Berghain is reopening on Saturday, March 5th. The first Klubnacht will feature Lakuti, Ellen Allien, DJ Fart In The Club, Tobias., Dr. Rubinstein, Fiedel and others. The calendar for the rest of March includes Lakuti and Tama Sumo‘s.Â
Allma Skneian is the project of DJ, audio designer and producer Djalma, a Brazilian artist increasingly recognized for his far-fetched dark ambient, techno and dub techno sound. The artist has just released his latest hypnotic masterpiece, Obsession EP, which comes with four brand new tracks: “Intro Darkness”, “Dively”, “Obsession” and “La Porte”. Allma Skneian produced all the tracks while living in Berlin and studying Sound Design at HDPK University, an experience that added striking references in his work.
Since his first album debuted in 2013 with Romer-Records, Allma Skneian has had numerous releases and collaborated with fashion designers and photographers for runway shows and editorials. He’s performed at Berlin Fashion Week at Arena Club, and played at many other clubs in the world’s techno capitol. The techno dub and dark ambient don now shares how his unique experiences in Berlin have shaped his latest creative work, Obsession EP.
Hey Djalma, weâre looking forward to learning more about you and your work. When did you become interested in electronic music?Â
I became interested in electronic music as a teenager. My brother used to buy tapes and CDs of electronic music to listen to at home. When I saw my sister playing the organ, I always tried to sync the kicks with the sounds.
Brazil to Germany is quite a transition. In what ways have both countries inspired your creative process?
I started a DJ course called Dub music at an academy. Some of the DJs told me that I had a good feeling for music. Later on, I mixed progressive house and minimal house when I arrived in Berlin. Some friends gave the softwares and plugins to begin producing my first tracks full time.
You practiced Sound Design at HDPK in Berlin. If you could choose one technique that you learned, which one has had the most impact on your work?Â
Many subjects were amazing, but the one that I use in my productions is dynamic processing. When a sound engineer uses the term dynamics, he usually does not mean the tonal strength in musical performance practice, but the so-called technical microdynamics of a signal. Even if compression is the best known, it is only one aspect of dynamics processing. In addition, one should always be aware of which tools are available for which tasks. I can make more effective kicks in my tracks nowadays using the compressor.
What is it like to design sounds for fashion editorials and exhibitions?Â
Itâs a hard job, but at the same time I love it because the final result is always amazing. There is the process of talking to the costumer, finding out what is requested and the scenario. There’s also the model transactions and learning the topic of the editorial. After all those materials are in my hands, I produce three samples. Then I show the best of them and make adjustments so that there can be a perfect match.
Can you share more about your project Allma Skneian? What is the background behind this particular name?
Allma was created in the studio by DJs. When I started my DJ course, they connected my real name Djalma, separated ‘Dj’ from ‘alma’ and said: “You have DJ in your own name, letâs do it.” Skneian is a unique family name of a friend from Sweden. I told them I was looking for a unique artist name, so they allowed me to use Skneian.Â
Talk to us about your new Obsession EP. What inspired you to create an album featuring dark ambient, techno and dub techno?Â
When I lived in Berlin I used to be in studio all weekend with Tobias W., a Berlin-based label manager. During the winter I started producing music non-stop at my home. I was obsessed with making music. After that I used to get my bike and visit another friend named Patrick, a sound engineer who would listen and work on specific elements in my tracks.
Berlin is mostly dark in the winter. It’s a great scenario, and where I produced Obsession EP.
Anything else youâd like to share?Â
My years in Berlin were the best experiences and gigs that I had in my life. I could visit all the clubs, especially Berghain and Tresor, and play at Arena Club. I lived the scene to the fullest. I played in clubs and bars every weekend, and I was resident of Bar23 and Zur Fetten Ecke. These were places where people used to drink and listen to music before attending Watergate and other remarkable clubs.
Any die-hard techno-head will tell you that Berghain isnât so much a club as it is a cultural institution, a mecca for electronic music. Set in the thick concrete of one of Berlinâs towering 1950s power plants, Berghain is one of the most famous clubs in the world. Itâs so celebrated that even the act of standing, waiting, and (probably) getting rejected in the queue is itself a must-do for music-loving tourists.
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If you’ve been rejected or never been to Berghain, now’s your chance to get a look inside Germany’s iconic nightclub. Berghain is opening its doors for a 19-hour live stream with Ostgut Ton, the club’s label. This is a collaboration with ARTE Concert. Artists on the live stream line-up include Ben Klock, Paramida, KMRU among others.
Dancing in the club is usually a night to escape and get away from the mundane of daily life. Often times being in the middle of a crowded dancefloor can wash away any pain, anxieties or stress that life has caused us that day or week. Having your body blend into the others around you, blending with a sea of people rather than just yourself can often be freeing and healing for some. But one thing that has taken away some of that freedom in recent years has been the advent of the smartphone and social media. So, should phones be banned on the dancefloor?
Berlin’s Boris Dolinski, the famed Ostgut Ton artist that has played Berghain more than any other DJ in the last 12 years, delivers this week’s Global Vibe Radio mix.
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If you’re a techno fan, then you have no doubt heard of Berghain, the infamous mecca of techno in Berlin’s thriving music scene. It’s where every up-and-coming techno or house DJ wants to play and every dance music fan wants the privilege to be allowed inside. Who are the top DJs reigning over Berghain, a venue built around exclusivity? Let’s see which DJs have been invited to play on more than one occasion at Berlin’s coveted nightclub.
