Redfreya (@redfreya)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 216

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▌I Could you take us through a day in your life, from a possible morning routine through to your work?

It depends on how many projects I have on the go at once; sometimes I am solely doing music, other times when I am working a 'day job' on the side, it comes and goes, so at those times life is very busy because it's 2 jobs :') . But I think a lot of artists can relate to this - gigging can be very up and down, especially in the phase of 'establishing yourself', and it can be reassuring to have a steady source of income during those phases.

Regardless, a few key principles remain...I always start the day with a good coffee (this is like the highlight of my day haha) and a look at the sun (even though in London it's often raining)...I try to prioritise things to take care of my health, and one really important one for DJs is to work on your circadian rhythm - it's important to get outside in daylight first thing in the morning after waking as this exposure to sunlight helps to reset your sleep pattern.

Usually I'm getting music admin or other 'day-job' type work tasks done during the day, and then it comes to producing and working on music for DJ sets etc, I prefer to do this in the evening when it's darker. Actually my favourite timing for studio work would be 7-8pm - 2-3am, I feel a lot more creative during these hours (which helps also for the DJ job) !

Finally, I have been working on having a proper wind-down routine at the end of the day - it's helpful to switch off all technology, and put the phone in another room / on airplane mode after a certain hour. I will try to do relaxing, present moment things for a bit at the end of the day, like meditate, read a book, take a bath etc, and get into the here & now because when we're working on tasks I think our brain gets so caught up in the future and our goals etc. Sometimes I'm also hitting the gym and sauna on evenings, also important for health!

▌II Which artist influenced you a lot?

My favourite painter is Rothko and I am very inspired by him, just in use of colour to portray raw emotions. I love simplicity, and I like bold artwork, whatever the medium be it painting or music. I love art where the message is communicated with subtlety. I appreciate raw, distressed and imperfect elements in artwork too, as opposed to a glossy finish. Musically, I've been inspired / influenced by artists like Nicolas Jaar, Kollektiv Turmstrasse, Mano Le Tough, Stimming, Recondite and many more of course.

▌III How did you prepare this mix and what was your main inspiration?

Once, during a set, a lighting engineer asked me exactly what mood I want to evoke with my music, and the answer always stuck with me (and I think it's very true in this set). I want to bring about a moody, groovy, hypnotic vibe - melodic, yet subtle and not 'in your face', but layered with quite intense emotional depth and some melancholic elements. I always think that being brought to feeling a bit sad on the dancefloor (or when listening music) is the best and it's a goal when I'm playing or making a mix. It helps you to feel the full spectrum of your emotions & release them. I really hope you'll enjoy this mix :)

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█ Redfreya (@redfreya)

SC - https://soundcloud.com/redfreya

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#redfreya #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

Soso Klein (@soso-klein)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 215

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▌I What’s your history with music in general and DJ-ing especially?

I come from a family where classical music was always played and listened to, and I played piano & harp during my childhood. I later discovered electronic music, then downtempo music from Germany, and immediately loved it. I started DJing in Berlin in the summer 2022 and it's been an incredible musical adventure since, which I can't wait to continue.

▌II How would you describe your style?

I like to mix different genres of downtempo & mid-tempo in my DJ-sets, driven by groovy bass lines and melodic moments, and I try my best to share a story with the people and take the public on a musical trip.

▌III Which artist influenced you a lot?

There are 2 electronic music artists who have had a particular impact on me, long before I started djing. The french producer Thylacine and the Leipzig-based band Wide Awake. There's often a track from one or the other in my DJ sets. For this United we Rise podcast, the closing track is one of my favourites by Thylacine: Memories from his album Transsiberian.

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█ Soso Klein (@soso-klein)

SC - https://soundcloud.com/soso-klein

IG - https://www.instagram.com/soso__klein/

RA - https://de.ra.co/dj/sosoklein

FB - https://www.facebook.com/sosokleinmusic

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#sosoklein #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

GIGEE (@gigee6 – Spectrum / Mobilee / Katermukke)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 214

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▌I How did you prepare this mix and what was your main inspiration?

