No Shade is a pioneering Berlin-based collective that runs nights and DJ training programs for female, non-binary and trans DJs. Co-founder Linnea Palmestål’s inclusive mission was born out of the desire to change a very real and disheartening truth: that there’s a presiding gender imbalance within the music industry. While Berlin is a known magnet for countless aspiring musicians and DJs thanks to its legendary club scene, few have stuck their heads above the parapet and translated creative expression into success; even fewer have done what No Shade has done and helped to reshape the fabric of the city’s soundscape.
Originally calling on her network of close friends and DJs, Palmestål’s enterprise has expanded from its infancy in 2017 into an established and widely respected staple in the German capital. To put things in perspective, No Shade presented the aftershow of the Fall of the Wall concert at Brandenburg Gate in 2019, 30 years after the iron curtain came down. Kikelomo, No Shade member played a high energy, eclectic blend of everything from grime, garage, techno and hip hop to funky house and bass. Other core members, who play equally as diverse mixes include Tres, aka Folly Ghost, a transgender DJ from Rio de Janeiro and Panasiagirl, a DJ who incorporates the timbres of Singapore-Malaysian and Turkish heritage.
Bringing new sounds to a city where techno rules supreme is just a side effect of the collective’s inclusive ethos. What really makes Palmestål’s tick, is a commitment to levelling the playing field. It’s not just about diversifying the norm, but also providing emerging talents with equipment and ability to work successfully within the industry. Its unique training program is designed to educate students with tutorials, private practice sessions, basic music theory knowledge, technical knowledge as well as giving insightful tips and industry tricks of the trade. At a critical time when the future of the music industry is precarious, collectives such as No Shade, that cater to those marginalised communities is more vital than ever.
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