Netherlands

Gashouder

Located in the heart of Amsterdam, the Gashouder is a breathtaking venue synonymous with techno music. It's one of the fountainheads of early dance music and has hosted some of the biggest names and events in electronic music. But before the fabled club became "The Pride of Westergas," it endured a less glamorous role from the 1800s through the turn of the century as a storage facility for the fuel that powered Amsterdam.




The now idyllic grounds of Westergas were once home to Amsterdam's gasworks, a cluster of 22 stark, industrial buildings that created and housed fuel for the city. The buildings were designed by prominent Dutch architect Isaac Gosschalk and constructed in 1880 by London Imperial Continental Gas Association for coal gas production. The gas replaced oil in the late 1800s to light the streets of Amsterdam with an amber glow. However, as the city modernized, gas production faded, and the factories soon became obsolete.




By 1967, the Westergas factories had ceased operation, leaving to question the future use of the abandoned spaces. For decades, the city and local businesses used the buildings as storage and workspaces.






Never leaving a good warehouse to waste, European DJs began hosting raves at some of the facilities in the early '90s. And in 1992, local entrepreneurs gained interest in the untapped potential of the polluted and decaying brick structures. Eventually, new renters and the City Council poured in over 31 million euros to renovate the space. What used to be a source of pollution was transformed into a beacon of culture, commerce, and sustainability.




By the late '90s, the forgotten cluster of dull industrial buildings had become a colorful and bustling hub of arts and entertainment with Gashouder as its celebrated centerpiece. The imposing monolith of stone transformed into a world-class entertainment venue that could comfortably house 3,500 visitors in the inner space of the former gas storage tank. The rise of techno in Amsterdam in the '90s, coupled with the newly renovated space, created the perfect storm for Gashouder to become globally synonymous with techno and house.






Electronic music was becoming an international sensation, and Amsterdam had a foothold in defining the sound of early European dance music. In 1996, Amsterdam Music Event (ADE) hosted its first three-day conference, with performances by 30 DJs and attendance of 300 industry delegates. And in 1997, Awakenings held its first techno night at Gashouder with DJs Angelo, Billy Nasty, Derrick May, Dimitri, Godard, and Nick Rapaccioli. Today, ADE is a mecca for music professionals, attracting over 400,000 attendees to 200 venues. The conference began incorporating Awakenings early on, which now hosts 300,000 visitors yearly at some of the most renowned techno events worldwide. As the home to Awakenings, Gashouder is now an essential stop on any ADE trip.











Known for hosting some of the most epic techno events in Europe, Gashouder has become a destination venue for music festivals, concerts, conferences, exhibitions, and more. Patrons have dubbed it the "Temple of Techno" and Amsterdam's most spectacular venue, not only because of the lineups but also the quality of production and the space's vacuous nature.




The round stone behemoth boasts massive, nearly 50 foot ceilings and an iron roof, with no pillars to obstruct views of the stage. Because of its colossal size, party-goers are often dazzled by indoor fireworks displays launched from the ceiling 3.5 stories overhead. Thoughtfully crafted showcases mean no two performances are alike, but they always meet and exceed the same high standards of the venue.




Shivani Murthy of THE - Music Essentials described her first techno experience at Gashouder, "Being the techno virgins that we were, we went in with zero expectations and had absolutely no idea about who and what we were going to witness there. To summarise what we experienced, all I can say is, by the end of the night, we were baptized at the 'Techno Temple' and came out yearning for more!"









Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the 2019 edition of ADE Awakenings was streamed online as a free event. DJ performances were filmed at Gashouder and streamed into fans' living rooms across the globe via social networking platforms. As live shows return triumphantly, ADE and Awakenings are back in action. Awakenings will present six ADE shows in 2022, back where it all started, at the legendary Gashouder.





The idea of artists engaging in activism and supporting charitable causes is not a new one. They inherently have larger platforms than most individuals. Many feel it is their responsibility to raise awareness for what matters, and the celebrated techno DJ and producer Ida Engberg takes that responsibility seriously.




