Less is more
A new DJ schedule, balloons and 10 tracks from a batch of long forgotten CDs
Dear reader,
this week’s newsletter will be rather straight forward, but timely. Cause I am about to get back on the road and I would like to share my upcoming DJ dates with you. If you’re on a tight budget, please feel free to drop me a message in the Substack chat with a guestlist request.
And here’s a fun thing. A few days ago I was cleaning the music room and while unpacking some forgotten moving boxes, I stumbled over a box filled with old CDs. Most of the burned CDs are probably more than 10-15 years old, long before we started to put our files onto USB sticks. It’s weird to say, as it’s just a pile of self burned CDs, but these things have an aura to themselves. And they obvs have music on them.
But more about that later… first the DJ dates:
01.30.2026. Free Your Funk x La Bellevilloise (All Night Long) - Paris (tickets)
This party has changed my idea of what a dance floor in Paris can feel like. Truly diverse in age, background, style. But a strong shared preference for soulful, warm, colorful music from all around the world brings all these people together. It’s my third time playing at Free Your Funk and I am packing records for this all week. A playground for real dancers and music lovers.
02.07.2026. Life Classics x OHM (5h set) - Berlin (no pre-sale)
Another annual tradition - the extended set at OHM hosted by Life Classics. Always uplifting, wide-reaching, homecoming. This is our camp fire.
02.20.2026. Karmakoma (5h set) - Belgrade (tickets)
Karmakoma, finally we meet! Took a bit longer than we had planned, but I hope to make it count. Really happy for what they have built with this club and congrats to my friend Marko (Floating Bastard)!
03.08.2026. Macadam x Gloria (6h set) - Nantes (tickets)
Played there last year and loooved it. Stoked to be back for a 6h Sunday evening set. Going all places - forbidden, forgotten, unknown.
03.21.2026. OM - London (no pre-sale)
Finally. Eyes closed, hearts open, ears leading the way.
03.22.2026. Giant Steps (All Day Long) - London (tickets)
This needs two record bags, both hands, feet, ears and one big smile.
03.27.2026. Cafe Berlin x 14th Anniversary - Madrid
Love this little old school venue. Has a real vibe and always turns into somewhat of a house party. The stage is all yours.
04.04.2026. RDC Pre-Party x WOMB - Tokyo
04.10.2026. MODECi - Seoul
04.19.2026. Rainbow Disco Club w/ Antal - Higashi-Izu (tickets)
A family affair. A musical love affair. And being able to bring my whole family to Japan and Korea is a blessing and means a lot to me. I’ve invited my mom to the trip so she can show her grandkids where she comes from.
04.27.2026. Kingsday x Lofi - Amsterdam
Playing the closing of the courtyard. If the weather holds, we’re in for a beautiful treat.
This should be it until May!
I love my new less-is-more DJ schedule! I am playing much less this year, the least I’ve played in more than a decade probably, but most of the gigs I play are either long sets or all nighters. Lots of them in smaller clubs and more personal settings. This is the direction I want to go into: Not to grow in numbers, but in depth, to share something real each night - a story, a journey, a connection.
And now the box of CDs!
There were actually lots of dedicated CDs from friends in there. How I love physical media! I can find a CD from ages ago and this artifact in my hand carries with it the aura of “its time“. I am reading a tracklist on the CD and all of a sudden I am transported back to a particular gig or visit, where the CD was given to me. Often in the DJ booth after it was played.
And then, there were even two CD bags that I used for my gigs.
There were tunes on there that I still play to this day, but also many that I had completely forgotten. Here are 10 jams I’ve been re-visiting thanks to these CDs:
Weyman Avenue - Rhythmic Body
This was actually the opening track of Sadar’s set, the first time he played in Berlin, when we invited him to our Holy Water party back in 2010.
It was a loft-style party for 120 people in a secret location in Berlin. Sadar played for 6 hours, ending with soul classics on 45s around 8am. There are still a few videos from that party on YT. The last one is beautiful, everyone is dancing with the balloons in their hands.
Rick Asikpo - Be Real
Such a tune, always seemed really grown-up to me. A serious groove.
Number One Ensemble - Back To Heaven
Really want to bring this one back. Now is the time.
Javaroo - Breakin In
The old DJ History forum exploded trying to ID this one, after Mark Seven had played it in one of his mixes. I think it took months until someone ID’d it. There is a great edit of the Javaroo titled track from the album making the rounds these days.
UDM - To Please You
There was a time where all I wanted to play were dubby boogie records and this was one of the jams that really got me into it. The breakdown snaps in the right club!
Creative Source - Turn On To Music
So smooth, so positive. A step in the right direction.
Ashford and Simpson - The Boss (Mark Seven Edit)
Mark gave me that CD after he played it at Tape Club in Berlin. Truly unforgettable night for me, I still remember the sequence of the first 3-4 records of his set.
John Foxx - Mr. No
One of those tracks that signifies a very special moment of the night for me. I’m always working towards that moment: 5am in the morning, the body’s been worked, we’re ready to close our eyes and surrender…
DJ’s Rule - In Deep
A blanket for the soul. Deep House that protects you.
Takuya Matsumoto - Jump Rope Music
There was such a buzz around this tune when it came out. Playful and peaceful. Feels innocent in today’s time.
The Tape vs. RQM - Luvely (Kalabrese Remix)
Played this one so much back in the days. Could never figure out what was going on in the vocals. Has a very colorful, quirky drive that keeps moving things forward into the light.
I just created a folder in Rekordbox called “OLD CD BAG“.
Hope you also found some things this week that connected you with who you are/were/will be.
see you in the club,
hun