Soooo...Getting ready for a set is like laying out a roadmap, sorting through 100-150 tracks a couple of days beforehand. But when I hit the stage and feel the crowd's energy, that's when the real fun starts. I dive into their vibe, see what they're feeling, and let it steer the ship. It's all about being in the moment, reading the room, and crafting a unique experience together. So I pick each track after another based on that. There's something special about that live connection—it's where the magic happens.

▌II How does "Babylon" reflect your musical journey thus far?

"Babylon" is more than just a track—it's a reflection of my personal and artistic evolution. It draws inspiration from the intricate tapestry of human emotions and experiences that shape us. Each note is a snapshot of where I am in my musical journey, capturing the essence of growth, exploration, and self-discovery. Through "Babylon," I aim to invite listeners into this journey, to resonate with the highs and lows, the twists and turns, and ultimately find solace in the shared human experience.

▌III "Babylon" seems to blend various genres seamlessly. How do you maintain this eclectic style while still staying true to your artistic vision?

The eclectic blend of genres within "Babylon" is a reflection of my belief in the fluidity of music and the power of genre-bending experimentation. While my sound is often associated with melodic techno and indie dance, I'm not one to be confined by labels or boundaries. Instead, I draw inspiration from a diverse array of musical influences, spanning across electronic, world, ambient, and experimental genres.This approach allows me to infuse each track with a unique flavor and texture, ensuring that every listening experience is fresh and exciting. Whether it's the pulsating rhythms of techno, the infectious melodies of indie dance, or the ethereal atmospheres of ambient music, I aim to create music that resonates with listeners on a deep and emotional level.

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█ GIGEE (@gigee6 – Spectrum / Mobilee / Katermukke)

IG - https://www.instagram.com/gigee6/

SC - https://soundcloud.com/gigee6

SP - https://open.spotify.com/artist/7mqebOCOql0RKtn1bGUdOd?si=VvBn0rFfR0SPdNf0GmmyVw

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#gigee #spectrum #mobilee #katermukke #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

Djolee (@djolee_music – Stil Vor Talent / Habitat / Rummel)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 213

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▌I How would you describe your style?

Melodic & Percussive

Trying to be as eclectic as possible on every performance as a DJ and when producing music inside the studio.

▌II Which artist influenced you a lot?

Trikk - Frank Wiedemann - Frankey & Sandrino.

▌III What’s your favorite food?

Asado (Argentinian Barbecue).

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█ Djolee (@djolee_music – Stil Vor Talent / Habitat / Rummel)

SC - https://soundcloud.com/djolee_music

IG - https://www.instagram.com/djolee.music/

LINKS - https://linktr.ee/djolee

SP - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1HfGJTanZiMBHskJLQkRxL

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#djolee #stilvortalent #habitat #rummel #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

ANGST vor GRETA (@angstvorgreta)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 212

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▌I How did you prepare this mix and what was your main inspiration?

I wanted to share some tracks I loved from the past with new more bouncing ones. I really like to make the transitions with my vocals and to create variations that inspire me.

▌II Did you gain something positive from this time with Corona?

Yes! I met a lot of artists. As no one could be on the roads, it allowed djs & artists to connect more via the internet and it was the begin of great collaborations.

▌III Is there some new things you learned in the last while? Did you find more inputs or new topics to focus on?

Yes! I focus on what inspires me! There are a lot of new inputs coming and I love to play with them. And I recently learned how a wish can come true: feel the wish & try to forget about it. The day you less expect it, the dream will come true.

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█ ANGST vor GRETA (@angstvorgreta)

SC- https://soundcloud.com/angstvorgreta

BP - https://www.beatport.com/artist/angst-vor-greta/1065041

SP - https://open.spotify.com/artist/523kilxCABZGEE85KJHYre

IG - https://www.instagram.com/angstvorgreta/

YT - https://www.youtube.com/@decidelamusic

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#angstvorgreta #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

Gazbee (@gazbeee / Wumanas)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 211

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▌I How would you describe your style?