For many years, Engberg has been a beacon of hope to the discouraged public and a role model to those looking for ways to get involved through her efforts to help the environment.




There is not enough room in this piece to include a full list of her accomplishments and efforts in this regard, but here are a few that are particularly impressive.




Engberg is an ambassador for Music Against Animal Cruelty (MAAC), an organization co-founded by Art Department’s Jonny White that fights to maintain biodiversity around the world. They have worked on anti-poaching efforts for Rhinos in Africa, protected the Lion population in Kenya, and more.




Engberg is assisting another environmentalist in the dance space, Blond:ish, with her foundation Bye Bye Plastic which seeks to remove single-use plastics from the music industry through practical applications like Eco-Riders.




Engberg also joined the fight of Steven Donziger, the environmental lawyer who launched a campaign against the oil company, Chevron, to hold them accountable for their rainforest destruction. The campaign ended with Chevron paying a $9.5 billion settlement to indigenous people in Ecuador.




While Engberg thinks big when it comes to her role in fighting climate change, she doesn't stop short when it comes to her personal activites.







One of Engberg’s many talents is visual art, and her efforts to share this art, both in analog and digital forms, consider the health of the planet.




Like many artists, Engberg makes NFT’s, but hers are minted and sold on the FLOW blockchain which uses 1000x less power than other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum.




Also, she prints her work on paper made from hemp, agave, and bamboo and ships her pieces using sustainable packaging. Not to mention, the art itself contains images of animals and nature through the lens of conservation and awareness.



The concept of the activist/artist may not be new, but it does have to adapt to changing times. Ida Engberg has proven that she, her fellow artists, and everyone else can all do their part on both small and large scales to support the causes they care about.



Ida Engberg Inspires Change Through Activism

Ida Engberg is many things. She's a DJ, producer, mother, and visual artist. She's also a vegan. Truth be told, she's been a plant-based consumer since she was a child.



The idea seems far from strange in today's world, especially in the dance music community. There is an entire economy around vegan restaurants in dance music hubs like Los Angeles, London, New York, and Berlin. And dance music festivals like DGTL Amsterdam offer solely vegan food as part of their commitment to sustainability.



We're at the point where the term "vegan" has transcended the definition of a diet absent animal products. It now applies to textiles, perfumes, jewelry, and more, but that's not the world Engberg grew up in.




Engberg was born in 1984. And according to The Guardian, as recently as the late 1980s, mainstream acceptance of veganism and substitutes for foods like vegan cheese, vegan bacon, and more recognizable brands like Impossible Foods was unfathomable.



To avoid animal products was an even steeper uphill battle than today, but Engberg persevered the climb with grace and poise.



Like every DJ with an opinion, Engberg is a target on the internet and sometimes draws more criticism because she's a woman. She frequently uses her social media platforms to share her thoughts on veganism and its effects on the environment, expectedly drawing inane criticism from trolls hiding their faces behind pictures of dogs.



Engberg shares a range of content concerning her veganism, from articles conveying the lifestyle's benefits to interactions she has in her own life as a vegan.



Naturally, all of these posts draw in those looking to disagree with her for the sake of it. Sometimes it's harmless differences of opinion or attempts at heated debate. Others, it's the classic and pointless rejoinder "stick to music" or its more hateful variants.



But in seeing these comments on her posts, Engberg is always the bigger person. She replies respectfully and stands her ground. She doesn't force anyone to think the way she does. She shares the facts.



If there is a sense of urgency behind it, it's not because she wants anyone to agree with her. It's because veganism among individuals is one way to aid in the larger causes Engberg fights for every day.


She is an ambassador for Music Against Animal Cruelty (MAAC) and supports numerous environmental causes, including Save The Paradise.



Engberg doesn't have time to get down in the dirt with internet trolls spewing bile about her veganism. Why? Because she's busy saving the world.

