Body Language resident, 131bpm has played their first all vinyl-only closing garden set in the club, and it’s brilliant. Luckily, it’s been recorded for us to immortalise online for everyone who was unlucky enough not to be present at its incarnation.
Thank you so much for your patience in allowing us to have and host this precious absolutely delectable mix. Can you tell us a little bit about the energy behind it and if there is anything you would prescribe doing while listening?
Thanks for having me! I am really excited to share this mix, as it is my first vinyl-only set in a club.
A big inspiration for this set was the queer UK club scene of the mid 90’s, with labels like Sharp Recordings and Higher State Records.
It's an excerpt of my garden closing at Body Language (at Re:mise in Berlin) back in August 2023.
It is very high energy - 90’s restless belters only - so it will be perfect for a little dance at home, or working out for example.
Can you tell us a little bit about Body Language, how you became involved with it and has it been being a resident there? Is there a certain sound and community for folk attending that they can expect about the night?
So I had met the crew some times before playing at the party, then played my first Body Language in September 2022, and got asked to be a resident a month after that. It was an obvious yes for me since I very much reflect in their values.
I'm often nervous before any gig, but not at Body Language anymore, thanks to the crowd energy and open-mindness ❤️
Body Language is a "femmes to the front party", which means that fem energy is highly valued (as much as for the guests as for us) and prioritized on all the fronts - at the door, but also on the dancefloor, in the bathroom etc.
Music wise, there isn't a defined sound for Body Language.
Some parties will lean more into house territories, and some others will lean more into harder stuff.
The upper and main floor is often considered as the housier and hi-nrg dancefloor, whereas the basement is more the "everything" dancefloor, where artists usually go for harder, faster and more diverse music (heard some punk music, as well as downtempo and jungle once).
A kind reminder to those getting in touch with me, as much as the crew believe in my musical taste and inputs, I am only a resident and I am not taking care of the bookings for the party.
This is your first ever vinyl only set played out, which is pretty damn special and absolutely delicious. How are you feeling about the experience and how do you feel the more analogue sound contributes to the experience as opposed to playing out with your USBs? Will you do this more regularly?
Yes! I was so excited for it and it went pretty well.
I’ve always had a thing for vinyls, but was never really confident enough to play them in clubs.
The physicality of it is something magical and intricate, where you have to be constantly focused, as opposed to digitized music.
I love how they bring me “in the zone”.
Also, a lot of music isn't found anywhere else than on those 90’s records. Add to that the dust crackles… It's just perfect to me.
I am definitely trying to incorporate more and more records in my sets, as I've been buying hundreds of them in the past months.
My next only vinyl gig will be in Mjut, Leipzig, for Buttercup, 4h B2B Bennet. I love their music and energy, so I can't wait for this one!
Another World
Congratulations on the recent release of your debut full length album ‘Another World’ featuring nasty bass-heavy hitters described as ‘maybe blowing your back out’. It also acts as a sonic homage to the pioneers of the queer Black electronic scene. Who are some producers you pay homage to/ have inspired you on this journey?
Thank you! I wasn't expecting so much craze on that release, but I'm very happy about how it was received.
If you haven't noticed yet, I love vocals, especially when they are chopped and incorporated as “percussion” elements in a track.
I've used countless acapellas for most of the tracks, and some of them (that I can remember) are Aretha Franklin, Janet Jackson and Bunny Debarge.
You’ve also just released ‘No More’ a bangin’ three-track EP with 100% of the profits will be donated every month to the PRCS (P4L3ST1N3 Red Crescent Society), operating inside and outside G4Z4. Also a trailblazer of an EP, how would you describe your sound as having evolved or fluctuating over the past year? Any milestones that have encouraged one direction or another?
The tracks from this EP aren't related to the genocide happening at the moment, but in the emergency of things, I thought releasing them was a good way to help raising money for that cause.
About my sound, I was very much into electro and breaks when I started producing, but my tracks became more hi-nrg when I started my residency at Body Language last year.
I've always had a sassy and groovy sound, but being in that fem energy environment and discovering more queer diva music from the 90’s definitely brought me in that direction.
What’s next for 131BPM?
The remix album from “Another World” is coming out next year on Body Language, including some of my favorite producers : Aiden Francis, Bashkka, Desire, Devoye, Eoin DJ, Kodemul and Roza Terenzi.
Some of my next and exciting dates in December are Kilowatt in Watergate (Berlin), Buttercup in Mjut (Leipzig), Nachbar (Amsterdam) and OXI (Berlin) for their NYE party.