My style is eclectic - it’s super diverse and I always say I’m genre-agnostic. My approach to music is all about storytelling - twists and turns and building excitement. Sometimes it can be bright, other times trippy, but it’s always groovy. The sets I make really reflect my state of mind at the time and sometimes even the state of the world. It keeps changing.

▌II What’s your favorite food?

When I’m not doing music, I’m cooking so I’m going to cheat and share my favourite cuisine instead - which is Egyptian food! Not many people know what it is, and honestly it’s hard to describe but there are lots of super delicious dishes like molokheya, koshari, ful and fatta…yummmm. I’ll let you do the research!

▌III Which tracks marks a highlight in your set?

I think every set has to have many highlights - It’s never just one! A highlight for me is an unexpected track, it’s that moment that gives you this sudden sinking feeling in your stomach (in the best way), heightens your senses or makes you feel these subtle vibrations on your skin. It’s that part that lifts your heart or suddenly makes you smile. You tell me which tracks in my set do that to you.

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█ Gazbee (@gazbeee / Wumanas)

SC - https://soundcloud.com/gazbeee

IG - https://www.instagram.com/itsgazbee/

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#gazbee #wumanas #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

Babxi (@babxi / Diskolusion)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 210

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▌I What’s your history with music in general and DJ-ing especially?

Since moving away from Canada at 20 years old, living in changing places (Asia, then Europe), dance floors have always been a constant in my adulthood. I’ve even been lucky enough to turn my passion for music and curiosity about the diverse characters of nightlife into professional opportunities, as a journalist – in Bangkok, I had a nightlife column for a major news website interviewing DJs, promoters and performers. In Berlin I’ve reported on diverse aspects of the local scene for international media from Lonely Planet to The Guardian and USA Today.

That also brought me to a special connection to United We Stream in 2020 – I wrote about the platform in its earliest days for The Guardian and Thrillist, story about the creativity and perseverance of Berlin’s club scene despite the pandemic shutdown – a story I am very pleased I could help share to the world.

During the pandemic, and time spent on a Thai island in a home frequented by touring DJs with no events but plenty of house parties, I was able to watch, learn, practice and really take the leap to translating my love of storytelling to production software and being on the decks.

▌II How would you describe your style?

I describe my sound as a ‘Dreamcatcher of Disco and House’ – my aim is for my music to feel familiar, fresh… and of course, feel good.

With high energy and positivity, I seek to appeal to the free spirits and old souls within us all. I believe that nostalgia is one of the most powerful forces in music, and though we often see samples misused and abused these days, we can all remember times when a certain lyric or melody connected us to beautiful past memories, different times and places. For me, nostalgia can mean digging for soul grooves, Motown samples, 90s vinyl tributing earlier sounds – in this way, I want my music to be a trip down memory lane that’s always intentional, and pay respect to dance music’s roots in amplifying lesser-heard voices.

In short, my sound mostly spans worlds of disco, house (especially the early 90s), and when it comes to newer music, a special emphasis on producers who share unique perspectives with their music and provide diverse representation – for example, underground dance music from Asian and diaspora producers, Japanese house, etc.

▌III How did you prepare this mix and what was your main inspiration?

Lately, I’m obsessed with the sounds of 90s disco house – in this mix, you'll find a lot of that, and hopefully, feel that sweet disco influence bridged to 90s house music laced with piano and synths.

This mix aims to evoke nostalgia on different levels – bouncy 90s club energy and excitement inspired by earlier times. For me, the authentic feel of 90s vinyl and production with disco grooves is something that just can’t be replicated!