It's Not a Phase, Mom: Ida Engberg's Lifetime of Veganism

There are plenty of artists and celebrities out there fighting the good fight and supporting charities doing great work, but who among them can say they’re an Ambassador to the United Nations? One among them who can say that is the DJ and producer, Ida Engberg.




As talented as she is at making techno and spinning legendary clubs like Space Miami and Amsterdam’s Gashouder, she is putting just as much energy into her work saving the world.




For many years, Engberg has focused on combatting climate change and promoting environmental causes.




“We obviously live in times when a huge shift has to happen for humanity and all life on earth in order to have a chance to survive as a species. To me it’s the most important and beautiful movement to be part of. It gives life meaning to work for the greater good,” Engberg told Mixmag in December 2020.




Some of the initiatives she works with include Project Zero, Music Against Animal Cruelty, Save the Paradise, and the Bye Bye Plastic Foundation.




With so much great work, Engberg was a natural choice to take her voice to the global scale through the United Nations.




One campaign Engberg has worked with closely is the Shaping Our Future campaign, during which she shared a powerful statement about the future of humanity vis a vis climate change.




“The air we breathe is becoming more and more toxic and the soil we grow our crops in is dying. All of this is due to human activities and political inactivity.” Engberg said. “All of this is because we put profit before life.”




Engberg inspires others because of her ability to create urgency for action while maintaining a sense of hope.




Looking at her social media profiles, there is a plethora of information for those looking to get involved all alongside Engberg’s authenticity, honesty, and fantastic music.






How Ida Engberg Became A UN Ambassador

You’d be hard-pressed to find a techno fan who hasn’t heard of Ida Engberg. The Swedish techno DJ and producer has performed in almost every major dance music market globally, making a lasting impression on fans everywhere she goes.




It comes as no surprise, then, that many of her DJ sets have been recorded and uploaded for online enjoyment. Some, explore the ethereal, melodic side of techno. Others highlight the harder end of the spectrum. Altogether, they speak to the versatile style Ida has developed over the past two decades.




We’ve collected five of Ida Engberg’s best sets from the past few years. Listen for yourself — after you get a taste of her skills behind the decks, we’re guessing you’ll feel compelled to see her play in person.




1. Drumcode OFFSónar 2019

Barcelona dance music fans like their techno dark and driving, and it’s safe to say Ida played to that crowd during her performance at Drumcode OFFSónar in 2019. Plaza Mayor de El Poble Espanyol’s exquisite architecture provided an unforgettable backdrop for the festivities.




2. B2B with Adam Beyer at Exit Festival 2018

Drumcode boss Adam Beyer and Ida have a long history of B2B sessions at world-class festivals. At the 2018 edition of Exit Festival in Serbia, thousands of fans witnessed their creative chemistry firsthand. They ripped through Drumcode cuts (on which Ida has several releases) and challenged the audience while including the necessary amount of vocals and melodies to keep things accessible enough for a crowd of that size.




3. April 2021 BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix

Landing a BBC Radio 1 Essential Mix is a momentous occasion for any dance music DJ. In her April 2021 appearance on the series, Ida Engberg took those tuning in on a serene, two-hour journey replete with lush synth melodies and progressive house overtones that veered into more challenging territory in the second half.




4. Awakenings ADE 2021

Netherlands-based Awakenings is one of the world’s leading techno festival brands, so the gatherings they curate during Amsterdam Dance Event cater to diehard fans of the genre. This was certainly not lost on Ida, who played one of her hardest sets in recent memory at Awakenings ADE 2021.




5. Zurich Street Parade 2021

On the other hand, the festive, open-air atmosphere of the 2021 edition of Zurich Street Parade called for more mass appeal. Ida Engberg still found opportunities to take listeners slightly outside their comfort zone, executing a push-pull tension dynamic that kept the crowd anticipating her every move.






Ida Engberg

Amanda Thames

Harry Levin

Harry Levin

Harry Levin

John Cameron