Kollektiv Turmstrasse / Wild Dark / Christian Voldstad / ebb + flow

Who they are

• Kollektiv Turmstrasse

  Hamburg, Germany · 4 bookings since Oct 2024

  “With regular shifts in his musical direction and stylistic development, he is living proof that change means progress.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  With regular shifts in his musical direction and stylistic development, he is living proof that change means progress. As an artist who is focused on the liberated space between breakbeat, driving house tracks and anthems for the dancefloor, he is unique with a compelling discography. Also heading up his inclusive, community-focused event series, YAP (You Are Perfect), Kollektiv Turmstrasse is a complex, progressive, and intriguing artist. Nico Plagemann, the creative mind behind the Turmstrasse project, is deeply passionate about house music, but his sound doesn't get stuck in one repetitive cycle. Instead, he takes musical departures into exciting and winding avenues, leading us past breakbeat, indie dance, and techno to influences from hip hop and the catchy, but always high quality, elements of pop music. With his sound, Turmstrasse narrates his ongoing journey as an artist who has witnessed a plethora of musical trends over the years. “I let myself be inspired by new trends; to me, it is especially important to always bring in variety,” he says. “My sound is a crossover of everything I listen to – and that ranges from soul to techno.” Something that is evident on his latest album, ‘Unity of Opposites’. The wild ride began together with Christian at his side. Kollektiv Turmstrasse was founded as a duo in Wismar on the Baltic Sea in Germany, where the two lived together in the city’s “Turmstrasse”. Their creative partnership, as well as the artist name, was formed there. Things just flowed from the outset, and the first tracks were followed by their first gigs and, eventually, the legendary album “Rebellion der Träumer” (“Rebellion of the Dreamers”). Further releases followed on a range of influential labels, including Kompakt, Diynamic, Cocoon, Fabric and FFFR, bolstering their discography. The two moved to Hamburg and embarked on a slew of adventures together. But life is constant change, and so has Kollektiv Turmstrasse – and Christian decided to leave the project. “At some point, Christian’s priorities shifted. Because of the incredible time we spent together and the countless memories we created and shared, Christian will always hold a special place in my heart”, Nico says. “After all these years, we had to realise that our paths were leading in different directions. But there were no crazy arguments or blatant disagreements; it just worked out that way.” Since then, Nico has been on the road as a “one-man collective”. He performs at many of the best-known festivals around the world, appearing at world-renowned clubs and the most popular parties from Brazil to Australia and is one of the most booked live acts in the electronic music scene worldwide. Not only does he stand alongside the most groundbreaking musicians, he has long been one of them himself. Tracks like ‘Grillen im Park’, ‘Ordinary’ or ‘Last Day’ are widely acknowledged as definitive hits. In fact, it’s safe to say that without Kollektiv Turmstrasse, the world of German house and techno would be very different. “I love this shit, that's why I do this. How lucky am I!” says Nico when asked how he deals with the pitfalls of global touring. “It's worth it to me because, in return, I have the freedom to be in the studio and do what I love and what I'm good at... Apparently.” Of course, his discography also includes ‘Sorry, I'm Late’, the Turmstrasse superhit. “At some point, I played around with some hip-hop samples, just for fun. I played the result as the closing track at a gig - and people went nuts,” he says. “I didn't really understand it at the time. Solomun then wanted the track for Diynamic – and boom; we had a worldwide hit. Pretty freaky!” The accompanying video for ‘Sorry, I'm Late’ has over 11 million views and on Spotify alone, the song has been streamed nearly 50 million times. Nico's artistic development is linked to a high degree of self-reflection. “I always have the feeling that I can do even better,” he says, explaining the reason why it can take him a long time to complete his productions. He sometimes feels like a visual artist who is painting a picture; attention to detail is paramount. When producing, he constantly needs something new linked to his ADHD diagnosis, which he deals with openly. Nico wants to be surprised by music, but he has also realised that the secret of good electronic music is reduction. This is how the variety so typical of Kollektiv Turmstrasse and the depth of his sounds are created. Full of warmth and groove. For focus and balance, Nico’s main hobby is fishing. “I'm a predator angler. That means I'm constantly casting in and retrieving. But the chirping of the birds, the rustling of the trees and the whirring of the fishing rod is what satisfies me; it's like meditation.” Nico describes himself as a rather introverted guy who also likes to be alone, which suits this pastime. But in contrast, he also explores more extroverted topics like fashion and design. “I just like beautiful things,” he says. “I can also enjoy simple beauty, things like a flower growing out of the curb and has made its place.” Turmstrasse's series of events called ‘YAP’, which takes place in various venues in Europe, also fits in with this outlook. It reflects not only Nico's ideals but also the ideals that are the foundations of dance music culture: inclusion, community, and respect. YAP is short for ‘You Are Perfect’. Everyone is perfect, the musician says. “I want everyone to attend and everyone to be able to attend. 'You can't get in here' doesn't exist at YAP.” With his parties, he wants to take house music back to its origins and, in doing so, counterbalance the self-optimization we constantly encounter on social media today. Because Kollektiv Turmstrasse not only knows that self-promotion tends to get in the way of a good party but also that you shouldn't forget to look over your shoulder when changing lanes…
  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists fabric Records, NRK Music, Freerange Records, Connaisseur Recordings and 5 more.

