AIONIA

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.

  Last at SILO in Oct 2024 · often with Naicet, Kosta Kritikos, KENZA KAYATI, none of them here that night

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  Aera

  Schleswig-Holstein, Germany

  “Applying Magic.”

  their own biography

  SoundCloud ↗Bandcamp ↗Discography ↗
  Their RA profile lists Global Underground, fabric Records, Renaissance, Eskimo Recordings and 6 more.

  often with ACID BOGEN, Sascha Cawa, Chris Schwarzwälder, none of them here that night

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  OBA+FLIP

  New York City · 32 bookings since Aug 2023

  “ọba+flip is a DJ duo based in Brooklyn, New York.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  ọba+flip is a DJ duo based in Brooklyn, New York. They met at an underground techno party in 2017—a connection that blossomed into a partnership in love and music. They’ve been playing together since 2020, turning what began as a shared hobby into a powerful way to express their deep affection for music and commitment to each other. “ọba” means “king” in Yoruba, the first language of ọba’s mother, while “flip” nods to the flip phone she still carried when they met—as well as their shared desire to “flip things up.” Together, they merge their unique lived experiences to provide uplifting, hard-driving sounds with space and groove. Their craft is a testament to their adaptability, effortlessly matching and elevating the energy of the room with a range of house, techno, and everything in between. Soundcloud: ọba+flip https://soundcloud.com/oba-flip Instagram: @oba.flip https://www.instagram.com/oba.flip/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oba.flip.dj/
  SoundCloud ↗

  Recently at House of Yes, Circle Line Cruises, Lillistar · often with Lovecraft, Daniel Cowel, Sarah Wild, none of them here that night

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  Kanykei

  New York City · 44 bookings since Aug 2023

  “With performances spanning Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, KANYKEI has built an international presence across underground clubs, iconic venues, and festival stages.”

  their own biography

  the whole biography

  With performances spanning Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, KANYKEI has built an international presence across underground clubs, iconic venues, and festival stages. Her journey has taken her from New York to Honolulu, Mexico, Italy, Amsterdam, Portugal, and beyond. Festival highlights include the iconic Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), Burning Man, Essences Festival by Mixmag Latam and more. With releases on Berlin’s acclaimed Katermukke, TalkTalk Records, and Italy’s Buttress Records, KANYKEI has emerged as a rising force in the global electronic music scene. She has shared lineups with artists including Nicole Moudaber, John Summit, Âme, LP Giobbi, Chloé Caillet, Green Velvet, Luke Alessi, and Kevin de Vries, performing on internationally recognized stages and within some of the world’s most influential music communities. 📩: Nastia@twelve-notes.net
  SoundCloud ↗
  Their RA profile lists Katermukke.

  Recently at Dead Letter No. 9, House of Yes · often with Britta Arnold, Chris Schwarzwälder, Ksenyeah, none of them here that night