Berlin has lots of dark, thumping electronic music to fuel 72-hour weekend getaways – you’ll find it at any major club. But the city isn’t just techno, so if you were wondering where to find some fresh indie sounds, we’ve got you covered. Just in time for the festival season and Record Store Day this weekend, SLEEK has compiled a list to update you on some of the emerging, musical instrument-toting talents in this vast and varied city.
Fenster
To fill the awkward spot on your playlist between Fleetwood Mac and Toro Y Moi, Fenster’s catchy bass line and lo-fi vocals are the perfect transition. Active for the better part of a decade, Fenster is a smooth psychedelic pop band comprised of members from Germany, France and the US. You can catch Fenster touring this summer’s indie festival circuit, including Ilmio in Finland and Immergut in Germany.
Sofia Portanet
Sofia Portanet provides the dreamy eighties throwback summer soundtrack to your sun and Radler drenched Tempelhof barbecues. Fronting her eponymous band, German-born and (often times) German-singing Portanet is currently touring Europe with Art Brut, check her Facebook for updates.
Voodoo Beach
Voodoo Beach is a badass, riffy psych outfit with a slight surf-rock twang – just in case you might be missing the California music scene a little bit. Don’t be fooled by the west coast sound, the band is actually German. Treat yourself to some noise at the Fave Rave Garage & Psych Fest in Berlin, or at any other one of their upcoming shows.
Die Wände
Die Wände make great angsty grunge post-punk tunes with a teenage Pavementy air. Lyrics are sung completely in Deutsch, which can help all of us expats out there who are trying to learn the native language and struggling to remember where the exactly verb goes. I have a feeling these might be shows that require a decent pair of earplugs (that is a good thing).
Holly Herndon
Glitchy and dreamy and quirky af, Holly Herndon’s new highly anticipated avant-garde electro-pop album is due this May. Originally from Tennessee, Holly Herndon will be playing a few select shows in the United States and Germany, which will be especially interesting if you are into trippy video visuals.
Zanias
Equal parts ethereal and noisy, Australian born Zanias’ brand of cold wave captures the nostalgia of the sounds that blasted from every club in Berlin three and a half decades ago, when a wall still divided the city. Fortunately, Zania herself will be blasting in certain clubs all around Europe this summer for some experimental synthy goodness.
Planningtorock
Planningtorock is warm pop with deep, orchestral elements for when you feel like feeling something. Jam Rostron is the British-born electronic musician behind the band. Jam is somewhat of a crossover on this list since they will still be playing in the techno temple, Berghain, this May.
The Flavians
After all of the hard drugs and partying (or for some of us, an early evening milchkaffee before a quick dance to someone spinning Ariel Pink at Schokoladen, followed by going straight to bed), we need some wistful & light folk-pop to soothe the things that paracetamol cannot. Hailing from Sweden, Czech and the UK, the Flavians use vintage instruments and airy spaces to create their wholesome sound. Catch them at Klunkerkranich in Berlin on 8th May.