  often with Naicet, Kosta Kritikos, KENZA KAYATI, none of them here that night

• Wild Dark

  8 bookings since Oct 2023

  Recently at Superior Ingredients, Brooklyn Mirage · often with ÜNAM, Catori, Arroyo, none of them here that night

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  Christian Voldstad

  New York City · 12 bookings since May 2024 · organic house ecstatic dance

  “Christian acquired his love of electronic while growing up in the UK.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Christian acquired his love of electronic while growing up in the UK. It wasn’t until he moved to New York, however, that he would attend his first underground party and find the sound that would capture him and inspire him to step behind the decks himself. Since then, Christian has become a staple of the underground scene, a party enthusiast, and an avid techno tourist. After some time as a free agent, Christian’s sophisticated taste in music earned him a residency for Bespoke Musik where he has entranced audiences with thoughtful, layered DJ sets. In 2021 he became a resident of Beachouse in Ibiza, where he provides the soundtrack for sunny days on Playa D’en Bossa. He has also recently joined the All Day I Dream roster, having contributed multiple videos to the All Day I Stream series, as well as being booked to play All Day I Dream events at Space Nightclub in Miami, Cova Santa in Ibiza, and the All Day I Dream festival in California. His music blends a focus on the low end frequencies with a melodic, sometimes melancholic touch. The end result is just as suited to a nightclub dancefloor as a desert sunset, with enough versatility for everything in between. Life came full circle with the brand that helped launch him; Christian currently manages the Bespoke Musik record label and runs the brand with founder and friend, Rocky Raminceanu. The second Bespoke label release was a collaborative side project with German All Day I Dream artist, Powel. The two met in Brooklyn whilst sharing the lineup for Christian’s first Bespoke residency, marking the start of their musical partnership and Christan’s foray into musical production. Some of his notable bookings include Gazgolder and Leveldva in Moscow, Fabric in London, Piknic Electronik in Montreal, Flash in Washington DC, Café D’ Anvers in Antwerp, Sisyphos in Berlin, Output and Cityfox in Brooklyn, Do Not Sit on the Furniture, Space and The Electric Pickle in Miami, Beachouse and Cova Santa in Ibiza, and Robot Heart, the 747, Miki Beach and Pink Mammoth at Burning Man.
  SoundCloud ↗

  Recently at SILO, Hearsay, Bogart House · often with Lovecraft, OBA+FLIP, SKALA, none of them here that night

