Clubs are closing all around the world, but it still seems like there are more DJs than ever before. Why do so many people want to be DJs – whether bedroom amateurs or touring professionals? And how does all the attention and effort affect the scene? In this episode, Otto Kent and Kikelomo explore the ongoing impact of the pandemic and social media on DJing, the musical, social, and financial motivations for becoming a DJ, and how much the culture can sustain this trend.

Electronic Beats Weekly is a production by Telekom Electronic Beats and ACB Stories.

Host: OttO Kent & Kikelomo

Writers:: Aaron Gonsher & Merle Venzke

Producer: Aaron Gonsher

Edit and Sound Design: Marc Übel

Lead Producer: Isabel Woop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s not just Fred again fans trying to identify an unfamiliar genre. Drum & bass, jungle, and breaks are back in a big way – both in the underground and on the UK charts. Chase & Status have earned #1 records, artists like Kenya Grace are going viral, and there's a vanguard of producers like Tim Reaper and Nia Archives waving the flag for the genres while continuing to push them forward. But did drum & bass and jungle ever really go away? And what's led to the current pop embrace? Our hosts OttO Kent and Juba asked DJ NORTHERN, the co-founder of Berlin's drum & bass party FACILITATE alongside DJ Flounce, as well as a co-founder of Garage Girls, to share their perspective on this resurgence - what's exciting, what's frustrating, and where things might go from here.

Follow DJ NORTHERN, FACILITATE, and Garage Girls on Instagram

The Week is a production by Telekom Electronic Beats and ACB Stories.

Hosts: OttO Kent & Juba

Producer: Aaron Gonsher

Edit and Sound Design: Marc Übel

Lead Producer: Isabel Woop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clubs in Berlin are closing at a rapid rate – including the legendary Watergate. And it’s not just Germany. In the UK, a study found that if nightlife continues struggling at the same rate, there will be no clubs by 2030. Some of these issues are perennial, but the reality is that “Clubsterben” is accelerating – even though there seems to be more money in nightlife than ever. So what impact do these closures have on artists and audiences? Are clubs still actually centers of musical and social communities? And what role does the internet play in all of this? We invited the Berlin-based DJ duo Surf 2 Glory of Club Heart Broken and Venus Vessels to talk about their experiences navigating this shifting landscape.

Electronic Beats Weekly is a production by Telekom Electronic Beats and ACB Stories.

Hosts: OttO Kent & Juba

Producer: Aaron Gonsher

Edit and Sound Design: Marc Übel

Lead Producer: Isabel Woop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're back for our first episode after the summer break. Or shall we say... Brat Summer break? With her sixth studio album, BRAT, released this last June, Charli XCX sparked what was arguably the biggest pop culture trend of the social media age so far. From underground producers serving up remixes to brands (and presidential candidates) jumping on the meme bandwagon, the British pop star with rave culture roots was just about everywhere all summer. In early September, Charli herself ended Brat Summer with a post on X. But is it really over? What will remain of it? How does the hype compare to other pop culture phenomena in recent times? And what's next in this hyper-paced era of mega trends and micro genres? Electronic Beats host Kikelomo and Juba sit down to serve up their very own takes on everyone's subject matter of the summer.

The Week is a production by Telekom Electronic Beats and ACB Stories.

Host: Kikelomo & Juba

Producer: Carlos Steurer

Edit and sound design: Marc Übel

Lead Producer: Isabel Woop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you still feel like wearing a piece of merch makes you a part of a specific subculture? Or has that sense of exclusivity and meaning been lost? This week, our host Otto Kent speaks to writer Claire Mouchmore about our shifting relationship with merch, and how that's changed along with the internet and the explosion of niche identities. Plus, we discuss new features on YouTube music, UK laws against spiking, and the nonrefundable fees paid by African and Asian artists when they apply for UK and EU visas.

The Week is a production by Telekom Electronic Beats and ACB Stories.

Host: OttO Kent

Producer: Aaron Gonsher

Edit and sound design: Marc Übel

Executive Producer: Isabel Woop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you also miss the magical, fun parts of social media? With noplace hitting the top of the American app charts Kikelomo and OttO Kent are reminiscing on their personal journey in social media. They’re sharing hot takes, making confessions about being comment warriors, and talking about what it takes to put the social back in social media. Plus: Balenciaga’s raver bracelet and Peggy Gou and Fred Again… being broadcasted to a test lab of sperm.

The Week is a production by Telekom Electronic Beats and ACB Stories.

Host: OttO Kent

Producer: Carlos Steurer

Edit and sound design: Marc Übel

Executive Producer: Isabel Woop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melt-Festival is celebrating its final edition this weekend after more than 25 years. We spoke to the legendary Ellen Allien, who has played the festival more than anyone, about her memories from the famous Sleepless Floor over the years, and what made Melt so significant to ravers in Germany and beyond. Also, Juba presents this week’s news: Honey Dijon curating a jukebox in tribute to the Stonewall Rebellion, the Blessed Madonna popping off at Rishi Sunak for using one of her songs on his socials, and DJ Mag's list of 2024's Top 100 Music Festivals.

Watch "The Sound of the Stonewall Uprising" with Honey Dijon

Listen to REDISCOVER Stonewall on Amazon Music

Check out Electronic Beats on Instagram if you want to learn more about Melt's history.

The Week is a production by Telekom Electronic Beats and ACB Stories.

Host: Juba

Producer: Aaron Gonsher

Edit and sound design: Marc Übel

Executive Producer: Isabel Woop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just a few days before her Glastonbury show Sofia Kourtesis joined us for an in-depth conversation. The Peruvian singer, producer, and DJ has lived in Berlin for 20 years now and released her debut album “Madres” last year to critical acclaim.

Together with OttO Kent, Sofia talks about being a DJ mum, approaching music like a filmmaker, and why she’s scared of playing B2B with Caribou. They also play a game in which Sofia has to assign some of her songs to Berlin clubs, and that brings back funny memories for both of them.

If you liked this conversation, check out this episode of Picture Stories with Sofia Kourtesis on Telekom Electronic Beats TV.

The Week is a production by Telekom Electronic Beats and ACB Stories.

Host: OttO Kent

Producer: Carlos Steurer

Editing and Sound Design: Marc Übel

Executive Producer: Isabel Woop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.