detroit techno and after moving to London, I started to get introduced to the techno scene through events such as Unmasked, On The 5th Day and Koodeta. The turning point was when I performed for the first time at HTBX and got introduced to a scene that was different to anything I had ever experienced before. Playing vinyl sets to a hedonistic crowd that was hungry for the heavier stuff really inspired me to dig deeper and find records that expressed my darker side. I decided to start a new project that would represent my alter-ego by embodying the character of ‘The Chained Woman’ from Greek mythology, Andromeda. It was a spontaneous transition that gave me a chance to reinvent my public persona by playing under an alias that is a metaphysical representation of my higher self. 

As a regular at unfold, how do you find the booth being in the middle of the room?

I think that the 360 degrees DJ booth is a great concept that creates an intimate atmosphere by removing the barrier between the crowd and the performer. It makes you feel more connected with the crowd by being on the same level on the dancefloor. It was the first time that I played on such a setup and I could really feel the energy of the room all the way through, it was magical.

Do you prepare your set in a different way when you play in the round?

I don’t think that the DJ setup has an effect on the way I prepare for my sets but playing in the round can encourage you to get out of your comfort zone and play tracks that you might have not played otherwise. For example I ended up playing ‘Higher State Of Consciousness’ which wasn’t planned but it fit the moment perfectly and many people were coming up to me and commenting about that particular track which wasn't on my original tracklist. I also played some dialogue from the matrix during the breakdown of one of the tracks which was a very transcendental moment. 

It was great to make you our latest resident at FOLD. Have you held a residency at a club before?

It is an honour to be one of the residents at FOLD and I feel extremely lucky to be part of such a ground-breaking institution. I was first made resident of an event called Flux in Leeds in 2010 which became one of the most popular student nights in the city. I was also a regular at one of the most legendary clubbing institutions in the world, Back to Basics, where I hosted the second room and played alongside legendary artists such as Derrick May, Carl Craig, Chez Damier and many others. I organised my own events in London for many years after that where I played as a resident and hosted radio shows on stations such as Hoxton FM, Bloop and Soho Radio. 

What do you see as a unique challenge to being a resident DJ? Do you try to do a different set each time or is there not enough time in between shows to do that effectively? 

I think the biggest challenge of a resident is to maintain a consistent sound and at the same surprise the crowd every time you perform by making sure that each set is memorable. I spend most of my spare time searching for music and I buy new tracks before every performance in order to deliver a unique performance that is specifically tailored to that moment in time. As a perfectionist, I always strive to make each set better than the previous one and the challenge of trying to achieve that is what gets me excited about performing. Having a residency makes it possible to grow and develop your skills as an artist by delivering quality sets on a regular basis and becoming part of an institution that trusts and believes in you.

FOLD Invites Andromeda + Interview

Irakli ploughed into his merciless appearance at FOLD for the Warning takeover back in November, we recored his set and spoke to us after the show about the unique journey that led him to move from his hometown of Georgia to the thriving German epicentre.

To start, I'd like to know about your musical upbringing in Georgia. Were you exposed to electronic music in your home country before you went to live in Berlin the past 20 years?

As a child I witnessed the changing of political system in Georgia, economical crash, political turbulences, having electricity only few hours a day. Very exciting times for the teenage student
I was back then. I also went to music school and was playing piano.
When I left Georgia, not much was going related to the dance music context, but some very interesting more experimental/electonica pioneers of georgian electronic music like Natalie
Beridze, Nikakoi, Gogi Dzodzuashvili were active. Once in an interview Nikakoi said he was making electronic music without having electricity (using generator). It is a nice contradiction
making electronic music without having electricity. We didn't even dream about a bright future, there was no hopes TBH, we were just doing whatever we were able to do.

Was it easy to find electronic music in record stores or was your knowledge gained through speaking to friends and families?

There were no record stores and only chance to get new music (even beginning of 2000s) was if one of your friends was lucky to travel around and bring back some CDs. I studied architecture
and was part of the creative scene, so that helped to find more interesting music, beyond the surface of pop. When I was a child I remember small underground shops where you could bring
your tape and they would record some music on it.