This mix also resonates with me especially as a bridge between me and my dad. Everything I know and love about music has been passed down to me by him. Back in the 70s, he had a perm and danced in platform shoes. Playing tracks we always listened to together helps me remember his spirit carries on. He passed away in 2022.

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█ Babxi (@babxi / Diskolusion)

SC - https://soundcloud.com/babxi

RA - https://ra.co/dj/babxi

IG - https://www.instagram.com/xo_babxi/

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#babxi #diskolusion #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

KALEEMA (@kaleema_ba / Wonderwheel Recordings)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 209

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▌I What’s your history with music in general and DJ-ing especially?

I've been studying academic violin and piano since I'm 13 years old, later I've studied music production in New York and music composition at the conservatory in my hometown (Buenos Aires). I've been dj-ing for ten years now, I really enjoy it and it's always a creative experience to find new narratives with different musical genres, soundscapes and I like to play a lot with textures.

▌II How did you prepare this mix and what was your main inspiration?

I made the mix on Ableton and my main inspiration was the concept of sincretism, playing a lot with contrasts, break beats, folklore from latin america, spain and africa.

▌III Which artist influenced you a lot?

BURIAL

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█ KALEEMA (@kaleema_ba / Wonderwheel Recordings)

SC - https://soundcloud.com/kaleema_ba

IG - https://www.instagram.com/kaleema_

LINKS - https://linktr.ee/kaleema_

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#kaleema #wonderwheelrecordings #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

Dave Dinger (@dave-dinger / Bachstelzen / KaterBlau)

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 208

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▌I What’s your favorite drink while being behind the decks in the Club?

I’m happy to have stopped drinking alcohol. It was a long tough way to admit that I have a problem with it and that I’m actually scared of trying to play without it.

Plain fact is, that I function better when I’m sober, emotionally and technically.

So for now Club Mate is mostly the weapon of my choice, with pretty similar results. I loose control while I’m playing, drinking much more than it is good for me and feeling fucked up on the day after. 
So while I work my way slowly towards drinking plain water, I practice other methods to deal with my insecurities than grabbing a drink.
Dancing for example😅

▌II Could you take us through a day in your life, from a possible morning routine through to your work?

My morning routine to fight berlin winter depression:

I have a cold shower first thing. Always.

Half a liter of green tea followed by half an hour of breathwork to get my mind and feelings straight.

Then I do half an hour of qigong to fight the chronic pain in my body.

If there is time I go for a dip in the river Spree. Yes!

Then I’ll have a luxurious porridge for breakfast.

After that I try to organize my life for the rest of the day.

That’s a good day.

On a bad I was sleepless half of the night so I can’t get up. There is nothing more attractive than sleeping, escaping the overload with all the things I should do and a feeling of being incapable of taking care of myself. And I’ll sleep all day, ending up sleepless at night. And repeat.

Morning routine works quite well, currently I’m trying to establish an evening routine.

And honestly in don’t know how to find time to do anything else in-between.

▌III Did you gain something positive from this time with Corona?

The biggest benefit was that I deleted 10.000 shitty tracks from my music collection, haha.

No, seriously, i spent the first lockdown living in a little pop up community out in nature. After some weeks i realize that I hadn’t spent that much time in one place in decades. Also I was feeling happy for the first time in years.

And I had capacity to contemplate.

I had spent over 20 years on the fast lane successfully running away from myself and everything else.

I have been deeply unhappy for ways too long, living the dream of a 20 year old while being in my forties.

What was my plan for the other half of my working life?

I didn’t have any.

And I liked the smell of freedom and adventure in it.

So I did a professional training for somatic bodywork and started another, longer one for Bodypsychotherapy which I’m still into.

In a way I’m doing what I always did, I help other to connect with their body and emotions, and show them how to let go of bullshit.

And I had the call to talk about all that stuff, to show myself as what I really am and how I really feel and give others the chance to do the same.

So i started a podcast RAVE & HEALTH which will go online in April.

