Recorded at wonderful "Tal der Verwirrung" 2023 @ Mensch Meier (Berlin)

LIVE @ Mensch Meier Berlin | Tal Der Verwirrung

This is the recording of my liveset  played at Sisyphos. It was my debut at that legendary floor and therefore a very special and intense night!

LIVE @ Sisyphos | Hammerhalle

Bonker Squad went to France to play at "Feu Folie" Festival.

LIVE @ Feu Folie Festival | France

LIVE @ Para Yok 2024

This is the second half of my recording played at the very first "BonkerSquad" Party in Berlin. It happened in the early morning.

LIVE @ BonkerSquad  ZIK 2024 (Snippet)

This is a part of my liveset played at Slot in 2024. Originally I played 2,5h, but my recorder fell off the table and stopped recording :D

LIVE @ Slot 2024 (Snippet)

released November 10, 2024
mastering: Sacha Ketterlin
copyright music and picture: Kenji Tanaka

ROUND

LOAD

LAZY

Recording of my liveset for "BonkerSquad" at Kater Blau

live @ BonkerSquad 12/2024

Heavy Rain

Wait

What Are You Thinking

Live @ Sisyphos // Hammerhalle

Recording of my set at "Jonny Knüppel" (Berlin) for "Choose" Anftifa Soli Party (24.05.2025)

Kenji Tanaka LIVE // Jonny Knüppel // Choose Antifa Soli

Recording of my liveset at Ascension Festival 2025 (12pm)

Kenji Tanaka LIVE // Ascension Festival 2025

Recording of my improvised liveset at Fusion 2025 // Tanzwüste Saturday 1:30-3:30am

Kenji Tanaka LIVE // Fusion // Tanzwüste 2025

Here is the recording of my liveset played at Coucool Festival 2025. Big thanks to Feu Folie for that amazing stage and this warm experience! And thanks to Coucool for organizing such a nice festival. The group of people you've put together for that weekend was just SWEET! <3

Kenji Tanaka LIVE // Coucool // France 2025

Here is the recording of my liveset played at "Wald"  at "Garbicz Festival. I jumped in for Britta Arnold, who unfortunately had to cancel last minute. I was particularly sorry because I know that this festival is family to her. 

For the same reason, I was also aware of the responsibility it is to fill this slot. I knew that I couldn't replace Britta, of course, but I would do the best I can, with the biggest respect and sensitivity I could bring.

Thank you Garbicz for your trust and that wonderful chance and experience! 
<3

Kenji Tanaka LIVE // Garbicz Festival 2025 // Wald // Poland

IMPROVISED LIVE TECHNO
📍1312 Berlin | Germany

Don‘t vote for AfD! 
If you do, inform yourself. 
If you still do, do not come to my gigs!


🌎 Booking & Contact:
Kenji.Tanaka@loft.contact

www.kenjitanaka.bandcamp.com
www.instagram.com/kenji_tanaka_official

My Family: "BonkerSquad"
👉www.soundcloud.com/maldaneben
👉www.soundcloud.com/vaianamusic
👉www.instagram.com/bonkersquadberlin

Meet me here:
26.07.25 Coucool Festival France
03.08.25 Garbicz Festival Poland
16.08.25 Compact Madnass Festival Germany
22.08.25 Entropie Festival Germany
27.09.25 Exit Hamburg
06.12.25 tba Rostock 


LIVE:

My approach: 
When dancing, I love to let go of everything around me and enter into a deeper dialogue with myself. At this stage, I am 100% in tune with myself. This works for me when the groove drives me and the elements I hear are interesting but not too intrusive. That's exactly what I try to create on the floor.

To achieve this and also to create the necessary element of surprise, I combine different loops randomly and blindly. Since I never know exactly what will happen, I am also surprised and inspired by it.

My instruments:
-Drums (TR8S)
-Bass (Modular)
-Rumble Bass (TR8S)
-Atmos (Drumrack, Ableton)
-Synth 1 (MicroMonsta 2)
-Synth 2 (Polysix VST, Ableton)
-Vocal Samples (Ableton)
-Misc Samples (TR8S)

For each of these instruments, I have prepared about 30 different loops, most of them 1 bar long.
Using the Streamdeck and a self-built ‘Max for Live Tool’, I can select a completely random loop for each instrument with the push of a button. The tonality can be set. To make sure it’s not completely random, I can choose between different categories, such as chords/arpeggiator.
I can control the complexity of the loop using controls.

All instruments run through Ableton (RME Fireface UCXii). With the help of ‘Launchcontrol’ and 2x ‘Midifighter Twister’, I can control all the parameters that are important to me. Filters, reverb, random delay and pitch effects glue everything together.

I never know what I want to do next until two bars before. If, for example, I feel like I want to hear a new chord pattern, I press a button and let myself be surprised. If I like it, I develop it further. If I don’t like it, I move on.

Since I never know exactly what will happen, I am correspondingly excited before the gigs. Because almost nothing can be planned in advance. My biggest clue is whether I dance. If I get myself to dance, I am satisfied with what happens.

Kenji Tanaka

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