Your EP with Georgian artist, Michailo has an especially heart-breaking story but it's great that you can raise awareness of the issue through music. I think almost everyone in our scene knows about him and his family struggle through this difficult time. I'm curious how you two collaborated together since he could not communicate with the outsideworld directly.

First of all, I was very sad when I heard about his story and talked with few friends here in Berlin about him, Electronic Beats decided to meet him and to make an interview. We went together to prison and that is how we first met. Idea of making something together came to his mind while we were doing the interview and after that he was calling me from prison (he could make 1 international call a week). His wife was bringing files from prison and sending them to me and a week later she was bringing what I had sent back to prison with a USB-stick. It took almost a year to have this EP ready. There was a great support from the music community. I was really happy to see how people around the world wrote and talked about it. This helped him with his aplication and now he is out of jail. He isn't free as it is house-arrest and he should be home at night, so he can't perform but at least he is with his family, building his studio and we can talk any time now and not only once a week. He still has to get used to the world outside, but one thing is sure, we will hear a lot of music from him.

Is there any artist that is really on your radar in Georgia right now?

There are a few I really like, Yanamaste for example is a very talented producer and DJ from the new generation of techno artists hailing from Georgia right now.

How has living in Berlin affected your music taste and by extension, your dj sets?

First I was living in Cologne and that's where it all began. My friends were playing in different clubs and there was a vibrant scene of techno and house. Berlin is where I met a lot of inspiring people and artists. We started a label, to make events... I have released more than 18 records of my favorite producers, I don't think I would have done
any of that if I hadn't moved here.

FOLD Invites Irakli + Interview

Phin is both inventive and refreshing, with a knack for turning her ambitions into reality. A longstanding member of the HTBX community, London-based Hannie has become a recurrent face in the scene since her first introduction to techno as a teenager. Since that initial shift in her musical awareness, her motivations became engrossed in plying her craft, subsequently guiding her into the sweeping London music culture in 2008. Cultivating an affiliation with the diverse and inclusive culture of key environments such as KAOS and Electrowerkz, Phin made the conscious decision to join the community in full force by honing her skills both behind the decks and in the studio, eventually swapping the dancefloor for the booth at the very venues she first admired. Having witnessed her determination to contribute to the ethics she valued, FOLD invited Hannie to play at UNFOLD 009, and alongside this recording of her face-melting set, we spoke to her about her ever-propelling lifestyle.

You launched your label 'Theory of Yesterday' back in 2019, with three EPs released in just one short year. What inspired you to create this label, and what is the concept behind the project?

I think it’s similar for a lot of DJs after a while - you want to play your own music too. It was as simple as wanting to release mine and other people’s music - to create something positive that I can grow with. The label is eclectic and will be more so as it grows; it’s a personal project and a space for me to express myself to others through music, and I love to have my freedom with it. I’ve also connected with more people outside my circle despite being London-based. Until 2018 my gigs were all in London but as a direct result of the label, I started travelling more for gigs. I’ll be back soon in Germany as people found me through TOY. The artists I’ve signed so far have been and are producing great music; it’s great to be the one to have released their first EPs. There’s lots more coming up, including a new act that I recently fell in love with… 

How did you find playing UNFOLD?

It was so much fun! I played something a bit different than my current sets - I went back to faster BPMs and acid sounds. This was how I’d started before I got into more industrial sounds. I’m happy that the more ravey sound’s made a return in London! It never left completely but you would only hear it at certain places in the last 10 years. It was an instant connection with the crowd.

How did UNFOLD's crowd feel compared to other parties you've played?

Unstoppable - ready for anything! That’s the motivation for me - to push myself a bit more. It’s obvious that FOLD brought together a lot of people that want to have a great time. People love being there; they feel safe, free and loved. Happiness was in the air the whole time. Most parties I play thankfully have a similar vibe; London is on fire with so many great events lately. UNFOLD is definitely one of the strong additions and people have adopted it as their second home. There's common ground with FOLD and other venues like Electrowerks and Kit Kat in that people are just there to dance and let go – thanks to the promoters. Thank you for having me!