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█ Dave Dinger (@dave-dinger / Bachstelzen / KaterBlau)

SC -https://soundcloud.com/dave-dinger

IG - https://www.instagram.com/dave_dinger

FB - https://facebook.com/dingerdave

YT - http://www.youtube.com/@Raveandhealth

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#davedinger #bachstelzen #katerblau #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse

SKADI (@skadi_music_hh )

presents United We Rise Podcast Nr. 207

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▌I Wie bist du zur Musik / zum auflegen gekommen?

Als ich Techno nach langer Pause für mich wiederentdeckt habe, war für mich schnell klar, dass ich mich tiefergehend mit dieser Musik beschäftigen möchte. Zunächst wollte ich mich zu Hause einfach mit der Technik vertraut machen und Sets zusammenstellen, die ich beim Sport oder auf dem Weg zur Arbeit hören kann. Auch Producing faszinierte mich direkt. Mit Youtube Videos brachte ich mir die ersten Skills auf einem Traktor Controller selbst bei, später konnte ich mit meinem besten Freund in einem kleinen Club in Hamburg an Clubequipment üben. Als ich mich dann ein paar Monate in die Materie eingearbeitet hatte, wurde mir klar, dass ich meine Leidenschaft mit anderen teilen möchte und ich hatte recht schnell meinen ersten Gig.

▌II Hat sich deine Art und Weise und vielleicht auch dein Stil Musik zu machen geändert?

Vor genau 4 Jahren hatte ich meinen ersten Gig. Natürlich hat sich in der Zeit immer wieder etwas verändert, habe ich mich auf vielen Ebenen weiterentwickelt. Ich habe als Mensch durch das Auflegen mehr Selbstvertrauen entwickelt, traue mir mehr zu. Soundtechnisch habe ich mich eine Zeit lang im Peaktime Techno gefangen gefühlt, die immer gleichen Arrangements haben mich gelangweilt und wenig Spielraum für technische Raffinessen gegeben. Nun wurde mein Sound im letzten Jahr immer hypnotischer, bis ich nun im Hypnotic/Hardgroove gänzlich angekommen bin.

Technisch entwickle ich mich noch immer weiter, lerne immer wieder neue Skills dazu und habe mehr Bock, dies auch im Club umzusetzen. So habe ich mir gerade ein Mikro gekauft und experimentiere mit meiner Stimme, das macht mir irre Spaß. Ich begreife mich immer mehr als Artist, nicht mehr nur als DJ, der den Job hat die Massen zu bespaßen (was ich natürlich auch gerne tue).

▌III Wie würdest du deinen Stil selbst beschreiben?

Am liebsten lege ich 3 Stunden auf. 3 Stunden, in denen ich mit den Ravern durch eine Achterbahn der Gefühle rausche. Es gibt happy parts, düstere Momente, es gibt mal einen Track der dich an ein Sommerfestival erinnert, dann wirst du von einem Rap-Part überrascht oder mit der nächsten Bounce Attacke vom Stampfen ins Shaken gebracht.

Ich liebe es, den Menschen eine richtig gute Zeit mit Überraschungsmomenten zu geben. Dafür verbringe ich viel Zeit mit der Auswahl von Tracks, habe oft direkt in mind wie ich was kombiniere, um einen geilen Moment zu erschaffen.

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█ Jo.Ke (@j-ok-e / Feathered Sun, Bar25, Platon Records)

IG - https://www.instagram.com/skadi_music

SC - https://soundcloud.com/skadi_music_hh

FB - https://www.facebook.com/skadi.music.hh

█ UNITED WE STREAM (Berlin / Global)

FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/unitedwestream/

WEB - https://unitedwestream.berlin/

INSTAGRAM - https://www.instagram.com/unitedwestream/

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█ HASHTAGS

#skadi #electronicmusic #melodictechno #afrohouse #organichouse #deephouse #house #techno #electronica #downtempo #disco #techno #ambient #italo #wave #psy #twerk #darkdisco #techhouse