• Gavin Stephenson

  New York City · 15 bookings since Nov 2023 · Sunrise progressive house

  “Gavin Stephenson grew up influenced by an eclectic range of music spanning from the Beatles and Led Zepplin to the Clash and the synth pop of the '80s.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Gavin Stephenson grew up influenced by an eclectic range of music spanning from the Beatles and Led Zepplin to the Clash and the synth pop of the '80s. When he discovered dance music in the late '90s, it all came together and took off from there. Gavin has been involved in dance music since he started DJing and produced his first party in 1998. He was the resident and a co-founder of the Spectra and Positive Pressure parties in New York City. By 2003, Gavin was DJing both stateside and internationally, with stops all over the U.S. and Europe, in Canada, Central America, South America, and North Africa. Between 2004 and 2006, he traveled throughout the U.S. and Europe playing as a label DJ for the Swedish dance label, Digital Structures. In 2013, Gavin Stephenson became one of the founders of ebb + flow music, an NYC-based production company known for some of the best underground parties in the scene with consistent high quality music and an undeniably contagious vibe. As an ebb + flow resident, Gavin graces the crowd with funky bass lines, deep grooves, and forward-thinking music in every one of his sets. His ability to read the crowd and give it the necessary energy to thrive is a trademark of the musical journeys that he creates. During the summer of 2014, Gavin took his love of dance music to another level with collaboration on music production with Justin Marchacos and ebb + flow co-founder, Iman Rizky. Their work together spawned Second Format, a trio which has been producing tracks with driving bass lines and catchy, danceable hooks. Track releases are slated to come out early this year on Cityfox and beyond.
  SoundCloud ↗

  Recently at Bogart House, Circle Line Cruises, Gaia Nomaya · often with Sky So Young, A-Z, Gadi Mitrani, none of them here that night

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  Iman Rizky

  New York City · 25 bookings since Sep 2023 · Sunrise progressive house

  “Iman Rizky was bred on house beats from the early '80s and '90s.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  Iman Rizky was bred on house beats from the early '80s and '90s. His relationship with dance music back then was a transcendental experience every weekend at places like New York City's Red Zone, the Tunnel, Limelight’s Disco 2000, the Sound Factory, and the legendary Twilo. Iman became a promoter for the Tunnel, Limelight, and the Palladium during the club scene era of the late '80s. His immersion in the heyday of club culture in NYC prompted the pursuit of his true life-long passion of DJing. With his extensive knowledge of dance music from both participation and promotion, he was able to cultivate a unique DJ sound to call his own. As the club scene era wound down and the dance music scene went underground in the early 2000s, Iman formed the party production group, Ku-Deta, which put together events stateside as well as internationally. Around the same time, he started his weekly DJ residency at SEA in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, where he continues to play on Fridays and Sundays. Ku-Deta provided a precursory template for ebb + flow music, an NYC-based production company that Iman Rizky founded with Gavin Stephenson in 2013. The underground parties of ebb + flow music have brought consistent high quality music and an undeniably contagious vibe to the dance music scene. As an ebb + flow resident, Iman's DJ sets are laden with minimal groovy beats layered with melodic sounds that build in a cycle of high peaks and low valleys. He takes the crowd on a thrilling roller coaster ride of music that elevates the mind, moves the body, and satisfies the soul. In the summer of 2014, Iman took ebb + flow to another level with collaboration on music production with Justin Marchacos and Gavin Stephenson. The trio became Second Format and has been producing tracks with driving bass lines and catchy, danceable hooks. Justin and Second Format's Giants EP was released on the Cityfox label earlier this year and charted in the Top 10 on Beatport within its first week.
  SoundCloud ↗

  Recently at Bogart House, Apollo Studio, Circle Line Cruises · often with Drew Proud, J. Richards, Sky So Young, none of them here that night

• ebb

  3 bookings since Sep 2023 · organic house ecstatic dance

  Recently at Bogart House, The Turk's Inn · often with A-Kintero, flow artists A-Z, Sapphira Solstice, none of them here that night

• flow