Booka Shade

Walter Merziger and Arno Kammermeier have become proud symbols for the spirit of electronic music.The Berlin-based duo have traveled all the way from underground releases in the 90’s to modern-day Grammy nominations. And for these two, the journey there has been just as magical.

For two decades, their music has explored everything from synth-pop and house to classical piano. In the early 2000’s the house-centric EPs they released, including Mandarine EP and Body Language, did more than put them on the map. They launched them into the stratosphere. The single “Body Language” was a smash. The track became a club hit, and was named both as the "Ibiza Track of the Season" and "one of the biggest releases of the year." They continued to release one groovy track after another, sending dancefloors across the globe into a frenzy and solidifying their position as shining stars in the dance music scene.

But what really seemed to earn them their legendary status was their live performances. In 2010, they were named one of Resident Advisor's Top 5 live acts in the world. Perhaps what makes Booka Shade so ubiquitous is their impressive crossover appeal. It’s not an easy feat for electronic musicians, but Merziger and Kammermeier make it happen flawlessly. Not only have they headlined stages at EDM giants like Coachella, Glastonbury, and Red Rocks, but also the Montreux Jazz Festival. Their variable tastes are as evident in their remixes as it is the stages they play. The two have found success remixing songs from Depeche Mode, Moby, Hot Chip, Kings of Leon, Woodkid, Rufus Du Sol and many more.

After gaining some serious airplay from the UK’s favorite radio station, the duo was also inducted into Pete Tong's BBC Radio 1 Hall of Fame. Now with a menagerie of worldwide fans and a catalog that could rival some of dance music’s greatest stars, it’s clear that Booka Shade has become a driving influence in dance music.