You've been a staple of the HTBX family for some while now. How did they help develop your musical career and what special moments have you experienced with them?

HTBX is family and where I started taking things more seriously. From them, many more doors opened and they’ve always been very supportive. I don’t know how many HTBX events I’ve played at in the last 5 years but every one of them has been special. I feel a special connection with HTBX and it’s also very much to do with the core people that created it and due to the fact that I met a lot of people that I'm on the same page with through HTBX. I hope this feeling always stays the same as the party grows.

FOLD Invites Phin + Interview

It was back whilst living in the city of Aalborg that Neri J’s love for music exploded into existence. A chance encounter with the local student radio station - laden with a sprawling expanse of microphones and DJ equipment - piqued her interest, subsequently leading her into her own weekly radio slot with that very same friend who introduced her (“shout out Robert!”). Yet it was upon visiting Berlin for the first time her awareness and ensuing love of tough, heavyweight techno was born, and within just two years, in 2017, she landed her first Berlin gig at that very same club that catapulted her into her passion originally: Tresor. Since those fledgling days, Nerija now resides in Copenhagen, playing a pivotal role in the spectacular rise of the Danish venue Ved Siden Af, which she has been a resident of since its formative days. Following her raging, primal set at UNFOLD alongside the other Ved Siden Af residents, we spoke to her about European music culture, her own event series Vortex, and what makes a great party.
 
Hi Neri! Thanks for joining us. What led you to landing your residency with Ved Siden Af?  
Probably that we had the same passion and vision for the music; I’ve been with Ved Siden Af for most of its existence. Before then, we had Et Andet Sted, the first original DYI club where the whole scene felt at home. It was a legendary place!
 
How has the Copenhagen techno scene developed since you first became part of it?  
I think the scene has developed a lot since I became a part of it. Now it’s known internationally. The Danish techno scene is known as a thing. There’s a lot of attention around it and I’d say that it’s well deserved.
 
Tell us about your own party series, Vortex. What is the concept behind the brand and who have you enjoyed inviting to the events?
 There’s two of us running it – my friend Indre Maria and I have been overseeing Vortex for a few years now. It’s a party where we are not afraid to challenge dancers with harder and faster sounds. Genres are all melted and blended together – it’s a proper hard dance party. We focus on inviting new, fresh and upcoming artists. Recently we have had some really promising names: Araknyl and Omniself from the Bodycount label in Sweden, DJ LOOSER, and Accelerationism from Ute club in Norway.
 
Do you have any other creative outlets that you like to immerse yourself in?
 Gardening! I consider it such a creative, calming activity. It’s always helped me to find peace of mind when I’ve felt uneasy or doubtful about my career. It’s the best therapy I’ve tried.
 
 What parallels have you found between FOLD and Copenhagen venues?
 People respect both the venue and each other – FOLD and the Copenhagen crowds know how to behave, respect and assist each other if needed.
 
How did you approach your evening slot of your UNFOLD appearance? Were there any particular tracks that you really enjoyed playing in the booth? 
 I couldn’t wait to rave together with the dancers. I really enjoyed the whole playlist but one special moment was playing Nils vs Miss Tracy – Megablast. That’s how I felt during my entire two hour set. It was a megablast! I was super surprised when I arrived and saw the DJ setup in the middle of the room. It was a super positive, intense experience to be surrounded by passionate dancers. It made me feel as though we were one organism, all moving to the same rhythm. Some moments I caught myself just dancing and forgetting about the main mission!
 
What do you think is the most important thing when putting on a great party? 
 It’s a combination of various things. The energy you choose via the lineup is key, but other elements that are crucial are the location, promotion, soundsystem and crowd. It’s like a recipe that you need to experiment with a few times in order to bake a perfect party.
 
Any projects that you’re focusing on in 2020? 
 I’m really looking forward to releasing new music which is due in the very near future; finishing my EP!

