Next up comes Canadian-born polymath Darwin, who’s been getting Berliners talking ever since she kicked off her event series REEF back at now defunct venue Griessmühle. Tired of providing partygoers with the same formulaic sounds they’d come to expect, she started to play around with others, dubstep and bass among them. It was a fresh approach that through persistence ended up paying off with a form that’s as animate, subaquatic and essential to its surroundings as the ocean reefs that inspired the name. A UK-leaning sound, that pays homage to breaks, drum n bass and garage and fuses it with a techno more indicative of her chosen digs. Nowadays that approach has really gained traction and her parties blossomed into something much larger, encompassing her own selections, whether at UNFOLD or closing Berghain’s Klubnacht, as well as the launch of her SPE:C imprint. Her loose selection and low-end frequencies are a modern take on a long tradition of rumbling bass and out-and-out techno, brought together with a killer instinct for the hourly requirements of a dancefloor with high expectations. Following on from her previous techno stints at Bassiani, Podcast 251 further explores this side and delves back into her roots; a studio mix brought to you from this true pioneer, mastered by bestie Esposito.

@darwinspec

Bassiani invites Darwin / Podcast #251

March Specials wrap up with a set from Alinka (she/her)—a Kyiv-born dj shaped by Chicago house. She co-founded with Shaun J. Wright the independent label Twirl, where they channel their vision of the electronic scene, infused with the spirit of the old school.

Despite her busy schedule, Alinka stays deeply connected to Kyiv and its music community. She returns regularly to support the scene, catch up with friends, and spend time in the city that will always feel like home.

Listen to Alinka’s latest set, played on 14.09.24, at Backyard. 
________________________

March Specials завершуються із сетом від Alinka (вона/її) — диджейки, яка народилася в Києві та виросла на чикагському гаусі. Разом із Shaun J. вона заснувала незалежний лейбл «Twirl», через який вони транслюють своє бачення електронної сцени, пронизане духом старої школи.

Попри насичений графік, Alinka зберігає глибокий зв’язок із Києвом і локальною сценою. Вона регулярно повертається, щоб підтримати спільноту, провідати друзів та місто, яке завжди залишається її домом.

Слухайте новий сет Alinka, зіграний 14.09.24 на Backyard.

Artist's SoundCloud @aalinkaa

MARCH SPECIALS ④ ALINKA

Multisexual Dance Music by @shapovalovkirill

Multisexual Mix #26 Kirill Shapovalov

"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

The sound of Ukraine's independent music scene. Presented by Схема, a Kyiv-based collective that moves forward rave culture in Ukraine. 
Find the full tracklist and related episodes on NTS: https://www.nts.live/shows/cxema/episodes/cxema-8th-september-2025

CXEMA w/ Béllis 080925

Part 1 of a magical night DJing b2b with my good friend Terry Donovan. ❤️

Terry has been a resident at Birmingham's House of God nights since the beginning alongside me, Neil 'Sir Real' Spragg and Paul 'Damage' Bailey.

Unfortunately there's no tracklist for this set, it was lost in the mists of time. I'm sure you'll be able to figure it out, or maybe enjoy you can the mystery....

Surgeon b2b Terry Donovan at Globus, Berlin 2024-06-15 part 1

A new set from the Before The Curfew series, performed by Recid and Vitalii Shevchenko at Backyard Opening on 03.05.2025, is now available on our SoundCloud.

The residents dedicated this set to their long-standing love for the Detroit sound that bridges techno and house; it runs for a symbolic 313 minutes.

Before the Curfew is a series of music podcasts that emerged in 2022 after the reopening of the club following the liberation of the Kyiv region. All recordings presented in this series take place before midnight before the curfew begins. Before the Curfew offers a vibrant snapshot of the Ukrainian music scene amidst challenging times, celebrating resilience, creativity, and unity through music.
____________

Новий сет із серії «Before The Curfew», зіграний Recid та Vitalii Shevchenko на Backyard Opening 03.05.2025, вже доступний у нас на SoundCloud.

Резиденти присвятили цей сет давній любові до детройтського звучання між техно та гаусом; його тривалість — символічні 313 хвилин.

Before the Curfew — це серія музичних подкастів, що з'явилася у 2022 році після відкриття клубу та визволення Київщини. Усі записи, представлені в цій серії, проводяться до півночі, перед початком комендантської години. Before the Curfew — це відображення сучасної української музичної сцени в умовах викликів, що стоять перед нею.

Artistsʼ SoundCloud @recid @hou8gn9ocoux

BEFORE THE CURFEW ㉕ RECID B2B VITALII SHEVCHENKO

BadGirls ( Cristoanodjmusic Boolteg ) es un remix cargado de percusión y groove , con un enfoque Tech House Minimalista y energía de club . Un track pensado para la pista , lleno de ritmo y atmósfera underground , ideal para dls y fiestas que buscan mantener el flow constante .

Free Download

BadGirls_Cristianodjmusic_Boolteg

01 REC-2025-09-27 to come over -7

One half of the mind behind our festival’s curation, Kasper (@kaspermarott) delivered on a signature mix of ethereal, deep, and progressive techno to swirl under the morning sun. Rolling rhythmically for the whole 3 hours and splashing moments of ecstatic humanism throughout, this is Vessel in perhaps its truest form; sunrise, fog, and a collective, concrete-shaking movement.

photo by Simon Englyst

Kune Festival 2025: Kasper Marott @ Vessel Stage

Bandcamp : https://psicodelica.bandcamp.com/album/gun-bang-ep
Beatport : https://www.beatport.com/es/label/psicodelica/24600

PREMIERE: Dellavega - Mejicana

∄ is a cultural institution in Kyiv, established in 2019 on the territory of a former brewery, located at 41 Kyrylivska Street. It serves as a multifunctional space for club events like ∄ Community Events, Curated By, Enareї, for experimental music concerts like Miasma of the Real and other cultural events.

∄ also manages the in-house music label Standard Deviation. Established in September 2020, Standard Deviation is a multidisciplinary label for music, art and publishing, cultivating creative exchange between an aspiring Ukrainian scene and a global community.

K41 is the community-born name of the institution embraced and widely used by the public.

BEFORE THE CURFEW ㉕ RECID B2B VITALII SHEVCHENKO

∄ (K41) / Standard Deviation