FOLD Invites Neri J + Interview

Gareth Wild is well-versed in perhaps all the best of genres, but it’s techno that he’s mainly known for after his 25 years of playing. Attending his first rave at the age of 13 in Milton Keynes, Gareth developed a thirst for the rave scene and went through jungle, hardcore, dnb and more before settling into his current stride, conveying his broad knowledge of music over the years into his selective skills. With so many years in the game, it’s no surprise that he’s headed his own showcase label for outstanding techno ‘EarToGround’ for 9 years, as well as co-owning ‘LDNwht’, with both projects still bearing a fortuitous release schedule despite this challenging time. With ETG due to release Gareth’s next EP in due course, alongside a forthcoming remix on Skyrptom for French artist Ayls on April 24th and a LDNwht VA that includes several of our residents, Gareth sent over a rowdy exclusive mix and spoke to us about how he’s been with FOLD since the very beginning.

Tell us more about your relationship with FOLD over the years. How did you land your residency, and what have been some memorable moments from the club?

I’ve known Seb and Lash [Voicedrone] for years before FOLD from our time at Shapes. Soon after my stint at Jaded, Lash told me he’d found a space in Canning Town and to come and have a look. The dance-floor was full of leftovers from the printing company who had just vacated. It was a state!

I helped Lash here and there with the floor plan and getting a few things rolling; I’m a Sound Engineer by trade so was able to assist with the initial direction of the the sound and lighting. I introduced Lasha and Seb to James Newmarch [now our Technical Manager] – soon we had everything up and running with additional tech support from myself, James Rail and Ben [7XINS]. My residency’s been a natural progression. Lash knows what I’m about and my involvement with techno in London and beyond – he’s also one of my best, trusted friends.

What has been your favourite set at FOLD and why?

There’s been a lot of moments so far. Warming up for Lash for Seleccion Natural last year was sick. Handing over the decks over to the likes of Oscar Mulero and Reeko was a bit of a landmark.

This year, the standouts for me were my sets at MORD, Ilian Tape and taking over the decks from Dax J after his 8 hours. Each time the place was absolutely rammed. Taking over from Dax was especially poignant; his performance was a culmination of so many things. Seb, Lash, Dax and I all started off at Shape in Hackney Wick so for us all to be back under one roof again for a sold out party was something special. I’d also just got married a month before - Dax was my best man. Literally everyone was there for Dax’s party at FOLD: my wife and all the crew.

How have you been dealing with the lockdown and what have you found has helped to keep you connected to others during this time?

Keeping a routine is paramount for me. My wife and I are temporarily home due to lockdown. She’s busy working from home and I’ve been catching up on label stuff & making music. It’s been productive! Otherwise I’ve been cleaning loads, exercising, cooking and staying connected with Facetime.

Once the pandemic is over, what would be the first track that you’d drop at the first party back?

EXTERMINATE by DM.S, or maybe Pac Man by Ed Rush and Optical. Either way, it'll be something sick!

What have you found has been the most important thing in keeping momentum in your musical career, and why?

You just have to keep pushing. When I started ETG in 2011 I wanted to see techno as the strongest genre in the world. Now I think it's safe to say it is, but we need to keep it there and keep it sick. 

I try to involve myself in releases, artists and projects that I feel will make a difference to the scene. FOLD is a perfect example of that as is ETG. I'm extremely proud of the people I work with and I’ll always push them to push themselves. 

Repetition is the mother of all skill.

FOLD Invites Gareth Wild + Interview

FOLD is an artist-led, community-driven nightclub and arts space. Positioned at the forefront of electronic music, audio-visual performance, and live streaming. FOLD prides itself on striving to be a safe space for our predominantly queer techno community.

Resident Bookings: Gemma@fold.london


FOLD RESIDENTS: 

Voicedrone - https://soundcloud.com/voicedrone
Anabel Arroyo - https://soundcloud.com/anabelarroyo.
Andromeda - https://soundcloud.com/andromedaldn
Gareth Wild - https://soundcloud.com/eartoground
James Newmarch - https://soundcloud.com/jamesnewmarch
Alba Heidari - https://soundcloud.com/lemmiwinks
Lockhart - https://soundcloud.com/lockhartsj
Riva - https://soundcloud.com/riva999

FOLD Invites Gareth Wild + Interview

FOLD

Recent comments

TØVREK

TØVREK

London Asad Khan

London Asad Khan

Related tracks